not activating the onstar on new car
 

i don't want to activate my onstar subscription, my salesman is begging me please do it,says it will cause him alot of grief but i really don't want them knowing where i'm at or what my speed is or what my engine sensors and modules are doing. anyone else feel this way or done this?

If/when I buy a 'vette, I will rip out the Onstar module from the car.

It will *not* cause the salesman any grief *except* for when his sales manager questions him on why he wasn't able to wheedle you into it. See if you can get him to beg for doggie treats :) Don't fall for that BS. They know that if you do sign up you are likely to keep paying for it for as long as you have the car. That's why they want you to do it.

If you don't want the thing then don't sign up. Pretty simple. "Just say no" is the phrase :)

You might want to read the FAQ re: what OnStar does/doesn't/can/can't do. There is quite a bit of (semi-understandable) paranoid mythology spread about the service...

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/privacy_policy.jsp

At the bottom...

Z//

The first year free...I don't see the problem. When the year is up don't subscibe...pretty simple. They don't require any credit card info for the free first year..

When you purchase the car you will have to sign one of two documents concerning "On-Star".

Doc#1: If you opt to accept the one year free trial, you will have to sign a document that acknowledges this fact and more importantly commits you to continue the On-Star subscription unless you notify On-Star that you are cancelling. Of course when you call the fun begins - long holds, etc. and meanwhile the charges keep on coming.

or, Doc#2: If you do not want the free one year trial and all the problems with cancelling later, you will be asked to sign a statement releasing the dealer and GM of liability should you crash the car an On-Star in not connected. An obvious scare tactic as a last resort to get you to allow On-Star into your life. But signing this document means that the dealer will never turn on On-Star in the first place.

At least that's the routine in PA at the moment.

ED

On my '08, I never activated the On Star and had no need for it.

If you dont want it dont do it.

I opted not to get the On-Star activated when I bought my '05 in November. The dealer was begging me and offered up a few extra goodies but I didn't take them. I wish they would make the vette without any onstar features if you so desire to purchase it that way, too. The service jsut isn't worth it to me and the hands free minutes they sell... it's easier for me to connect my phone up wirelessly and use to voice recognition to dial my numbers.

GM can keep their On-Star and I'll keep the saved money in my bank account. :yesnod:

Your salesman? :crazy:

Paranoid? :eek:

If you think someone is out to get you, they most likely are! :eek:

I have Onstar and other than trying the directions (no good, couldn't find my house, I bought a garmin) I don't use it although I like the diagnostics report. My question, based on your comment, how can they keep charging me after one year? I did not buy extra minutes, would've been kinda silly since I have blutooth, so they don't have my credit card #. I had an employee about a year ago that had a Saturn Aura and locked her keys in her car. When I told her to call OnStar, she said she had let it laps (sp) so I don't think they can keep charging you if you don't renew. I think it's a good service, but I think they should offer a super-basic service for maybe 50 bucks a year that would include the diagnostics, unlock and emergency notifications. I don't need it for anything else.

You might just want to disable the Onstar. Ripping out the "Onstar module" would prevent your car from starting it will also prevent your radio, seats and drivers information center from operating but Hey, at least no one would know where you are! :thumbs:

apparently you don't have a clue about OnStar or the rest of your car...you go ahead and rip that stuff out :lol:



pssst...... it's the Black Box under your seat that will tell investigators all they need to know, not OnStar

I would like to give credit to the member who posted this but I can't remember where I got this write up. :o

I have not done this so I don't know if it works.


to disable....

a) Remove the one and only fuse for OnStar

b) At the back of your car, open the right rear storage compartment, the OnStar module is in there, you might have to pry up the carpet to get at the VCIM (OnStar Module).

c) UNPLUG connectors J1, J2 & J3 ...and UNPLUG the 2 antenna connections. One antenna is for OnStar's GPS signal. (If you have a 3LT car w/NAV, don't worry, the NAV has it's own GPS antenna!) The second antenna is OnStar's Cellular Phone Antenna.

d) The 4th connector, J4, is part of your car's Computer Network Data Bus. LEAVE that connector alone! If you unplug J4, your engine will not start. If you REALLY want the OnStar box out of your car THAT bad, you NEED to install a termination resistance! The easiest solution is to just leave the OnStar module in the car with J4 connected! The OnStar module will be TOTALLY DEAD!!

:cheers: Ben, OH

Onstar should be an extra cost option for the people that want it.

While this is good information, it only applies to 2005-2008, the 2009 Corvettes are completely different. Just worth noting.

I activated it for the first year free.....never used it. But watch out if you do! They start to automatically bill you after the free year runs out...and they dont tell you either....all of a sudden I started seeing monthly charges on our credit card...it had gone three months before I saw it (wife was paying the bills and just figured I wanted it).....I called them and raised hell and demanded a refund....got it too. They said they "cant just turn it off because its a rescue device and legally they cant". Gosh it made me mad.

You are correct in that they will not be able to actually get any of your money but they will make all kinds of threats to turn you in for collection since the paper you sign is in fact a contract that puts the burden of cancellation on you. They do know your address and bills will arrive as there is a charge for the basic service even without mobile minutes. So until you go through the cancellation process they will keep charging. It's just easier to never have On-Star turned on by the dealer. Don't let the dealer tell you you have to have it turned on - there is another option.:)

ED

Lots of good info available if you do a search on "TIN FOIL HAT".

I do not feel as you do, I activated the onstar for my free trial, year just ended I called them and told them to cancel. No problem, but if you do not want to even try it for a year fine, I will say it has some nice features.