When I purchased a new vehicle in September 2004, I wanted side impact airbags, but they only were available as part of a “Safe and Secure” package that also included OnStar which I did not want. A salesman tried to convince me that I was getting a year of OnStar service “free”, but obviously part of the price of the S&S package paid for the OnStar subscription.
The emergency services of OnStar are appealing to me. But the privacy implications are not. Now that my year of “free” service is over, I have disabled the system by pulling the fuse that powered it.
OnStar will automatically connect with an OnStar advisor if the airbags deploy. There is also an emergency button for manual activation. In addition, OnStar provides services like remote unlocking and stolen vehicle tracking, and can be used as a hands-free cellular phone if you purchase an additional celluar plan. All these services work by means of an integrated GPS system and cellular telephone.
Should the government wish to find or track a vehicle equipped with OnStar, it is very easy for them to do so. They can also activate the OnStar and listen to any conversations occurring in the vehicle, without the driver and passengers’ knowledge. Some people tried to tell me that my concern over privacy was overly paranoid, but it turned out that the FBI actually lost a lawsuit in which it was revealed that they have been subverting the OnStar system for exactly these purposes. However, the basis of the ruling was that the FBI deprived the car owner of the normal emergency use of the OnStar system. This wouldn’t apply if they used the system to track an unsubscribed vehicle, or if they developed a means to use OnStar for tracking without disabling its normal functioning. It seems very likely that they have done this.
If you carry a cell phone around, it can be used to track you, but a normal cell phone does not include a GPS, so the location must be determined by triangulation based on signal strength, which is not very precise. You can turn off a normal cell phone any time you like. The OnStar system is on at any time the vehicle is powered, and there’s no way to shut it off with the vehicle powered short of removing the fuse as I have done.
In my vehicle, the fuse for OnStar is also used to power the rear seat entertainment system, but I don’t have that option so as far as I know only OnStar is affected. The OnStar buttons and indicators definitely are not functional now, but I have not yet confirmed that the system is completely disabled; it is possible though rather unlikely that the GPS and cellular portions of the system may get power from another fuse. To be completely certain, I should find the OnStar unit and verify that no power is reaching it, or use a spectrum analyzer to verify that the cellular portion is inactive.
I’d actually like to take advantage of the cellular and GPS hardware, but on my own terms. Certainly using the installed GPS antenna for an aftermarket GPS navigation system should be easy. But it would be even better if it turns out that the OnStar unit uses standard OEM modules for the GPS and the GSM cell phone, as the latter uses higher power than a conventional handset and also has the handsfree support. Possibly I could put a different SIM card in the unit to use it with my own cell phone account rather than the one OnStar provided.
Another possibility would be to install switches on the dash that allow me to turn the OnStar unit on and off, disable the GPS, and install an indicator that would show whether the cell phone was active; that way the system could not be remotely activated for eavesdropping without the driver’s knowledge.
I was wondering if you found out whether or not removing the INFO fuse actually/completely disable Onstar. Is GM still able to track your position? I would be interested in knowing if you had founf out any additional information.
thx much
JRobb
I rtecently bought a Saturn with ONSTAR..have you ever found out..cxan they track me ,etc..if i DO NOT subscribe ? CAN it be deactivated?
Yes, with Onstar you can be tracked even if you do not subscribe.
The only way to be sure of deactivating it is to cut power to the Onstar unit. If you can physically get to the unit and unplug it, that would be the best approach. Second-best is pulling the fuse from which it is powered. If you’re lucky, your Saturn won’t have anything else important on the same fuse. Check the owner’s manual.
Unplugging the Onstar unit should be easy if you can get to it. I haven’t yet taken the time to locate the Onstar unit in my Yukon. In older Yukons, Tahoes, and Suburbans the Onstar was in the cargo area, above and behind the right rear wheel well. However, it’s my understanding that when they redesigned the Onstar unit for smaller size, they started putting it behind the instrument cluster in the dashboard.
In any case, I have no idea where it might be in a Saturn. You could ask the service department at a dealership.
One think I’ve considered doing would be to keep the Onstar unit active, but add the ability to tell when it is being interrogated by adding a circuit to generate an audible beep when the cell phone starts transmitting (which happens whether the Onstar calls out, or the Onstar operations center or the FBI call into it).. This would be a much more complicated project than just disabling it.
Where is the Onstar module located on the 2006 chevy Tahoe? I would like to disable it. Thanks.
Sorry, I have no idea. If you’re lucky, it’s on its own fuse or on a fuse with nothing else you care about, like on my 2004 Yukon.
Have you checked http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/15/45/
Onstar’s GPS unit uses a non-traditional binary “Motorola Binary” that you have to switch to “NMEA mode” to use as a GPS for a navigation unit/laptop navigation software.
When you switch to NMEA mode, Onstar can no longer interpret the GPS signal, for it has to be switched between Binary and NEMA physically and can’t be done remotely.
BTW, provided you don’t have an aftermarket headunit, your radio should display “PHONE” on the radio screen when Onstar has connected to your vehicle, as well as a couple of audible beeps. Does your vehicle’s Onstar not do this? All of the onstar systems i’ve worked on did this, and it could not be circumvented, i’ve tried. The GPS/cellular override switch would be a good idea, but i’d make it two seperate switches, so you can still use the functionality of the handsfree phone (as I have done) without GPS functionality. Although, i’d look for a means of the switches being overrode in the event of airbag deployment. No sense in sitting at the bottom of a ditch bleeding to death and the one thing that could have helped you is disabled.
Almost forgot, btw, if your system is not already digital, it will be worthless soon anyway, as the analog network is being phased out for digital spectrum cellular. Once the cellular network goes digital, your onstar will become obsolete. Exsisting Onstar customers are being coaxed into dealerships now for upgrade to the new onstar system. If you aren’t a current subscriber, but would like to resubscribe, at the moment it would cost you about $650 to upgrade out of pocket.
Hacking your onstar however, and the newer digital onstar systems are much more fun to modify.
The head unit does not display “PHONE” if the OnStar call center puts it into monitor-only mode. There is no visible indication of that, by design, as it is intended to be used for theft recovery. They don’t want to alert car thieves that they are being monitored. Unfortunately this feature is also what allows the FBI to eavesdrop on the car.
My intention with GPS was simply to use the existing GPS antenna that was connected to the OnStar unit with a separate aftermarket GPS unit. I did not intend to use the OEM GPS module inside the OnStar unit, though I am aware that it is possible to do so. (I’ve previously used Garmin OEM GPS modules.)
