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Disarming Onstar

HapHazard

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HapHazard Enthusiast

HapHazard

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Apparently OnStar will begin to upload driver and vehicle information starting in December, even for owners who do not even subsribe to ANY OnStar services. Not only would mileage, tire pressure, etc be reported, but also crash information, such as direction of impact, seat belt usage, speed, and the like.

I have never been that comfortable knowing that, under my safe and sound plan, that Onstar knows where I am and stores this data. Now this.

Supposedly, one can "opt out" of this invasive snooping, but I am not so sure that they will ever disconnect you despite their assurances.

Is there a way to disarm Onstar altogether without interfering with other functionality, such as bluetooth?

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old-chevy-dude Senior Enthusiast

old-chevy-dude

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remove / disconnect the OnStar Antenna, then it can't connect to the satellites, you can verify this by then logging into the OnStar website and trying to do a vehicle diagnostics, you should get a fail message.

 

 

also if you have something plugged into the OBDII port it prevents the vehicle from uploading. I have an www.Ultra-gauge.com device I use for various reasons, and with it connected I receive constant emails from my onstar account that my vehicle service diagnostics failed due to a device being plugged into the OBD, since the OBD is a serial port it can only provide data to a single device/connection, even with the vehicle off, it cannot upload that data. But it does not interfere with the OnStar service or ability to unlock the vehicle remotely..

 

 

 

removing the fuse or the VCIM will disable the other abilities (bluetooth for example) my above options will not.

redvett Senior Enthusiast

redvett

Posted
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You just plug the guage in the the ALDL and that ends Onstars ability to communicate with your vehicle unless you push the Onstar button. Works for me.

Could someone as ignorant as I may be in automotive electronics nevertheless be able to install an Ultra Guage?
ranger952 Enthusiast

ranger952

Posted
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Maybe take off your tinfoil hat and put it over the antenna and see if that helps...

A recent goverment study found out that the tinfoil hat actually INCREASES the reception of the signals put out to control you. Take your hats off! :P

old-chevy-dude Senior Enthusiast

old-chevy-dude

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Could someone as ignorant as I may be in automotive electronics nevertheless be able to install an Ultra Guage?

 

 

can you plug something into your OBDII port? about as hard as say plugging something into a USB port on a computer.

MikeNH Senior Enthusiast

MikeNH

Posted
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Could someone as ignorant as I may be in automotive electronics nevertheless be able to install an Ultra Guage?

 

 

If you plugged in the computer you wrote that on you'll be able to handle the gauge too. It plugs into the OBDII port under the dash. :P

 

 

And OS doesn't use satellites to communicate whatsoever. Only thing satellite-based is GPS. All data/communication is fed through cell networks. Unplugging the antenna should cover that and dealers should be able to remove the hardware too according to the email OS sent me.

HapHazard Enthusiast

HapHazard

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can you plug something into your OBDII port? about as hard as say plugging something into a USB port on a computer.

 

Didn't know it was that simple. Thank you. Definitely will do this, and besides the ultra guage looks pretty interestsing and is on sale now for less than $50. As far as the tin foil hat business is concerned, this is what Wired Magazine said about OnStar's brilliant idea:

"Collecting location and speed data via GPS might also create a treasure trove of data that could be used in criminal and civil cases. One could also imagine an eager police chief acquiring the data to issue speeding tickets en masse."

 

Not very cool in my opinion. I shouldn't have to sign on to this just because I bought a GM truck. Makes me wonder if buying a product from a company owned by the government is a good idea in any case.

HapHazard Enthusiast

HapHazard

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Could someone as ignorant as I may be in automotive electronics nevertheless be able to install an Ultra Guage?

 

 

If you plugged in the computer you wrote that on you'll be able to handle the gauge too. It plugs into the OBDII port under the dash. :P

 

 

And OS doesn't use satellites to communicate whatsoever. Only thing satellite-based is GPS. All data/communication is fed through cell networks. Unplugging the antenna should cover that and dealers should be able to remove the hardware too according to the email OS sent me.

 

 

Many thanks for the info.

old-chevy-dude Senior Enthusiast

old-chevy-dude

Posted
Posted
Could someone as ignorant as I may be in automotive electronics nevertheless be able to install an Ultra Guage?

 

 

If you plugged in the computer you wrote that on you'll be able to handle the gauge too. It plugs into the OBDII port under the dash. :P

 

 

And OS doesn't use satellites to communicate whatsoever. Only thing satellite-based is GPS. All data/communication is fed through cell networks. Unplugging the antenna should cover that and dealers should be able to remove the hardware too according to the email OS sent me.

 

 

 

 

OnStar connects via cell towers for communication yes, but it does gather speed, direction of travel, GPS data from satellites. Tomato Tomäto

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