How-To: Changing Vcims GMT900.

~kyle · January 10, 2011

Thanks for the tips. I got it paired now. My owners manual doesn't have the commands because the truck never came with bluetooth (2008). Can someone post the procedure to add #'s and use the bluetooth commands? Thanks.

Strange, my '09 didn't come with bluetooth either but it's in my owner's manual. You can download the manual here, but if it's not in the '08 manual you can download the '09 to get the list.

Its because it was an OPTION in '09, so its in your manual. It was never even offered as an option in 07/08.

Ah, good point. ;)

williamoneal · January 10, 2011

First off...AWESOME POST. Couple questions:

1. I went to EBAY and typed in VCIM. They cost approx. $199. Is this what most are paying to have the BT option?

2. If you get an onstar BT VCIM does it come with a BT antenna?

3. Do we need to match the numbers before we order a VCIM?

Thanks for all of your help!

William

mc7719 · January 10, 2011

First off...AWESOME POST. Couple questions:

1. I went to EBAY and typed in VCIM. They cost approx. $199. Is this what most are paying to have the BT option?

2. If you get an onstar BT VCIM does it come with a BT antenna?

3. Do we need to match the numbers before we order a VCIM?

Thanks for all of your help!

William

1. YES. That's average.

2. SOMETIMES. Make sure to ask. Sometime you have to buy it separately.

3. Match what numbers?

rob01302 · January 10, 2011

Can it work in a 07 sle II? I have the onstar but never use it and the standard head unit?

mc7719 · January 10, 2011

Yup should work with all the head units in the new style (GMT900)

dsch · January 12, 2011

thank you sir! I need to order and get it in because my USB radio is waiting for me. A guy at the dealership got it for me and is going to re-program.... so i need to get it ordered and in fast before he does the new headunit and he can re-program my VCIM too for the onstar Mucho Gracias

PLEASE let us know if you get the onStar working with the replacement VCIM. I don't think anyone has yet. For some reason they "can't" do it if the VCIM did not come with the vehicle from the factory. (But there's GOT to be a way)

I cant see any reason why they cant change the VIN in the replacement VCIM. If the had to replace it because of a fault then they would be able to input the VIN or am I wrong?

mc7719 · January 12, 2011

I agree. But no one has successfully done it yet. Might have something to do with the fact they are not new-from-factory replacement VCIMs. GM won't actually sell those to the public. Anyone I know that has done this mod, has got a second-hand unit.

JuanTwo · January 19, 2011

Does anyone know the part numbers for the Onstar Module for an 08 Silverado with Nav? Is it the same? Thanks for the help!

Doug_Scott · January 26, 2011

I purchased VCIM number 20827036 off of ebay for $199. Installed it into my 2010 Sierra SL, it goes behind the panel that has the ashtry in it. After it was in, I had the red light for OnStar, but the bluetooth worked straight away. I pressed the emergency button on the mirror, and told the operator that it was the only button that worked and about the red light, she passed me on to techsupport.

Techsupport had me on the phone for about 15 minutes while they did some stuff, but the red light remained. The techshupport guy applogized for taking so long, and gave me 100 minutes of phone credit to compensate. He also said I needed to go to the dealer to get it finished.

Booked an appt with my dealer, and took it in on that day and left it. They called about 2 hours later and said it was all done, but it would not be fully working until the next day. I went in to get the truck expecting to pay about $75, but it was no charge.

Next day (actually today) I tried Onstar, the light was green and it connected to the operator, but she said there was still something not activated properly, and passed me on to tech support. Tech support took another 15 min to get it fixed, and they did fix it, Onstar works, green light and all. The tech support guy applogized for the long wait, extended my OnStar another 3 months no charge, and gave me another 130 minutes of phone credit. All in all, I got a total of 230 minutes of phone time, and 3 months free service, and I did not even have to complain. Biggest surprise was the no charge from the dealer though.

JuanTwo · January 26, 2011

Are all phone calls made with the phone itself or are there other controls available?

Doug_Scott · January 26, 2011

Are all phone calls made with the phone itself or are there other controls available?

