2014 Encore Intellilink Software Update or Reboot

[G-383702]

How do I...or can I...force a software update on my 2014 Encore? The manual just says to go to buick.com for information...there is nothing there of course. If not, how do I reset or do a full reboot of the system?

Often but not always, the screen is blank on startup but radio sound is playing. Eventually the screen will come up but sometimes takes many minutes for this to occur. Also, the volume and other function buttons do not respond during this time. After the system 'wakes up' it functions normally. I am hoping an update or reboot will help with this issue.

 

[TheRealSlickWilly]

If it didn't do it when you first got it I wouldn't think an update would fix this issue.

 

[G-238230]

UPDATE: The Buick dealership here was able to push updates and reprogram the system, fixing the problem. As I suspected, it was a software problem in this case.

How do I...or can I...force a software update on my 2014 Encore? The manual just says to go to buick.com for information...there is nothing there of course. If not, how do I reset or do a full reboot of the system?

Often but not always, the screen is blank on startup but radio sound is playing. Eventually the screen will come up but sometimes takes many minutes for this to occur. Also, the volume and other function buttons do not respond during this time. After the system 'wakes up' it functions normally. I am hoping an update or reboot will help with this issue.

 

[G-983950]

UPDATE: The Buick dealership here was able to push updates and reprogram the system, fixing the problem. As I suspected, it was a software problem in this case.

UPDATE to the UPDATE: The GM Bulletin addressing this issue is 15-NA-081.

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It applies to a whole lot of GM vehicles, not just the 2014 Encore. Unfortunately, the average Joe Six Pack cannot download and install the updates. You have to have the dealer do it unless you happen to have all the gear and a TIS2WEB subscription. It cost us about $140 in all. That's what you're paying them for I suppose.

 

[videobot]

So there is no way for an owner to download a infotainment firmware update and apply it via a usb key then? Anybody found any way to do this? Also is there anywhere you can see what the latest version is and if you have it?

 

[DocBrown]

Nope. No way. This is all proprietary and not like a phone or personal computer. The approach is if ain't broken don't fix it. Unless you work as a GM tech you don't have access to the software you can't get updates without an appointment at the dealer.

 

[G-65443]

Nope. No way. This is all proprietary and not like a phone or personal computer. The approach is if ain't broken don't fix it. Unless you work as a GM tech you don't have access to the software you can't get updates without an appointment at the dealer.

Thanks! I thought maybe they would at least let you know when an update was available.

 

[myredcar]

So there is no way for an owner to download a infotainment firmware update and apply it via a usb key then? Anybody found any way to do this? Also is there anywhere you can see what the latest version is and if you have it?

Yes, there is a way for an owner to do this with a specific interface tool and a subscription to the GM technical database (TISWeb) and following the update procedure diligently. It is fairly advanced but, well documented and not "hacking" in any way. You are accessing GM certified files and programs; not, some third party tuner. There are apparently good clones of the GM tool for about $200. Google: "GM MDI". The subscription to the GM webservice can be had by anyone for one vehicle for $40 for 2years. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to use this. The TSB referenced in this thread is also very detailed. Note, that in this case you are not reprogramming the main ECU of the car. This particular update involves downloading a file from the web onto your PC and then copying it to a USB drive. You update the infotainment system via the USB port. In other words, you could conceivably crash the infotainment SW but, it is probably recoverable (as described in the TSB) and you are not touching the other modules in the car. The TSB also shows you how to check your SW version on the infotainment system. The MDI interface and web subscription allow you to do updates and diagnostics for all the modules (systems) on your car. So, it is an investment in a general purpose tool for your car. Still, it is probably not for everyone.

 

[videobot]

Yes, there is a way for an owner to do this with a specific interface tool and a subscription to the GM technical database (TISWeb) and following the update procedure diligently. It is fairly advanced but, well documented and not "hacking" in any way. You are accessing GM certified files and programs; not, some third party tuner. There are apparently good clones of the GM tool for about $200. Google: "GM MDI". The subscription to the GM webservice can be had by anyone for one vehicle for $40 for 2years. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to use this. The TSB referenced in this thread is also very detailed. Note, that in this case you are not reprogramming the main ECU of the car. This particular update involves downloading a file from the web onto your PC and then copying it to a USB drive. You update the infotainment system via the USB port. In other words, you could conceivably crash the infotainment SW but, it is probably recoverable (as described in the TSB) and you are not touching the other modules in the car. The TSB also shows you how to check your SW version on the infotainment system. The MDI interface and web subscription allow you to do updates and diagnostics for all the modules (systems) on your car. So, it is an investment in a general purpose tool for your car. Still, it is probably not for everyone.

Thank you! That is what I was hoping for.

 

[dbs3268]

Nope. No way. This is all proprietary and not like a phone or personal computer. The approach is if ain't broken don't fix it. Unless you work as a GM tech you don't have access to the software you can't get updates without an appointment at the dealer.

It's actually open source code. It's available here: Bosch Open Source Software

 

[myredcar]

It's actually open source code. It's available here: Bosch Open Source Software

True. But just to be sure people do not misunderstand this, this is really a legal issue, not technical. Open Source does not mean that GM thinks it is OK for you to hack or modify the programs, or any other components in their vehicles. It also does not mean that the programming is simple or accessible by the casual user. In this case, we are talking about so-called "machine level" language. It is not an app. Open Source is a policy to make programs available to software developers to encourage improvements. It also provides more transparency to encourage better compatibility among platforms.

