Car-Net update on 6/2/17

[eGolf2015]

Well, it looks like VW has done the impossible and made the Car-Net app even worse!

First, after installing the update I was required to enter my email address and Car-Net website password, plus the 4-digit PIN. Not sure if that was a one-time thing or if it will all be required regularly.

Here's a list of features they appear to have removed from the app with this update:
1) vehicle status (locked, unlocked, door open, etc)
2) lock/unlock/honk/flash features (for those lucky enough to even have the lock feature)
3) current odometer reading and miles until next service
4) trip data
5) ability to create and edit charging schedules (not that it worked before anyway)

And here's a list of things they appear to have added or improved with this update:
1) Absolutely nothing

Has anyone else tried the new update yet? I am about to try restoring my iPhone to get back the old version, as awful as it was.

 

[f1geek]

The new update works fine for me, so far. VW took away the vehicle status, locking etc. features previously for my app install since I don't pay for car-net access. Yeah, it may be a bit worse than before, but I use it mostly to turn on the heater and since it's summer now I won't be testing that for a while. The web portal seems to work ok. As you can tell, it doesn't bother me that much as based on my interactions with dealers and VW USA, it's pretty clear they aren't that concerned about these perks.

 

[forbin404]

Looks like the IOS app now matches the Android one.

 

[johnnylingo]

Mine is pending....sounds like they did a full re-write and took away some features while adding different ones. Hope they re-add the door locking feature. That was useful.

 

[Verkehr]

It does seems to me that the app was re-done from scratch. It's more basic but status updates actually work now, which is a nice improvement. Perhaps VW will flesh this out over time if it's now handled in-house.

Also, removing the account number and just requiring the same credentials as the car-net web portal is a nice change.

Here are some screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/bstWh

 

[forbin404]

much better looking than the android version.

Looks like the new team finally got a working app.

 

[johnnylingo]

Looks like the new team finally got a working app.

Can't find the thread, but it was reported a few months ago that CarNet was moving from Verizon to in-house or vice-versa. This was why some of the usage data got lost and things glitchy for a bit.

 

[jasonring]

Temperature no longer display in Celsius. :-(

And there is no way to set the unit.

 

[RonDawg]

First, after installing the update I was required to enter my email address and Car-Net website password, plus the 4-digit PIN. Not sure if that was a one-time thing or if it will all be required regularly.

If past experience continues to hold, this only seems to happen after an app update or if you have to reboot your phone.

Here's a list of features they appear to have removed from the app with this update:
1) vehicle status (locked, unlocked, door open, etc)
2) lock/unlock/honk/flash features (for those lucky enough to even have the lock feature)
3) current odometer reading and miles until next service
4) trip data
5) ability to create and edit charging schedules (not that it worked before anyway)

1 and 2 were disabled for me prior to this update as it requires a subscription. I have never seen 3 or 4 on either the app or the web version.

5 was never editable for me on the app. I had to use the web portal to do that. I could only turn the timers on or off via the app.

And here's a list of things they appear to have added or improved with this update:
1) Absolutely nothing

I like the new home screen which shows me the charge level as a series of 10 large bars arranged in a circle as opposed to a bar graph; much easier to read. You also don't have to switch screens to start/stop charging.

 

[RonDawg]

One new feature that just popped up on my phone: it reminded me my doors are unlocked. It's in my private, enclosed, locked garage, so that's why I didn't lock it.

 

[ckthorp]

My car "helpfully" told me the doors were unlocked 10 minutes in to my journey, while I was still driving.

It also messages me every couple days telling me there is a problem and to review the VHR ("My health report shows that I may need some attention. Check the latest VHR for more details."). Unfortunately, I have no way to review the VHR as I don't subscribe to the full car-net...

Anyone have a way to disable these "features"?

 

[miimura]

This is why I have avoided installing the new version of CarNet on my iPhone. The old version is working as expected.

 

[batmick1]

My car "helpfully" told me the doors were unlocked 10 minutes in to my journey, while I was still driving.

It also messages me every couple days telling me there is a problem and to review the VHR ("My health report shows that I may need some attention. Check the latest VHR for more details."). Unfortunately, I have no way to review the VHR as I don't subscribe to the full car-net...

Anyone have a way to disable these "features"?

I agree. The "my door is unlocked", "my doors are open" notifications that come with a delay of sometimes minutes are extremely annoying and useless. I wish they had provided an option to turn those off.

Other than a slightly cleaner look, this app update did not bring any improvements at all.

 

[Spektre]

For me the app is no longer useable after the update. I tried uninstalling it, restarting phone, nothing. I'm in an endless 'add vehicle' loop, and I know it's not my info because it works on the website :x

 

[forbin404]

For me the app is no longer useable after the update. I tried uninstalling it, restarting phone, nothing. I'm in an endless 'add vehicle' loop, and I know it's not my info because it works on the website :x

Android app works wonderful.

My vehicle shows my car and you click on it, (Not on the Add Vehicle link)

 

[jack8trades]

My car "helpfully" told me the doors were unlocked 10 minutes in to my journey, while I was still driving. ... Anyone have a way to disable these "features"?