I believe that the cellular phone in my OnStar is the analog/digital model, though I’m not 100% certain. It would be nice to be able to use the phone without having it available for remote surveillance, but I’m not sure that I can hack the OnStar to do that. If the OnStar module contains a SIM card, I could replace it with a different SIM card which would let me use it on a normal cellular account, but the IMEI of the phone would be unchanged, and since the OnStar call center almost certainly knows the IMEI, they could still get the cellular carrier to give them the asociated phone number to activate the surveillance.
I don’t have any reason to think that the FBI wants to listen to me. But I really don’t like the fact that they have the ability to use MY car to conduct surveillance against me.
Hello i am from germany and hope you can help: i have a hummer h2 here,
and this onstar always says: “sound not available” and the word “phone”
is in the radio-display. i want to remove this onstar or disable it,
where is it in the hummer?
Andy
http://openminds.net/onstar/ Hack Onstar, turn it on and turn it off with a laptop. Some other intersting things can be done.
I must say if you hate the onstar so much and you are so terrified about gps tracking and people listening in. i say dont buy the car. If you tell the dealer u want a praticular car without onstar u can get it. even though the dealer tries to sell you the onstar exquiped vehicle it is your decision. All this mumble about being watched every move and listen in on conversations may happen i’ll admit, however the percent of people who are victims is slim compared to those who are in accidents and need help and actually get it because they have the onstar. And for all of those who think they dont pay for it and will still get help upon air bags going off are highly mistaking. Even so, i am not all pro onstar dont get me wrong i just had to leave a message stating if u hate the darm thing so much dont get it equipped and u wouldnt have to worry about all this bs.
If I like the car, why shouldn’t I just buy it and disable the OnStar? That seems to make more sense that buying some other car that I don’t like as much.
I never said that YOU should disable YOUR OnStar. If you don’t mind that the FBI could listen to you without your knowledge, without a warrant, and that doing so might prevent the emergency features of the OnStar from actually working, then there’s no reason for you to disable it.
The argument that the chance of the FBI doing this to me is slim doesn’t persuade me. That’s the old “The innocent have nothing to fear” argument used to justify all sorts of encroachments of civil liberties. The fact is that the FBI actually was caught red-handed doing this, and the court ordered them to stop. But there’s no way to be sure that the FBI actually has stopped; there is a lot of recent evidence that the government is willing to break laws and court orders in the “war on terror”; for instance, the NSA’s domestic eavesdropping on US citizens without warrants. The point of the eavesdropping is in fact that they’re doing it as a fishing expedition to find potential suspects; if they were only doing it to people that were already suspects they could get warrants easily. Thus it’s equally possible that the FBI might monitor the OnStar units of people that aren’t already suspects.
There is also the possibility that someone OTHER than the FBI might manage to take remote control of OnStar units. How often do you read news stories about computers being broken into? Your OnStar system is a computer, much like any other, and potentially vulnerable to attack.
My opinion is that an OnStar subscription is overpriced, and that I’m not willing to both pay for it AND live with the possibility of my privacy being invaded. Your mileage may vary.
You are so wrong about the FBI and OnStar tracking you. First of all, if you call or simply do nothing at the end of your first year you will be deactivated. That means that the phone number to your unit is shut down. Same as any cell phone you get anywhere. OnStar uses Verizon’s network and has to pay for each individual cell phone number. When a unit is deactivated that number falls back into the available phone number pool. OnStar does not continue to pay a monthly fee to Verizon for no reason. They are in the business to make money, not sit around in the zero event the FBI might want to track a phone call.
As far as OnStar being able to contact you once you are deactivated, it can’t happen. There is no phone number for them to call. They have no way of knowing where you are. You are wasting your time and looking like a fool by pulling fuses. Now if you were to push the blue button then they know where you are but otherwise, no. So, if you get in an accident and the airbag deploys, no message gets to OnStar. This is why people make up crap about OnStar not being willing to help.
“…but obviously part of the price of the S&S package paid for the OnStar subscription.”
An assumption on your part, a wrong assumption. The first year is paid by the division. I.e. Chevrolet.
“Some people tried to tell me that my concern over privacy was overly paranoid, but it turned out that the FBI actually lost a lawsuit in which it was revealed that they have been subverting the OnStar system for exactly these purposes.”
Lies that ignorant people believe.
This guy Eric is off his rocker. All this FBI conspiracy is a pile of dung. Why people like him would think the govt gives a crap about their conversations is beyond me.
Check the facts first, Bear. The FBI was caught tapping OnStar units, and the court ordered them to stop. It’s not, as you put it, “lies that ignorant people believe”. The case was Company v. United States (2003) and was decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 18, 2003. You can get the PDF of the decision from the court’s web site Click the “Opinions” button near the top left, then select “Opinions by Date”, 2003, and November.
Although this ruling prevents the FBI from using OnStar for surveillance with active OnStar units (becuase it interferes with the paid emergency services), it does not prevent them from using “inactive” OnStar units for surveillance. You are naive in the extreme if you think that the FBI wouldn’t pay the cellular carrier to activate the cellular service to an OnStar unit they wanted to monitor.
You write “there is no phone number for them to call”. Incorrect again. Unlike a normal cell phone, the carrier as part of their contract with OnStar ties the phone number to the OnStar unit even while the service is inactive. In that case, the phone number will only give an intercept stating that the number is not in service, but if the service is reactivated (whether through normal channels, or secretly for monitoring), the same phone number is used. Even if that were not so, if the FBI paid the carrier to activate the phone connection, the carrier would obviously provide the FBI with the phone number.
Furthermore, you demonstrate complete ignorance of economics. Chevrolet doesn’t foot the bill for first year of OnStar. They pass the cost on to the consumer. The automakers don’t give anything away “for free”. The cost may be hidden, but it’s in there somewhere.
Bear writes “Why people like him would think the govt gives a crap about their conversations is beyond me.” If the government didn’t give a crap about the conversations in cars of citizens, why did they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar? The U.S. government has demonstrated that they want to monitor EVERYONE. That’s why there are lawsuits right now concerning AT&T and other carriers giving their Call Detail Record databases to the NSA without the NSA having first obtained proper court orders.
Why should you care whether I (or anyone else) remove the fuse that powers my OnStar unit, anyhow?
It’s not that I care about you removing a fuse, what I care about is your ignorance and how you make other people paranoid for no reason.