Not sure I understand what you are asking here. If you mean how do you make cell phone calls with bluetooth, I press and hold the phone button on my steering wheel controls for a few seconds, and when the onstar voice speaks, I say "dial", then wait for the voice to say dial using {insert your cell phone id name here} and it asks for the number, at the beep I just say the phone number, and it completes the call. I understand you can dial by name as well if you program each one in. I know the phone numbers I want to dial, so I just say the phone number.

Pumper · January 26, 2011

This is a little unrelated, but can the VCIM out of a 2011 be added to gain the OnStar application use?

Hunter_745 · January 28, 2011

Hi There,

Had my 2011 sierra to dealer yesterday trying to get them to order vcim and do the bluetooth upgrade. Thought it was worth a shot. Service manager did some checking and was told by gm corporate they would not ship these parts as they were restricted. He Also said that there was an option coming down the pipe for owners who wanted to upgrade. When asked about the used vcim option he said the programming from the factory for a non bluetooth vcim was different and that was why onstar wouldnt work properly.

mc7719 · January 28, 2011

I purchased VCIM number 20827036 off of ebay for $199. Installed it into my 2010 Sierra SL, it goes behind the panel that has the ashtry in it. After it was in, I had the red light for OnStar, but the bluetooth worked straight away. I pressed the emergency button on the mirror, and told the operator that it was the only button that worked and about the red light, she passed me on to techsupport.
Techsupport had me on the phone for about 15 minutes while they did some stuff, but the red light remained. The techshupport guy applogized for taking so long, and gave me 100 minutes of phone credit to compensate. He also said I needed to go to the dealer to get it finished.

Booked an appt with my dealer, and took it in on that day and left it. They called about 2 hours later and said it was all done, but it would not be fully working until the next day. I went in to get the truck expecting to pay about $75, but it was no charge.

Next day (actually today) I tried Onstar, the light was green and it connected to the operator, but she said there was still something not activated properly, and passed me on to tech support. Tech support took another 15 min to get it fixed, and they did fix it, Onstar works, green light and all. The tech support guy applogized for the long wait, extended my OnStar another 3 months no charge, and gave me another 130 minutes of phone credit. All in all, I got a total of 230 minutes of phone time, and 3 months free service, and I did not even have to complain. Biggest surprise was the no charge from the dealer though.

This is monumental. Ive done ALOT of research and you're the first guy I've heard that got this working! And with some bonuses to boot!!

Edited January 28, 2011 by mc7719

mkelly · January 28, 2011

I purchased VCIM number 20827036 off of ebay for $199. Installed it into my 2010 Sierra SL, it goes behind the panel that has the ashtry in it. After it was in, I had the red light for OnStar, but the bluetooth worked straight away. I pressed the emergency button on the mirror, and told the operator that it was the only button that worked and about the red light, she passed me on to techsupport.
Techsupport had me on the phone for about 15 minutes while they did some stuff, but the red light remained. The techshupport guy applogized for taking so long, and gave me 100 minutes of phone credit to compensate. He also said I needed to go to the dealer to get it finished.

Booked an appt with my dealer, and took it in on that day and left it. They called about 2 hours later and said it was all done, but it would not be fully working until the next day. I went in to get the truck expecting to pay about $75, but it was no charge.

Next day (actually today) I tried Onstar, the light was green and it connected to the operator, but she said there was still something not activated properly, and passed me on to tech support. Tech support took another 15 min to get it fixed, and they did fix it, Onstar works, green light and all. The tech support guy applogized for the long wait, extended my OnStar another 3 months no charge, and gave me another 130 minutes of phone credit. All in all, I got a total of 230 minutes of phone time, and 3 months free service, and I did not even have to complain. Biggest surprise was the no charge from the dealer though.

This is monumental. Ive done ALOT of research and you're the first guy I've heard that got this working! And with some bonuses to boot!!

Keep in mind he got it working on a 2010 truck.... a truck that had BT as an option.

To my knowledge no one has gotten onstar to work on an 07/08 truck.