How to turn off auto height?

[beatle]

I wonder if this statement was on their website before. It's visible at the bottom of "build" section now (bold mine):

1. Actual vehicle capability will depend on selected options and trim. Torque, horsepower and acceleration timing estimates vary based on battery, tire, drive modes, vehicle load and weather. All range estimates are based on a configuration with 22” road wheels and tires. Official EPA values are noted — some range estimates are preliminary estimates based on the EPA test cycle and are not official EPA values. The EPA estimates range through a series of standardized lab tests that mimic real world conditions. Factors including tires, drive modes, HVAC settings and accessories can all have an impact on range.

It'd be nice if it were, strangely because I believe they could then opt out of this stupid drive mode/suspension resetting. It's too bad this is fine print since it otherwise reflects a measure of honesty and transparency with prospective owners about how the vehicle performs. But I guess they believe everyone instead wants a big fake range number.

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[Kaiju]

I'd read that the latest update corrected the problem.

Initially after I installed the update it was indeed fixed for a while. However it didn't last and the bug returned after the truck woke from sleep. Also no, it's not just turning itself on every 4 hours. It's still doing the same shit re-enabling auto ride height after moving the shifter.

 

[lslick23]

For me it’s completely random. It has stayed off and entire day before or it’s turned back on during a drive.

 

[NY_Rob]

My Model S had variable height suspension and close to 800hp, and I could still get over 25k out of a set of high performance all seasons. I also drove it a bit faster than my R1T.

The problem isn't that Rivian designed a bad product that just wants to eat tires, it's that even when you know better than to drive around in low all the time for best tire life, you don't have the option of permanently opting out of that adjustment.

Your Model S doesn't have a empty weight of over 7,000lbs and a gross vehicle weight of 8,500+lbs. All that weight helps chew up tires fast, you can hear them scrubbing against the road surface when maneuvering at low speeds (parking, etc).

Of course driving at anything but standard ride height introduces less then optimal camber (and possibly caster as well). I feel for DM folks who will constantly have to battle with auto ride height turning itself back on for the life of the vehicle.

 

[icog]

Owners of dual motors were actually wronged somewhat in this change. I know because I'm in the same boat as everyone else asking not how you turn it off, but how you stop it from turning itself back on.

The key thing here is that Rivian didn't tell anyone they were making auto ride height turn itself back on. Not in the patch notes and not before. No 'Hey, if this matters to you your ride height's not going to stay set like it used to.' It didn't ever do that until the last update. Then they changed the owner's manual to say it's supposed to do that, where it did not before. That's underhanded by itself and a reason to be unhappy with Rivian, except they also fucked it up.

A lot of dual motor trucks, mine included, have an associated software bug where auto ride height turns itself back on constantly. Not every 4 hours sitting like it's 'supposed to'. I put in a ticket and after a week of not getting an appointment scheduled, I called in and service tells me there just is no fix. There's no way to disable it while it's malfunctioning and there's nothing the techs can do to fix it. The only solution is to wait for the next software update and supposedly it will be addressed.

I've had some bad experiences that I'd forgiven, but this is the first time Rivian has actually done something that makes me distrust the company. It's an anti-consumer move because there is no operation-related reason for the change. It's all to do with range marketing. Even if I wasn't annoyed at having to check that the auto ride height is off after every time I touch the shifter, stabbing that button reminds me several times daily that my vehicle is subject to post-purchase changes I didn't consent to and apparently bullshit range marketing reasons are enough to let someone screw with how my truck drives. I shouldn't have to deal with being constantly vigilant about it, especially since that's not how it was delivered.

Just got my R1S and found this out. Had to login and reply to you as my first post, to how right you were on principles. Totally agree.

 

[NY_Rob]

I've had some bad experiences that I'd forgiven, but this is the first time Rivian has actually done something that makes me distrust the company....

I guess you weren't around when Rivian changed their "we will come, pick up your vehicle and drop off a loaner vehicle" policy to "you have to bring your broken vehicle to the SC yourself, and if you want it flatbedded to a SC you pay for that unless the vehicle is unsafe or unable to be driven. And now you get Uber credits, no loaner vehicle guarantee" policy without telling anyone till they started charging for flatbed service without notice.
You also have the head of tech stating on an official chat "1% vampire loss/day is expected, anything above that you need to put in a service ticket", then the Service Centers again in an official chat telling owners "up to 5% loss/day is normal and we will not do anything unless you are above that number".

 

[Taichi]

It seems to set to Auto at seemingly random scenarios. Not just after it's been asleep for 4 hours. It's hard to figure out why/when it happens and I don't really have the time or care to sit and test it out and write down notes on when I notice it happening.

Mine does the same thing, but I've noticed it mostly happens when I switch to reverse (like to back into a parking spot) after a short drive. Sometimes it'll even go back to auto when I stop to wait on the moving gate for the parking garage at my work.

 

[teartags]

I'd read that the latest update corrected the problem.

Initially after I installed the update it was indeed fixed for a while. However it didn't last and the bug returned after the truck woke from sleep. Also no, it's not just turning itself on every 4 hours. It's still doing the same shit re-enabling auto ride height after moving the shifter.

It's not a bug. It's now mentioned in the owner's manual as doing this on purpose. When I complained to CS about it, the reply was "We're sorry you don't like this FEATURE. A "feature" that they implemented in an update with zero notice to anyone about it.