Where do you get your facts when you make statements like “the carrier as part of their contract with OnStar ties the phone number to the OnStar unit even while the service is inactive…the phone number will only give an intercept stating that the number is not in service, but if the service is reactivated (whether through normal channels, or secretly for monitoring), the same phone number is used.” I’m telling you you are wrong. I know first hand you are wrong because I work for OnStar. Unit is deactivated, unit has no phone number which means no way for OnStar to reach the unit. Reactivated subscribers have requested the old number back but they can’t do that, some numbers have already been reissued to other subscribers and it’s not something OnStar will even attempt to do for a subscriber. Don’t believe me, blue button in and ask them.
“Chevrolet doesn’t foot the bill for first year of OnStar. They pass the cost on to the consumer. ” This could be argued back and forth and to some degree you have merit. Everything is baked into the MSRP. But, the division does pay OnStar for the first year of service. You pay for the hardware as it’s shown on the sticker price. Notice that the higher priced vehicles from Caddy and such get the D&C packages where the lower end get S&S. All paid for by the division.
As far as the FBI goes if the case was “Company v. United States (2003)” doesn’t that tell you that OnStar takes privacy very seriously? It only speaks that they do not want to infringe on peoples privacy.
OnStar does not sit and listen in to conversations. The hardware is configured in such a way that if OnStar does come on, the radio mutes. Pretty easy for someone to figure out they are on the line.
I guess I’m just sick of people making uneducated statements against OnStar when it’s just an opinion not fact. Thinking the government cares about your conversations is just stupid. I don’t know you but really, what value would your conversations add to the govt?
One final thought. People say they don’t use OnStar and therefore don’t want to pay for it. That’s fine but to that I will say that every time they drive their car they are using it. With an active subscription OnStar will call the emergency team if the airbag deflates. In a world where seconds matter, it can and does save lives. When you are unconscious try dialing your cell phone.
Bear wrote “Reactivated subscribers have requested the old number back but they can’t do that,”. OK, my information is probably incorrect on that. But it still doesn’t change the fact that the FBI could get the cellular carrier to activate the service, then use it for eavesdropping. The phone number changing wouldn’t prevent it, as the carrier would obviously give the FBI the new phone number.
Bear wrote “As far as the FBI goes if the case was ‘Company v. United States (2003)’ doesn’t that tell you that OnStar takes privacy very seriously?”
Certainly it does. I never claimed that the people at OnStar want to violate customer’s privacy. I’m sure they don’t. But when served with a court order they’re going to comply just like the phone carriers do. OnStar executives don’t want to be found in contempt of court any more than anyone else does.
Bear wrote “The hardware is configured in such a way that if OnStar does come on, the radio mutes.” Not when the system is being used in theft recovery mode. The whole point of the theft recovery mode is that the person driving the car (presumably the thief) is not alerted in any way to the fact that they’re being monitored. The FBI took advantage of this feature for purposes that were probably never intended by the OnStar management.
Bear wrote “Thinking the government cares about your conversations is just stupid.” Tell that to the people the FBI eavesdropped on via the OnStar system. Bear’s argument is basically the old argument that “the innocent have nothing to fear”. If that argument were valid, we’d be living in a police state. The reason we still have some privacy is that not everyone agrees that the government should have unlimited authority to surveil the public.
Bear wrote “People say they don’t use OnStar and therefore don’t want to pay for it. That’s fine but to that I will say that every time they drive their car they are using it.” Not if they’re not paying for it, they aren’t.
Bear wrote “With an active subscription OnStar will call the emergency team if the airbag deflates. In a world where seconds matter, it can and does save lives.” No argument there. I think it’s a great system as long as you’re not concerned about the FBI eavesdropping.
“But it still doesn’t change the fact that the FBI could get the cellular carrier to activate the service, then use it for eavesdropping. The phone number changing wouldn’t prevent it, as the carrier would obviously give the FBI the new phone number.”
You forget that it’s not the carrier that activates the system, it’s OnStar. Also remember that according to your records OnStar fought the gov’t in court. Don’t think for a minute they aren’t going to fight again if the FBI mandates they activate a system.
“Not when the system is being used in theft recovery mode.”
In theft recovery mode they do not listen to the conversations. They merely track where the vehicle is.
“Bear’s argument is basically the old argument that “the innocent have nothing to fear”.
I never said such a thing. My point was why would the FBI care about you?
Bear wrote “People say they don’t use OnStar and therefore don’t want to pay for it. That’s fine but to that I will say that every time they drive their car they are using it.” Not if they’re not paying for it, they aren’t.
You left out my next sentence which makes your point mute. “With an active subscription OnStar will call the emergency team if the airbag deflates.”
Personally I’m not concerned about the FBI listening. About the only thing they would gain from listening to my conversations is a cure for insomnia. But seriously I’m not an advocate for the FBI. I don’t want them infringing on mine or anyone else rights. I just don’t like seeing all this negativity towards OnStar because of it. If anything people should praise them for taking privacy so seriously (and really you could apply the FBI thing to any product in any market) and for the good they do, like saves lives, help the people w/ OnStar during the Katrina hurricane (and supringly to me they don’t tout that in ads) by giving free service and ignoring what package they had. If they needed help, directions or otherwise they helped.
Bear wrote: “You forget that it’s not the carrier that activates the system, it’s OnStar.”
If any party is able to get the carrier to activate the cellular service to the OnStar unit, that party can control the OnStar unit indepently of the OnStar organization. Again, if you don’t think that the FBI is capable of this, and willing to do it, you are extremely naive.
Bear wrote: “Don’t think for a minute they aren’t going to fight again if the FBI mandates they activate a system.”
Quite possibly. But by the time a court takes action, the damage has been done. In the referenced case, the court didn’t rule that the FBI can’t use OnStar for surveillance. They only ruled that the FBI can’t do that in such a way as to disrupt the OnStar emergency services. This is not a victory for privacy.
Bear wrote: “In theft recovery mode they do not listen to the conversations. They merely track where the vehicle is.”
That may be the normal mode of operation, but it has been demonstrated that the hardware has the capability to eavesdrop on the vehicle surreptitiously, and that the FBI has used this capability. Thus arguing that it cannot be done, or that the government won’t do it, is an exercise in futility.
Bear wrote: “and really you could apply the FBI thing to any product in any market”.
Sorry, no. Most products on the market are not engineered with features that allow remote surveillance. For instance, my television has no such feature.
