[ComputerDoc]

Yes most probably you are right. However I found some strange facts:
1) in one of the frorum threats Bolt owner had his iBooster replaced twice and the problem came back soon. Then it would mean that both replacements were taken from the same defective batch?
2) the iBooster ticking problem was typical to 2014 Tesla, however at speeds above 25 mph. For some owners their dealers also went with the booster replacement. However in January 2015 Tesla issued a software/firmware update 2.2.115 and the ticking disappeared (the link in here).
3) another Bolt owner told that besides iBooster replacement his dealer did as well some update. Nobody else in the Bolt/Volt forums told that or nobody knew they received an update.

So I do not reject that the clicking/ticking noise from the iBooster is coming due to software/firmware which might be forcing for some reason the stepper motor to continue working AFTER master cylinder piston has returned to its home position thus making the noise. But this is my guess.

If master cylinder piston has not returned to its home position then we could see the brake lights always on. I just experienced and fixed such issue combined with Service Stabilitrak + BRAKE red light + booster temporarily not working at all. I thought I found the issue but now I'm in doubts again. If the iBooster tooth had separated it could stuck in between gears and cause all the problems I had. The booster clicking noise appeared afterwards, it was not there before. Here is the link to the problem and my fix.

Regarding the reference to

I have a white 2019 Premier.

Here is the Chevy service bulletin #20-NA-170:

https://www.chevybolt.org/attachments/screenshot-2020-12-14-120016-png.32473/

I took this to my dealer on Monday when I was having the battery software update done, they verified and completed the software update and now no more clicking noise. They also said normally they charge $149+tax for software updates on TSBs but with the battery issues, as a customer satisfaction adjustment they only charged $60+ tax for this. I was happy about that.

I have one form of this issue (the reported noise rarely and randomly on pressing the unlock button to get in car, or getting out of car...and on even rarer occasions when making a change in shifter or brake setting while in car.)

There have been several references to this software update service bulletin.
I recently took by 2021 Bolt in handed the bulletin to the service manager.
Result: He reported when they attempted to do the software update the car would not take it.
They noted that the bulletin refers to 2017 thru 2020.. and infer that my 2021 would not accept the update because it was already current/updated by the time my car left the factory.
In any case... no fix was done and presumably my car will continue to occasionally produce that sound... until it gets bad/often enough that the have to do something like replace the brake actuator unit.

If I have any bottom line here it might be "if you have a 2021 Bolt don't hold your breath for this software update fixing this issue.

Alex

 

[Phil D Bolt Owner]

Hey,

So I recently noticed that my car was making a clicking sound when I opened the doors. No, it's not the lock. It's not the shift lockout. It makes a series of clicks up under the dash. When I first noticed it, I posted a video where you could hear it and a helpful poster (on FB) thought it might be one of the three HVAC actuators. For the record, it might click 5-6 times, but sometimes it goes 20-30 before stopping.

I took it over to my local dealer and they told me it was actually the 'brake actuator'. When describing the symptoms to them originally, I had only noticed that morning that the clicks always stopped when you put your foot on the brake. The service guy told me that GM was aware of the issue with the brake actuator and no solution was yet available. According to the service guy, this is harmless. I never consider an issue with the brakes 'harmless'. If the actuator is rotating needlessly or whatever it controls is slamming against the stops repeatedly, this will eventually lead to a failure of some sort -- again, this is the ABS brake system so is that failure catastrophic?

Does anyone else notice a clicking sound in or under the dash when you enter your Bolt (even from passenger side, or rear hatch, with key fob)? Did GM diagnose your issue? Did they provide a solution? The service guy mentioned a bulletin on it but did not give me a number or other identifying information so I could track it. So I don't really have a way to track GM's progress on a solution.

Anyone else have a Bolt that talks to them when they open the doors or hatch? Thanks in advance

I brought my 2019 Bolt into the dealership this morning. They just told me that they fixed the problem by installing a software update to the vehicle.

I searched the web about the issue and found this NTSHA Service Bulletin 2-NA-170 that was issued in December of 2020. The bulletin says that the software update would be released at the end of the first quarter of 2021.

20-NA-170 1..5 (nhtsa.gov)

 

[pfrost]

Just going to pile on here. I have a 2017 Bolt with the iBooster software bug. It started making the noise in 2020, as luck would have it, about 2 weeks before my warranty expired. Brought the car in, they couldn't replicate the issue. So I was sent away with tail between my legs. Brought the car in a while later (for annual inspection, I believe) and asked that the iBooster issue be looked at and to please do the software update even if issue doesn't present and that I would pay for it. Came back and was told they couldn't do the update even if I was willing to pay because they couldn't replicate the issue. Then when the whole battery recall was rolling, I decided to wait until we were going to have the battery replaced and just live with the noise since it was deemed to not be a safety issue. (Also it's our only car so every trip to the shop is a minor hassle). Had our battery replaced last week, which went great, but they were again unable to replicate the iBooster clicking sound. I had previously opened a case with GM, who, by the way, would not cover it under warranty even though the problem presented prior to the car being out of warranty, so I started the process of cost assistance, which I found out today I've been approved for. However, they can do nothing until they're able to replicate the sound in the shop. Video evidence is not good enough. We're left to aim for and hope that the day we have time to bring the car in it will magically malfunction on what will be our 4th attempt, after almost a year and a half of this annoyance.

