Can Onstar be disconnected or removed completely?
02-25-2009, 02:40 PM
#1
Instructor
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Can Onstar be disconnected or removed completely?
Two of my four vechiles have Onstar (Vette being one) I don't subscribe. This may sounds stupid but I always feel like big brother is watching. Can it be removed entirely? if not can it be disabled? perhaps a remove a fuse or something? I hate the whole concept of Onstar. It creaps me out that my doors can be unlocked with a phone call and my location pin pointed with in one meter.
Last edited by ron-z51; 02-25-2009 at 02:42 PM.
02-25-2009, 02:50 PM
#2
Racer
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St. Jude Donor '09, '14
Does On Star lie dormant and passively active even when not subscribed to the service? I'm guessing if it was a complete and utter emergency you could still use it with a small fee. Not quite sure how it works as I've never had another vehicle with the On Star system.
02-25-2009, 02:59 PM
#4
Two of my four vechiles have Onstar (Vette being one) I don't subscribe. This may sounds stupid but I always feel like big brother is watching. Can it be removed entirely? if not can it be disabled? perhaps a remove a fuse or something? I hate the whole concept of Onstar. It creaps me out that my doors can be unlocked with a phone call and my location pin pointed with in one meter.
a++ Cedric
02-25-2009, 03:10 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
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If you wanted to cut the wires that are right behind the mirror. The unit is to the right of the wires. Cut them and be done with it, thats if you want to. I thought about it too but, it came in handy before.
02-25-2009, 03:16 PM
#7
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St. Jude Donor '09, '14
Got to be careful with that On Star stuff... they can listen in at any time.
I recall reading an article a few years back.. a drug dealer was showing off his escalade and mentioned some of the cocaine he had hidden in the car. Let's just say On Star had a nice hand in getting him busted. I think he might have accidentally been playing with his On Star buttons.
I recall reading an article a few years back.. a drug dealer was showing off his escalade and mentioned some of the cocaine he had hidden in the car. Let's just say On Star had a nice hand in getting him busted. I think he might have accidentally been playing with his On Star buttons.
02-25-2009, 03:17 PM
#8
Platinum Supporting Dealership
Two of my four vechiles have Onstar (Vette being one) I don't subscribe. This may sounds stupid but I always feel like big brother is watching. Can it be removed entirely? if not can it be disabled? perhaps a remove a fuse or something? I hate the whole concept of Onstar. It creaps me out that my doors can be unlocked with a phone call and my location pin pointed with in one meter.
Last edited by Dave@Ciocca; 02-25-2009 at 03:21 PM.
02-25-2009, 03:23 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
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Got to be careful with that On Star stuff... they can listen in at any time.
I recall reading an article a few years back.. a drug dealer was showing off his escalade and mentioned some of the cocaine he had hidden in the car. Let's just say On Star had a nice hand in getting him busted. I think he might have accidentally been playing with his On Star buttons.
I recall reading an article a few years back.. a drug dealer was showing off his escalade and mentioned some of the cocaine he had hidden in the car. Let's just say On Star had a nice hand in getting him busted. I think he might have accidentally been playing with his On Star buttons.
02-25-2009, 03:27 PM
#10
Platinum Supporting Dealership
02-25-2009, 03:40 PM
#12
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I believe that even if you don't pay for the service, it will still call 911 if your air bags deploy.
To disable any year, just remove the antenna from the windshield. Sit in the passenger seat and pull the box toward you some to loosen it up and then push pretty hard to the right and it will snap off. Then disconnect the two wires at the quick disconnectors and stuff the wires back behind the upper molding. Disabled!
To disable any year, just remove the antenna from the windshield. Sit in the passenger seat and pull the box toward you some to loosen it up and then push pretty hard to the right and it will snap off. Then disconnect the two wires at the quick disconnectors and stuff the wires back behind the upper molding. Disabled!
02-25-2009, 03:46 PM
#13
Team Owner
The Onstar module cannot be removed. The Onstar logic is contained in a module called the VCIM. The VCIM is the Vehicle Communications Interface Module. It resides (from a logic standpoint) right smack in the middle of the GMLan and the Class 2 serial interface in the car. If you remove the VCIM the car will not start, run or allow the doors to open at a minimum nor will your radio, chimes and error messages work as I recall (could be wrong). You would have to selectively disable the Onstar portion. This was possible with the 2005 - 2008 cars and the instructions are available scattered about the forum. Ths was possible mainly because Onstar was on option and not every car utilized it. The VCIM completely changed for 2009. The model strategy changed for 2009 in so much as Onstar is now on every model and every car. I don't know what those changes had on the ability to selectively disable it going forward.
02-25-2009, 03:53 PM
#15
Race Director
Don't do that, that's not the onstar unit. In '08 and prior, the box is located in the rear right compartment (below). In '09 it's under the forward carpet onpass side. Other components are connected to the Onstar box and in order for other parts of the car to function properly only certain wires are unplugged to disable the Onstar unit. Cutting the wires on the windshield does nothing and possibly can screw up something else
02-25-2009, 03:57 PM
#16
Race Director
Cell phone can only track to the nearest cell tower, not to your car location
02-25-2009, 03:58 PM
#17
Team Owner
The unit on the windshield is the Onstar antenna. It is not the Onstar system nor is it as simple as cutting the wires.
02-25-2009, 04:00 PM
#18
Racer
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The Onstar module cannot be removed. The Onstar logic is contained in a module called the VCIM. The VCIM is the Vehicle Communications Interface Module. It resides (from a logic standpoint) right smack in the middle of the GMLan and the Class 2 serial interface in the car. If you remove the VCIM the car will not start, run or allow the doors to open at a minimum nor will your radio, chimes and error messages work as I recall (could be wrong). You would have to selectively disable the Onstar portion. This was possible with the 2005 - 2008 cars and the instructions are available scattered about the forum. Ths was possible mainly because Onstar was on option and not every car utilized it. The VCIM completely changed for 2009. The model strategy changed for 2009 in so much as Onstar is now on every model and every car. I don't know what those changes had on the ability to selectively disable it going forward.
But let me chime in here.
I can't be too specific, but I work on OnStar modules for a living.
IF you want to disable the OnStar module, just remove the fuse. That's it. The VCP(that's how we call it) won't boot up if you don't supply power thru the J1 connector. Simple as that.
Even if you remove the antenna and you have strong enough CDMA signals, it'll still work.
If you have further questions regarding OnStar modules, PM me and I can provide you with some additional info as far as it isn't something confidential.
Dan
02-25-2009, 04:02 PM
#20
Team Owner
Even with cell only if there are multiple cell towers around it can triangulate your position relative to those towers and frankly get pretty damn close to your car location. Most every modern cell phone today also contains a GPS receiver. The GPS in my phone can show me on a map where my car is or where I am within a few meters.
