Argh. Another software glitch. And I did not see anyone else reporting it.

The cycle goes like this:

1. Clock is wrong
2. I manually set it to correct time and date
3. Next time I get in the car the time is wrong again (by hours sometimes)

Had the same problem. Apparently GM can't make an electronic clock that works as well as an old windup spring clock. I ended up setting it to Auto-cell tower connection. It then set to the correct time, as soon as I turned the car on.

 

Duh. I just pieced it together. When I picked up the car from the dealer (late last year) the clock was in auto-set mode. It stayed in auto-set mode and kept good time until the spring switch to daylight savings. In order to change the hour on the clock that day we were forced to put the clock into manual-set mode. Since then it's been under the control of this random number generator that should be an electronic clock.

I searched again and found no other mentions of this problem on the Internet. I would think, at a minimum, people who live in places without cell service would be reporting this problem.

 

I took it to the dealer and they told me there is nothing they can do because "the time is controlled by the OnStar satellite".

There's no such thing as an "OnStar satellite". I believe the time is set from the cellular network that OnStar connects through. There may be an issue with the network provider's time service.

 

Agreed. I had OnStar confused with some satellite network with a name that ends in "Star". I think I tested the "issue with [cellular] network provider service" by switching off the "auto set from cellular" feature. Then the clock reset at least twice while auto-set was turned off. And the resets include date resets. In both cases the date was set to more than 6 months ago.

This makes it clear that when the clock runs in "manual set" mode it's just plain broken. As GJETSON said, GM didn't make anything like an electronic clock. I'd call it a random number generator.

Oops! I see you are apparently already using the auto-cell tower connection.

I'm not actually sure if I was. While the sun was so bright I could not read the display, I set it to _not_ auto set. So I don't know the previous setting. (But the dealer assumed it was
configured for auto-set.)

It's now been in auto-set mode for a couple days and I haven't seen it reset yet. And, BTW, it only resets while the vehicle is parked, between turning it off and back on again.

FWIW they gave me a technical bulletin which says it "receives [a time signal] from the local cellular providers" and the OnStar module (cellular radio receiver) "sends the clock information [to the infotainment module] every six minutes." Presumably you don't have to be an OnStar subscriber to get the time signal.

 

Oops! I see you are apparently already using the auto-cell tower connection.

 

I'd say don't worry about the cause OR the remedy... let the dealer figure out how to fix this.
It's under warranty and they have the entire GM Chevy Bolt engineering team as a resource.

The squeaky wheel get its clock set?

 

I'd say don't worry about the cause OR the remedy... let the dealer figure out how to fix this.
It's under warranty and they have the entire GM Chevy Bolt engineering team as a resource.

This sounds nice, in principal. However, they gave me the car back and said they don't know how to fix it. The next closest dealership is 70 miles away: too much time for me to blow on a bad clock. I've been without a car for at least 20 days during all the related repairs: I can't afford any more transportation down time.

I'm now on my _third_ radio and have the same clock problem.

There are really two problems: 1) no auto-update and 2) clock resets to 12pm some day in 2017. They had the auto-update problem fixed for a while but the audio system had problems so the radio had to be replaced again and the clock was then broken with both problems again.

Regarding auto-updates, this goes along with the inability to check my software version unless I connect to my home wifi. So, basically, the cellular broadband service does not work. I wonder if it _only_ ever works while Onstar is active and that two of the three radios came with trial Onstar subscriptions. When the trail on my first system ended (back in April) the clock broke.

Regarding the reset to 12pm, this sounds like an electronic clock without a backup battery. So maybe they don't use the 12V car battery as the backup battery and instead use a separate lithium battery? (From searching I see that the GM Equinox has such a backup battery under the seat.) Or the connection to the 12V battery is missing in my car. Bolts are hyperactive when turned off: they turn on their screens, the radio, and beep at you when they feel so inclined. But, eventually the car seems to go into standby so it could be a problem with standby power.

The two problems interact: if auto-updates are working you would not notice the time resets since the auto-update would fix the clock time fast enough that you might not notice. If the standby power is present for the clock then it would loose (or gain) time very slowly.

I was thinking of asking for a trial membership to Onstar data/internet service to test my Onstar data theory.

FWIW, the _audio_ portion of the cellular service works: I can call Onstar from the car and it rings and answers.

