OTA Update Failed

[Cariboocreek]

First update for the new C8. On a maintainer, good battery, in a heated garage, unsuccessful twice.

Should I keep trying or leave it to the dealer? Any battery drain issues with a failed update (or two)?

 

[gone]

I’d say try one more time before having a dealer do it. It happened to me where it wouldn’t work the first couple of times. As for the battery issue, mine’s always been a daily driver so power has never been a problem. If you’re not running it regularly, I’d consider using a battery tender to be on the safe side, since others have complained about updates draining batteries. Good luck!

 

[ZR1 Polo Green]

Use the only one-Corvette battery tender, as for updates they are ok'ed at the Dealer,I had them.

 

[kerry4]

How strong is your wi fi signal? My car has a few walls between my car and router so I got a couple of range extenders from Rogers. They are free for the asking and work well. I put one in my rec room downstairs and one in the garage. Never had problem with OTA updates. Also used to have a Tesla several years ago that used to get updates a lot more than my Vette. Never failed.

 

[DenisC8]

I just installed an update yesterday, worked on the first try, just like the 2 previous ones. Car started up no problem, but I plugged it in when I parked it just in case.

updates don’t use wifi, I think they use the OnStar network as my car offers to install an update everywhere I go not only my driveway

 

[Cariboocreek]

I keep the car on a Noco 3500 tender/maintainer. I have good wifi in my garage (good enough to watch you tube and Netflix on my tv) but I thought it was irrelevant as the install does not require a signal as the download has been already loaded into the car when you get the install prompt.

I will try again today.

 

[Cariboocreek]

Likely unrelated, but I just received a notification from GM through the app on my phone that my update failed, and to go to the app for further details.

The app won’t let me in….lol. Just spins the little wheel.

 

[Murray20c8]

Likely unrelated, but I just received a notification from GM through the app on my phone that my update failed, and to go to the app for further details.

The app won’t let me in….lol. Just spins the little wheel.

That means you are trying to download it again. You can't get updates to the operating system updates that way.
If you are storing the car then keep asking it to wait a week until you can drive the car. Then when you get home put the maintainer on it and then retry it!
Click on remind me later for a list of delay times. If it isn't there because it failed you have to wait for it to download again. You can not go get it.

 

[Cariboocreek]

That means you are trying to download it again. You can't get updates to the operating system updates that way.
If you are storing the car then keep asking it to wait a week until you can drive the car. Then when you get home put the maintainer on it and then retry it!
Click on remind me later for a list of delay times. If it isn't there because it failed you have to wait for it to download again. You can not go get it.

View attachment 107264

I just wanted to open the Chevy app on my phone. Interesting because now it has let me back on my iphone app, but says my car is up to date and no updates are available. Would it re-attempt a failed update on it's own or is it just in limbo until it reloads the update again for me to install?

 

[Murray20c8]

I just wanted to open the Chevy app on my phone. Interesting because now it has let me back on my iphone app, but says my car is up to date and no updates are available. Would it re-attempt a failed update on it's own or is it just in limbo until it reloads the update again for me to install?

There was debate on the midengine forum about how system updates are downloaded. I have never heard of anyone receiving an update through wifi. Nor have I ever heard of anyone requesting and receiving a system update. So AFAIC they only come via cellular through the OnStar system. Plus they are only received when GM wants you to receive them. They always come after a drive and always when you put the car in park. Likely because they want to make sure the battery has had a chance to charge.
So this is what I always do. When I receive an update I click on remind me later. I set it for the longest (1 week ) and then put the car on the maintainer. You can then pick your own time to install the update as it will always be available to you once the reminder is set.
I have had an update fail 4 times. I finally got the dealer to install the update. However, if the dealer installs the update it will never show in the "about" screen.

 

[Murray20c8]

BTW I have had 7 updates and 1 the dealer did. So that makes 8. I have experience in all this. lol

 

[gdb069]

Site Maintenance

My car is parked in an area with no electricity so no battery tender. When I store the car I remove negative lead. On March 15th I took the car out of storage after 4 months and a few drives later received the notice about an update and declined because I was coming back to the car in a few minutes. Next time I parked, I was asked to update and accepted. There was a few messages and, as I exited, I could see a progress bar that I watched. Returning to the car next day I checked the status and could see a new software version.