Bear wrote: “I just don’t like seeing all this negativity towards OnStar because of it”
The negativity is not directed at OnStar, but rather at the FBI. In designing the system, OnStar was (presumably unintentionally) complicit in providing the FBI with surveillance capability. But the intentions of OnStar have little bearing on whether the FBI will abuse it; the latter is a known fact.
The court only ruled that the FBI can’t use a subscribed OnStar unit in such a way that emergency services are disabled. If the FBI were to exercise just a bit more effort, they could install an “active tap” via the cellular carrier, allowing them to control the OnStar, but forward any emergency signalling from the OnStar unit to the normal OnStar facilities. This would not violate the court order, and could be done in such a way that OnStar wouldn’t even know it was occurring.
You can argue until you’re blue in the face that OnStar’s intentions are good, and that it provides a valuable service. I won’t dispute any of that; I actually agree with you. But it doesn’t change the fact that the FBI can subvert the system, and has done so in the past.
It is actually amusing watching this exchange. Bear is correct, Eric you are a tad paranoid for the wrong reasons. Funny, my mother told me the same things Eric is talking about…and I laughed. First off Eric, privacy is very important..our (I assume you are an American) Constitution is just full of points related to rights and privledges. Although you ARE correct that a device like OnStar COULD be used to infringe on your privacy (given the right circumstances, legal and technical hurdles) it should be so low on anyones list that heck…I wouldn’t lose sleep over it since the value of the OnStar technology far outweighs the risk.
Eric, I am not going to slam, insult your intelligence or anything like that. I have a hard time understanding some of the mindsets that are similar to yours (I reviewed some other parts of your site) but heck…few understand mine (I probably have one all to myself). I find it odd that people will say that the government is/will/shouldn’t have the ability/technology/right to infringe on anyones privacy…but in the same breath mock the same goverment/agencies for not “doing thier job” and catching all the “bad guys”. The same people can and have said we shouldn’t be in Iraq but in the same breath say the government isn’t doing enough to protect us….I don’t get it (btw I am a GW1 vet..war is not a party). So systems like Onstar..yes it COULD be used for invasion of privacy..but so could your cable box (ever wonder if they take metrics on what channels you watch?), your credit card reciepts (hmmm..target marketing), your email, the cookies in your browser, electronic credit card scanners (I got your number AND a nice digital signature to go with it…lovely).
At the end of the day, I personally would worry .1% about the goverment agencies messing with my privacy and worry 99.9% about the ungoverned, uncontrolled and openly apparent invasions of privacy…how many private individuals had (maybe still have) analog scanners for cell phones?, how many morons sit in co-lo facilities sit and read your pop mail accounts…etc. Personally I figure it like this. If your assertations are correct in your other blog postings (you apparently believe that the administration is not the sharpest tack in the cork board) do you really honestly think that they are organized enough to wage a campaign of invading everyones privacy? Heck I think the only agency that stays on top of every American is the IRS…they should actually scare the crap out of you and they don’t care about OnStar ;).
So if you really want to focus energy on privacy (a very noble cause in my mind) why don’t you talk about services like Google? Ever Google your name? Ever wonder how they and other “information” sites get that data? Interesting research really. Now for the Government they have a ton (metric tons really) of laws, regulations and directives that control what they can/shall/will do. Heck with HIPPA the Government says that you have to stand no closer then X-Feet behind someone at a pharmacy…of course they call your name out over the loud speaker..go figure that. Figure out why we cannot seem to control SPAM, Phishing, identity theft (I can’t think of too many govt programs where they steal the identity of thousands of people). Oh and by the way…the only way to fight criminal acts like phishing, identity theft, credit card fraud, drugs, terrorism (ever visit ground zero??? sobering experience), child predators (gotta love myspace) is to bend some of that “privacy” stuff.
At the end of the day, I could give a crap about the govt tapping my phone, tracking my car or even “profiling” me…I don’t have anything anyone would be interested in..nothing…wish I did. However, maybe they will catch the guy/gal that murdered 3 people in cold blood just up the hill from my house a couple weeks ago…maybe they should tap some Onstar for that one.
Cheers
wes
OnStar subscriber in 2 GMC products…and I keep paying damn yearly subscription.
Ok you people are insane. I work for onstar, and I know that no one can “listen in” on your conversations or see you in the vehicle. If someone at onstar contacts you in your vehicle, you will know because we need to call in to the vehicle. If we call, this means you will hear a ringing tone in the vehicle which will either be answered by youself (if we are calling the vehicle cell phone number) or if we do this by connecting as though you had pressed the onstar button. If you have your radio on and your radio is interrupted, this means onstar is online. If you press the onstar button and you do not know this, we will disconnect the call and not even bother trying to reconnect. So quit being so paranoid. You’d think the FBI was out to get YOU. lol
And that explains why OnStar sued the FBI for abusing the service to listen to suspects without their knowledge?
Sure, the *normal* use of the system will mute the radio and beep. But what about the theft recovery features?
Frankly, I have to take claims from OnStar employees denying that the capability exists with a grain of salt. Obviously OnStar empolyees have a vested interest in denying that there is such a capability, whether it actually exists or not. The lawsuit is stronger evidence than employee claims.
Now if a director level employee of OnStar were to write to me on company letterhead, denying the existence of the eavesdropping capability, I’d be happy to treat that as an authoritative source, post it here, and withdraw my criticism. Though that would still leave me a bit puzzled regarding the lawsuit.
Eric
Fellas!!,Fellas, Fellas, !!enuf bickering!! bottomline is…..by hook or crook if they want you ,they will get you !!onstar or not.However I know for a fact that there are ample cases of a few different agencies that have and still do “listen in” on civilians trekking the highways&biways of the USA.Therefore if you are going to point the finger @ anyone …….I say Boycott verizon!!! they are the ones who allow all this nonsense.read your cell phone contracts ,it clearly states that by signing it you agree to the “TERMS”….which means you are Okaying the eavesdropping.It does suck ,I hate it too ,its not fair,But to each there own…we are all in this struggle together,if you dont like it take it out …but if you think about it ,youd have to lose the cell phone too,and your PC,and cable tv,even your sat radio.So if you really want your privacy respected then just get out of the game..keep your life simple ..I dont know become amish….lol…you guys are great goodnite…
I have a 2006 H2 and I did pull the fuse t the Onstar module. However, I am not sure if it is still getting power. Does anyone know where the module is hidden in the H2 so that I can unplug it? I used to drive Chevy tahoe
which has it easly reachable behing the glovebox to unplug. I do not want big brother spying on me!
hello all i’m an former onstar employee who would be happy to answer all questions. there are alot of misconceptions in this comment section i would be happy to clear up feel free to ask me anytime
Hey I have an 02 Denali and my question is if I were to disable the OnStar what if my car got stolen could they track it! I love my car its my baby but I dont want any eaves dropping! Can anyone tell me where I can find the fuse or what ever it is I need to do to disconnect the OnStar in an 02 Denali??