 

The dealer told me the radio must be replaced. The new radio has been ordered. After 23 days it still has not arrived. There is no electronic tracking for the status of the parts order. Apparently they have to call the OEM manufacturer to check on the status. I'm missing my Toyota even though it used petrol.

 

That sucks, nmgeek. I'm starting to read the eventual repair that requires parts. Reading about your experience and others (e.g., windshields) has me nervous now.

Hang in there, nmgeek!

 

5 more day: still back ordered. People at AER, what are you doing over there?

 

My friend, the President of the West Virginia Electric Auto Association, got his Model 3 ~ April 1. On April 6, he was struck by two deer. Repair estimate > $12,500. Trucked to Columbus for repair. Still waiting for parts. Plus, State Farm initially balked at full coverage, but under social media pressure, has agreed to pay. For ALL electric vehicles, with "small" production runs, spare parts will be a problem, both in availability (& timeliness), and cost.

 

For ALL electric vehicles, with "small" production runs, spare parts will be a problem, both in availability (& timeliness), and cost.

Dang it, that makes total sense. No wonder my insurance went up so high. I quoted them an equally priced Accord hybrid and the 2017 Volt and the Volt's insurance was over 25% more!

 

I do believe they finally fixed the clock. It took 5 service visits and they initially replaced the MyLink Infotainment (aka radio assembly) module to no avail.

Another symptom was that the Over the Air software update didn't work. It would not even display the current software version before showing the error.

According to the service manager, GM released "new programming for OnStar two weeks ago" and after the tech applied this new "programming" the problem was fixed. I don't see any messages indicating there is any new software release in the last few months so maybe this is like the "programming" that a cell phone occasionally downloads from the cellular network. I assume that info downloaded to the cell phone contains a database of nearby towers and codes used by the carriers to tie each tower to frequencies and protocols (TDMA, CDMA, LTE, 1x, etc.). He might have meant that instructions for the programming were in a service bulletin released, recently.

Also, having lived with that broken clock for three months I eventually realized there was nothing random about the times it displayed. The symptom was actually that it intermittently reset to 12:00, July 27, 2017. (This happened some time when the car was not in use so I'd always see some time that was minutes or days after the time it reset to.)

 

I do believe they finally fixed the clock. It took 5 service visits and they initially replaced the MyLink Infotainment (aka radio assembly) module to no avail.

Another symptom was that the Over the Air software update didn't work. It would not even display the current software version before showing the error.

According to the service manager, GM recently released "new programming for OnStar" and after the tech applied this new programming the problem was fixed. I don't see any messages indicating there is any new software release in the last few months so the OnStar programming must be separate from the MyLink software which downloads over the air.

I think I may have pieced it together. I wonder if after replacing the "radio assembly" you have to reprogram OnStar. I found the recent TSB about unprogrammed OnStar modules and it fits my symptoms and the description of the resolution:

TSB 17-NA-215: Red LED, No WiFi Operation, and/or Limited OnStar Module Functionality After OnStar Module Replacement for Another Condition - (Feb 28, 2018)

1. Since I do not subscribe to OnStar, a Red OnStar LED would have seemed correct
2. I would use WiFi only to download a software update and software updating was 100% broken after the radio replacement. Prior to the radio replacement I could check the software version and run the update procedure when connected to my home WiFi.
3. Regarding "Limited OnStar Module Functionality" I think that translates to "Clock does not maintain correct time"

I don't know for sure whether my OnStar Module was replaced. GM has no part tracking system for the Bolt "radio assembly" so no part number appears on the service receipt. This was a source of frustration because the part took more than 3 weeks to arrive and the dealership had no serial number or tracking info so had no way of predicting when or if the part would arrive.

 

2017, infotainment 14.5.0 [no a b c], onstar basic, in an area with solid ATT cell service. Clock has been a bit weird since day 0, to the point that I can't trust it if knowing the correct time is important [like catching a train to work]. Today in the train parking lot the clock was ok, then changed backwards 3 minutes, and then after driving around the corner went forwards to the correct time a minute later. Auto-set is enabled. From what I read here, turning auto-set [cell time] off is worse.



I'm going to have to put a cheap digital clock on the dash. Sheesh. Is it worth a complaint to the service dept of my local dealer?

 

I wonder if your Battery Saver could be activating from a low 12V issue ?
I don't see a memory circuit for the radio like the older vehicles have.
The 12V power circuit is split into two inputs and they both come from
the Battery Saver Control Relay into the RDO fuse.