 

[dbs3268]

True. But just to be sure people do not misunderstand this, this is really a legal issue, not technical. Open Source does not mean that GM thinks it is OK for you to hack or modify the programs, or any other components in their vehicles. It also does not mean that the programming is simple or accessible by the casual user. In this case, we are talking about so-called "machine level" language. It is not an app. Open Source is a policy to make programs available to software developers to encourage improvements. It also provides more transparency to encourage better compatibility among platforms.

I know. I was just putting it out there. Thanks for expanding a bit on it.

 

[dbs3268]

True. But just to be sure people do not misunderstand this, this is really a legal issue, not technical. Open Source does not mean that GM thinks it is OK for you to hack or modify the programs, or any other components in their vehicles. It also does not mean that the programming is simple or accessible by the casual user. In this case, we are talking about so-called "machine level" language. It is not an app. Open Source is a policy to make programs available to software developers to encourage improvements. It also provides more transparency to encourage better compatibility among platforms.

Here's the bigger question... If GM isn't going after the people out there selling mods on the software / hardware - what would they possibly do to us persons just doing it ourselves to our own car? RE: Legal issue.

 

[myredcar]

Here's the bigger question... If GM isn't going after the people out there selling mods on the software / hardware - what would they possibly do to us persons just doing it ourselves to our own car? RE: Legal issue.

GM would only be interested in this as a warranty liability issue. They are not going after third party developers because that is not their business model. For this reason, they do have a policy that instructs their dealers to check for unauthenticated "calibrations" or, programming changes. They then have grounds to disallow certain warranty claims. Whether this actually holds up legally is beyond my pay grade.

 

[dbs3268]

GM would only be interested in this as a warranty liability issue. They are not going after third party developers because that is not their business model. For this reason, they do have a policy that instructs their dealers to check for unauthenticated "calibrations" or, programming changes. They then have grounds to disallow certain warranty claims. Whether this actually holds up legally is beyond my pay grade.

I would assume, at least now we are 6 years from release, that there are no warrantable items remaining? Save for some safety recall which I doubt they would try and make any fuss over considering the ramifications. Either way I'm just pursuing the conversation. I don't have time to learn a new code base and tinker with it. Do you happen to know how to see what version any of the systems are on? I'm interested in checking mine against the list on the open source site.

 

[myredcar]

I would assume, at least now we are 6 years from release, that there are no warrantable items remaining? Save for some safety recall which I doubt they would try and make any fuss over considering the ramifications. Either way I'm just pursuing the conversation. I don't have time to learn a new code base and tinker with it. Do you happen to know how to see what version any of the systems are on? I'm interested in checking mine against the list on the open source site.

I believe you can check software version in the vehicle settings. It would not give it for each module though. For that, you would need to access the GM TIS2Web with a subscription. In general, if you want to learn more about this I suggest that you go to the Corvette and truck forums. They go into things in more depth than here. On the warranty, I have 50,000 miles and 2 years to go on the factory powertrain coverage. So, I would think twice about ECU or TCM mods at this point.

 

[dbs3268]

I believe you can check software version in the vehicle settings. It would not give it for each module though. For that, you would need to access the GM TIS2Web with a subscription. In general, if you want to learn more about this I suggest that you go to the Corvette and truck forums. They go into things in more depth than here. On the warranty, I have 50,000 miles and 2 years to go on the factory powertrain coverage. So, I would think twice about ECU or TCM mods at this point.

Yeah I hear ya. You are definitely not wrong to be wary of moods that could effect the warranty. I bought mine used in 2017 with only 15k miles on it. Was a fleet car out east somewhere (or that was what I told). Love the car overall just want to have more control of the infotainment. Apparently that's asking too much though lol. Thanks for the tips!

 

[dbs3268]

Yeah I hear ya. You are definitely not wrong to be wary of moods that could effect the warranty. I bought mine used in 2017 with only 15k miles on it. Was a fleet car out east somewhere (or that was what I told). Love the car overall just want to have more control of the infotainment. Apparently that's asking too much though lol. Thanks for the tips!

Took her in to the dealer and they said there wasn't any bulletins and I had to press the guy to at least hook it up to Tis2Web and then he said they would charge me 150 bucks to update it. This is absolutely ridiculous. To push an update on what is a known defect in the vehicle? Really any update to the software should just be standard for the lifetime of the products or until they no longer support it. Either are acceptable although one is not great. I'm very upset with this situation at the moment and tired of my gauges \ instrument cluster randomly fritzing out. Boo on you GM approved dealer Snell Motors. That's just silly to ask for that kind of money to put a USB stick in and let the update run. Guess I'm buying the gear and doing myself for less money and just having good diagnostics for the rest of the cars life.😡😡😡

 

[dbs3268]

UPDATE to the UPDATE: The GM Bulletin addressing this issue is 15-NA-081.

http://[URL]https://gm.oemdtc.com/7...ting-screen-displayed-after-download-is-finis

[/URL]
It applies to a whole lot of GM vehicles, not just the 2014 Encore. Unfortunately, the average Joe Six Pack cannot download and install the updates. You have to have the dealer do it unless you happen to have all the gear and a TIS2WEB subscription. It cost us about $140 in all. That's what you're paying them for I suppose.

Wouldn't know a guy willing to show off the info on how to do it... Would you? 😉

 

[myredcar]

Wouldn't know a guy willing to show off the info on how to do it... Would you? 😉

The update that is referenced here is not for a Lacrosse. Were you looking for a different update?