Thanks,
Hi
Does anyone know if you have a company car, can your employer see your location? And, would that be legal?
Thanks
A couple of things…
1. The US Gov has repeatedly shown a total lack of respect for the right of privacy. This is undeniable and if you don’t agree, then do your homework. Listening to conversations is not done by government employees in data centers as previously mentioned, or network admins sifting through your POP3 account… that’s just a ridiculous point to try and make. It is sifted through by supercomputers at NSA and elsewhere. This has been going on for many years. NSA has acres and acres and acres of computing power. The technology is years ahead of mainstream. You can develop a lot of technology when you have no limits on funding.
2. They continue to shred the constitution in front of our very eyes in the “war on terror” — which is ridiculous in so many ways, primarily due to the fact that the “pivotal event” that started it was perpetrated by elements within the highest levels of the US gov. The facts clearly show this and if you don’t agree, do your homework. (check out WTC7 for starters, and infowars.com)
3. Any system that is capable of remote tracking, monitoring, listening, etc., can and most likely will be used at some point for covert surveillance in ways that it may have not been originally intended. People are kept in the dark via the Mass media as far as how impressive these capabilities are. TV and Movies always show these law enforcement folks needing the suspect to stay on the cell for x-minutes to trace the call…. mostly for dramatic effect. As Eric mentioned, triangulation has been around for a long time, and it doesn’t take that long to get a reading.
4. People in this country (and elsewhere) are extremely naive as far as how much their communications are surveilled. Phone, fax, email, etc.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHELON
It has been going on for a long time, and will continue as long as people continue to give up liberty for security and allow this to happen. Just the submission of this post, will no doubt, insure that it is added to a database somewhere for filtering due to keyword content. The router taps between the computer I am using and the computer that this website resides upon will make sure of that. It’s not paranoia, it’s the way it is. Someone who calls it paranoia is only publically admitting their own ignorance.
We all need to work together to educate eachother.
I sincerely HATE it when people talk and act like they know a damn thing about something. The unit in ALL North American market OnStar equipped vehicles does NOT use a SIM card, NOR GSM!! All OnStar units (regardless of vehicle make and model) use ANALOG or Digital CDMA cellular, no GSM, and definitely no SIM cards (since those are only used by GSM carriers). I am an ALLTEL employee, and this is definitely my topic.
Please, PLEASE. know what the hell you are talking about before you purport yourself as an expert, or even someone who remotely has a clue. Don’t just spout off at the mouth, because other morons tend to believe (and become paranoid) by the things you say. Eric, had you known a DAMN THING, even a TINY BIT, about cellular technology or OnStar, you would know that for YEARS OnStar used analog-only cellular, and no analog/CDMA cellular, which has NO SIM card, and is completely different technology. Additionally, it doesnt matter if Verizon activates a damn thing…Verizon can’t randomly activate a unit unless it knows the ESN (Electronic Serial Number). AGAIN, you pretend to know what you are talking about, by throwing big words like “IMEI” out there. CDMA devices do NOT use IMEI, they use the ESN.
For God sake, you don’t know shit at all, yet you think you’re an expert. This proves you’re so ignorant on this topic - you KNOW Verizon operates OnStars service…yet you STILL say things like “SIM Card” and “IMEI”. VERIZON IS A CDMA CARRIER. Even most idiots know that Verizon is a CDMA carrier. THEY DONT USE THESE. Stop pretending!
OK, Bobby, so it uses Verizon CDMA, doesn’t have a SIM card, and has an ESN rather than an IMEI. Big deal. It’s still the case that that if the FBI wants to eavesdrop on it, they can get the necessary IMEI from OnStar or Verizon records, and get Verizon to activate it. The fact that it is CDMA rather than GSM doesn’t make it any more difficult for them, just as a typical cell phone customer doesn’t care which air interface his or her phone uses. The point is that OnStar can potentially be used for surveillance without the vehicle owner paying for an OnStar subscription.
You wrote “Even most idiots know that Verizon is a CDMA carrier”, but you apparently didn’t notice that I never referred to GSM, SIMs, and IMEIs after having had it pointed out to me that Verizon was the carrier. When I posted the original blog entry back in September 2005 I had no idea which carrier they were using, and took a wild guess, since it makes no difference to the argument.
You wrote “Stop pretending!” I’m not pretending anything. I’ve never claimed to be an expert on cellular technology, though I have perhaps a little more knowledge of it than the average cell phone user. Should I develop a need for more detailed information, I have several friends that work as software and hardware engineers in the industry, some for GSM equipment vendors, and some for CDMA vendors.
I have a GMC Envoy, My x works with a company that has connection to Verizon. I feel that I am being tracked by my x, and really feel that if you have the connections within they will give you up. I have great concerns that I am being tracked. I took the antenna off the truck, but it sounds much more complicated, as in just a fuse. I do not trust Verison. They sold me out once aready!!
Teri, I think it’s possible that Verizon employees could track a car with an OnStar at least to the extent of what cell towers it is near, and possibly triangulate an approximate location based on signal strength and timing, but only if they have the ESN of the specific OnStar unit in the vehicle. This is no different that the cellular carrier’s ability to locate any powered-up cell phone.
It is fairly unlikely that an employee of a “company that has connections to Verizon” would be able to do such a thing. I won’t say it’s impossible, but they’d have to have a well-placed contact inside Verizon who is willing to risk their job and potential jail time for unathorized disclosure of private customer information.
It is far less likely that a Verizon employee could actually get any data from the OnStar unit, or do the passive voice surveillance, because this involves a special communications protocol that is proprietary to OnStar. It is unlikely that OnStar has disclosed the details of the required signalling to Verizon.
Thanks Eric, Your right they do put there jobs on the line, but how could you ever bust them? My x is very deep in the system. He says all he has to do is call in a favor! He has already put a tracting system on my cellphone where I had to leave Verizon. It took awhile to figure it out, but he gave himself up with info that no one would know without a tracking system. I did not know that onstar was connected to Verizon until I read this forum. With my on personal experience with this company I will not and never would refer anyone to onstar because what I have been through. Now he has just threaten to somehow shut my computer down. Says he can get into my computer without me even knowing. Time to shut it down for now. Thanks, Teri
I on the other hand have suddenly lost power to my onstar and the owners manual does not say which fuse is for Onstar. Its a 2002 Rendezvous. Any Guesses???
