Pre-conditioning, Parking Climate, Remote Start - Confused!

[andyfromembsay]

Yep, all still ticked.

[dblogic]

Seem to recall that after my last software update in May or so a bug appeared and heated seats and wheel only came on if preconditioning was triggered by timer and not when manually triggered (may be opposite way round)

Can't serach forum at moment but I'm sure there was a thread about it.

[SpaceBoy42]

Originally Posted by dblogic

Seem to recall that after my last software update in May or so a bug appeared and heated seats and wheel only came on if preconditioning was triggered by timer and not when manually triggered (may be opposite way round)

Can't serach forum at moment but I'm sure there was a thread about it.

You are correct and it is really annoying!! The latest software build has broken preconditioning. This just adds to the confusion. Timed preconditioning for me worked perfectly in the cold weather after work when I wasn't plugged in. Now I've had my software 'upgraded' (you get the stream of safety system tick boxes on screen at start up) it now doesn't work. It just puts up a message saying you should be plugged in. Why??? It worked perfectly before without killing any battery levels? Also, as you say, starting it remotely direct doesn't work either for heated seats and wheel (although the Aux heater does work!). They've just completely messed up what was a really useful feature on the car.

[Lexman8]

Don't hold your breath waiting for a fix.

Until two years ago passenger seat auto heating would only come on if it detected someone actually sitting there. It made perfect sense but an update stopped it working like that.

Volvo said they'd re-add the functionality in a later update. Still waiting...

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by SpaceBoy42

You are correct and it is really annoying!! The latest software build has broken preconditioning. This just adds to the confusion. Timed preconditioning for me worked perfectly in the cold weather after work when I wasn't plugged in. Now I've had my software 'upgraded' (you get the stream of safety system tick boxes on screen at start up) it now doesn't work. It just puts up a message saying you should be plugged in. Why??? It worked perfectly before without killing any battery levels? Also, as you say, starting it remotely direct doesn't work either for heated seats and wheel (although the Aux heater does work!). They've just completely messed up what was a really useful feature on the car.

Hi. Can you clarify this for me please? Are you saying that the pre-conditioning on the timer and directly from the app both do not work after the update? So you cannot get the car to pre-heat? Or just that seat heating doesn't work?

Mine is due a service in a month and if the software update completely stops pre-conditioning from working then I will tell them not to install the software.

[SpaceBoy42]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Hi. Can you clarify this for me please? Are you saying that the pre-conditioning on the timer and directly from the app both do not work after the update? So you cannot get the car to pre-heat? Or just that seat heating doesn't work?

Mine is due a service in a month and if the software update completely stops pre-conditioning from working then I will tell them not to install the software.

Volvo don't appear to issue a change log for different versions of their
software they are about to program into your car and as far as I know, you can’t go into a the Sensus menu system and request the version number that is installed now. Not a great start. (You can however find map data and voice command version numbers I think.)

So to help Volvo out, I’ll create a software change release note for them for the updated release I have on my car:-

o Added a new start up sequence which now pointlessly lists all the safety systems on you car with a green dot next to them to say they work instead of sensibly actually only notifying the user if one of the systems is not working.

o Model - T8: Disabled the previously really useful feature to precondition your car using VOC app when the car is not connected to a live charging electrical source.

o Model - T8: Starting parking climate direct from the VOC app or from within the car now ignores the state of the heated seat and heated steering wheel check boxes in the parking climate menu in the car. It is now not possible to preheat the seats or steering wheel using parking climate directly. (Aux heater for heating and air con for cooling still work as before.)

o Model - T8: The time parking climate runs for has been drastically reduced from around fifteen minutes to around two. So now you need to know precisely when you are leaving for home otherwise the cooling/heating will have stopped ages ago before you arrive at the car.

Anyone spotted any more? Will be interesting to hear what the garage have to say in response to these issues Philip and when they think Volvo will get around to fixing them.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by SpaceBoy42

Volvo don't appear to issue a change log for different versions of their
software they are about to program into your car and as far as I know, you can’t go into a the Sensus menu system and request the version number that is installed now. Not a great start. (You can however find map data and voice command version numbers I think.)

So to help Volvo out, I’ll create a software change release note for them for the updated release I have on my car:-

o Added a new start up sequence which now pointlessly lists all the safety systems on you car with a green dot next to them to say they work instead of sensibly actually only notifying the user if one of the systems is not working.

o Model - T8: Disabled the previously really useful feature to precondition your car using VOC app when the car is not connected to a live charging electrical source.

o Model - T8: Starting parking climate direct from the VOC app or from within the car now ignores the state of the heated seat and heated steering wheel check boxes in the parking climate menu in the car. It is now not possible to preheat the seats or steering wheel using parking climate directly. (Aux heater for heating and air con for cooling still work as before.)

o Model - T8: The time parking climate runs for has been drastically reduced from around fifteen minutes to around two. So now you need to know precisely when you are leaving for home otherwise the cooling/heating will have stopped ages ago before you arrive at the car.

Anyone spotted any more? Will be interesting to hear what the garage have to say in response to these issues Philip and when they think Volvo will get around to fixing them.

Thanks. Useful information. I will make sure that I am clear with the garage before the service that I want to continue to be able to use the parking climate when not plugged in. If this means not updating the software then so be it.

I have a good relationship with them and the master tech is excellent so if anyone can get to the bottom of this he can....

Service is due in 2k miles which for me is about 4 weeks so hopefully I can feedback then.

Cheers

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by SpaceBoy42

Will be interesting to hear what the garage have to say in response to these issues Philip and when they think Volvo will get around to fixing them.

Here's what they will say:

"We cannot do anything apart from report your concerns to the Volvo mothership and wait and see what will happen in the future"

It's like feedback on a survey: the more people that provide feedback, the more chances something might happen.
But the survey company cannot guarantee anything will happen.

Only the Volvo mothership in Sweden decides what new features to install in new software versions, and what features to improve, and what to deactivate. Always done for reasons that make perfect sense to Volvo on a global scale, but may not make much sense to you at a local level.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Here's what they will say:

"We cannot do anything apart from report your concerns to the Volvo mothership and wait and see what will happen in the future"

It's like feedback on a survey: the more people that provide feedback, the more chances something might happen.
But the survey company cannot guarantee anything will happen.

Only the Volvo mothership in Sweden decides what new features to install in new software versions, and what features to improve, and what to deactivate. Always done for reasons that make perfect sense to Volvo on a global scale, but may not make much sense to you at a local level.

I am not entirely sure that they can legally remove an accessory - which you have paid for - during a service 2 years after delivery of the car, just because it is done via a software update doesnt make it legal. If they unbolted the towbar and took it off, or removed your dog guard it would not be either acceptable or legal.

But anyway let's see how good my dealer is and see what happens in a month.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Here's what they will say:

"We cannot do anything apart from report your concerns to the Volvo mothership and wait and see what will happen in the future"

It's like feedback on a survey: the more people that provide feedback, the more chances something might happen.
But the survey company cannot guarantee anything will happen.

Only the Volvo mothership in Sweden decides what new features to install in new software versions, and what features to improve, and what to deactivate. Always done for reasons that make perfect sense to Volvo on a global scale, but may not make much sense to you at a local level.

And of course we are assuming that this is going to affect all cars and it isnt just an issue with SpaceBoy's car.....