 

[TomServo2112]

It's all to do with range marketing

While I certainly get & sympathize with the behavior not acting as-documented - if there is a bug causing it to randomly reset itself, for example, I do believe Rivian is in a spot with regulations it has to adhere to. Even if the company were more conservative with their range estimates, they may be required to reset to a mode after X time. I came from a 2020 Taycan whose EPA rated range was 203 miles, yet even at default drive mode I regularly would get close to 265-270. Despite this obviously conservative approach to marketing by Porsche, they told me they are bound by regulations to reset my drive modes every time I got in the car. My old M3 and M5 would also do this - going from Sport to Normal, every time the engine was started. I don’t see this as being much different except now instead of a drive mode, there is also a suspension mode involved.

 

[Kaiju]

I guess you weren't around when Rivian changed their "we will come, pick up your vehicle and drop off a loaner vehicle" policy to "you have to bring your broken vehicle to the SC yourself, and if you want it flatbedded to a SC you pay for that unless the vehicle is unsafe or unable to be driven. And now you get Uber credits, no loaner vehicle guarantee" policy without telling anyone till they started charging for flatbed service without notice.

No, my first SC visit was on a flatbed due to a suspension system failure. The towing thing did come as a surprise and I refused to sign the papers with an $1800 charge. I can't say that experience wasn't without its problems but ultimately I got what I wanted and let it go.

It's not a bug. It's now mentioned in the owner's manual as doing this on purpose. When I complained to CS about it, the reply was "We're sorry you don't like this FEATURE. A "feature" that they implemented in an update with zero notice to anyone about it.

Oh no, the implementation was quite flawed. I can turn off my auto-ride height twenty times in the span of a minute due to it re-enabling on its own accord. I have sent Rivian videos of the same. They acknowledge this is faulty behavior but cannot fix it via hardware, roll the version back to before the problem started, or disable it entirely. The latest update 'corrected' this behavior between the time the update installed and when the truck woke from its first sleep.

I duly share the furstration of this 'feature' being implented at all. I would even argue that Rivian is responsible for the actual damage that's been done to unaware owners with low-clearance entrances. If mine was resetting every 4 hours I would still hate it and retain lasting emnity towards the company because of the dishonesty in how Rivian chose to go about it. They still have an opportunity to make it right, but I am supicious they're reading far too deep into Tesla's book.

 

[misterturbo]

I am enjoying the R1T mostly, but every software update they have pushed since I leased it has made the truck worse IMHO. The new graphics and fonts were nice/fine, but I would go back to the Q1 2024 software stack in a heart beat.

The introduction of this automatic height reset after 4 hours brings me one minute closer to midnight on abandoning this lease and the platform. I wish they would just stop.

 

[godfodder0901]

I am enjoying the R1T mostly, but every software update they have pushed since I leased it has made the truck worse IMHO. The new graphics and fonts were nice/fine, but I would go back to the Q1 2024 software stack in a heart beat.

The introduction of this automatic height reset after 4 hours brings me one minute closer to midnight on abandoning this lease and the platform. I wish they would just stop.

I think it's dumb as well but, as others have pointed out, it's an EPA requirement and other manufacturers also do the same thing.

 

[misterturbo]

I think it's dumb as well but, as others have pointed out, it's an EPA requirement and other manufacturers also do the same thing.

I think hiding behind a 'EPA requirement' is not really doing service to owners who now have to deal with this every. damn. day. What it is: marketing. They had the EPA test efficiency in the most desirable of scenarios so they could advertise the highest range numbers they could. Someone caught up to this down the road and now we have this as a patch fix so they don't get sued.

 

[godfodder0901]

I think hiding behind a 'EPA requirement' is not really doing service to owners who now have to deal with this every. damn. day. What it is: marketing. They had the EPA test efficiency in the most desirable of scenarios so they could advertise the highest range numbers they could. Someone caught up to this down the road and now we have this as a patch fix so they don't get sued.

Sure, Rivian isn't innocent in this scenario. But neither are consumers. How many would have purchased the R1 if the advertised range was 265 miles? What if they said "we have to tell you 265 but, trust us, it's actually 315..." We, as consumers, want the most range and manufacturers know this.

But the bottom line is, the EPA has been mandating stupid 'features' like this for years. The annoying AF engine auto-stop/start that the driver must disable every. damn. drive comes to mind. And let's not forget the dumb AF 1st-to-3rd skip-shift that manual V-8s have to deal with.

 

[sub]

Sure, Rivian isn't innocent in this scenario. But neither are consumers. How many would have purchased the R1 if the advertised range was 265 miles? What if they said "we have to tell you 265 but, trust us, it's actually 315..." We, as consumers, want the most range and manufacturers know this.

Since different trims/packages can have different EPA ratings, it seems like it would be pretty easy for Rivian to offer a "Hey EPA - keep your fingers off my thermostat" package that has a lower rated range.

The description of the package could be "Identical hardware but any changes you make to the settings don't automatically reset to the most efficient option after every drive so the EPA rating is lower"

Other than a bit of extra paperwork, it would cost Rivian nothing to offer it and they could still advertise the bigger number on vehicles without this package.

This wouldn't work for ICE vehicles since ICE manufacturers have to work really hard to meet the required fleet efficiency. But that isn't something Rivian has to worry about.

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