OTA Update GM N22-238206 HVAC Quirk

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Can you go into more details on the cooled seat fan? Mine gets louder when I let off the gas or press the brake. I noticed that the alternator voltage jumps up at the same time (from 12v to 14-15v), so I guess the fan speed fluctuates with the voltage. But I wonder why the voltage jumps around so much.

My cooled seat fans are not noisy at all...the A/C blower definitely drowns them out, and I really never hear them when driving.

My point on the fan behavior was that I have the setting of "Auto Cooled Seats" enabled in the vehicle settings. Before the update, if the A/C blower came on high, the seats also came on at high setting; as the vehicle cools off, they would slow down. This behavior seems to also be affected by the HVAC quirk...the gradual slowdown of the speed on them does not seem to work...but again; I have to pay a bit more attention to this.

 

[martinajm]

Not just you. I think that it is related to this issue:

22 Tahoe/Google Speech error

Every time I start my car I have an error come up on my 2022 Chevy Tahoe infotainment screen. It says “Speech Services by Google…For your safety this utility isn’t available while driving. To continue wait until you’re in park.” How do I get rid of this? I have tried shutting off notifications...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Following up on this... I left mine with the dealer for 2+ days. Complaints were Google Speech error message popping up, HVAC fan slowing, and radio cutting out a couple of times within the first several minutes of a drive.

The tech notes were: "Radio Software Update Y167 Available to correct Concerns Bulletin 23-NA-034" "Update Radio Software to Y167 Multiple Updates" "Reprogrammed Radio with Latest Software".

After 1 drive (dealership to my office - about 10 minutes) I did not get the google speech error, the radio DID cut off (but only once) and the fan DID slow down when it shouldn't have. I also have the added feature of a "Service Driver Assist" error message now and a pretty significant gash in the sidewall of a time.

I will likely go over the 36k miles this weekend, so while I have everything documented with the dealer, I am sure being out of warranty will slow things down from here.

 

[Wubears71]

I’m glad I randomly found this - I have the AC issue since picking up my ultimate last Friday.

 

[mikepankau]

I have the same issue but have determined a quicker fix. If you press the voice assistant button to trigger Google/Siri and then immediately cancel it, everything goes back to normal. Sometimes I have to do it twice if I don't wait long enough, but the audio system thinks the microphone is in use and slows the blowers for background noise. @martinnajm - Glad to hear there might be an OTA update coming that resolves it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10236346-0001.pdf

 

[martinajm]

Following up on this... I left mine with the dealer for 2+ days. Complaints were Google Speech error message popping up, HVAC fan slowing, and radio cutting out a couple of times within the first several minutes of a drive.

The tech notes were: "Radio Software Update Y167 Available to correct Concerns Bulletin 23-NA-034" "Update Radio Software to Y167 Multiple Updates" "Reprogrammed Radio with Latest Software".

After 1 drive (dealership to my office - about 10 minutes) I did not get the google speech error, the radio DID cut off (but only once) and the fan DID slow down when it shouldn't have. I also have the added feature of a "Service Driver Assist" error message now and a pretty significant gash in the sidewall of a time.

I will likely go over the 36k miles this weekend, so while I have everything documented with the dealer, I am sure being out of warranty will slow things down from here.

Took it back in yesterday and they now find a bunch of codes stored. I didn't get a copy of them, but all connection issues with the radio. will leave it with them next week to try to address.

I have the same issue but have determined a quicker fix. If you press the voice assistant button to trigger Google/Siri and then immediately cancel it, everything goes back to normal. Sometimes I have to do it twice if I don't wait long enough, but the audio system thinks the microphone is in use and slows the blowers for background noise. @martinnajm - Glad to hear there might be an OTA update coming that resolves it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10236346-0001.pdf

This kind of works for me. The fan speeds up, but them I get a voice telling me that I need a vehicle connection to do that and the fan slows back down.

 

[navyseal334]

I never could get comfortable with the approach some take of never accepting OTA if everything is already working; what if you miss some neat new feature??

With something as basic as AC now breaking during the hot summer months, I am now a convert to the notion of getting a stable (as stable as possible) version and never changing again.

Does anyone remember if any features have even been released via OTA update or is it all just bug fixes?

 

[StephenPT]

I wouldn't call it the AC is "breaking" - it just changes the fan speed to low when on auto mode and you first start the vehicle. Rotate the fan knob and you can set it wherever you want it and it stays there.

Don't expect new "features" to come from these OTA updates. Generally they are bug fixes. I've installed five OTA updates and haven't noticed any new features. Sometimes the notice comes with a detailed change log and other times it just says "a variety of software improvements."

 

[509Yukon]

I wouldn't call it the AC is "breaking" - it just changes the fan speed to low when on auto mode and you first start the vehicle. Rotate the fan knob and you can set it wherever you want it and it stays there.