I feel like there should maybe be a new category for problems like this since so much of a car is a computer now, that problems that are not purely mechanical need different diagnostics (for instance, can't a diagnostic check the software version number and determine it is the problematic one and just take the corrective steps based purely on customer complaints? or some other regime that doesn't require repeated visits for an intermittent issue?) I get the time and resources are a cost, but at this point I'm willing to pay and still can't get service. There are worse problems. And I'm thankful it's not a safety issue. But this seems like it should be easier.

 

[captivabolt]

Video Evidence ?
It is easy to audio record on your smart phone when it happens. That is what my dealer listened to, they paid for software update out of warranty.

 

[pfrost]

You can imagine my frustration at having read similar stories. Such an easy fix. Trying to go a little higher up at the dealership with some video/audio proof. We'll see. Fingers crossed.

 

[pfrost]

Well, just to update: shortly after my last post, we finally got the software update that fixed the issue. I had to go all the way to the service and parts director, who happened to be handling my battery swap. I sent him the video but he could only hear the audio for some reason, and based on that was willing to take a look. Thanks to this forum and having the bulletin number, he looked it up and was still very skeptical that a software update would fix something that clearly sounded mechanical. They did the update and he did it free of charge even though every single other person I talked to at GM and the dealership said I was pretty much out of luck because I was out of warranty. But this guy said it wouldn't be right to charge me and he would feel the same way if he were in my position. Not only that, he covered my uber rides to and from the dealership. I was so pleased with the service after such a long ordeal, that I sent a thank you to him and the mechanic and put $20 in there for each of them as a way of saying thanks. He called me back in disbelief, saying even forgetting the money, in all his time working there, he'd never received a thank you note. He called to thank me for my thank you, which is just the kind of man he was. A really nice experience at that GM dealership.

 

[Sean Nelson]

...this guy said it wouldn't be right to charge me and he would feel the same way if he were in my position. Not only that, he covered my uber rides to and from the dealership.

Don't keep us in suspense - tell us the name of this dealer so that more people can patronize his establishment!

 

[pfrost]

Don't keep us in suspense - tell us the name of this dealer so that more people can patronize his establishment!

It was Curry Chevrolet in Scarsdale, NY. The previous service appointments weren’t stellar because the person I dealt with wasn’t understanding, but getting the right person helped. Took too long to finally get it done, but at least they did right by me when finally doing it.

 

[CHASBOLT]

My car clicks on it's own without being touched. I was out in the garage this AM and started to click.

 

[jwnels]

Hey,

So I recently noticed that my car was making a clicking sound when I opened the doors. No, it's not the lock. It's not the shift lockout. It makes a series of clicks up under the dash. When I first noticed it, I posted a video where you could hear it and a helpful poster (on FB) thought it might be one of the three HVAC actuators. For the record, it might click 5-6 times, but sometimes it goes 20-30 before stopping.

I took it over to my local dealer and they told me it was actually the 'brake actuator'. When describing the symptoms to them originally, I had only noticed that morning that the clicks always stopped when you put your foot on the brake. The service guy told me that GM was aware of the issue with the brake actuator and no solution was yet available. According to the service guy, this is harmless. I never consider an issue with the brakes 'harmless'. If the actuator is rotating needlessly or whatever it controls is slamming against the stops repeatedly, this will eventually lead to a failure of some sort -- again, this is the ABS brake system so is that failure catastrophic?

Does anyone else notice a clicking sound in or under the dash when you enter your Bolt (even from passenger side, or rear hatch, with key fob)? Did GM diagnose your issue? Did they provide a solution? The service guy mentioned a bulletin on it but did not give me a number or other identifying information so I could track it. So I don't really have a way to track GM's progress on a solution.

Anyone else have a Bolt that talks to them when they open the doors or hatch? Thanks in advance

I took my 2020 Bolt to Fremont Chevrolet today, and they fixed it. From the service report: "Found TSBS 20-NA-170 states to program brake booster control module to rid concern. Programmed brake booster module using SPS # 2BYN117937943. Noise no longer present."

 

[seattlite]

I asked the dealer that is about to replace my 2018's battery and they stated that they will "..complete this software update for you while we perform your battery replacement. There is a small minimal charge of $87.50 to perform this update".

 

[niko.dtop]

My dealership offered to charge me $220 to upgrade the brake software while my out of warranty 2019 is in for a safety recall and the Advanced Diagnostic Software update.

 

[Scott K.]

My dealership offered to charge me $220 to upgrade the brake software while my out of warranty 2019 is in for a safety recall and the Advanced Diagnostic Software update.