Anything is possible. Check your 12V battery. A 12 O'clock reset tells me
the system is loosing it's 12V power until you cycle the key back on.
Are you having issues with the preset radio stations loosing memory ?

 

Anything is possible. Check your 12V battery. A 12 o'clock reset tells me the system is loosing its 12V power until you cycle the key back on.

There might be something to this. Around the same time the clock started misbehaving, the shifter failed. (You can scan this site for the intermittent issues with the Bolt shifter.) In order to recover from the total system lock-up caused by the shifter problem you had to cold-boot the car - disconnect and reconnect the positive 12V battery cable. Because this was happening repeatedly while I was waiting for the replacement shifter to arrive, I deliberately under-tightened the positive battery terminal bolt so I didn't end up breaking the connector completely (as they are made of a soft lead-like metal). When the car went 100% dead one, I discovered I had left the positive battery connection so loose that the car lost all 12V power.

After that incident I tightened the connection all the way (the shifter had been fixed by then).

Possible root causes are then:

1) Clock resets to 12pm ... caused by loose positive terminal connector on 12V battery (likely to disconnect as temperature falls and rises overnight)
2) Clock does not auto-set from cellular network ... caused by Chevy Service not reactivating free OnStar subscription when changing out the radio (assumes you need at least a Basic OnStar subscription for auto-set to work. It's hard to prove if this assumption is true until 5 years have passed since GM started selling Bolts.)

Also, I _was_ going to check those fuses but it's not for the faint-at-heart. Micro-fuses are too small for me to pull with my fat fingers and disconnecting "hot at all times" circuits might wreak havoc with some function of the vehicle. BTW this vehicle appears to have over 100 fuses ... amazing.

 

I would also check these BCM fuses. They're powered all the time, but if one is blown it
could cause issues. They don't give use internal data. This has always been an issue when
trying to repair systems. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

 

Just like your cell phone your Bolt may require the AT&T connection for the clock to work properly.

 

Ok gang - time to poll for if your Bolt clock changed to standard time by itself or not. Mine didn't (2017, infotainment ver 14.5.0). It's set to "auto" (cell connection) timeset. I drove 3 separate trips this AM (5 to 10 min each), so it's had time to think about it. There's decent ATT cell service where I live. My cell phone (Verizon) did change as expected.



What did yours do?

 

Our clock was set to "auto" cell tower. It switched fall of 2017. It switched spring of 2018. It did not switch today. I went into settings and set it manually. If I put it back to "auto" cell tower, it goes back to the incorrect time. I drove around, and tried this routine several times...same screwed up result. I can't wait for autonomous cars...not!!

Our Verizon phones, and the computers that run off their hotspot changed correctly. The setup in the car is AT&T, but they are renting Verizon's system here, as they have no coverage here.

 

1. I signed up for a no-cost OnStar 3-month trial and the second they activated OnStar the clock snapped to the correct time and date. I also believe that the network indicators at the top of the screen changed such that a) the WiFi logo turned on and b) the cellular icon showed 4G and then LTE a bit later.
2. With OnStar active I can now check the software version (before I just got errors about network connectivity).
3. With the clock showing the right time I switched to Manual Set mode to see if it ever resets to 12PM again. It has not yet changed from Daylight to Standard time.
4. I will check the "hot at all times" fuses when I get a chance.
5. Radio presets are not lost when the clock resets to 12PM. I assume radio presets are saved to non-volatile memory (used to be called EPROM). Unfortunately, it doesn't work to save the time to non-volatile memory.

Yes, the clock requires a connection to the (AT&T?) cellular network to keep time with super-accuracy. From reading various forum posts it appears that it does _not_ require an OnStar subscription. Although, I learned that there is a free OnStar activation they call the "diagnostics subscription" (same as OnStar Basic?) which could be present for the owners who say their clock works without OnStar: maybe they mean without _paying_ for OnStar?? My current theory is that the free trial you get on purchase reverts to OnStar Basic after 3 months but my replacement radio was not configured to activate the OnStar Basic subscription. I guess I'll know in three months. The green LED above the OnStar button is supposed to tell if OnStar is active.

It seems to me that the LTE and 4G indicators are 100% relevant to my issue. When they are missing, maybe the car has only voice service and no data. You would need some basic data service to receive a time update.

 

2. With OnStar active I can now check the software version (before I just got errors about network connectivity).

You should also be able to get a "check" for SW with the car connected to your home wifi regardless of any OnStar account or lack thereof.

