Click to ENLARGE & read here.Click to ENLARGE & read here.
On Friday morning, on my trip to Vermont, Google Maps on this BLOODY, ACCURSED 2022 Volvo XC60 stopped working AGAIN. This was a common problem during the first 6 months. But, then, with various software updates it got better.
This XC60 has been fairly decent for the last 6 to 7 months. Everything worked.
Then this.
I HATE THIS BLOODY VOLVO.
I can’t wait to get rid of it — albeit ON MY TERMS. I am not giving Volvo another bloody cent. They are crooks.
After 2 hours, after I had made a stop, it magically started working AGAIN!
I checked the software.
Claims I have a July 2024 Map update. The issue was on August 2.
Was it possible that it was updating the software, OTA — which is why maps wasn’t working? I don’t know.
It has been a long time since I was able to get an ‘OTA’ (Over the Air) update for my Volvo XC60 because it was B5. I have been taking it, regularly, to a dealer to have the updates installed. This, alas, has also not always been successful. Last year, when they were trying to install v. 2.7 they totally KILLED my car (i.e., it was not operational, & they had to give me a brand new LOANER for a week!)
So, I had some trepidation about installing this — OTA. But, I took a chance. I have yet to drive it, BUT it started. So, that is a start — & I got no error messages.
Since I have not driven it, yet, I can’t tell you what the improvements to the infotainment system might be. I am curious. I know it is not even worth hoping that we might get a compass.
Other Rotary clubs do posts about their projects, meetings, events, fundraisers, etc. Not us. We have our priorities right & know what is most important to the membership — baked goods, pastries & desserts. We appreciate that you are can’t even think about service unless you have loaded up on carbs.
Oh, just in case you are wondering we are NOT into ad. revenue. That is too complicated. Maybe bukshee.
Click to ENLARGE. First part of service record.Click to ENLARGE. 2nd part.Click to image to access my April 15, 2023 post.
NOT FUNNY. NOT HAPPY.
But, that was the CASE, alas.
At least the dealership (which will remain nameless for now) was honest enough to immediately, upfront admit that it was all due to an inexperienced, rookie technician.
I guess they thought that a simple software update should be within his training. Well, it appears not.
So, a week Friday they had to give me a LOANER (which to be fair was pretty nice (& a tad better featured than mine)) so I could go to ‘Lake George‘, New York as planned. That trip was a success & the loaner did OK.
I called the dealership Thursday once I got home. They told me the facts & that my car was ready. But, they had also promised to clean a bit before giving it back.
I couldn’t get up there till late Friday afternoon. My car was ready & it was cleaner than it has been in a very long time. That at least was a consolation.
Drove it back. Seems OK. Much to my relief & DELIGHT none of the SETTINGS had been lost. The Sirius XM favorites, the garage door opener etc. etc. all worked. So, that was good. Not sure about any of the stuff they did … like VGM Reload, ECM Reload, TCAM battery recharge etc. Just hope they knew what they were doing.
Click to ENLARGE. E-mail I got from Volvo March 6, 2023.Click to ENLARGE & read here. Link to ‘Volvo Support’.
So, so, so frigging GLAD that this was NOT ‘OTA’ (Over the Air). I would have been totally dead in the frigging water.
This was a DEALER — a very big & super-good DEALER at that — doing it.
Totally KILLED the car. Couldn’t even open the tailgate! I had my hiking gear bag in the back (as always, packed & ready for action). LUCKILY we were able to pull it out by folding the backseat.
This is BEYOND STUPID. Car totally dead. They don’t know what is wrong with it!
They, at the dealership, can do OTA. Appears they tried doing it OTA 3 times. Failed each time. So, they plugged the car into the computer. That is when they FRIED the car!
I took the car (i.e., XC60) in at 12:30 (as agreed). They said about two hours. That is fair enough. It was 80F. I went ambling. {See the pictures}
At 3:30pm they sheepishly broke the news. WE HAD A PROBLEM. I am going ambling in upstate New York on Monday. I told them, forget the update, just get the car to the state it was when I brought it in. They admitted they couldn’t. Told me that they can’t even open the tailgate. I was NOT amused.
They, of course, immediately offered me a loaner. They had to.
My XC60 is my HIKING car. The Mazda CX-30 is my local car. The XC60 is PRECISELY packed with all my hiking gear. Spare boots, sticks, clothing, straps, picnic stuff, hotel/motel stuff (e.g., extension cords, nighlights {SMILE}), maps.
I had to transfer 90% of the stuff from my DEAD car to the loaner — which was a XC60. I was nearly done when I remembered SIRIUS XM. I can’t drive without Sirius {& I am NOT kidding} & there was no way I was going on a hiking trip WITHOUT Sirius. I need to listen to CNBC. SMILE. That loaner didn’t have Sirius. I am so RELIEVED that I had asked.
They scrambled around & got me another loaner that had Sirius. This was FANCY. Fancier than mine! It was a 2023 whereas mine is a 2022. It also has Premium Sound & is a B6 (whereas mine is a B5 with POLESTAR). So, at least, I don’t have to slum it. It is pretty nice car — with only 3,000 on the clock (whereas mine (after 16 months) has 12,900 miles). Plus, I will save myself around 800 miles on the lease. SMILE. They still owe me.
Got an e-mail from ‘Volvo‘ saying that these updates are now available. Since I (alas) have a ‘B5’ I will NOT get it ‘OTA’ (Over the Air).
As luck would have it I have an upcoming service appointment, for my 1-year service, this coming Monday. I called them today & asked them to kindly add this update. While none of the listed fixes seem applicable, I have learnt from the past updates that each version is more STABLE. That is what I am looking for. Some stable software.
I have been on Version 2.2 since August 2022. Suffice to say that is the best software I have had on this accursed car since I leased it 13-months ago.
I will let you know, of course, what I discover when they install Version 2.5.
