Finally Disabled the OEM Idle Time-Out - Updated TSB Now with 2022 Limited Support

[DrNick]

Updated TSB and Idle Time-Out is finally disabled!

 

While I don't enjoy idling my truck for extended periods of time, there's plenty of situations with my job and hobbies which require me to idle my truck for an hour or two.  This has never been an issue with any of my previous GM trucks, but my 2022 Limited Sierra AT4 came with the Idle Time-Out feature enabled like many other trucks of this generation. 

 

Having failed previously to disable this setting in my truck due to it being a 2022 Limited, I gave up for most of 2023 until becoming frustrated again and resuming my search for a solution a month or two ago.  I had previously found some other resources around the internet about disabling this setting with varying levels of success, but I wanted to share what I learned as it was not straight forward as it should have been.

 

1st the TSB:  21-NA-228 - Subject: Full Size Trucks Idle Time-out Disable.  This TSB has a December 2022 update that finally includes the 2022 Limited trucks.  Previous versions did not and resulted in my local dealer refusing to offer the service when I asked earlier in 2022.  I would recommend having this TSB readily available when making an appointment or asking the service department about having this change made.

 

2nd was getting dealer cooperation.  While this is a customer pay service, I've experienced hesitation from multiple dealers when inquiring about having this "feature" turned off.  On multiple occasions, with multiple dealers, there was confusion that caused the service advisors to assume I was asking for the auto stop / start to be turned off which they are not allowed to do.  Only after talking to a shop foreman who reviewed the updated TSB with me was I able to actually move forward.  It's possible that the dealers in my area are more difficult to deal with than others, but this was my experience.  

 

3rd was actually getting the software properly updated.  I've previously seen comments where people who had this service completed were disappointed to find out it didn't work, and unfortunately I was in this camp.  The first attempt was not successful.  I assumed that this 2022 truck was similar to previous GM trucks i've owned with BCMs (2017, 2013, etc.), but come to find out the software changes are made remotely by GM and the settings are backed up along with all other configurations for the specific truck on their internal cloud.  The shop foreman told me mine was the first one they've done, so there's likely not too many of these changes performed and I wouldn't be surprised if dealers had a bit of a learning curve with the process.  They idled the truck for 2 hours after the change to confirm the setting was changed the second time.

 

2 trips to the dealer, 2 days in the shop, and $225 later I finally have a truck that will idle as long as it's in working order and has fuel.  Hope the information and my experience helps the next guy.

GMC TSB 21-NA-228.pdf

Edited December 6, 2023 by DrNick

[Silverado4x4]

To bypass idle time out all you had to do was put the truck in neutral and apply parking brake this will bypass it. You really didn't need to do the TSB.

[DrNick]

I'm aware of the workaround.  This thread was to help the other people I saw looking for a similar solution. 

 

I'm in a position where i'm constantly being asked questions / pulled in multiple directions and would regularly forget to do that.  I just wanted the truck to behave as every other vehicle i've ever owned in these situations without adding another item to a mental checklist.

[Dirtbiker]

Has this been updated to include 2024 model years gmc 2500 does anyone know? 
i just bought one and had this done on my last truck and need it again due to work.