My recollection is that the dealer quoted me $200 when I had it done OOW in October 2021. I told them I’d seen it priced for other Chevy customers at $100-150 (I should’ve just said $100!), so they did it for me at $150. Frankly, I thought it should’ve been covered, too, as it’s not a mechanical defect but a software/firmware fix. Regardless, it was so annoying and had gone without a fix for so long…and you can read the accounts of people who had the entire iBooster needlessly replaced even twice without the problem going away…that it was well worth the $150 I paid, especially when I had no other option.

My suggestion is to do what I did, and tell them you’ve seen online that other owners had paid $100-150 (or whatever you’re comfortable with; my quote was based on my own research), and maybe they’ll budge since, as usual, it merely involves hooking the car up and letting the computers do their thing.

 

[Duke Woolworth]

Hey, So I recently noticed that my car was making a clicking sound when I opened the doors. No, it's not the lock. It's not the shift lockout. It makes a series of clicks up under the dash. When I first noticed it, I posted a video where you could hear it and a helpful poster (on FB) thought it might be one of the three HVAC actuators. For the record, it might click 5-6 times, but sometimes it goes 20-30 before stopping. I took it over to my local dealer and they told me it was actually the 'brake actuator'. When describing the symptoms to them originally, I had only noticed that morning that the clicks always stopped when you put your foot on the brake. The service guy told me that GM was aware of the issue with the brake actuator and no solution was yet available. According to the service guy, this is harmless. I never consider an issue with the brakes 'harmless'. If the actuator is rotating needlessly or whatever it controls is slamming against the stops repeatedly, this will eventually lead to a failure of some sort -- again, this is the ABS brake system so is that failure catastrophic? Does anyone else notice a clicking sound in or under the dash when you enter your Bolt (even from passenger side, or rear hatch, with key fob)? Did GM diagnose your issue? Did they provide a solution? The service guy mentioned a bulletin on it but did not give me a number or other identifying information so I could track it. So I don't really have a way to track GM's progress on a solution. Anyone else have a Bolt that talks to them when they open the doors or hatch? Thanks in advance

 

[dmwillis5]

Hey, So I recently noticed that my car was making a clicking sound when I opened the doors. No, it's not the lock. It's not the shift lockout. It makes a series of clicks up under the dash. When I first noticed it, I posted a video where you could hear it and a helpful poster (on FB) thought it might be one of the three HVAC actuators. For the record, it might click 5-6 times, but sometimes it goes 20-30 before stopping. I took it over to my local dealer and they told me it was actually the 'brake actuator'. When describing the symptoms to them originally, I had only noticed that morning that the clicks always stopped when you put your foot on the brake. The service guy told me that GM was aware of the issue with the brake actuator and no solution was yet available. According to the service guy, this is harmless. I never consider an issue with the brakes 'harmless'. If the actuator is rotating needlessly or whatever it controls is slamming against the stops repeatedly, this will eventually lead to a failure of some sort -- again, this is the ABS brake system so is that failure catastrophic? Does anyone else notice a clicking sound in or under the dash when you enter your Bolt (even from passenger side, or rear hatch, with key fob)? Did GM diagnose your issue? Did they provide a solution? The service guy mentioned a bulletin on it but did not give me a number or other identifying information so I could track it. So I don't really have a way to track GM's progress on a solution. Anyone else have a Bolt that talks to them when they open the doors or hatch? Thanks in advance

My 2019 Bolt has started this tapping recently. It’s occurs with opening of passenger or driver’s door and stops when you step on the break. Diagnosis and fix? And cost?

 

[beakfamily]

Hey, So I recently noticed that my car was making a clicking sound when I opened the doors. No, it's not the lock. It's not the shift lockout. It makes a series of clicks up under the dash. When I first noticed it, I posted a video where you could hear it and a helpful poster (on FB) thought it might be one of the three HVAC actuators. For the record, it might click 5-6 times, but sometimes it goes 20-30 before stopping. I took it over to my local dealer and they told me it was actually the 'brake actuator'. When describing the symptoms to them originally, I had only noticed that morning that the clicks always stopped when you put your foot on the brake. The service guy told me that GM was aware of the issue with the brake actuator and no solution was yet available. According to the service guy, this is harmless. I never consider an issue with the brakes 'harmless'. If the actuator is rotating needlessly or whatever it controls is slamming against the stops repeatedly, this will eventually lead to a failure of some sort -- again, this is the ABS brake system so is that failure catastrophic? Does anyone else notice a clicking sound in or under the dash when you enter your Bolt (even from passenger side, or rear hatch, with key fob)? Did GM diagnose your issue? Did they provide a solution? The service guy mentioned a bulletin on it but did not give me a number or other identifying information so I could track it. So I don't really have a way to track GM's progress on a solution. Anyone else have a Bolt that talks to them when they open the doors or hatch? Thanks in advance

I have this issue. Noise stays on seemingly forever. Dealer said software fix. Costs about 200 plus. I didn’t have them fix it yet as I just bought the car and I wanted to do research first.

 

[Scott K.]

I have this issue. Noise stays on seemingly forever. Dealer said software fix. Costs about 200 plus. I didn’t have them fix it yet as I just bought the car and I wanted to do research first.

Read post #173 four posts upthread. It will cost you the labor for programming the software/firmware fix. The price is somewhat negotiable.