Alright all you paranoid “i’m gonna have my converstations monitored” freaks.. See that mic up near the center of your roof? usually right alongside the roof console? There are wires coming out of it. Cut them and the mic is dead, no way to listen to conversations when the mic is disabled. If you want, put a switch in-line with one of the wires. This will let you have control of the mic, whether its enabled or disabled. Sure sure someone tries to monitor your convo, but with the mic in a Disabled state by the switch or cut wires, all their going to get is silence.
Teri,
All cell phones now have a limited GPS ability. they can report their location to E-911 services (via carrier, so carrier can see it also). no phones can be activated that don’t have such a feature due to FCC rules put in place around… 5-7 years ago.
The truth of the matter is that though the FCC’s ruling is tough on GM, GM has an obligation to its customers. Currently GM is offering no compensation nor is it offering alternatives to onstar subscribers whose operating system can not be upgraded. In short this is a breach of contract and this obvious situation of built in obsolescence being perpetrated by GM for its own capital gain for over 2 years and should be prosecutable. Can anyone say… “class action lawsuit.” For all those drivers of obsolescent onstar vehicles your cars have now been devalued. So who really loses, GM, I don’t think so. We the consumers’ get screwed again.
Movement towards a class action lawsuit or pressure to produce an amicable solution is necessary.
I have an 01 Tahoe that can’t be upgraded. I would like any info from anyone about how the consumers with the non upgradable vehicles will be handled? What about our loss of value?
Does anyone have information on a class action lawsuit?
Hello
I have a 2004 Acura with Onstar in it. Would it not be possible to open up the exisiting system and change the analog module to digital. All you need is to change the module that acts as a cell phone inside. When you do that you are now getting and sending signals to the nearest tower which in turn allows you to have the same access. I know Cadillac and other GM vehicles are having an upgrade to their anolog modules. So, what would it take to swap out a Acura analog module with a GM Digital module.
Has anybody tried it. I am not very smart when it comes to electronics. I dont do any work on my car when it comes to electronics. So, if someone can do thi, then they found themselvees a business to make a ton of money by upgrading the rest of the folks.
Any comments?
Thanks
Laxmi
I prefer to lurk and enjoy the conversations, but this time I felt compelled to write.
Eric is not paranoid. Eric wants to protect/guarantee his privacy. Period. Each of you should have the same desire. Judging from some of the above replies, I really wonder/worry about the sanity of some that posted the above…
I am amazed to read some of these responses, especially from the OnStar Employee. The ignorance displayed here transcends genuine naivity, and appeared to me to be willful. The Government just absolutely loves people like you - willing to sacrifice and ignore your rights to some *higher good*…
You would honestly believe the government to have beneficial intentions? If the government/OnStar truly have beneficial and ultruistic intentions, then explain to me why none of the Motorola links to OnCore/GPS information on any of these websites no longer work? Why were those links/information removed? Could it be that OnStar/Big Brother does not want you to have information on how to disable/modify the product that you LEGALLY purchased? Why is it that you have to go to http://www.archive.com to find that information? Links out of date/updated? Ok - where are the updates? I have not yet found them.
Some of you that posted are truly silly people - you really need to read George Orwells 1984, and reflect on the message for a while. Perhaps his other book, ANIMAL FARM, would be more appropriate. You dont think that could happen here in America, then go to an Airport and think about it when you are going through security…
Following up on a post by BIN@RY above:
Among some of my extra-curricular activities, I am a US Air Force historian. Among some of the things that I have found reference to:
Your point number 1 above. I am aware of at least one site that performs Cell/Digital phone monitoring. This is located somewhere in western portion of the US (Col/NM). I have seen a pic of the site, but no info as to exactly where located. Your right on when you talk about machines studying people’s conversations. See book (ISBN: 0385499086)
The cell/digital phone signals are harvested via satellite. For more information, there is a recently declassified book on the subject. See ISBN 0700610960. This is a must read if you want to get even a glimpse of what America is able to do with satellites.
One more point: Notice that Osama bin Laden has not been captured yet. Some friends tell me its because he and his friends discarded their cell phones right after 9/11.
Cheers!
Bear,
Who needs audio? We watched your wallet fall out of your pants in your other car
I am working on having GM disable my Onstar. If this has to be taken to court I WILL and I’ll keep you posted.
Zeke
I have a 2001 chevy blazer. My onstar unit was located in the back wheel well on the passenger side located right next to my stock amp….actually they are welded together. I simply unpluged the antenna and unplugged the power supply to the motarola unit. Now when i push the blue button, nothing. The key is just finding the unit. Luckily mine was in an easy spot to find.
(now the repo man can’t find me;))
rsmolow@smolowlandis.com Class action lawsuit email address located in PA
[That's the class action suit over the end of analog service. --Ed]
Here is all the info:
Press Release
Smolow & Landis, Trevose Pa
Re: OnStar Class Action
Trevose Pa. 3/28/2007. On Monday, March 26, 2007, Smolow & Landis, a consumer class action law firm based in Trevose, Pennsylvania, filed a class action lawsuit against OnStar Corporation and General Motors Corporation on behalf of OnStar subscribers, owners and lessees whose OnStar services are about to be terminated because their vehicles have analog OnStar equipment.
At the time of purchase or lease, OnStar and GM represented that OnStar was a unique in-vehicle safety system that provided automatic crash notification to emergency responders, stolen vehicle location, remote door unlock and remote diagnostics in the event of problems with airbags, anti-lock brakes or other systems.
OnStar and GM further represented that the OnStar system, like other vehicle safety systems, would function for the life of the vehicle:
The life-saving benefits of OnStar are intended not only for initial vehicle purchasers but also for subsequent owners over the life of the vehicle.
OnStar has notified OnStar owners and subscribers with analog equipment that based on design limitations, OnStar will terminate their service as of December 31, 2007. Further, that OnStar and GM will not provide repairs or upgrades. Consumers are being told that if they want to continue to receive OnStar service, they can purchase new vehicles with more up-to-date OnStar equipment.
