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GM really screwed the pooch on the software update
This morning, the latest over-the-air software update must have started and it drained the battery. I got in the car to start it but before everything completely shut off, I saw the message the update had failed and all the dash warning lights were on. All kinds of warning messages. I know that means the battery voltage fell way low, which triggers all the sensors to show a fault code. I had the car parked in my workshop overnight after a 6 hour hill country drive yesterday. I have it connected to our our Wi-Fi, so it should not fail to update. The car has a few updates over the past year with no problem, but this one killed the battery.
1) Who the f&*% at GM releases software that kills the battery? Don't they test it ahead of time? Don't they include in the code to shuts down everything after 15 minutes if the software update fails to keep the battery from being totally drained?
2) We were trapped in the car until we pulled the manual door release on the floor. In the dark, its not as easy to find as it should be.
3) To get to the battery, I had to find that steel cable by the firewall to manually release the frunk. It took 10 minutes to locate it after pulling back the carpet, insulation. Found it tucked out of sight above the steering column. Who the f%^& hides a backup release cable? It should be a lot easier to find....like on the bottom of the steering column or dash like most cars.
4) During the process, I shut the drivers' door and had to use the key from the outside to reopen the door. It took way too much effort to turn the key.
I usually don't drop F bombs, but this morning, it was used many times. They screwed the pooch on this software update.
I put the battery on a 12V 6amp charger for the next few hours. Running a battery down reduces the battery life. Is GM going to replace my battery?
There is a reason I have set the option to not automatically install updates. I have been in the IT industry for 35 years, people are not perfect, so computers and software are not perfect. I have seen many updates created by the best people and installed by the best people, and still there were failures. There are a lot of computers in your car, with millions of lines of codes. That they function at all is amazing. That so few updates fail is surprising. You would think these things would show up in testing, and they do and get fixed, but tests don’t catch all the corner cases, so failures occur.
I've tried 4 different times to install the over the air software update this week when I get the pop up screen message that says update ready to install, do I want to install. Takes 15 minutes...... Each time I get the dreaded upload FAILED. Tried it in my garage several times, as well as twice in my driveway. Don't know if it's my wifi being weak out there or something else.
I guess I will just keep trying, and eventually go to the dealer and try in their parking lot, or let them do it.
I'd be plenty hot also, FWIW.
Really need to go on record w/ dealer along w/ full explanation what'd happened.
Then ask battery be replaced, under warranty.
If it happened to you other owners are subject to same experience at some time down the line.
GM better hope this doesn't become a recurring issue, create good will it won't.
A pity given all the positive C8 offers in the big picture.
Ideally a one-off problem, due to a one-off cause.
It really shouldn't be scary to do an update but it seems that it is. Posted a poll a while back to see how many were successful after the first attempt. Seems like most were but quite a few we're not. It's my understanding that updates should download in the background via built-in 4g, no OnStar subscription is required. After it has downloaded it will ask you if you want to install. It will not install on its own. You will not need any connection at this point as it is just installing the already downloaded update. It is supposed to check battery status for a good charge and will not install unless conditions are right. It is supposed to notify you if unable to do the installation. I have never connected to my home Wi-Fi to check for updates or to even try to download any if it even would. Whole process does seem a little scary but my one and only update worked for me. It was the infotainment update.
The last update was done in December. After charging at 6 amps, the battery did start the car. I shut it down, but the battery didn't have sufficient charge to start it a second time. I have it connected via Wi-Fi to our network, so don't understand why the update failed. I thought it completed the update yesterday while we ate lunch as one of the tiles changed to the MPG graph.
There is a reason I have set the option to not automatically install updates. I have been in the IT industry for 35 years, people are not perfect, so computers and software are not perfect. I have seen many updates created by the best people and installed by the best people, and still there were failures. There are a lot of computers in your car, with millions of lines of codes. That they function at all is amazing. That so few updates fail is surprising. You would think these things would show up in testing, and they do and get fixed, but tests don’t catch all the corner cases, so failures occur.
Same thing just happened to me! Dead battery. And I have the same concern re battery longevity. Lead acid batteries don't take well to being fully discharged. And I think that mine has been discharged since Thursday afternoon.
This is really ludicrous if a software update fails the previous software version should just be reinstated. No harm, no foul. Maybe the crazy symptoms that I saw were just because the battery was low, as someone stated. I hope so. This is really a PITA.
I was an expert software consultant, this is not rocket science.
Last edited by PurpleLion; 05-15-2021 at 04:20 PM.
Are you referring to GM N20-2308490? Not everyone is having a problem with this update. Mine worked fine on first attempt.
I got the same message. Clicked on install. Waited and received message update failed. Within minutes tried to start the car everything was dead. Had no accessory mode either. Plugged in charger and the car immediately started. So something was telling the car not to start. The battery could not have not drained or be dead in that short period of time.
Because of a bunch of fails, with a fair amount of trepidation, I went ahead and selected install update. I was just waiting for it to tank, but everything went fine and it said successful after the first go. I do keep my car fully charged on a CTEK MUS 4.3 every day and whenever it's parked in the garage. This update did seem odd as the screen went blank several times and it wasn't always clear something was happening, but it did.
This morning, the latest over-the-air software update must have started and it drained the battery. I got in the car to start it but before everything completely shut off, I saw the message the update had failed and all the dash warning lights were on. All kinds of warning messages. I know that means the battery voltage fell way low, which triggers all the sensors to show a fault code. I had the car parked in my workshop overnight after a 6 hour hill country drive yesterday. I have it connected to our our Wi-Fi, so it should not fail to update. The car has a few updates over the past year with no problem, but this one killed the battery.
1) Who the f&*% at GM releases software that kills the battery? Don't they test it ahead of time? Don't they include in the code to shuts down everything after 15 minutes if the software update fails to keep the battery from being totally drained?
2) We were trapped in the car until we pulled the manual door release on the floor. In the dark, its not as easy to find as it should be.
3) To get to the battery, I had to find that steel cable by the firewall to manually release the frunk. It took 10 minutes to locate it after pulling back the carpet, insulation. Found it tucked out of sight above the steering column. Who the f%^& hides a backup release cable? It should be a lot easier to find....like on the bottom of the steering column or dash like most cars.
4) During the process, I shut the drivers' door and had to use the key from the outside to reopen the door. It took way too much effort to turn the key.
I usually don't drop F bombs, but this morning, it was used many times. They screwed the pooch on this software update.
I put the battery on a 12V 6amp charger for the next few hours. Running a battery down reduces the battery life. Is GM going to replace my battery?
Why wouldn't you connect charger to the car before updating/ installing a patch? i woud update any car unless it was connected to a charger. seems like operator error and asking about
GM to replace battery is just silly. Battery is under warranty already..
Why wouldn't you connect charger to the car before updating/ installing a patch? i woud update any car unless it was connected to a charger. seems like operator error and asking about
GM to replace battery is just silly. Battery is under warranty already..
A battery should last 5 years in Georgia. If I lose a year how would the warranty help? SILLY?
Also, I can see no reason why the car should be on a charger in order to do a 15 min update. Of course, in hindsight, yeah maybe. But in my case, I thought that the update had finished before I shut the car off.
Last edited by PurpleLion; 05-15-2021 at 05:42 PM.
05-15-2021, 11:32 AM
GM really screwed the pooch on the software update
