In another thread it came up that someone here in the US has a 2016 T8 with remote start that was enabled by the November software update. To my knowledge this has not been rolled out to any model year T8 in the US. Have I been misinformed? If so, why does my 2017 T8 lack the capability even though it's had software updates three times between December and mid-January? I could have really been taking advantage of the feature the last few months.

So, any other of you T8 owners in the US have remote start enabled?

I have an early March 2017 Total Upgrade. I will test out tomorrow and report back. I am not optimistic as my mind is set on the May update. More to come...

 

In another thread it came up that someone here in the US has a 2016 T8 with remote start that was enabled by the November software update. To my knowledge this has not been rolled out to any model year T8 in the US. Have I been misinformed? If so, why does my 2017 T8 lack the capability even though it's had software updates three times between December and mid-January? I could have really been taking advantage of the feature the last few months.

So, any other of you T8 owners in the US have remote start enabled?

We just had our 2016 T8 at the dealership for the 10k service and the seatbelt recall, and I noticed they did a software update. I saw this thread, so I thought I would give it a go. Much to my surprise, I believe we can now finally "precondition" (remote start in the rest of the civilized world) a US-spec T8 when it is NOT connected to 240v. My wife drives our T8, and it is currently parked at her work location (no charging capability there) and I just sent a preconditioning command via VOC, fully expecting it to fail. Much to my surprise, it appears to have worked!

 

Very interesting. Mine was last updated in mid-January. I just tried to precondition and it failed three times in a row. When it's plugged in, it works nine times out of ten. The person who mentioned it called it Engine Remote Start which I believe is the terminology used on non-T8s and indicated that it used the battery first and then would switch to the ICE. They also mentioned that they've had the capability since the November 2016 update.

I wonder what's going on here. I'm going to have to chat with Volvo customer care again.

 

I will try to remember to check it again this evening after I get home to have the vehicle in front of me when I issue the command via VOC with the T8 unplugged and report back. Mine has allowed "preconditioning" while connected to 240 since day one. Unplugged has always been elusive - until now, apparently.

 

All I can surmise here is that this feature (originally pledged for week 48 of last year) was included in this latest update the vehicle took when in the shop this month (March). It sure would be nice if they would be more informative and transparent with a changelog for their updates besides a blip mention on the service engagement paperwork. This also precisely why I waited until the 10k service to roll around (instead of taking it when the seat belt recall came in January).

I am not necessarily complaining, but it seems like there is a software update every. time. I. take. the. vehicle. in. Updates at home (via WiFi) would be much more welcome. I guess Tesla can hold onto that distinction for a while longer.

 

The language is odd from the OP because there's really no concept of remote start on a plug in EV. The reason you remote start a vehicle is generally to set the interior environment (make he cabin warmer or cooler) and that is done via battery with preconditioning in an EV. That's why the language is different.

Mine has had no updates since we bought in dec. so no way for me to test this out though. I can still only precondition when plugged in


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The language is odd from the OP because there's really no concept of remote start on a plug in EV. The reason you remote start a vehicle is generally to set the interior environment (make he cabin warmer or cooler) and that is done via battery with preconditioning in an EV. That's why the language is different.

Mine has had no updates since we bought in dec. so no way for me to test this out though. I can still only precondition when plugged in

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Remote start is something that Volvo has been promising to T8 owners to allow for warming/cooling the cabin when unplugged and is likely named that as it matches the same function on non-T8s. There are apparently now at least two people on this forum in the US with T8s that have both the preconditioning and remote start features enabled and functioning in their VOC apps.

I'm just trying to find out if I'm missing something and how to get it.

 

I just tried this and found that while plugged into 240: I could start Parking Climate, but Remote Start gave an error. When unplugged from 240: Parking Climate gave an error, but Remote Start worked. The interesting thing is on the app (ios), the option for Remote Start says Start Engine, but the engine (ICE) doesn't actually start. The car comes to life like it would when you start it from inside and it is running from the battery. The UI could use some work to make this less confusing, however it seems to work how I would use it.


