[Arcanox]

My OnStar trial on my Volt I bought in September 2016 just expired in late December. I knew the Basic Plan included the basic features of the myChevrolet app, but what I didn't know was that seeing my battery level was not considered a "basic feature". Is there a way I can buy only the Vehicle Status portion of a plan? I don't want or need any other features. I have hands-free calling and navigation through Android Auto. I carry a Bluetooth OBD-II reader with me so I can run diagnostics if the MIL comes on. All I want is to be able to see my battery charge and estimated charge completion time from the app. Has anyone else had luck purchasing only this feature of OnStar?

 

[quirkySquirt]

That is definitely not right. Timing is great, I literally last week just called OnStar to cancel the auto renewal and have them remove my credit card from my account. I can confirm, I'm on the Basic plan per OnStar.com login and emails confirming so.

I've never lost remote start, lock, and vehicle status (battery level, charging at 240V or not, gas level, oil life, tire pressure, and total/ev miles used). I can also set and see the current charge schedule as well (immediate, departure, and rate).

I'd made sure to ask them. I asked them if Basic plan included remote start and battery level via the app and they said all the app functions should still work, it's just the security and guidance stuff that didn't (pretty much, everything you'd need the in-car OnStar button for).

 

[Rampage_Rick]

See this thread: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...Plan-and-still-get-Vehicle-Status-through-App

Eventually I settled on using the MyVolt website on my phone to get charge status. Can't understand why they allow that but block the app

 

[wordptom]

That is definitely not right. Timing is great, I literally last week just called OnStar to cancel the auto renewal and have them remove my credit card from my account. I can confirm, I'm on the Basic plan per OnStar.com login and emails confirming so.

I've never lost remote start, lock, and vehicle status (battery level, charging at 240V or not, gas level, oil life, tire pressure, and total/ev miles used). I can also set and see the current charge schedule as well (immediate, departure, and rate).

I'd made sure to ask them. I asked them if Basic plan included remote start and battery level via the app and they said all the app functions should still work, it's just the security and guidance stuff that didn't (pretty much, everything you'd need the in-car OnStar button for).

I note that when I received the "free Basic" offer several months after my original service had expired, the deal was for three years of free Basic, but it also included a free three-month trial of an enhanced plan that does include access to the Vehicle Status section of the app. You should be able to view your current plan status on the OnStar website. If this is also what you have just received, they will contact you as the three months comes to an end to try to convince you to upgrade, and if you decline, you then lose access to the Vehicle Status section of the app.

Charging status remains available under the Basic plan on the myvolt and mychevrolet websites, but not via the app.

 

[BillG]

Charging status remains available under the Basic plan on the myvolt and mychevrolet websites, but not via the app.

This is how I check my charging status at no "charge" Also displays the tire pressures.

 

[ClarksonCote]

That is definitely not right.

Correct, this is not right. You're supposed to get 3 years of OnStar connectivity that includes battery display, turn by turn directions, etc. After that, you get just the basic plan which includes just the basic key fob functionality.

So it sounds like they didn't give you the "Volt" OnStar plan, but a plan for a standard GM vehicle. Press the Blue button and get it sorted out. The Volt's website is also clear that you get the full (not just Basic) OnStar plan for 3 years.

EDIT: Actually, the Volt's site no longer says what I describe above, but it used to as recently as 3 weeks ago. I copied and pasted the text right from the Volt's website on another post.

My previous post that quotes GM's website and OnStar services provided with a Volt is here:
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...cription-for-RemoteLink&p=3811490#post3811490

Note it says 3 YEARS of OnStar Guidance plan, which has apparently now been changed to 3 MONTHS.

 

[chevyman142000]

Here is what someone wrote up on the Volt 2.0 Facebook group. Maybe it will help you? Let me know if the link doesn't work.

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Ho...csVJcN3_U2vAhjx7ZTd4Md2M_xTkow-aCEUgaFn8lPhTy

 

[ClarksonCote]

Let me know if the link doesn't work.

Doesn't work

But it seems easy enough to post the data directly, given it's a simple text file and no rights are asserted.

If, after your 6 month free OnStar trial is over, you find that the MyChevrolet app on your smartphone is asking you to UPGRADE to see your battery status in the VEHICLE STATUS tab, follow the procedure in this document to get it back for for free for the remainder of your 5 year free BASIC plan.

1) From your car, with it ON and not charging, press the blue button

2) Ask that person to transfer you to the OnStar Technical Assistance Group

3) Tell whoever answers that you are calling from your Volt, that your 6 month free trial has expired, but your 5 year Basic service does not have the "EV Mobile Command" feature and that you would like them to add it as an addendum onto your Key Fob option.

Supposedly, if they were properly trained, they will fully understand the above and it will be added with no charge. NOTE: it may take until the next day before you will see it on your smartphone.

It is important that you are NOT charging the car, in the ON state and out of your garage (in a good AT&T signal area) so they can communicate with your car.

 

[quirkySquirt]

I note that when I received the "free Basic" offer several months after my original service had expired, the deal was for three years of free Basic, but it also included a free three-month trial of an enhanced plan that does include access to the Vehicle Status section of the app. You should be able to view your current plan status on the OnStar website. If this is also what you have just received, they will contact you as the three months comes to an end to try to convince you to upgrade, and if you decline, you then lose access to the Vehicle Status section of the app.