Ronald Smolow, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, says that: “OnStar and GM’s decision will expose thousands of OnStar customers to great risk of bodily injury and harm in the event of a crash. Without OnStar, there will be significant delays in emergency care during the crucial minutes following an accident. This delay will surely lead to an increase in permanent injuries and fatalities. OnStar and GM are about to strand hundreds of thousands of people without safety features that they thought would work for the life of their car. Its like being told that their airbags or seat belts won’t work after Dec 21, 2007 — if they feel unsafe – then its time to buy a new car. This is an unfair and outrageous consumer tactic.”
In their lawsuit, Smolow & Landis are asking the court to certify a nationwide class of OnStar subscribers, owners, and lessees, and for the court to award damages and for injunctive relief to order OnStar and GM to provide repairs, upgrades or other means of obtaining OnStar service.
For more information contact:
Ronald Jay Smolow, Esq.
Smolow & Landis
Two Neshaminy Interplex
Trevose PA 19053
215-244-0880
April 4th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
HELP! We want our stolen H2 back from Mexico! We need a contact within OnStar or any other person that can assist. We are willing to pay! Will provide case number and other details upon contact.
Our Problem: OnStar will only give coordinates to law enforcement. Furthermore, OnStar will not continue to track a vehicle if it is in Mexico. (This is their policy, according an operator). If this vehicle is still in one piece, which we believe it is, OnStar has the capability to get and updated location, but has given our company an extremely difficult time.
Our company is seeking a friend or serious contact within OnStar that will provide updated coordinates and continue to provide coordinates until the vehicle is located. We have numerous individuals in place to locate the vehicle upon receipt of updated coordinates.
If you would like to discuss this further or if you can be of any assistance, please contact jasondelorenzo@comcaset.net. Thank you in advance for your time and effort.
Vehicle: 2006 Hummer H2, Color Gray, VIN: 5GRGN22UX6H102328, MD TAG#: 811M578 Owner: Nextcar All Vehicle Rentals / DMF Leasing 99 Main Street Laurel, MD 20707 Contact: Jason DeLorenzo, Risk Management, Office 240-581-1381.
Stolen Vehicle Report: Houston Police, Report # 153108606, Reported on 10/4/06 9:14am, Officer White, Main 713-222-3131, Records 713-308-8585, Auto Theft 713-308-3500
Last known location per OnStar: Latitude: 28.698100 Longitude: -100.527500 Pierdas Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is just across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas.
Sorry my correct email is jasondelorenzo@comcast.net
If OnStar won’t track vehicles in Mexico, that probably means that they don’t have roaming arrangements with any AMPS or CDMA cellular carrier in Mexico, in which case they have no way to get your vehicle to report its location.
If that’s the case, it seems like a major weakness in the system, since it is not that uncommon for stolen vehicles to be taken to Mexico.
No, OnStar does in fact work in Mexico. The one and only hit that was provided to law enforcement (and us) was in Mexico, just over the border, in Piedras Negras. By the time anyone got to those coordinates, the H2 moved on, but OnStar would not provide further updates, simply because it was in Mexico.
Hello All,
Are you a group of secret agents or foreign spies ???
Why the FBI or US Gov want to know where f.c.k are you located ????
Is this a ex convicts forum???
I understand some of you want to know the functionality of the Onstar system , like me looking the way to put my own phone line.
But from there to Space shuttle pictures and citizens tracking….. WOW we can make a good movie with Jack Bauer.
Smile
Daniel
Yes, we’re all secret agents here. No one else has reason to be concerned with privacy, despite the ever increasing amount of government surveillance. After all, the innocent have nothing to fear!
Eric
Time to trash or hack the on star unit in the car. So what happens when you sell the cr?
Car Parts Guy,
When I sell the car, I’ll put the fuse back in, and the new owner should have no problem activating it again.
Eric
what haapens if a court can order onstar to release info if you are in an accident relative to speed etc or if in a divorce proceeding onstar can prove you were not where you said you were at a specific time etc
Good questions, john.
Normally OnStar wouldn’t have the vehicle location unless they called your vehicle at the particular time in question. It is unknown whether the OnStar unit keeps any history of vehicle location, speed, or other information, or whether it can obtain that information from the “black box” functionality elsewhere in the vehicle.
Police do generally have the ability to extract black box data from your vehicle, but that usually does not include GPS positioning data.
I have not yet determined where the black box data is stored in my 2004 Yukon, nor how to disable that functionality.
Eric
Onstar is a feature I do not need. I would like to only have the phone system. Does anyone know how to set my car up to just use the phone system?
I just want to say
JTHompson said: “Notice that Osama bin Laden has not been captured yet. Some friends tell me its because he and his friends discarded their cell phones right after 9/11.”
I think this is just crap, you just need to watch the “Fahrenheit 9/11″ movie by Micheal Moore. And finally work your brains and try to look at your American life from other points of view. Change your looking angles and finally understand that the government does whatever you they want and the power is not in people. That’s a simple truth about life.
Bunch of paranoid losers on here.
Wow, quite a trip over a year, reading what everyone has to say…… I have a simple question.
Can I hack/interface/splice or in some way use the Onstar audio in my 03 Tahoe to pick-up/ attach to or amplify my cell phone, Spint Katana. I do remember during my first year with On-Star the telephone clarity was excellent and it would make a great “hands free” device for the phone………..
Eric, Your right, the fbi does do that. That Bear guy is as stupid as they get. Just check cnet for the info.
Google fbi onstar and see for yourself.
That is the main reason I won’t ever own a GM
I think this conversation is typical of today’s challanges. None of wants to be spied on (I wouldn’t think) We are mostly Americans and want to believe in American ideals but most of us know something is going on behind closed doors. The technology is there for whoever wants to spend the time and money to get the info. The court cases and lawsuits all help a little but not much. I’m old and hate that this survelence and privacy theft is going on and will avoid what I can and voice loudly what I can’t avoid. I don’t do anything bad anymore but still wish for a little anominity just because I’m a private person.
The crime is that some people are thinking this spying and monitoring are OK What’s next cameras in the bathroom?
Found the fuse to disable the OnStar contol panel on the rear view mirror on a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 pick up.
Open the drivers-side instrument panel fuse block, exposed on the left edge of the panel when the drivers door is open. Pull fuse #22, a 10A, labeled in the owners manual on page 5-125 as “Driver Information Center (DIC)”. A road test showed the actual DIC functions are not effected nor is any other feature in the truck. Pull the fuse and the OnStar panel goes dead. Of course you can put the fuse back in later to reenable it.
Just because I’m paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not watchinng me. I have recently purchased an 06 GMC Z71 Extended Cab Pickup. Does anyone know where the OnStar unit is located on this vehicle? If I disable the OnStar as suggested above by removing the fuse and antenna from the unit, is the anti-theft portion of the OnStar still functional. Thanks in advance.