2017 XC90 T8 Inscription | Luminous Sand | Blond Interior (leather and carpet) | Vision | Conv | Climate

 

I just tried this and found that while plugged into 240: I could start Parking Climate, but Remote Start gave an error. When unplugged from 240: Parking Climate gave an error, but Remote Start worked. The interesting thing is on the app (ios), the option for Remote Start says Start Engine, but the engine (ICE) doesn't actually start. The car comes to life like it would when you start it from inside and it is running from the battery. The UI could use some work to make this less confusing, however it seems to work how I would use it.

2017 XC90 T8 Inscription | Luminous Sand | Blond Interior (leather and carpet) | Vision | Conv | Climate

So you see a Remote Start option in the VOC app and it is separate from the Parking Climate option that allows you to start preconditioning? Because that seems to match with what the other person had mentioned. I do not see a Remote Start option in my VOC app.

I am beginning to wonder if this is actually a bug where VOC thinks you've got some T6/T8 chimera. That would actually not be too surprising considering the number of people with T8s that can't see their battery level or electric consumption leading one to believe they've got a problem with the app identifying the correct drive train.

 

MY17 T8 - Got my latest Total Update in early March. I don't see a remote start option in the VOC app but I was just now able to start preconditioning without the car being plugged into a charger. Not sure it actually started since my wife has the car but it does appear to function differently since the latest update.

 

Same here. I had Total update installed on March 3, 2017. I tested tonight and unplugged preconditioning (I.e., heat) does not work and there is no ability to remote start ICE.

 

On the T6, the top pane in VOC is "Remote Start."

Parking Climate seems specific to the T8 or perhaps, if not, the Euro variants with the fuel fired heater.

 

I believe you are correct that any vehicle that can warm up (or cool down in case of T8) without starting the engine gets the Parking Climate/preconditioning capability.

 

Just for reference, my preconditioning has worked without being plugged in since around September or October. And when I say working, I mean it works 1 out of every 3 or 4 tries, and the battery needs to be above a certain level. I don't currently have remote start in my app, but my car hasn't been updated since November.

 

Just for reference, my preconditioning has worked without being plugged in since around September or October.

Are you in North America? Would be nice to see your location under user name!

My last update was done mid Feb. & I just tried & got the failed message & I am not plugged in.

 

I have the preconditioning, but nowhere in my VOC app can I see a battery level or charging status. Is that normal?


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I have the preconditioning, but nowhere in my VOC app can I see a battery level or charging status. Is that normal?

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I think normal remains to be defined.

My VOC app allows me to precondition only when plugged in and shows me what appears to be an accurate battery level on the dashboard page when unplugged and the driving journal includes my electric consumption when I export it but not when I look at an individual trip in the VOC app. The app also does not display a charging status indicator nor does the charge level update whilst charging until it is complete.

 

Just tried mine. they updated the software a couple months ago, car was parked outside I tried it just like i would as if it was plugged in and it said parking climate was on .. went outside didn't hear anything, opened the door no vent sound, shut off the parking climate in the app and closed the car door.

Tried it again while standing outside beside the car and sure enough the vents kicked on with warm air. Was kind of hoping it would have started the engine instead of further draining the battery. even better start the engine in charge mode so it doesn't completely waste the gas.

 

This is the official response I just got from Volvo customer care:

"The engine remote start feature is now available for your vehicle. Your Volvo dealership will be able to perform a software update that will enable you to use this feature."

 

I would call before you go to the dealer, communication between volvo and its dealers is pretty non existent. Android auto, PA2, etc...some dealers had no clue how to perform some of these updates even months after release.

 

The support site also looks to be updated with info. I am still surprised to not have battery usage information. I called customer service and they said the feature was coming in a future update.

 

I just went on the website and did the chat. I was told that it is not available... mixed signals

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I had a total software update on Friday and it now don't have remote start, unplugged preconditioning, or even battery stats in VOC.

