No one replies to me at gm-volt forum, so let's try it here... problem with daylight running lights

Original thread:
(Ampera MY2012) If preconditioning, daylight LEDs are turned off when the car is ON

Can anyone repeat the same procedure with their Volt to see if this is my Ampera's specific or if it's Ampera's specific or that it's the entire production line specific?

Thank you!

 

Yep. We, in Europe, don't have that kind of service, that's why we can only use the key fob. Pre-conditioning is a feature I regularly use, but this is a serious safety bug if it's widespread. I wasn't aware, that I was driving without any front lights, until the police patrol almost stopped me for not having mandatory lights lit, but the police officer was looking at me with that unkind look.

I started to look for the reflection of my lights in the car in the front, but I didn't see any, so....

It's autumn, outside temperatures are colder and I like preheating. Days are bright enough for halogen lights not to turn on, but it's still not as bright to drive without any light safely.

I could get fined by the police for driving without any lights or in case of accident, I may be found guilty, even I wouldn't be, because the other party could have claimed, that he didn't see me, because I didn't have my light turned on.

A few days ago, my dealer and I emailed the Ampera specialist in Hungary, but so far, we didn't get any reply.

 

I will.

My comment for the first paragraph. My 3rd video shows what happens with the DRL-s after the precondition. They simply don't work. After turning the car off and back on, they work like they should. It's all in the video.
By the way, in Europe, DRL works even when stopped and in Park (that is seen in the 3rd video, at the end, when I turned the car off and back on).

Thank you for your help!

P.S.: I will try one more thing and that is, if it makes any difference if I open the car with the key fob instead of manually by the press of the button on the car's door handle.

 

Well, I kinda thought it was obvious ;-)

I'll be on my way off work now and I'll stop at the other dealer on the way to try to reproduce it on their test Ampera.

If it confirms, that this is a widespread problem, is it enough for a recall?

 

I'm not from Hungary. The specialist, that covers the Central Europe is stationed there.

If they'd do a software update, it's more likely they will do a bugfix of this bug. And since, IMO, is quite a safety issue, they might do a recall.

Telling your customer to turn on the car, then turn off and back on is very unlikely.

 

Yes, a software fix. Big this is a much bigger issue than just a phone problem. This is a safety issue. This software fix should be done to all Amperas sold and any new Amperas.
Driving without lights could cause an accident or you could be fined by the police without doing anything wrong by the driver.
I know, that if I'd get a fine by the police for not having the lights on, I'd pass the fine to the Opel.

 

It's the same as with my Ampera.

 

I wouldn't say it's uncommon. Pre-conditioning is a major advantage against the pure ICE vehicles and could be used by many. I'm using it almost daily.
I plug my Ampera at work and at home in an underground garage. When going from work, I like to take a seat in a warm car.
Also, on weekends, when we're going on a trip, I preheat the car. I have a 2 years old daughter, which I like to place in a warm car, so we don't have to put to many clothes on her in the first place and then undress her during the ride, because she sits in a baby seat all buckled up.

 

I just tried a more efficient workaround than turning the car off and back on again. The workaround is to turn off the Automatic Light Control on the stick (move to the O/I position) and turn it back on. The front LEDs are working again. It's not a fix, but it's a workaround.