Don't expect new "features" to come from these OTA updates. Generally they are bug fixes. I've installed five OTA updates and haven't noticed any new features. Sometimes the notice comes with a detailed change log and other times it just says "a variety of software improvements."

This bug has not only "broken" the HVAC system but it has detrimentally affected the use and merchantability of the vehicle.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

I never could get comfortable with the approach some take of never accepting OTA if everything is already working; what if you miss some neat new feature??

With something as basic as AC now breaking during the hot summer months, I am now a convert to the notion of getting a stable (as stable as possible) version and never changing again.

Does anyone remember if any features have even been released via OTA update or is it all just bug fixes?

Yes, the latest update brought Amazon Alexa, Native Waze, and a host of fixes....but, yes, also brought us the fan stuck in low for voice mode...This is the life with firmware/software these days...proceed at your own risk.

 

[Reels]

Has anyone heard if there is a fix/update for this yet?

 

[mikepankau]

I haven't seen anything yet. I still get the weirdness about 1/3 of starts.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Was at dealer on Wednesday last week, still no fix available.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10239177-9999.pdf

 

[jthoske]

I wouldn't call it the AC is "breaking" - it just changes the fan speed to low when on auto mode and you first start the vehicle. Rotate the fan knob and you can set it wherever you want it and it stays there.

Don't expect new "features" to come from these OTA updates. Generally they are bug fixes. I've installed five OTA updates and haven't noticed any new features. Sometimes the notice comes with a detailed change log and other times it just says "a variety of software improvements."

Mine does this, and it drives me nuts. Every other car I’ve owned with automatic climate control, you set it on Auto and the temp you want, and it should match the blower sled automatically to the cooling or heating demand.

It’s a little thing but when I crank it to Cool in hot car I want it blowing cold air!!

 

[Chad G 1979]

Just turn off auto and set fan to high? It works just fine that way. Its easier for me to set fan speed and temp than to let the vehicle decide for me as most times it sets fan speed too fast or slow for my liking. Esp if im talking in car it wants to runn full blast and makes conversation more difficult. But whem i set it i can put it exactly where i want it.

 

[E_S_D]

Just turn off auto and set fan to high? It works just fine that way. Its easier for me to set fan speed and temp than to let the vehicle decide for me as most times it sets fan speed too fast or slow for my liking. Esp if im talking in car it wants to runn full blast and makes conversation more difficult. But whem i set it i can put it exactly where i want it.

Unfortunately, being on auto is not what does it, I have the same issue and I do not use the auto temp feature. Every time I start the vehicle the fan speed reduces and audio cuts out three times. The only current fix is to manually increase the fan speed again after it reduces.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Just turn off auto and set fan to high? It works just fine that way. Its easier for me to set fan speed and temp than to let the vehicle decide for me as most times it sets fan speed too fast or slow for my liking. Esp if im talking in car it wants to runn full blast and makes conversation more difficult. But whem i set it i can put it exactly where i want it.

Yes, agree…GM has told the dealers it’s a known bug…now we wait for the software release process…

 

[509Yukon]

Picked up my Yukon from the dealer yesterday and yet again they claimed another dose of software update per GM had fixed the HVAC fan speed issue and the instrument cluster going out. Today after starting it the HVAC fan speed dropped again along with the occasional Google Speech error message. I took a photo of the error message and sent it to the advisor.

He called me 15 minutes later and said a GM service rep was at the store and he just showed him the picture and described what they have been struggling with. This GM rep said the fan speed problem is possibly tied to an issue with the talk button on the steering wheel sending an erroneous signal and told them to get it in to check out that button.

Of course I then pushed the button a number of times triggering Google on the media screen and it came up fine, lowered the fan speed, and also returned the fan speed to normal after timing out each and every time. I can't imagine the button is the problem but a service appointment is set for next week and we will see what they come up with.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Picked up my Yukon from the dealer yesterday and yet again they claimed another dose of software update per GM had fixed the HVAC fan speed issue and the instrument cluster going out. Today after starting it the HVAC fan speed dropped again along with the occasional Google Speech error message. I took a photo of the error message and sent it to the advisor.

He called me 15 minutes later and said a GM service rep was at the store and he just showed him the picture and described what they have been struggling with. This GM rep said the fan speed problem is possibly tied to an issue with the talk button on the steering wheel sending an erroneous signal and told them to get it in to check out that button.

Of course I then pushed the button a number of times triggering Google on the media screen and it came up fine, lowered the fan speed, and also returned the fan speed to normal after timing out each and every time. I can't imagine the button is the problem but a service appointment is set for next week and we will see what they come up with.

Look at the bulletin in post 33 that I shared. As of June 26, GM does not yet have a fix...

 

[509Yukon]

Look at the bulletin in post 33 that I shared. As of June 26, GM does not yet have a fix...

I know, I saw it. If they want to keep messing with it and letting me accumulate totals days out of service for lemon law that is their problem.