Quite annoyed


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I had a total software update on Friday and it now don't have remote start, unplugged preconditioning, or even battery stats in VOC.

Quite annoyed

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Same here, im in canada, had total update installed yesterday, no remote start option in VOC.

 

My car was in for the suspension TJ and they also did a full software update last Friday (24 Jun 2017).

I have the VOC app version 3.6.6 on Android.

US market.

Parking Climate -> pre conditioning is still there ... but there are no new features (like remote start).

Battery stats under the Dashboard - but I wonder if they are accurately updating.

The VOC app continues to be a disappointment ...

 

2016 XC90 T8 - US
Was in for Service on 3/1/17 with "Total Update". No Engine Remote Start as a result.
This was response I got this morning to my email to Volvo Customer Care when I enquired about ERS availability for my VIN:

​

"Thank you for your email. I am happy to help!

​

I looked into your vehicle and the Engine Remote Start Application was not installed. Please bring your vehicle to your local Volvo retailer to have this installed.

​

The part number for the Engine Remote Start Application is 3167816.

​

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

​

Thank you and have a great day!"

I won't be able to get my car in for a few weeks, but would be interested to hear if this helps anyone else.
Thanks,

 

Oddly enough, this is the response I got today:

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This is actually starting to disgust me beyond belief. No wonder dealers don't know what their doing. Corporate can't even figure it out.

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I'm going in for my 10k maintenance today. I'll keep you all posted.


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Dealer called today and said they can't find it. No one in parts or software can find the number.

Then told me that my modem was never turned on and that's why I can't use my phone as a mobile hotspot. Whenever I try to connect my car to my phones internet it just spins and spinssssss.


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Connecting your car to your phone's hotspot would use the car's wifi, not the car's modem.

 

Shouldn't it work the other way around? I talked to a dealer today that agree with my thoughts. That basically the car has the onboard modem. That modem can be used for wifi, to be its own hotspot, and to connect to other devices. So the modem in the car should be able to connect to my cell phone, regardless of whether or not at have a data subscription..

Someone correct me if I am wrong, I don't want to give the dealership I've been using more heat. I am planning to switch dealers more than likely anyways.

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You are wrong, or are swapping terms. If the car is connecting to your phone's internet, that means your phone is providing its internet connection to the car. The method that phones use to do that is generally a WiFi hotspot, and less often via Bluetooth. In either case, the point of connecting your car to your phone's internet is so that the vehicle does not need to provide its own internet connection.

The vehicle modem is solely used to connect to the internet.

Now, what you said in your last post is true: the vehicle modem can also provide the opposite function: the vehicle connects to the internet via its modem, then provides access to that connection to other devices via its wifi connection.

But I was replying specifically to your comment that the dealer said your vehicle modem being off was the reason your car could not connect to your phone's hotspot. In that scenario the vehicle modem doesn't enter into it.

Does that make sense?

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And to add to this, use of the vehicle modem to connect to the internet and using the vehicle wifi to connect to your phone's hotspot are mutually exclusive features. Enabling one disables the other as I recall.

So if you're parked at home and connect to your home wifi or connect to your phone's hotspot feature, your vehicle modem will be turned off. Likewise, if you turn on your vehicle modem, the vehicle will be disconnected from any wifi connection it is using.

It's not like a cellular-equipped tablet that can automatically switch between the two types of connections. You have to manually pick the type of connection to use.

 

That's correct. Good luck!

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my dealer called me and saying he has contacted Volvo canada, there is no engine remote start for T8. The application number 3617816 doesn't exist, however there is a 36179816 or 36178916 exists, and it is for pre-conditioning (plugged in) of the car and I was told it was still in testing. I asked why Volvo installed something still in testing to us (the pliugged in preconditioning) , he said he didn't know.

I guess miscommunication again!

 

The number is: 31678916

 

Yup. I just found that out. Volvo gave us the wrong number.


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