[KamilOslizlo]

Hey! 🚀🚀🚀🚀
If you had a software update and lost battery capacity after that here you have video how to recover a bit of it!
I also talk about Opel Ampera battery in general.
Enjoy watching

 

[black_amp]

GM parts direct quotes a price for the battery pack, I don't remember the exact value but $7K comes to mind, if you're interested in the Volt / Ampera development there is a book by the SAE which cover some of the design details it's ISBN number is 9780768047653.

 

[KamilOslizlo]

GM parts direct quotes a price for the battery pack, I don't remember the exact value but $7K comes to mind, if you're interested in the Volt / Ampera development there is a book by the SAE which cover some of the design details it's ISBN number is 9780768047653.

Thanks! $7K sounds way too high if its the same capacity as the original one. In US for that price you can buy decent Volt so it makes no sense.

 

[PetrolEd]

It seems so... The truth is I've done it only once as it's very time consuming and I don't have place to do it. At there very beginning I would observe like 0.2kWh gain. Now from time to time I get that score but it seems like it's back to 8.7kWhs

To keep things in the correct topic, have you tried the procedure in this video? He switches between mountain mode and battery while driving.

I also got the update and the car went from 9.8 / 10 to 8.6 / 8.8kWh max but my cheap OBD connector doesn't work with MyVoltCapacity and with other apps like Car Scanner ELM I don't get the info about the cell voltages, so not sure if doing the procedure does have any effect.

 

[KamilOslizlo]

To keep things in the correct topic, have you tried the procedure in this video? He switches between mountain mode and battery while driving.

I also got the update and the car went from 9.8 / 10 to 8.6 / 8.8kWh max but my cheap OBD connector doesn't work with MyVoltCapacity and with other apps like Car Scanner ELM I don't get the info about the cell voltages, so not sure if doing the procedure does have any effect.

Yes I've tried but it didn't help at all

 

[Ampera2012]

Is this only a 2013 model year issue related to this article?

GM recalls 2013 Chevrolet Volts for battery software (Updated)

GM said Friday that it will recall 3,233 2013 model year Chevrolet Volts to remedy a problem with battery cell balancing that could cause the car to shut down in traffic. The recall mirrors two service campaigns for the 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EVs for similar behavior. Some 2017 Bolt EVs...

www.greencarreports.com

 

[Ampera2012]

I suggest you read this thread, in particular post #10, it may be related?

Recall campaign N172130463

Recall campaign N172130463 I had my HPCM2 reprogrammed under customer satisfaction program N172130463. I have been blessed with two problems since. 1. I can only use 8.5 KWhr were prior I could use 10.5 KWhr of battery. This means my electric range is 20% less than it was. 2. Prior to the...

www.gm-volt.com

Sound like you just have to fully discharge a few times to rebalance the cells?

 

[Shedman]

Is this only a 2013 model year issue related to this article?

No, my 2014 Volt had the update last month. I think 2012s are affected too.

 

[PetrolEd]

Is this only a 2013 model year issue related to this article?

GM recalls 2013 Chevrolet Volts for battery software (Updated)

GM said Friday that it will recall 3,233 2013 model year Chevrolet Volts to remedy a problem with battery cell balancing that could cause the car to shut down in traffic. The recall mirrors two service campaigns for the 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EVs for similar behavior. Some 2017 Bolt EVs...

www.greencarreports.com

It was initially for the 2013 MY but then was applied to the entire range.

 

[KamilOslizlo]

Complete charging and discharging haven't helped in my case. Maybe indeed the battery has lost it's capacity but due to bad software it was not noticeable... and now after the update cells were rebalanced properly.

 

[Ampera2012]

So should I contact Opel and ask for the software update, or should I avoid it?

 

[KamilOslizlo]

So should I contact Opel and ask for the software update, or should I avoid it?

I would avoid it unless you really need it and had HSVC error.

 

[PetrolEd]

I only had the propulsion power reduced once and it was because I was going uphill with a depleted battery at 150km/h. This is normal according to the car manual, the lower buffer is depleted and we are stuck with the 86cv of the ICE.

I did get the Service High Voltage Charging System warning and the sensor and cabling were replaced under warranty and the updated was applied.

I tried the method from the video, didn't let the car running on idle until battery depleted, did try to leave it on with everything off but it takes forever to deplete the battery and eventually the car shuts down. So since I had good estimate about having at max 8.6 to 8.8kWh after the update I tried the mountain mode / normal switch a few times in the last three drives.

Today I went to a longer drive at higher speeds and usually at these speeds I would get lower kWh usage. I got 9.1 kWh, so it seems to work, but it's still lower than before the update.

What I have noticed after the software update is that my fuel usage is lower than before, probably more battery buffer available to use?

 

[Ampera2012]

Do you know if there is an official website from GM/chevrolet or Opel with information about this software update/recall?

 

[Shedman]

Do you know if there is an official website from GM/chevrolet or Opel with information about this software update/recall?

Not that I’m aware of. I only found out about the update through a Volt Facebook group. My car’s still under the avoltec warranty but dealer knew nothing about it until I asked them to look into it, which was a little concerning. I suspect there are hundreds of Amperas/Volts running around which are supposed to get this update, but GM has not fed the info down to the dealerships.

 

[Ampera2012]

I guess one way to find out is to check the cell voltages. How does one go about doing that? I guess I'll need to upgrade from my cheap ELM327 wireless obd reader and free version of Car scanner?

 

[PetrolEd]

I'm thinking about it, not sure if I should go the route of the VCX Nano or the Obdlink MX

 

[Ampera2012]

This vcx nano?

VXDIAG VCX NANO for GM/OPEL GDS2 Diagnostic Tool WIFI version

VXDIAG VCX NANO is PC-to-vehicle interface compatible with multiple software applications, minimizing your investment in multiple brand-specific diagnostic interfaces.

www.obd2shop.co.uk

Will I have to purchase any software in addition to the hardware? or is it included?

 

[Ampera2012]

Otherwise there is an app on google play called myGreenVolt that may work with cheaper hardware. Plenty of other threads about that app apparently.

The app doesn't work with my cheap ELM327-mini though, all I get is the engine temperature.

 

[PetrolEd]

Yes, that VCX nano. That one emulates the one used by the dealer and you can also buy an online subscription to update software on the car if necessary. Software is included.

I also have a cheap one that doesn't work with MGV, but does work to some extent with Car Scanner. Everyone talks about the Obdlink MX, but the price is the same as the VCX nano (or more expensive) and the only plus is the Obdlink is smaller and has bluetooth connection to Android.

I'm really tempted to buy a VCX nano, was thinking about it when I bought the car but since it still was under warranty I never bothered. Car is now out of warranty since July and never had an issue that needed it, so I might buy it now just to control the battery status.