Yes, the clock requires a connection to the (AT&T?) cellular network to keep time with super-accuracy. From reading various forum posts it appears that it does _not_ require an OnStar subscription. Although, I learned that there is a free OnStar activation known as the "diagnostics subscription" which could be present for the owners who say their clock works without OnStar: maybe they mean without _paying_ for OnStar??

With the OnStar free "basic" plan [apparently no longer available since Bolts bought May 1, 2018 or later?] the car does have network connectivity via ATT OnStar. I can get charge status, tire P, FOB commands, etc etc thru the app or the my.chevy web site from far away [out of keypass range] as long as the car has an ATT cell signal. For cars bought after May 1 much/most of this goes away w/out paying $$$, altho the car can still communicate with the world when GM wants it to. I'd assume the cell clock set would still work - for it not to would be insane. You have to pay $15/month to get the clock to keep good time?


It's 1 pm now, and the clock is still on DT after more turn on/off cycles.....

 

If you can get charge status on the app when not within keypass range, and your car is older than May 1 2018, and you're in an area that should have good ATT cell coverage, and you don't pay any monthly fee, then you have onstar basic.

 

We have never paid anything to OnStar. We got the free 3 month trial, and the free 5 year basic plan, July of last year, when we got the car. Our center screen has always shown the LTE and 4G indicator. Our car shows the version 14.5.0 infotainment update we had done at the dealer back in April, because we never received an email, or a message on the car that any over the air updates were available. The MyChevy website sort of works, and the phone app works fine.

I just went out to the garage, and tried using the "auto" cell tower setting again. It has healed itself. My guess is there was a snafu at ATT or GM, which has now been resolved.

 

'19 Bolt Premier. I have never activated the OnStar connection. There are no lights on the OnStar overhead panel. My Bolt was no plugged in last night.
My date/time is set to Auto-Cell Tower. My provider is Verizon. My time stayed on DST, I was parked in the garage since last night.
I connected my iPhone to CarPlay and it displays my phone time correctly in the small vertical panel to the left of the projection screen (don't recall seeing that before). The wifi on the top bar is greyed out but the settings show the car connected to both my home wifi and to the built in vehicle wifi. I moved the car out of the garage (better cell signal??) and will check again in a few hours.
My infotainment software (settings screen) is at 34.7.1

 

First I moved car outside to get a better cell signal. After a few hours no change.
Next I tried the reboot of the infotainment system. That did not fix it.
So, in Settings, I changed the time from auto via cell tower to manual. Moved the 1 hr manually and returned the setting back to auto from cell tower.
It has maintained that setting....so far.

 

Just wanted to toss in my $0.10 here. Ran into the same issues - clock not resetting the whole day yesterday despite repeated drives and the Bolt being connected to AT&T (my phone carrier is AT&T as well, so no issues with signal). Also tried resetting it manually then put it back on Auto - no bueno. Eventually, I just forgot about it and trusted that it would fix itself at some point. This morning, on startup, the time was accurately reflected. Problem fixed. Thank you, Bolt. 2017 Premier with the software update installed (14.5.0).

 

I noticed on the Sunday morning after the "fall back" that mine had not changed when I drove off. I was going through the settings (on "auto" set via cell network) and had resigned myself that I would reset it manually the next time I stopped the car. A few minutes of driving later I noticed that the time had corrected itself. It was kind of spooky, but in a nice way.

 

me too // my 2017 bolt never adjusted for DST / it was set to AUTO had to change to manual to turn it back 1 hour

 

I'm going on 2 days of the Bolt not adjusting to DST (living in SF Bay Area). Seriously? How in the world could GM implement a clock that doesn't update to DST. They know everything about me already as I get the monthly reports on 'quality' of my driving.

I don't remember this problem last year but perhaps didn't pay attention. I understand that it should go away in time, but it's quite distracting to have the wrong time.

 

2019 Bolt - The time still won't auto adjust after 36 hours.

Has anybody gotten a definitive answer on what is going on here? I can access the car through the myChevrolet app even though I don't have a payed plan. I can use car-play. How in the world in this age can a car not get the time correct? There are so many ways it could get the accurate time but limits it to just through a cell connection.

 

I had to go to manual too. This wasn't a problem last year that I remember. ???

 

Yesterday afternoon I tried setting my clock back to "auto" and it actually stayed on the correct time (I had manually adjusted it). Before it would immediately revert to the wrong time. So there is hope. Still crazy that it takes over two days to adjust.