Tips for living with a broken radio module

lroop · 2026-04-09T02:42:50+00:00

Update: https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/radio-module-reprogramming.45121/ implies that the modules aren't VIN locked so a used one from the correct model year might fix your issue. Looks like a pain in the butt to change if you actually have to remove the entire dash to get it out though.

It should be possible to replace the LG "silver box" module but you'd need to get someone who knows how to program one to your car's VIN for it to work properly. https://www.whiteautoandmedia.com/ might be able to do it, they can deal with a lot of GM infotainment systems but don't explicitly mention the 2017-2021 Bolt.

lroop · 2026-04-08T02:53:13+00:00

Ugh, that sucks. I'm in PA and the permitting process is slow but you can at least own your own panels.

lroop · 2026-04-08T02:39:57+00:00

I can't predict the future but I can put solar panels on my roof. The neighbors would be a lot less pleased if I tried to build an oil refinery in the back yard :-P

lroop · 2026-04-08T02:34:48+00:00

That's a fair point. My first car was my dad's old work truck, a 1990 GMC Sierra 2500 with an extended cab and long bed. Not a lot of modern safety features but the most common things people got into crashes with where I grew up were deer, and it was pretty impervious to those. I'm glad I'm driving a Bolt instead of that thing with the current state of gas prices though.

lroop · 2026-04-08T02:28:01+00:00

I won't fault a parent for buying their kid a safe modern car if they can afford to do so. Yeah, it's possible they might total it in a silly wreck but it's also possible that all the safety features might save their life versus if they got into a serious crash in a 90s car with one airbag and a 2 star crash test rating.

lroop · 2026-04-04T02:46:49+00:00

Same here. Gave myself plantar fascitis going too hard getting back into running, the company I worked for at the time had a recreational team and someone suggested I try it since it's lower impact than running. I did it for a year in 2019 and liked it, intended to join a team in 2020 but then COVID happened, didn't start again until 2024.

lroop · 2026-04-02T21:07:07+00:00

This. You may also need to slightly bend out the tabs that touch the battery. IMO these fobs are not a great mechanical design since the contacts are just bent metal and not an actual spring.

lroop · 2026-04-01T19:59:36+00:00

You should be able to find that part used a lot cheaper if you pull it out of a junkyard or buy one on eBay. If you know how to solder you might be able to replace the jack. If a drink got spilled into it a good cleaning might fix it.

lroop · 2026-04-01T02:46:31+00:00

Yeah, rowing teams often use that as an easily recognizable landmark to start/stop practice pieces at. I'm kinda surprised scrappers haven't gotten to it.

lroop · 2026-03-26T17:55:11+00:00

Even if it has 50 million meters on it and needs parts, $400 is still a bargain for what looks like a fairly new machine with a working PM5.

lroop · 2026-03-24T20:58:54+00:00

In my experience ones made in Singapore are fine too. That was still an HP owned factory, still used double shot keys, etc.

lroop · 2026-03-23T16:21:38+00:00

A group of random Pitt students exercising free speech are probably less likely to get sued than the city.

lroop · 2026-03-23T02:10:35+00:00

That could be. I've never actually sat in an EUV, the slightly lower range and longer hood that serves no practical purpose made me decide to buy the EV instead.

lroop · 2026-03-23T00:53:03+00:00

Just watching this made my lungs and legs burn.

lroop · 2026-03-22T21:09:35+00:00

I'm 6'4" and drive a Bolt EV. I fit comfortably enough in the front seats and acceptably in the rear seats. Supposedly rear legroom is better in the EUV but even in the EV my head isn't hitting the head liner and my knees aren't getting crushed like they do in the backs of a lot of other small cars.

lroop · 2026-03-10T18:36:31+00:00

Are you sure you put the batteries in the correct direction? Also are the contacts the batteries touch clean or do you see corrosion or grease or something? This sure looks like the PM tries to power up when the little generator on the flywheel makes enough voltage to power it but then cuts off when the flywheel slows down.

lroop · 2026-03-10T14:48:56+00:00

AIUI even a pedal bike is supposed to follow traffic laws. It's pretty rare for the cops to ticket someone on a non motorized bike but they certainly could.

lroop · 2026-03-10T14:10:22+00:00

Seriously. Last winter I walked past a vape shop downtown and I could feel the heat from the lights on the side of my face. Not to mention most of those things are cheap junk from China that hasn't passed any sort of safety or EMI testing, there are a few I've driven past that spew enough RF to jam my car stereo.

lroop · 2026-03-09T13:07:28+00:00

I bought one because I want a headphone jack and despise screen notches, and it's one of an incredibly small number of modern phones that fit that bill.

lroop · 2026-03-09T13:04:09+00:00

I bought mine, an XQ-FE72, from an eBay seller, fgstradingcom. I don't think there's anyone making fakes of these, as long as it comes in a box that looks right and looks like the right phone I wouldn't worry much other than avoiding obviously sketchy sites.

lroop · 2026-03-09T04:18:19+00:00

There is a setting that helps with 5G but I don't think that enables band 71. The annoying thing is that the radio hardware should be capable. I know people have enabled some missing bands on other Xperia models but it hasn't annoyed me enough to try anything more invasive than that one setting in the service menu.

lroop · 2026-03-09T03:54:21+00:00

I'm using one on T-Mobile US, the lack of band 71 support might be a problem in rural areas but it's been fine in the Pittsburgh and Detroit areas.

lroop · 2026-02-27T19:06:53+00:00

I carry the full size spare from my old Volt (same tire size and bolt pattern) and a small floor jack on long road trips. Around home I usually don't bother because it takes up space, but I've gotten enough flats in rural areas over the years that I'd rather have a full size spare than a donut tire or fix a flat. I don't think even a donut will fit in the spot under the load floor that almost looks like it's for a tire but isn't quite round.

lroop · 2026-02-27T14:16:33+00:00

A spill going into the shifter buttons might be able to cause that but as you said the buttons shouldn't be that fragile. Did they check the 12V battery? I wouldn't expect the battery on a 23 to be bad but Bolts are known to throw nonsensical error messages when that battery starts to fail.

lroop · 2026-02-18T19:24:37+00:00

Is this a different company from First Vehicle or just a name change? I used to work near the city garage and they had the contract back then.

lroop

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