onstar backup battery location? red light blues!

[sniperxxx]

new here.....whats up guys and gals?

I have a 2016 Sierra 4by SLT with all the bells and whistles.

my truck battery died and wouldnt hold a charge so for 2 days I need to get a jump to and from work.

changed the battery and then I noticed "red light" on my rear view ....now I dont know if it happened when the battery died or when i changed the battery.

but i have the red light on mirror, CAL on my display for compass, no navigation I dont think and when I push the button on the mirror it does not connect to onstar.

Ive also noticed that sometime the light will go green but returns to red.

 

could it be that when the resorted battery died .......onstar resorted to its backup battery and eventually died also. 

 

I called onstar and they said for me to take to dealership to see whats wrong and have them fix it.

 

well if i can get away with doing it my self I will.

 

 

anyone know where the battery or the backup battery for onstar is located? 

 

and a part number for the backup.

 

 

[Black02Silverado]

What about the fuse?

[sniperxxx]

where is the fuse for onstar?  

light on mirror is red and sometimes goes green....so im thinking its not a fuse

 

ive also tried disconnecting/connecting my truck battery but thats a no go too.

[Black02Silverado]

I found this thread.  Has some good info in it.  

[sniperxxx]

haha....yeah ive read that thread.  Im the last person to reply to it..

 

I aint taking to dealership if i can help it.

 

[Donstar]

11 minutes ago, sniperxxx said:

I aint taking to dealership if i can help it.

I assume you are out of warranty.  Are you an Onstar subscriber?  If not, then your navigation should work.  If you're a subscriber and receiving your navigation through Onstar, then I would think there may be some incentive from Onstar to help you continue your subscription.  I am a fan of Onstar but my loyalty would not endure a $750 hardware repair.  

[newdude]

Red light there should be a code stored.  Dealer can pull it.  Looking at the schematics, I see no external backup battery for a 2016 Sierra.   

[swathdiver]

This!  ^^^  There will be a code stored.  The backup battery only comes on after an accident if I remember right.  It's supposed to allow a 4 minute phone call after 10 years.  Mine usually goes red to green when the system runs checks on the coax cable and antenna, mine is leaking slightly and water runs down the cable but it still works whether the light is on or not.  There will be codes. 

 

Get yourself a MDI2 and GDS2 software with a laptop to check your BCM codes.

[sniperxxx]

is that what they will do if i take it to the dealership?  pull the code? 

 

so the code will say if it the antenna , battery of what ever it is?

1 hour ago, Donstar said:

I assume you are out of warranty.  Are you an Onstar subscriber?  If not, then your navigation should work.  If you're a subscriber and receiving your navigation through Onstar, then I would think there may be some incentive from Onstar to help you continue your subscription.  I am a fan of Onstar but my loyalty would not endure a $750 hardware repair.  

yeah bumper to bumper is done.  im at 56500 miles

Im a fan of onstar and the remote app.  

no i cant see paying 750 to fix what ever issue it is....but i like everything to work on my truck weather i use it or not...ya know!

 

[sniperxxx]

1 hour ago, swathdiver said:

This!  ^^^  There will be a code stored.  The backup battery only comes on after an accident if I remember right.  It's supposed to allow a 4 minute phone call after 10 years.  Mine usually goes red to green when the system runs checks on the coax cable and antenna, mine is leaking slightly and water runs down the cable but it still works whether the light is on or not.  There will be codes. 

 

Get yourself a MDI2 and GDS2 software with a laptop to check your BCM codes.

can auto zone or someone like that pull the codes?  

where do i get the MDI2 and GDS2...lol

[Donstar]

33 minutes ago, sniperxxx said:

yeah bumper to bumper is done.  im at 56500 miles

Im a fan of onstar and the remote app.  

 

Then, I'd go to an authorized GM dealer and get an estimate for repair.  Afterwards, phone Onstar and tell them you're a fan but you have a hardware issue that will cost $XXX to fix.  Unfortunately you may have to discontinue service.  They may surprise you with their efforts to make the repair worthwhile and keep you as a subscriber!

[sniperxxx]

5 hours ago, newdude said:

Red light there should be a code stored.  Dealer can pull it.  Looking at the schematics, I see no external backup battery for a 2016 Sierra.   

would they have to show it? or could it be hidden?  how bout the onstar module?  where is that located? 

maybe i should try and drop the headliner and check the connection to the antenna.  

[Black02Silverado]

What I would do is go through the entire set up and make sure all the connections to the antenna and OnStar components are clean and secure.  That would eliminate at least that part.  

 

No on any other troubleshooting like the modules, maybe there is a YouTube video on that. 

[davester]

If this is a truck you plan on keeping for awhile, and possibly working on yourself, I would suggest buying a code reader that can get codes from all the computers in your truck.  Something like Autogenuity w gm enhancement (or a variety of other similar products).  It costs more now, but it only takes a couple trips to the dealer to read codes before it's paid for.

 

And codes do not necessarily mean "replace this part".  Sometimes it does, but generally there is a list of things to check to figure out what is actually causing the problem.

[swathdiver]

8 hours ago, sniperxxx said:

can auto zone or someone like that pull the codes?  

where do i get the MDI2 and GDS2...lol

Not likely, you need a bi-directional scan tool that can read BCM and Chassis codes like I mentioned earlier.  Google is your friend as is the search feature here.  I occasionally get a red onstar light though it keeps working and it goes green as it keeps testing.  The problem is the antenna gasket failed and water runs down the coax throwing codes for that.  I've kicked the can down the road twice with Permatex Clear RTV but plan to make that my next repair as the summer rains are upon us.