Correct, this is not right. You're supposed to get 3 years of OnStar connectivity that includes battery display, turn by turn directions, etc. After that, you get just the basic plan which includes just the basic key fob functionality.

So it sounds like they didn't give you the "Volt" OnStar plan, but a plan for a standard GM vehicle. Press the Blue button and get it sorted out. The Volt's website is also clear that you get the full (not just Basic) OnStar plan for 3 years.

EDIT: Actually, the Volt's site no longer says what I describe above, but it used to as recently as 3 weeks ago. I copied and pasted the text right from the Volt's website on another post.

My previous post that quotes GM's website and OnStar services provided with a Volt is here:
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...cription-for-RemoteLink&p=3811490#post3811490

Note it says 3 YEARS of OnStar Guidance plan, which has apparently now been changed to 3 MONTHS.

This is not the case when I purchased my Volt. I had read elsewhere in the forum that the plan was changing to a 6-month Guidance trial that changes to a normal Basic plan with enhanced features for the remaining 5 years. I was aware I didn't have the old 3-yr of Guidance and didn't really care cause I have a cell phone for accidents and typically, I don't drive in sparsely populated areas (city slicker) so the OnStar crash response would be useless and probably slower then bystanders and traffic cams all over WA.

Odd though, my OnStar rep was very helpful and even made a slight mistake in my favor, I think. I bought my Volt in July and OnStar states my Basic plan will expire in Oct 2021. It's supposed to end at July 2021 I think. I recall the verbage was, "3 month trial that reverts to your original 5 year basic plan", not "3 month trial after which your 5 year basic plan starts".

Eh, 3 months difference not much to me. I'll probably buy a plan near the 5 year mark or just leverage myvolt.com.

Back to the issue at hand, it seems Arcanox bought the Volt earlier than me before the OnStar trial changes. I much prefer the 5-yr basic plan versus 3-yr guidance plan. Arcanox, based on suggestions from chevyman142000 and ClarksonCote, I think you might have a case to argue if they can give you the 5-yr basic plan. You only have 3 when you should have 5. Then confirm with them that the new 5 year basic *still* includes vehicle info via the RemoteLink app.

Or maybe you can guilt GM into letting you trade in your 2016 CPO for a new/CPO 2017 model to avoid the lemon law hassle and maybe get a new 5-year OnStar subscription.

 

[Rampage_Rick]

Tell whoever answers that you are calling from your Volt, that your 6 month free trial has expired, but your 5 year Basic service does not have the "EV Mobile Command" feature and that you would like them to add it as an addendum onto your Key Fob option.

Tried that two months ago; they called me back a couple days later and said that E/V Mobile Command could only be added to 2017 or newer Volts...

 

[Slave to Opec]

As mentioned above, the "MyChevrolet" app provides basically the same information as the OnStar app.

As a matter of fact, it actually works a lot better than the OnStar app (I get a lot fewer error messages).

 

[ClarksonCote]

I much prefer the 5-yr basic plan versus 3-yr guidance plan.

I don't know about the latest approach from OnStar, but for us Gen1 Volt owners, we got either 3 or 5 year guidance plan (depending on model year), FOLLOWED by another 5 years of the Basic plan as long as we press the button and request it once our original plan expires.

 

[quirkySquirt]

Well that changes everything if you can get Basic plan (with 100% RemoteLink app functionality) for 5-yrs on top of the 3-/5-yr guidance plan.

This all seems very Your Mileage May Vary, and hinges on who you talk to at OnStar and your determination and skills to obtain satisfaction. Maybe I'll get lucky and they want me back with a sweetened offer. Maybe for $100/yr I'll consider it.

 

[theo]

My 3 years just ended the 5th and only got Basic for 3 more years.
No charge status or functions on "securemyvolt.com".
Does 911 still work? isn't that a mandatory function on all expired phones?

 

[quirkySquirt]

I would hope so. Technically, it is a phone and if they can occasionally nag you to sign up for a new subscription, that means the phone works and they have to offer emergency dialing. If you can initiate an OnStar call and connect to an agent, I think by Good Sumaritan laws they have to at least connect you to emergency services. They may not auto call you during a crash, but if you can reach up and press the button, I think you're good.

I think all the subscription does is turn on the "phone home when crashed" feature. Once they turn it off, I think OnStar is legally off the hook to not check on you after a crash. When you actually contact them, that's a different story and Good Sumaritan laws come into affect. Heck, even if they refuse and by some chance you get help some other way (another passerby, your get cell phone signal), the PR fallback when you complain that OnStar did nothing to call for help should be enough to force cooperation from them.

 

[theo]

anyone getting a weird sign in that doesn't work on the new chevy site?
I'm getting it all the time and have to go back button, etc.

 

[theo]

Wow, the site has our exact volt pictured with the aerodynamic door frame piece from the wind buffering upgrade! and my chrome wheels; is yours exact?

 

[Mike91326]

Wow, the site has our exact volt pictured with the aerodynamic door frame piece from the wind buffering upgrade! and my chrome wheels; is yours exact?

Yes, the picture is a 16/17 Volt in Red, same as my car.