Bluetooth Onstar 20783877 Installed

[Spurshot]

I got home this evening and went right to installing my brand new 20783877 Onstar VCIM w/Bluetooth in my 2008 LTZ.

 

I read the threads and saw the pics. All went quickly in the removal of the dash bezel, radio, heater and and other controls in the center module of my dash. The first place I encountered difficulty was in removing the original VCIM. The two data connectors came loose easily, but the two original antennae coax cables were stubborn. I fought them for quite a while with the limited space to get my hands in there. Eventually, I won.

 

I popped the VCIM loose from the clips on it's plastic tray. I tried getting it out from the front. No dice. I had to remove three screws holding the plastic tray to drop it a fraction of an inch to give more room to remove the VCIM. The front two screws were easy, the rear single screw was a real bitch. No room to work and it comes out from the rear.

 

Well it finally got finished just in time for me to make it to dinner with my friend. I didn't get it to pair yet, but didn't know how to get it in the mode for that until I came back to the forum and read one of the threads again. I'm supposed to say "Onstar" then once it says "Onstar ready" the thread says to say "Bluetooth". Any comments to help here would be appreciated.

 

Anyway, in my frustration of to try to pair it with my phone, I pushed all the mirror buttons. The red button with the white cross is for emergencies. I found out it linked to the built in cellphone and called Onstar's emergency number and an emergency Onstar operator asked what my emergency was. I said I mistakenly pushed the emergency button. He thanked me for using Onstar and hung up. So, evidently, the emergency services still work even though I cancelled Onstar in November and verified it was off and have replaced the VCIM with an "unmated" VCIM. I can only imagine their lawyers had something to do with leaving that service enabled, but not necessarily advertising it. If you actually had an emergency and they answered, if they didn't help because your subscription or VCIM wasn't mated, you'd probably own Onstar after the court battle.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I'm supposed to say "Onstar" then once it says "Onstar ready" the thread says to say "Bluetooth". Any comments to help here would be appreciated.

 

If you use your steering wheel button it will just come up and say "Ready," then all you have to say is "Bluetooth." You should never have to say "OnStar."

 

After it says "Bluetooth Ready" you just say "pair" and it will guide you through the process from there.

 

Anyway, in my frustration of to try to pair it with my phone, I pushed all the mirror buttons. The red button with the white cross is for emergencies. I found out it linked to the built in cellphone and called Onstar's emergency number and an emergency Onstar operator asked what my emergency was. I said I mistakenly pushed the emergency button. He thanked me for using Onstar and hung up. So, evidently, the emergency services still work even though I cancelled Onstar in November and verified it was off and have replaced the VCIM with an "unmated" VCIM. I can only imagine their lawyers had something to do with leaving that service enabled, but not necessarily advertising it. If you actually had an emergency and they answered, if they didn't help because your subscription or VCIM wasn't mated, you'd probably own Onstar after the court battle.

 

Not really completely true.... they still would have no way of identifying your truck through the system and I don't think the automatic crash response would be triggered since the VCIM is not properly programmed.

[Spurshot]

Charlie,

If you were broke down or needed medical aid and a person answered the push of that button and he was your only possibility of help and did not do anything for you because you didn't pay your subscription or whatever, don't you think the jury would think the person on the other end of the line should do their civic duty and assist no matter? I think Onstar would have a standing policy to assist in any emergency, if they were contacted. I think there are some places that have tried to or did enact "good samaritan" laws.

 

Automatic crash triggers and vehicle ID's aside, a person that answers could not deny assistance to you without exposing Onstar to a huge civil suit. They'll help anyway they can. It costs them nothing but a few minutes of a minimum wage phone jockey. Onstar would not advertise this because "emergency service" is the crux of their fear campaign.

 

Like I said, someone answered and asked what my emergency was, not what my subscription date was or any other question. It's their dirty little secret they don't want you to know.

[Spurshot]

OK,

I was too tired lastnight to go out and mess with the pairing procedure. This morning I did the pairing in a few minutes. I tried several outgoing calls including a couple during driving to work and I left voicemail on my work phone to listen to the background and echo of the call. All seems very well. No noticeable echo, some background noise on the freeway at 65-70 mph and I could hear thumps of the lane dividers. But all speech was clear, even at normal talking volumes. The radio muted as it should have. I haven't tried incoming calls yet.

 

Now about the phonebook access....?

[RyanbabZ71]

Does this work in any 2008? I might want to add this to my 08 Tahoe for my wife. She likes the feature in my 2010.

[Spurshot]

Ryan,

I'd just be guessing about similarities with a Tahoe. But assuming the Tahoe and Silverado use the same VCIM, I would guess it's likely a fit on the Tahoe as well. You can access the VCIM very quickly to check the p/n with my old p/n. Taking the VCIM out of the tight area took me a bit of time to get the antennae coax connectors off and the rear screw out of the VCIM mounting tray to drop it down a 1/2" or so I needed to get it out the front.

