Onstar Causing Battery Problem?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,007
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Onstar Causing Battery Problem?
Today I got a letter saying my Onstar may have a problem that "... could affect your battery performance."
They tell me to try the blue button, if that doesn't connect me then try the red button.
Problem is, I never activated the system and don't want to. So I don't want to push no stinking buttons.
Is this a real problem, or a kind of GM scam trying to get me to activate my Onstar?
If it is a problem for some people, my car can sit for a week and still crank up properly, would that indicate I don't really have the problem?
They tell me to try the blue button, if that doesn't connect me then try the red button.
Problem is, I never activated the system and don't want to. So I don't want to push no stinking buttons.
Is this a real problem, or a kind of GM scam trying to get me to activate my Onstar?
If it is a problem for some people, my car can sit for a week and still crank up properly, would that indicate I don't really have the problem?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
I do not think that GM scams their customers. The letter is asking you to test your OnStar system. If your OnStar can connect via the blue or red button, then your vehicle is not involved. If you can not connect, then your vehicle may have the condition described in DTB #09-08-46-004A. If you do not want to activate, don't.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
It's real. I'll test mine as soon as I get the car out of the garage where I can get a signal. I did have a drained battery that happened the same time I got my OnStar diagnostic report, so I'll be curious to see what the test shows.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,007
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Well, I'll probably check it to to see.
In another thread, someone posted that his Bluetooth audio was much better after the onstar module was replaced. I'm not sure if that was really his problem, but my Bluetooth system has a very difficult time understanding my commands if any background noise is present. Basically, it can't undertand a phone number i speak unless the car is parked. The voice commands on my nav system are worse than useless, about 90% of the time it gives me something totally unrelated to what I commanded, but i haven't tried it while parked.
Maybe the gremlin is hiding in my Onstar.
In another thread, someone posted that his Bluetooth audio was much better after the onstar module was replaced. I'm not sure if that was really his problem, but my Bluetooth system has a very difficult time understanding my commands if any background noise is present. Basically, it can't undertand a phone number i speak unless the car is parked. The voice commands on my nav system are worse than useless, about 90% of the time it gives me something totally unrelated to what I commanded, but i haven't tried it while parked.
Maybe the gremlin is hiding in my Onstar.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Not sure if it's related here but my wifes' new Acadia had a dead battery the other day because there is some malfunction with the bluetooth not turning off after the key is removed and the door opened. My wife could never answer her cell phone in the house. I happened to be in the garage the other day and heard her phone ringing through the car bluetooth. Now we have to find out why.
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