On my LG V10 Android (6.0) phone, I can swipe down from the top of the screen to view the notifications, hold my finger on one of the carnet notifies, and an "i" button shows up on the right side, touch that and I can block notifications for the carnet app.

Alternatively, I can go to Settings/Sound & notifications/Apps, scroll to carnet, change the setting there.

 

[PacBlue]

The new app version can also be funny as well ... when VW service was working on my car, I kept getting a notice that my windows were open and there was a moderate change for rain ! Using iOS on an older 5s iPhone the 'unlocked doors' notice actually gets sent pretty quickly but could be your local cell network lag -- Verizon is pretty robust here around Chicago -- I do wonder once the 'trial' goes away if the app gets any worse - all I want to keep working is the battery percent charge / timer, they can keep the rest. The graphics change is a bit better but the whole thing could use a better interface so you can easily shut off kind of meaningless 'alerts' when not really relevant (I would typically NOT lock the car in an enclosed garage).

 

[JoulesThief]

The new app version can also be funny as well ... when VW service was working on my car, I kept getting a notice that my windows were open and there was a moderate change for rain ! Using iOS on an older 5s iPhone the 'unlocked doors' notice actually gets sent pretty quickly but could be your local cell network lag -- Verizon is pretty robust here around Chicago -- I do wonder once the 'trial' goes away if the app gets any worse - all I want to keep working is the battery percent charge / timer, they can keep the rest. The graphics change is a bit better but the whole thing could use a better interface so you can easily shut off kind of meaningless 'alerts' when not really relevant (I would typically NOT lock the car in an enclosed garage).

You do want to lock the doors, even in an enclosed garage, to shut off all the peripheral electronics in your car. When your car door is unlocked, the car is semi "awake" and has phantom loads on the battery. Lock the doors to prevent that. German cars have been like that forever, so you need to get used to it.

 

[PacBlue]

The new app version can also be funny as well ... when VW service was working on my car, I kept getting a notice that my windows were open and there was a moderate change for rain ! Using iOS on an older 5s iPhone the 'unlocked doors' notice actually gets sent pretty quickly but could be your local cell network lag -- Verizon is pretty robust here around Chicago -- I do wonder once the 'trial' goes away if the app gets any worse - all I want to keep working is the battery percent charge / timer, they can keep the rest. The graphics change is a bit better but the whole thing could use a better interface so you can easily shut off kind of meaningless 'alerts' when not really relevant (I would typically NOT lock the car in an enclosed garage).

You do want to lock the doors, even in an enclosed garage, to shut off all the peripheral electronics in your car. When your car door is unlocked, the car is semi "awake" and has phantom loads on the battery. Lock the doors to prevent that. German cars have been like that forever, so you need to get used to it.

Not sure what else might be running but I do lock the doors when I'm charging it overnight as its easier to take the charging nozzle out; leaving it unlocked seems to confuse the whole locked charged nozzle set up that VW insisted on using. As another aside, my 'trial' for Car-net (put in quotes because its like the 3rd time due to buying it used and needing to reset the app a few times with their support people) and other than reinstalling it on my iPhone the EV specific functions that they said should continue to work are indeed working (we partial charge during the week and full charge on weekends as we do lots of errands); the car continues to perform quite well; scored a 6.5 miles/kWh on a recent trip using the B-mode, love the level of regen in stop and go travel and the ease of just about one pedal driving.

 

[forbin404]

The new app version can also be funny as well ... when VW service was working on my car, I kept getting a notice that my windows were open and there was a moderate change for rain ! Using iOS on an older 5s iPhone the 'unlocked doors' notice actually gets sent pretty quickly but could be your local cell network lag -- Verizon is pretty robust here around Chicago -- I do wonder once the 'trial' goes away if the app gets any worse - all I want to keep working is the battery percent charge / timer, they can keep the rest. The graphics change is a bit better but the whole thing could use a better interface so you can easily shut off kind of meaningless 'alerts' when not really relevant (I would typically NOT lock the car in an enclosed garage).

You do want to lock the doors, even in an enclosed garage, to shut off all the peripheral electronics in your car. When your car door is unlocked, the car is semi "awake" and has phantom loads on the battery. Lock the doors to prevent that. German cars have been like that forever, so you need to get used to it.

Not sure what else might be running but I do lock the doors when I'm charging it overnight as its easier to take the charging nozzle out; leaving it unlocked seems to confuse the whole locked charged nozzle set up that VW insisted on using. As another aside, my 'trial' for Car-net (put in quotes because its like the 3rd time due to buying it used and needing to reset the app a few times with their support people) and other than reinstalling it on my iPhone the EV specific functions that they said should continue to work are indeed working (we partial charge during the week and full charge on weekends as we do lots of errands); the car continues to perform quite well; scored a 6.5 miles/kWh on a recent trip using the B-mode, love the level of regen in stop and go travel and the ease of just about one pedal driving.

Wow nice! 6.5, I only get 4.7 as my daily driver (mostly freeway)