ISSUE DATE:
SERVICE BULLETIN SUBJECT:
VINs or MODELS AFFECTED:
COMPLETE BY:
SERVICE BULLETIN #:
LABOR OPERATION CODE:
LABOR TIME

07/13/2023
ZX5.A01 Limited Vehicle Controller Release 3.8.13
Service Specified Buses
Next Service Opportunity
SC-23-115
EN63Z
2 Hours

ZX5.A01 Limited Vehicle Controller Release 3.8.13
Description:
The procedure describes the process of performing updating the vehicles software along with a
hardware change to improve the vehicles experience and diagnostics.

1 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

Summary of Software Changes:
HVIL Detection Robustness Improvement
- Adjusted HVIL diagnostic thresholds to avoid false indication of an HVIL open circuit when
none is present. Software still robustly detects open HVIL conditions.

Tools/Parts Required:
Tools and Supplies Required:
Proterra Diagnostic Tool
USBLink Nesiq

1
1

2 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE

Software Files Required / Preparation:
IMPORTANT! NEVER access the software from the USB memory device, ALWAYS copy the software
files to your computer hard drive and access the software from this location. Secure the bus with the
Vehicle Master Disconnect in the rear ON.

Component

Part Number

Version

Vehicle Controller

065561

3.8.13

Preparing the Vehicle to be Programmed:
When programming a vehicle, it is critical that the low-voltage batteries remain connected throughout
the process. Ensure that the LV batteries are fully charged before starting the process. If they are
low, use the vehicle to recharge them by turning on high-voltage or place the bus on a low-voltage
charger for the duration of the process.
1.

Connecting to the vehicle, Power up and login to the Proterra-Supplied laptop or a comparable
PC that has the Proterra Diagnostics Tool software installed with a valid license.

2.

Turn ON the 12/24V rear Vehicle Master Disconnect located at the curbside rear charge port
access panel and the LV Battery Saver Switch near the LV batteries.

3 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

3.

Connect the Nexiq USB Link2 device to the laptop and to the OBDII Diagnostic Port located in
the rear deck above the rear window.

Note: Laptop Configuation should look like the following.

4.

Make sure the Master Switch is in the “OFF” position and the Hazard Switch is ON.
a. NOTE – Other systems may cause the hazard lights to be on. Ensure the Hazard
Switch is on for flashing purposes.

4 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

5.

On the laptop, double-click on the Proterra Diagnostics Tool software icon to start the software.

6.

When the program opens, read and click “OK” for the high-voltage safety prompt.

7.

On the Home tab, select the appropriate device from the drop down and click “Connect”

8.

Once the diagnostic tool has connected to the vehicle, a VIN number and connection status will
be displayed on the Home screen, and tabs available to navigate. If you do not see the Home

5 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

Screen, check that the low-voltage batteries are connected and that the Nexiq tool is plugged
in. If there are still errors, try restarting the Proterra Diagnostic Tool application.
NOTE: 800V Proterra vehicles are equipped with an automatic battery disconnect that will
protect the low-voltage batteries from a deep discharge
9.

Before beginning the programming process, check the bus for existing faults by clicking on the
“Diagnostics” button below and make a note of any found.

Update Vehicle Controller:
10. Click on the “Overhead Charging” button on the left side of the screen.
NOTE: If the bus that you are working on is not capable of overhead charging, skip to step 12
below.

Click “Overhead
Charging”

11. Record the value displayed in the “Vehicle Tag” data field. This will be re-entered into the
controller after the software update.

Record Vehicle Tag

12. Navigate to the “VIC CONFIG” tab in the left menu.
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Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

13. Select the option for Vehicle Controller “START FLASH”. There will be a status pop-up to
confirm that the Master Switch is OFF, and the Hazard Switch is ON.
NOTICE: The “INITIAL FLASH” button is only for offline programming of the Vehicle Controller
with an Offline Programming Kit.

14. After pressing OK, it will prompt you to press the “START FLASH” button again. BEFORE YOU
DO THAT, press the “GET VALUES” button to get the current controller configuration values.
Save these values in case the automatic restore does not work.

7 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

15. Now, press the “START FLASH” button once more and a pop-up window should appear. In the
pop-up window, select the software flash file to load the controller. The correct file is named
065561 SW_VIC_3.8.13.hex.

Select the file and
Click Open

16. The Programming window will come up and may take a few minutes to complete.

17. Click on the “Overhead Charging” button on the left side of the screen.
NOTE: If the bus that you are working on is not capable of overhead charging, skip to step 40.

8 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

Click “Overhead
Charging”

18. The following screen will appear. Enter the “Vehicle Tag” that you recorded previously into the
field circled in red below. Click the button under the field. This will populate the “Vehicle Tag”
into the field above and into the controller.

Click “Button”

19. Turn the Hazard Switch OFF.
20. Turn OFF the 12/24V rear Vehicle Master Disconnect located behind the vehicle curbside rear
charge port access panel and the LV Battery Saver Switch near the LV batteries. Wait ten
seconds, and then turn both back to ON.

9 | Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

21. Close the PDT.
22. Verify that the vehicle turns on with no faults and that it is capable of charging.

10| Page
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789