[Jko]

I have a 2019 Chevy Bolt that I like in a great many ways. But there are some key issues in its design that seem just odd and are probably influenced by Chevy's desire to sell more OnStar subscriptions. Here are the key issues:
* The Bolt has wireless cell phone charging--which is great--but if you are charging wirelessly and, as a consequence, connected via Bluetooth, you can't project directions on your screen. Why limit the Bluetooth capabilities in this way when it is both available and incorporated in a variety of ways.
* Features that are listed as "core" to the Bolt, like the ability to start the car remotely, only work if you have an Onstar subscription. It's very irritating and actually feels like a "bait and switch" technique.
* Chevy won't build integration with Verizon, for example, so I can't extend my home wireless to include my Bolt at a reduced price. I think the cost of access to Onstart that includes the wireless hot-spot is inflated and Chevy gives me very limited options for alternatives.
I think there are a few more of these oddities, but I am curious whether others are as irritated by them as I am.

JKO

 

[XJ12]

Welcome to the forum.

I remote start using the key fob.

 

[wonderbolt]

Is the bluetooth connection to IOS or Android? I believe that Android Auto limits the connection to the USB connection, not the Bolt.
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/...ess-android-auto-but-almost-no-one-can-use-it


A paid OnStar subscription is not required for remote start, only the free version you get with the Bolt, which I understand for 2019 is 10 years instead of the 5 years that 2017 and 2018 got.

Not sure what the third statement means exactly but if you go to network settings you can join your home network when in range

 

[thursda]

Welcome to the forum.

I remote start using the key fob.

Is that done by pressing the little swirly arrow button? I've never been able to get that to work...

And I don't have an OnStar subscription, but I am able to remote start my Bolt.

 

[XJ12]

Is that done by pressing the little swirly arrow button? I've never been able to get that to work...

And I don't have an OnStar subscription, but I am able to remote start my Bolt.

you have to hit lock first, then click and hold the circle/arrow for a count of five

 

[timeToy]

Is that done by pressing the little swirly arrow button? I've never been able to get that to work...(...)

1. Press the Lock Button once to lock or re-lock the car. (Do this even if the car was already locked)
2. Long press the swirly arrow button until blinker blink once and the corner lights come on.

You have to press the Lock button first for it to work.

 

[rlhammon]

A paid OnStar subscription is not required for remote start, only the free version you get with the Bolt, which I understand for 2019 is 10 years instead of the 5 years that 2017 and 2018 got.

Just to clarify... 10 years is *NOT* the case for 2019's. I picked my new 2019 of the lot on 2/28/19 and here's the message from Onstar:

"You now have access to our full suite of services until 03/27/2019. You also get 5 years of Remote Key Fob access in your myChevrolet app."

 

[sparks]

quote: I think there are a few more of these oddities, but I am curious whether others are as irritated by them as I am. end quote

irritated ? Not in the least

 

[Nook]

Just to clarify... 10 years is *NOT* the case for 2019's. I picked my new 2019 of the lot on 2/28/19 and here's the message from Onstar:

"You now have access to our full suite of services until 03/27/2019. You also get 5 years of Remote Key Fob access in your myChevrolet app."

That's what it says, but if you look at your account online, you will see 10 years. I printed mine so that i have evidence.

 

[bro1999]

I hope GM at least does something with the "blank" buttons on the center console. It's pretty lazy to just leave 3 dud spaces like that. I know they use those buttons for stuff on the Ampera-E, but come on GM. Especially on a fully loaded Premier, you still have those 3 blank buttons.
*rant over*

 

[boltage]

* Features that are listed as "core" to the Bolt, like the ability to start the car remotely, only work if you have an Onstar subscription. It's very irritating and actually feels like a "bait and switch" technique.

Key fob can do remote start. Also, there is some functionality that can be done from the MyChevrolet phone app with KeyPass (not using OnStar), if you can get it to work.

 

[rlhammon]

That's what it says, but if you look at your account online, you will see 10 years. I printed mine so that i have evidence.

