Be aware of system updates! My Tahoe prompted an update on 12/15/2022. I allowed the install to happen because I have done previous updates without any issue. The car was sitting at my office parking lot in a safe location. Around lunch time I returned to my car to run some errands. When I attempted to start my vehicle... nothing. No power. I called my husband & he just assumed a dead battery. He arrived to try to jump start it without success. We called Chevy Roadside Assistance for a tow. The 1st driver, attempted to jump start it and he was also unsuccessful. He was unable to tow the vehicle because there was no way to put the car in neutral without dragging it. The 'gearshift' is the electronic buttons. No power means we can't shift the car into neutral. We cancelled his services and requested another driver that could lift the vehicle & roll it (aka a Repo Truck). It was towed to the dealership where it has sat for over a week. They have also tried jump starting it. Also, we are being told there's a tool to 'unlock the transmission to be able to put the car in neutral & move it into the shop". The dealership says they only have 1 key and it's currently stuck in another vehicle. I love my Tahoe, and this is the first issue I have experienced with it. We purchased it Oct 2020. I'm beginning to fear that this is a bigger issue than just disconnecting the battery & resetting it. I have tried researching this issue online but can only fine experiences where the car was still drivable. My car is a completely disabled. I can't even lock the passenger door due to no power. Battery tests show that I have full power on the battery. Why is my car dead?!
2021 Tahoe Z71 disabled after software update
- Thread starter ALesikar
- Start date
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From several similar posts I’m starting to wonder if most of these types of issues are caused by data corruption during the download. The data corruption can be caused by poor wi-fi strength, low battery voltage, intermittent wi-fi connection, etc. Does anyone know whether or not all over the air updates can be performed by dealer service through a physical connection? If so, it might be worth holding off on updates until the next dealer service visit. It’s a new world with these rolling computers. Imagine having this type of problem while on a road trip to some sparsely populated or remote area. A mechanical issue you might have a chance to fix yourself. A computer software programming issue, no chance.
WalleyeMikeIII
Full Access Member
Typically for things like firmware updates, a CRC check or Checksum is performed by the software to be sure the file downloaded correctly. The firmware also gets signed, normally, and that signature must be validated in order for the install to proceed.
Net, before the system attempts to actually install the new firmware, the system validates its correctly downloaded, and that it is a legit copy. Only then does an install proceed. A file that is corrupted in the download won’t pass the necessary checks to start the install. Assuming, of course, everything is working as it should.
Thomas Schneider
Member
The first time I tried to update I got this when I checked back to see if it had been completed:
Tried for several days and kept getting the same message. So I brought it to the dealer and they said the infotainment system needed updating and they did that. Got it home and thought I'd check for updates again to see if it corrected itself and got the same message!! Tried it again for a couple of days and just gave up. After a about 6 hours of driving yesterday (roundtrip Oklahoma City to Dallas), today after a short trip to the grocery store and placing it into park, up comes the request to do the update!!! Parked it outside to make sure I had good satellite reception and it downloaded just fine. We'll see if all is well the next time I take it out for a drive.
Tried for several days and kept getting the same message. So I brought it to the dealer and they said the infotainment system needed updating and they did that. Got it home and thought I'd check for updates again to see if it corrected itself and got the same message!! Tried it again for a couple of days and just gave up. After a about 6 hours of driving yesterday (roundtrip Oklahoma City to Dallas), today after a short trip to the grocery store and placing it into park, up comes the request to do the update!!! Parked it outside to make sure I had good satellite reception and it downloaded just fine. We'll see if all is well the next time I take it out for a drive.
DmaxDenaliXL
Member
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@Thomas Schneider This thread has some good pointers on the updates.
www.tahoeyukonforum.com
Specifically, I'd read through this link from that thread. It mentions that the ambient air temp has to be above 14F. With the cold temps last week, that may have been the problem.
gm-techlink.com
OTA Update on 2021 Yukon Denali seems to have bricked my truck
I have not seen the update come on our 21' i am going to check it out later today
www.tahoeyukonforum.com
Specifically, I'd read through this link from that thread. It mentions that the ambient air temp has to be above 14F. With the cold temps last week, that may have been the problem.
Tips for Over-The-Air Software Programming – TechLink
gm-techlink.com
repairman54
Member
In my '20 Traverse I have it linking to my home WiFi and run the updates in my garage to avoid any issues.
Thomas Schneider
Member
@Thomas Schneider This thread has some good pointers on the updates.
OTA Update on 2021 Yukon Denali seems to have bricked my truck
I have not seen the update come on our 21' i am going to check it out later today
Specifically, I'd read through this link from that thread. It mentions that the ambient air temp has to be above 14F. With the cold temps last week, that may have been the problem.
Tips for Over-The-Air Software Programming – TechLink
For my situation, the problems all started the last week in November and temperatures were well above freezing. I'm familiar with the article about the updates and followed all the recommendations. I'm starting to think it may have been a battery issue (State Of Charge), because it seemed to normalize after my road-trip to Dallas that may have super-charged the battery maybe?? However, I never had any problem with the 12V Stop-Start system, so who knows what was the cause. Anyway, I checked for updates again and it says I have all the current updates, so now it's just a matter of hoping they don't "brick" the system as mentioned in another post!
WalleyeMikeIII
Full Access Member
The downloads occur over the onboard Cellular Data connection. The only satellite data going to the vehicle is the Sirius XM radio and the GPS positioning data.
Thomas Schneider
Member
My mistake; I guess I should have remembered reading the owners manual better which says:
Downloading Over-the-Air vehicle software
updates requires Internet connectivity, which
can be accessed through the vehicle’s
built-in 4G LTE connection, if equipped and
active. If required, data plans are provided
by a third party. Optionally, a secure Wi-Fi
hotspot such as a compatible mobile device
hotspot, home hotspot, or public hotspot
can be used. Applicable data rates may
apply.
Since I never renewed the vehicle's built-in 4G LTE connection, I just assumed these OTA software updates were coming in by some other means. Now that I think about it, I believe I did enter my home Wi-Fi information in shortly after I bought the vehicle.
I would advise not to do any software updates. In other words, if it's not broken, don't fix it. A software update could make a change to your vehicle that you don't like, and unlike shopping for a new pair of sneakers, there's NO way to go back. Once you do an update you are STUCK. When I do an update on my Mac or my iPhone, I can read detailed information on what that update is for and what it does. Not so with General Motors.