 

The access is easy; pull the side panels on the lower console, pull the trim bezel around the radio and HVAC controllers, remove the hex screws on the radio, HVAC, and any other control heads in the center cluster. That should give you access in a few minutes to read the VCIM P/N on top of the unit. You really don't even need to pull the radio to look in on the VCIM.

[LawmanSS]

Chuck,

 

For the phone book access...what phone are you using? If your phone can be controlled by voice commands (such as the iPhone 3Gs), then you can use the Onstar/Bluetooth to access the existing phone book on your cell phone. Just say "Voice." She (VCIM voice ) will say, "Ok...accessing <your phones name>." In the case of the iPhone, you just wait until you hear the beep and then you speak whatever voice command you want to use...such as "dial," "call home," etc. Remember, to use the "Voice" command, your cell phone must be capable of being controlled by voice commands. In this case, the Onstar system is merely a pipeline to funnel your voice commands to the phone, so the commands you use after "voice" are those that are compatible with your phone (vs. the standard Onstar commands). GM has a list of phones that are able to be voice-controlled on their Bluetooth site...although, I wouldn't consider their list as the definitive factor as to wheter or not your phone will work on voice command. If your phone isn't capable, the Onstar system will just end the session. In this case, you have to manually enter any phone numbers you would like to save.

[Stex]

Not sure what you want in phone book access but my 09 does not let you load it..if you find a way let us know......you probably know this: you can put in up to thirty name tags...once name tags in....hit the phone button, say call, say name tag...also if a name tag calls your cel it will announce the name tag...

 

I do not see why GM gives us DRLs but is butt dragging on bluetooth, which I see as a major safety factor....ever see some one all over the road trying to get cel out of pocket or purse?? BT should be in all units.

 

Let us know how you like the BT.

[Stex]

^^ thanks Chris...guess I will up grade my phone when this one dies. think ford with its sync allows you to load your address book...acuras and others too...

[C. Charles Hahn]

Does this work in any 2008? I might want to add this to my 08 Tahoe for my wife. She likes the feature in my 2010.

 

Yes, it does work on any GMT900.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Charlie,

If you were broke down or needed medical aid and a person answered the push of that button and he was your only possibility of help and did not do anything for you because you didn't pay your subscription or whatever, don't you think the jury would think the person on the other end of the line should do their civic duty and assist no matter? I think Onstar would have a standing policy to assist in any emergency, if they were contacted. I think there are some places that have tried to or did enact "good samaritan" laws.

 

Automatic crash triggers and vehicle ID's aside, a person that answers could not deny assistance to you without exposing Onstar to a huge civil suit. They'll help anyway they can. It costs them nothing but a few minutes of a minimum wage phone jockey. Onstar would not advertise this because "emergency service" is the crux of their fear campaign.

 

Like I said, someone answered and asked what my emergency was, not what my subscription date was or any other question. It's their dirty little secret they don't want you to know.

 

Right. And that's all well and good -- I was just trying to reassure you that just because you were able to contact someone with the emergency button doesn't mean OnStar could listen in on your truck (since I know you are one who is paranoid about it).

[dlewis1111]

OK,

I was too tired lastnight to go out and mess with the pairing procedure. This morning I did the pairing in a few minutes. I tried several outgoing calls including a couple during driving to work and I left voicemail on my work phone to listen to the background and echo of the call. All seems very well. No noticeable echo, some background noise on the freeway at 65-70 mph and I could hear thumps of the lane dividers. But all speech was clear, even at normal talking volumes. The radio muted as it should have. I haven't tried incoming calls yet.

 

Now about the phonebook access....?

 

 

If your phone has voice capability, say Bluetooth and then voice and it will access your phones voice menu so that you can call from your phonebook without having to program anything into the truck.

[Spurshot]

Charlie,

If you were broke down or needed medical aid and a person answered the push of that button and he was your only possibility of help and did not do anything for you because you didn't pay your subscription or whatever, don't you think the jury would think the person on the other end of the line should do their civic duty and assist no matter? I think Onstar would have a standing policy to assist in any emergency, if they were contacted. I think there are some places that have tried to or did enact "good samaritan" laws.

 

Automatic crash triggers and vehicle ID's aside, a person that answers could not deny assistance to you without exposing Onstar to a huge civil suit. They'll help anyway they can. It costs them nothing but a few minutes of a minimum wage phone jockey. Onstar would not advertise this because "emergency service" is the crux of their fear campaign.

 

Like I said, someone answered and asked what my emergency was, not what my subscription date was or any other question. It's their dirty little secret they don't want you to know.

 

Right. And that's all well and good -- I was just trying to reassure you that just because you were able to contact someone with the emergency button doesn't mean OnStar could listen in on your truck (since I know you are one who is paranoid about it).

 

 

I could give a rat's behind about them listening to me. I just don't want my vehicle shutdown by hook or crook. Onstar has no oversight to speak of. Hell, even the TSA stole my meds a couple weeks ago, and they're the gummament.

[msinawsk]

i have been thinking about getting shut down too.. lol..perhaps just being paranoid..

[C. Charles Hahn]

i have been thinking about getting shut down too.. lol..perhaps just being paranoid..

 

Definitely just being paranoid.