I on the other hand, would like to keep the Onstar service, but have an analog Onstar unit in my 2002 silverado(Module location???). Can a digital module from a newer and similar GM vehicle be installed and work in my 02 vehicle???
Pointers to a source for that info would be appreciated.
Thanks
hello i have a 2006 gmc yukon and i think my onstar has a shortage where would the computer
or brain box be located
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/editorials/onstar-big-brothers-eye-in-the-sky/
First of all your fuse does NOT disable anything about onstar/phone/emergency services. It is just a relay that pops it you get a surge. Second your onstar gps will still work unless you actually unplug the gps from the 12 volt supply. My wife bought me a Whistler radar detector for my birthday. Out in the middle of nowhere the detector starts going off I mean I’m in the moutains at Pillsbury. I’m a disabled man and my disability benefits are up for review. And all of a sudden people start showing up
no matter where I am or how fast I got there. News flash people in the know can pick up your GPS data just from pulling up next to you with the proper equipment. Then use it for their purposes in this case to track me to see if I’m out digging ditches.
After much back and forth with onstar I called the chevy dealer who sent me a schemeatic. I unplugged what I thought was the onstar and the antenna however I now believe this was just a control box for the onstar. The actual onstar GPS module is buried deep in your dash. If anybody knows how to actually disable the GPS part of onstar please post not just the control box.
Sorry, you’re incorrect. All power to the Onstar unit is routed through a fuse, and removing the fuse disables the Onstar unit. ALL electrical devices in your car get their power via a fused circuit. Otherwise an electrical fault in the device or its wiring could start a fire. In any case, I confirmed this both with the diagrams in the service manual and by inspection of the wiring.
Removing the fuse removes power from the Onstar unit, preventing it from all activity including GPS and cellular phone operation.
Of course, if you remove the wrong fuse, the Onstar won’t be disabled. However, this is readily apparent because the Onstar indicators and buttons will still be functional.
Note that the Onstar often shares a fuse with other devices, so removing the fuse will disable those devices as well. In the model year I own, the same fuse provides would power for the rear seat entertainment system, but my vehicle doesn’t have that option so I don’t care.
Older Onstar systems had two separate modules, one of which contained the GPS. Newer ones are a single module. In either case, the GPS is built into one of the Onstar modules, not something separate.
It is perhaps in theory possible for someone near your vehicle to detect that there is a GPS receiver operating in the vehicle, but it would extremely difficult to remotely monitor the output of that GPS receiver (other than over the cellular network if the Onstar is active). However, there’s absolutely no point in doing that. If someone is that close to your vehicle, they can determine your location from a GPS in their own vehicle.
Sorry you are incorrect. I did that and the gps tracking still worked. Not asking you if it would work. Telling you that it did work after taking the fuse out. Try another ass u me ption.
Sorry. I did take the right fuse out on my 2007 silverado it is fuse 47. It did disable the keypad on the rearview however gps still worked I was still being tracked it gets its power directly from another source. The chevy dealer sent me the way to unplug it via a controll box about 8 inches by 12 inches. I want to unplug it directly. Someone must know where the actual GPS lives. Ya know the little black box itself.
You’re welcome to think that a GPS can work without power if you like, but you’re mistaken.
The GPS is definitely inside the Onstar unit. This has been confirmed by both the schematics and by people that have taken the Onstar apart and hacked into the GPS to use it for other purposes like homebrew navigation systems.
It is true that on many GM vehicles the Onstar unit is behind the dashboard (e.g., behind the passenger side airbag).
Thank you.
can you disable the onstar and still keep the navigation on onstar without having onstar listening in
I saw an article a while back stating where the police used On Star to put a car
in neutral and lock the doors thus imprisoning the theif untill the police could
arrive to pick him up.
Can onStar do this?
I hate the thought of somebody being able to hack into the system and do that to
me with my own car.
According to engadget, this is a new feature for the 2009 model year:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
http://www.switched.com/2007/10/09/gm-lets-police-kill-engines-of-stolen-cars/
They say that customers can opt out. However, the opt out is probably just a bit stored in their central database, and if someone hacks the system and establishes a wireless connection directly to your OnStar unit, they can probably activate it remotely regardless of the opt out.
It would seem a good Bussiness could be made out of fixing cars with OnStar on them ( disableing the offensive controls and moniters)
Here’s an idea-don’t do anything illegal and you won’t have anything to worry about. I mean the government can listen to me talk about my childrens stinky diapers or what I am ordering for lunch if they want to. You sound very paranoid. People make such a big deal thinking that the government is listening to them when in fact you are not that important in this world to make the FBI listen in on your conversations unless you have done something to make them think otherwise. Or here’s an idea when your talking about murdering your wife do it inside a restaurant and not your car!!! LOL
People always bring up the old “the innocent have nothing to fear” argument, but it is complete bullshit. The government has been caught spying on US citizens without warrants far too many times to count. If they had any legitimate government interest, they would be able to get warrants, so it is clear that there is a lot of domestic spying on people for no good reason.
That’s the whole point of the telecom immunity provisions of the new FISA bill. Congress is not only saying that it is OK that the phone companies broke the law, but also that the at any time in the future, the President can give them a “get out of jail free” card. It hardly seems like there is any reason to keep laws against domestic spying on the books any longer, since Congress has completely defanged them.
How can i disable onstar in my 2007 gmc yukon?!
If I just don’t want OnStar - I shouldn’t have to buy it, I shouldn’t have to look at the blue button… But there may be other reasons to want to buy the vehicle.
I think GM is wrong for not offering an “OnStar Delete” option. I understand that they want to hook in to another revenue stream, and that OnStar can help minimize users being called in for “recall checks” that they might not actually need… there is good in OnStar, I just don’t want it.
If I’m lying in a ditch, bleeding out… sorry, its my time to die. Deal with it - my choice, not yours. I choose not to want the service, I don’t have to take the service, I do not agree to the terms of service…
I’m only sorry that my vehicle purchasing options are limited - I would love to buy a car without OnStar, just in principle.
The rest of the argument is pointless - how dare you OnStar fans insinuate that someone who for watever reason doesn’t want the darned thing should have to put up with it… I love the bit about “I work for OnStar and therefore I know everything…” I don’t believe they give you all their secrets…
My turck has onstar and I no longer use it, so just on plug it and go? I will no longer buy a chevy again just do to the onstar tracking.