There are 2 steps to the update: 1: Is a download and as far as I can tell this happens when you are driving around and continues if you stop etc. After download 2: The software is residing in the vehicles memory (an EPROM?) and may not require wifi etc as its just updating software.

With no battery tender the car started perfectly.

 

[Rruuff Day]

Site Maintenance

My car is parked in an area with no electricity so no battery tender. When I store the car I remove negative lead. On March 15th I took the car out of storage after 4 months and a few drives later received the notice about an update and declined because I was coming back to the car in a few minutes. Next time I parked, I was asked to update and accepted. There was a few messages and, as I exited, I could see a progress bar that I watched. Returning to the car next day I checked the status and could see a new software version.

There are 2 steps to the update: 1: Is a download and as far as I can tell this happens when you are driving around and continues if you stop etc. After download 2: The software is residing in the vehicles memory (an EPROM?) and may not require wifi etc as its just updating software.

With no battery tender the car started perfectly.

With a relatively new battery, and pulling the negative cable, and living in a climate that rarely gets too far below freezing, your battery should do just fine. Once a battery gets older though, it has more difficulty maintaining a charge in extreme temps. You may never have that problem in Penticton but we have periods of -40 temps which an older battery doesn't like too much.

 

[carbuff]

Hey OP, you have to pull the car out of the garage for ONSTAR to work properly to do the update. Otherwise it will fail. It needs access to the open skies for some reason.

Just like the monthly emailed summary. Will only send one if the car goes out for a drive.

 

[1000000to1]

Hey OP, you have to pull the car out of the garage for ONSTAR to work properly to do the update. Otherwise it will fail. It needs access to the open skies for some reason.

Just like the monthly emailed summary. Will only send one if the car goes out for a drive.

Onstar is through satellite isn’t it? Make sense you can’t be indoors.

 

[Cariboocreek]

Hey OP, you have to pull the car out of the garage for ONSTAR to work properly to do the update. Otherwise it will fail. It needs access to the open skies for some reason.

Just like the monthly emailed summary. Will only send one if the car goes out for a drive.

As I understand it the update process is two fold. First is the download. Second is the install. If the download (first part) wasn't completed because the car was in the garage, then why would I be notified and asked if I wanted to install? Once the update is downloaded then I approve or deny the install which needs no access to Skynet because it has already been downloaded.

My garage has full cellular and wifi connectivity.

 

[Murray20c8]

Ya, it downloads when it has good cellular signal and can install inside a garage or a under 20,000 feet of water!
Once downloaded it's on the car. I do all my installs in the garage.
On a side note someone did an update install in their garage and the car died and he couldn't move it. The tow truck had to drag the car out of the garage. Not good. So maybe it's wise not to do the install in the garage anyway.

 

[Cariboocreek]

Ya, it downloads when it has good cellular signal and can install inside a garage or a under 20,000 feet of water!
Once downloaded it's on the car. I do all my installs in the garage.
On a side note someone did an update install in their garage and the car died and he couldn't move it. The tow truck had to drag the car out of the garage. Not good. So maybe it's wise not to do the install in the garage anyway.

Lol. So here is all the advice I have been able to glean regarding the OTA updates. Park outside, roll the windows down, attach a tender, park where a tow truck can access, make sure to have an unobstructed view of the space station and connected satellites, minimum 4G cellular, and don't leave the grandbaby in the car while installing. What about a specific way to hold my mouth? Would squinting help? What about wearing my lucky tie?

I am rapidly moving to the "just say no" side of the update equation. Or leave it to the dealer.

 

[Murray20c8]

What about a specific way to hold my mouth? Would squinting help? What about wearing my lucky tie?

Yes, stand on one leg with a wooden nickel between your knees. One eye shut forcing your mouth to drool a little on that side.
A lucky tie certainly enhance your chances of success! lol.

I tried 4 times on the one I got the dealer to install, but I was going there for other reasons. I try to avoid dealerships whenever possible, but if it failed twice then I'd wager it will always fail for whatever reason.
Anyway, there are a bunch of things you should try before that just so you can familiarize yourself with the process.
1. Learn how to get the details of the "update".
2. Learn how to delay it without declining it by use of the "remind me later" process.
3. write down the update number. Sometimes the Internet will tell you what it is.

 

[Cariboocreek]

I can update my iphone in the shower, in the bomb proof lead lined nuclear fallout bunker, but a successful update installation on my C8 requires a resolution of Congress....