OnStar and aftermarket stereo

ltemtmike · September 27, 2001

What problems does OnStar cause when installing an aftermarket stereo? Or is it even possible to install an aftermarket stereoand still have use of the OnStar? I am purchasing a new Avalanche and I want the dimming mirrors and climate control and this is only available in a package with OnStar...Thanks for any help

Mike

LarryE · September 27, 2001

you can buy the dimming mirror from an aftermarket supplier.

It's really not worth getting onstar for, there was an article linked over on pacific audio forum where it talked about onstar tracking data on your driving habits and then selling it to your insurance company.

Zane · September 27, 2001

Quote from LarryE, posted on Sep. 27 2001,1:35

It's really not worth getting onstar for, there was an article linked over on pacific audio forum where it talked about onstar tracking data on your driving habits and then selling it to your insurance company.

I almost 100% sure thats not true. You would have to sign a waiver for them to do that, and so far no-one has brought anything up. Also, On-Star sticks by its claims that they do not and will not track a vehicle unless emergancy help is needed. Also, even if your vehicle is stolen and they track it, they will not tell anyone but the police where it is.

As for On-Star and aftermarket stereos, i'm pretty sure you can't do it. There is a special interface that happens. ???

LT · September 28, 2001

Quote from Mervz, posted on Sep. 27 2001,4:13

I almost 100% sure thats not true. You would have to sign a waiver for them to do that, and so far no-one has brought anything up. Also, On-Star sticks by its claims that they do not and will not track a vehicle unless emergancy help is needed. Also, even if your vehicle is stolen and they track it, they will not tell anyone but the police where it is.

As for On-Star and aftermarket stereos, i'm pretty sure you can't do it. There is a special interface that happens. ???

I agree with Mervz. This would be considered an invasion of privacy. It has to be a myth or GM wouldn't be able to pay off the law suits. A court order might get them to track a person but that would be a very rare instance.

LarryE · September 28, 2001

if you believe that thats fine, but go ask a couple guys over on pa forum about onstar and their trucks getting stolen.. Onstar refused to track it.

Onstar is the biggest hoax ever equipped by chevrolet, you can get a gps for 100 bones, cellphone for 75. and save alot of hassle, and worry about them selling information.

Does every website tell you their going to give your email to others NO they don't. how ya think you get spam mail related to the products you click on when you sign up for yahoo mail or hotmail.

siume99 · September 29, 2001

"if you believe that thats fine, but go ask a couple guys over on pa forum about onstar and their trucks getting stolen.. Onstar refused to track it."

LarryE, I believe this was because they didn't pay for the extended service. Onstar comes with a "complimentary" 1 year membership. After that, you have to pay. I still think the emergency (upon airbag deployment) function still works. I can't see Onstar getting an emergency call and not notifying the authorities.

LarryE · September 29, 2001

umm no, one of them was my father, we bought the complete service.

They told us there was nothing they could do, we even had the police call them and they wouldn't track it for them either.

Thankfully it was a company truck and not one of the family vehicles.

Avalanche · October 1, 2001

LarryE,

Can you please elaborate as to why they would not track it? This concerns me greatly that Onstar is not living up to its contractual obligations. I made a costly financial decision to carry Onstar and it really p!$$e$ me off that they're not fulfilling the obligations for one of their main features. Also, why didn't you sue them? Seems to me, you should be making them pay for their intransigence.

LarryE · October 1, 2001

Didn't sue because the truck was found, and luckily no damage, just missing some tools.

But I did rip the onstar system out of the truck the next day, and wrote onstar a nice letter.

They told us they couldn't track is because it was a police matter and that they couldn't do anything about it. What a waste of money that was. The police even called them and tryed to get them to track it and they wouldn't.

We're still waiting to hear back from them.

If it wasn't for the police looking for it, the company would probably for sure be out of a truck right now.