Hmm... things are not really clear.

The email is as I stated above, 5 years. And as you point out the online account says 10 years... but that's for "Connected Access". The Key Fob functions are listed under another section of "Connected Services Trial" which is good for 1 month according to the online status.

 

[Nook]

Hmm... things are not really clear.

Agree. Definitely not clear.
For no payments, no credit card you get:
1 month free wifi data
3 months free Sirius
5 years of Chevy "reminding" you about crap you don't care about. Not including the reminders via mail and phone.
5 (or apparently 10 years) of remote key fob from your phone

You can also give some combination of Chevy, MORONSTAR, and Sirius buckets of money every month if you aren't smart enough to know how to use the map on your phone, find music on your own, etc. Hey, your money, your choices.

 

[rlhammon]

Agree. Definitely not clear.
For no payments, no credit card you get:
1 month free wifi data
3 months free Sirius
5 years of Chevy "reminding" you about crap you don't care about. Not including the reminders via mail and phone.
5 (or apparently 10 years) of remote key fob from your phone

You can also give some combination of Chevy, MORONSTAR, and Sirius buckets of money every month if you aren't smart enough to know how to use the map on your phone, find music on your own, etc. Hey, your money, your choices.

I'm in the same mindset as you... I've used Google Maps forever, but once my cable arrives today I'll finally get to plug the phone into the USB and see how the Android Auto integration is. My Cruze Eco didn't have that, so I just used the AUX input with a bluetooth adapter and then played what I wanted on my phone via Bluetooth to get everything on the car speakers.

Still curious about the remote key fob stuff as my online shows one month. Being that I like to use this to pre-condition from my desk at work I hope this really is 5 years and not one month. The rest of the stuff I could get rid of... I have true unlimited data on my phone (old grandfathered Verizon plan) so no need to pay for Internet in the car.

 

[Sean Nelson]

* The Bolt has wireless cell phone charging--which is great--but if you are charging wirelessly and, as a consequence, connected via Bluetooth, you can't project directions on your screen.

Are you talking about using, for example, Google Maps under Android Auto? Because I use that all the time while my phone wirelessly charges. You have to plug in the phone via USB, but it's still charging wirelessly and connected via Bluetooth.

 

[Jko]

Lack of Bluetooth capabilities

Are you talking about using, for example, Google Maps under Android Auto? Because I use that all the time while my phone wirelessly charges. You have to plug in the phone via USB, but it's still charging wirelessly and connected via Bluetooth.

My point is that if you are plugged in via USB, you are charging via USB and there is no need to be charging wirelessly. It would be more logical to allow you to have full functionality while connected through Bluetooth, which would allow you to charge wirelessly and have full functions without also having to plug in via USB.

 

[Jko]

I think many of their choices of phone integration functionality were made purely to sell OnStar and not because they were logical in terms of the inherent capabilities. And then their pricing and communication about it is opaque at best and deeply limited

 

[Jko]

Exactly! It no longer seems to work for me!

 

[max]

That's what it says, but if you look at your account online, you will see 10 years. I printed mine so that i have evidence.

I don't see remote keyfob in the 10 year listed items. This, also, for a 2019 Model Year. Now, I do have the 5 year in writing from when I signed up for the Onstar Trial - so I expect remote keyfob commands for at least 5 years. We'll see, my extended Onstar trial expires this month.

 

[LooseBolt]

With regraded to remote starting from the My Chevy app, I had to call OnStar to set it up. It worked when I got the car (with full up OnStar for a limited time). But when I dropped OS, it quit working. OS was very helpful to get it working again, even though it took a couple of calls.
The car VIN must be associated with your phone and I (literally) could not do that without OS’s help. Bottom line is it works with the 5 year basic OS plan on my 17, but it took some effort to get it enabled.

In the realm of weird Chevy stuff OS ranks right up there. The plans and services offered are incomprehensible, to me at least, and also to some of the OS phone answerers. And I still haven’t figured out what “key pass” is all about. It seems completely useless to me.