[kaybee]

It didn't sound like you guys had seen that before.
I updated my signature, to include the VIN convention, and minor bragging about my newer software.

 

[kickincanada]

I just saw this now. That's incredible. And a big upgrade. I hope we early adopters get the upgrade or I will be pi**ed. I'm going to see if I can find out more about the exact temp for very cold. But this also mens that you can precondition while in garage without fear of the ice coming on. Thats huge!

 

[slyastro]

Yes the upgrade is FINALLY there !! The good news is that it's on a 2012 MY ... that means that we can fight to get the firmware upgrade ...

For us living in the north, that feature is MUCH MORE important than the HOLD mode !!

I want this feature by next november please !!

By the way, I went to my GM dealer yesterday since he has one VOLT left (blue topaz) in stock that he received last week. It's VIN is C23548 ...


The COLD TEMP settings are not there (see attached pictures). That means that the upgrade is somewhere between 23548 andC25204.

 

[an_outsider]

I concur, mine is C23506 and these 2 new parameters (Engine Assisted Heating) are obviously missing...

 

[an_outsider]

It didn't sound like you guys had seen that before.
I updated my signature, to include the VIN convention, and minor bragging about my newer software.

Hi,

Do you know the funny part? I ordered mine one day after you did (March 14) and took possession the June 1st (2 days after you) and I don't have these 2 new parameters in my C23506, they were build almost 2 weeks apart.
At least, I got MyLink (UP9 option)

Glad for you, Drive & Smile

 

[CMMPro]

Strange, I have it on mine....C20417. Picked mine up in May.

Maybe it got updated remotely?

 

[tboult]

Strange, I have it on mine....C20417. Picked mine up in May.

Maybe it got updated remotely?

An update over the air is ongoing according to WOT.. what was in it was not described -- just that it might fix the bluetooth hanging.. would be very nice if it also does the temp configs...

 

[saghost]

Strange, I have it on mine....C20417. Picked mine up in May.

Maybe it got updated remotely?

From what's been said in other threads, the Volt is capable of OTA firmware updates. I just checked my car and it still does not have those options at this time.

 

[kickincanada]

Hi all - I hear that the VERY COLD setting on the new cold weather config option will be 5-10 degrees lower than the existing COLD setting. This will offer much greater improved performance for the winter in EV mode for short trips and when preconditioning the vehicle when plugged in so the engine doesn't run. Final temp setting yet to be known.

Bad news - no software upgrade known at this time. I would suggest we write some letters to demand they add. I know that we can hack a work around but I would prefer not to do this. Pertinent addresses below.

Daniel F. Akerson , Chief Executive Officer
General Motors Corporation
105 Justice Street*
Detroit, MI, USA*
48265-0001

Micky Bly, Executive Director, Global Electrical Systems, Infotainment & Electrification
30001 Van **** Avenue
Warren, MI
48090-9020

Kevin Williams, President and Managing Director
GM of Canada Ltd.
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7

 

[BAZINGA]

Interesting, I bought my 2012 Vot on March 31, but I guess I didn't do my home work. My Volt while a 2012 was built in Aug 2011 so It's really just a 2011.

While I love our Volt I'm beginning to become annoyed with GM for releasing added features during the production year but has no intention to retro fit them to early build vehicles. So I'm missing MyLink and now this feature.

GM are you listening, either update early build vehicles with new features released in the same MY or save them for the next MY.

 

[amartineau]

Just got mine... C26908 and I have the "VERY COLD" option

 

[gieso]

I am starting to think that this feature is only on the Canadian Volts.

Is there anyone out there that has recently received their Volt in the US that has the "Very Cold" option?

I really hope this is not limited to Canada. There are other places down here that ge t cold too.

 

[Mike-o-Matic]

That means that the upgrade is somewhere between 23548 andC25204.

Not necessarily true. I have the one-month-old VIN C28233 (much higher than 25204), and I do not have the new cold-weather options. Weird!

Maybe they're only in the firmware for certain option combinations? Of any potentially relevant options I can think of, I have leather/seat-heat and a non-Nav, MyLink radio.

EDIT: Apologies if I repeated anything in posts after the one I ready by sylastro, and my reflexive reply post.
EDIT2: Also, I'm fascinated about the possibility of a 'Canadian vs. US' Volts distinction, 'cause I'm in Wisconsin. That would be unfortunate, because heck, there are parts of Canada about 200 miles further south than where I am!

 

[scottf200]

I thought there was some informative info in this post:

I heard back from my VA. Very Cold is around 14F. I was hoping it would have been lower. I would really like three options, Cold, Very Cold, OFF. Supposedly,this change became available around Feb 2012.

I don't know of any way to petition, but a good start would be to contact your Volt Advisor and ask that this feature should be available to all 2012 models. It is in the vehicle documentation.

I asked if this option is hardware or just software(firmware) and if it is just a firmware change, why it would not be made available for all 2012 builds. I'll post when I get a response.

Update: Response from my Volt Advisor

The difference for this feature is actually in the hardware itself, because the heating system is designed differently. Unfortunately there is not an upgrade for the engine assisted heating options, but if this changes in the future we'd be happy to let you know.

Looks like I will be doing the hack sometime between now and December.

 

[an_outsider]

Just got mine... C26908 and I have the "VERY COLD" option

Hi,

Do you have Navigation on yours? If so, obviously no Mylink because they are/were mutually exclusive for the MY2012.

I'm trying to figure what is the common denominator for those who got the extra parameters from those who don't. The only one I read so far from almost all related threads **, seem to be that (some?) late MY2012 Volt care with NAV option have these extra "parameters". Even if so, I do not see what would be the direct relation between ...

**Here

 

[saghost]

The difference for this feature is actually in the hardware itself, because the heating system is designed differently. Unfortunately there is not an upgrade for the engine assisted heating options, but if this changes in the future we'd be happy to let you know.

The heating system is designed differently?!? The features are in some cars but not in others that were on the line after them. If there's actually a system design difference, how in the world is GM maintaining configuration control? It sounds like a nightmare of mix and match between this, the battery change, and the center console change.

Odd that we haven't seen any information about how the heating system changed. WopOnTour, do you have any insight for us?

 

[WopOnTour]

The heating system is designed differently?!? The features are in some cars but not in others that were on the line after them. If there's actually a system design difference, how in the world is GM maintaining configuration control? It sounds like a nightmare of mix and match between this, the battery change, and the center console change.

Odd that we haven't seen any information about how the heating system changed. WopOnTour, do you have any insight for us?

I am still looking into it. To the best of my knowledge, none of the primary hardware is techncially or significantly different, although some components (eg, certain modules) may be carrying different part numbers, as well as firmware/software. But this isnt really a departure from GM SOP.
Just gotta find the "right" guy!
WOT

 

[Mike-o-Matic]

Thanks for following up WOT!

It's one thing to know you missed out on a feature that is coming shortly in the next model year... or even just a revision that came along after your car was built. It's another to know that you didn't get something, that earlier AND later cars may have!

 

[Neromanceres]

I was just reading through my 2013 Volt manual when I noticed the set points for Cold and Very Cold (On page 5-55).

At Cold Ouside Tempertures,
below approximately 2C (35F)

At Very Cold Outside Temperatures,
below approximately -10C (15F)

At first I thought Cold would be the setpoint on the 2011 - early 2012's but it doesn't turn out that way.

 

[realdb2]

This might be a dumb question but what are the advantages of having the engine run due to temp at 35F instead of 15F?