Bluetooth Options For 2008 Silverado

VO1BMD · April 3, 2011

Wow... I can't believe this thread is still alive! But I am still going to add to it...

On* has a promo right now (at least in Canada) push your Blue On* button and enter your name for a chance to win a NEW GM vehicle... you don't have to be a customer, just have On*. So, I did it: Made the call entered my name and some basic info, declined all their other offers but they still gave me FREE On* for 6 mos. Then she had me stay on the line for 5-7 minutes so On* could update my VCIM.. When the call ended, I had my GREEN LED on the mirror, and the next time I drove, I had full function back once again!

Yes... I am one of the FEW people who got On* to activate the VCIM and had everything working properly BUT On* always saw a 2009 Acadia, where the VCIM came from! They did manually enter my VIN and "add" my 2007 Silverado to my vehicle list, but I was always seen as owning two (2) GMs. I have NEVER been to a GM dealer or have ANYONE besides On* do any programming.... they did all programming remote.

Now, after calling in and putting my name in the draw, they have re-activated my On* account (new account #, new phone # that works) and I have free On* for 6 mos! The topper, when I did this VCIM swap and they couldn't get their system to recognize I was in a '07 Silv, they gave me like 100 something minutes free phone... I still have 128 left and it works! Had the wife call my new number and I can receive calls, but DIC shows UNAVAILABLE since there is no call display.

Now, I have a GREEN LED and free On* once again, but On* still sees a 2009 Acadia.....

EDIT:

Just got my first email from On* and confirmed they are once again seeing an Acadia, but I don't care, everything else works great so I am at 99% full functioning!

electricchiken7 · April 3, 2011

That is really cool!! I went with the bluestar for bluetooth. Kinda wish I had went the other way. Oh well, I have bluetooth and thats what I wanted. Congratulations I'm glad it worked for ya.

VO1BMD · April 3, 2011

OK.... me causing trouble again... can never leave well enough alone....

Went back thru this thread doing more reading and a re-fresher as to who has done what. In July 2010 I posted I was down to 100 minutes left on my On* account, didn't use it much since my cell works thru BT in the "new" VCIM, but the wife used it a few times since it was convenient when she forgot her phone at home.

Now I have another account with On*, I am back to 130 minutes! I think this was what On* gave me initially when I was trying to get the "new" VCIM to work (new to me, swapped from a '09 Acadia) so I am back to default account with them again.

On this note, it was mentioned that users who used a "new to you" VCIM had better luck getting On* to work than those who actually had a NEW never used VCIM. Has this ever been confirmed?

Troops2990 · April 7, 2011

i installed a VCIM from a 2010 Traverse and today finally got bored enough to try to dink around with the onstar stuff. i called and told them i had just bought the truck and wanted to update the name on the account, i did all that, they offered me a couple months free of the full service and then they also added my truck (08 Sierra) to the VCIM but apparently can't delete the traverse for whatever reason. all the features of onstar seem to work fine for me except for the vehicle status reports or whatever aren't showing up online yet, the guy also told me it will take 3 days to generate them so i guess we will see. i also wanted to let you guys know that since my VCIM is from a 2010, the onstar app works on my phone, it shows all the info for my truck (oil life, fuel level, tire press, ect) and the remote lock/unlock and start all work from my phone. I just thought that was pretty cool and to let people know that the newer VCIMs may not be a bad idea if your looking into this since there is the app feature if your interested.

mc7719 · April 7, 2011

Interesting promo! However I have a RED led and the blue onstar button doesn't do anything

Newfie did you have a red or green LED before you contacted onstar?

And Troops, nicely done with the onstar app working! Question, when you installed it before contacting onstar, what colour was your LED?

Troops2990 · April 7, 2011

Interesting promo! However I have a RED led and the blue onstar button doesn't do anything
Newfie did you have a red or green LED before you contacted onstar?

And Troops, nicely done with the onstar app working! Question, when you installed it before contacting onstar, what colour was your LED?

Thankfully the second light has always been and still is green for me, however, i don't know if its normal or not but now i have two lights turned on that are on my mirror (both green) regardless if my phone is connected to bluetooth or not. Before i swapped VCIMs i only had 1 green led..I am just psyched that i can start my truck with my cell phone from where ever i am..that almost makes it worth subscribing to onstar.

mc7719 · April 7, 2011

Interesting...

What was the part no. of your VCIM? The one I got turned my right-hand LED red... but BT works fine!

Troops2990 · April 7, 2011

Mine is part #20829984

VO1BMD · April 21, 2011

Interesting promo! However I have a RED led and the blue onstar button doesn't do anything
Newfie did you have a red or green LED before you contacted onstar?

Before I called On* this time my LED was blank... not lit in any colour. Now it is green again, like it was when I contacted them the first time so I think if the LED is blank it means that your account is not activated, green=good account, red= error detected.

So, if you press the blue On* button nothing happens? Does it even attempt to contact On*?

NOTE: I have a different phone # for my On* now from the one I had last year... no big since I have BT but it is a good second phone from time to time!

andy.parrow · May 3, 2011

Been lurking for a long while now. Finally decided to just do it. Stopped by local parts place and picked up 20829984 from a 2010 Denali for $212 out the door. Took dash apart and had working in about 30 minutes. Bluetooth works great. Steering wheel controls work. And got 1000 OnStar minutes. Light on mirror is solid red. I made calls to/from both OnStar and Bluetooth to test and got an OnStar cell number. I did not connect the Bluetooth antenna. I can connect to OnStar - talked to operator. Got 6 months free Safe & Sound package. Installed OnStar App for iPhone - still waiting to try that out.

2007 Chevy Silverado Z71 - none Bose - none Nav. Have XM just not subscribed.

Very Happy !!!!

Troops2990 · May 3, 2011

Been lurking for a long while now. Finally decided to just do it. Stopped by local parts place and picked up 20829984 from a 2010 Denali for $212 out the door. Took dash apart and had working in about 30 minutes. Bluetooth works great. Steering wheel controls work. And got 1000 OnStar minutes. Light on mirror is solid red. I made calls to/from both OnStar and Bluetooth to test and got an OnStar cell number. I did not connect the Bluetooth antenna. I can connect to OnStar - talked to operator. Got 6 months free Safe & Sound package. Installed OnStar App for iPhone - still waiting to try that out.

2007 Chevy Silverado Z71 - none Bose - none Nav. Have XM just not subscribed.

Very Happy !!!!

I.am glad to hear that you got everything working but I am surprised the Bluetooth works if you didn't hook up the antenna, eitherway enjoy, you'll be happy you installed it.

witraverse · May 6, 2011

We have a 2010 Traverse 1LT, and I intend to hunt for part 20829984 to add bluetooth capabilities to the vehicle. I had thought I saw discussion that the module installs to a specific place in the left rear corner, and plugs into existing wiring. Confused a bit by mentions earlier of opening the dashboard.

Can anyone point to simple and specific installation instructions for the module, please? Many thanks!

Troops2990 · May 6, 2011

We have a 2010 Traverse 1LT, and I intend to hunt for part 20829984 to add bluetooth capabilities to the vehicle. I had thought I saw discussion that the module installs to a specific place in the left rear corner, and plugs into existing wiring. Confused a bit by mentions earlier of opening the dashboard.

Can anyone point to simple and specific installation instructions for the module, please? Many thanks!

i don't know much about the traverse but from the reading here it seems that the vcim is in the corner you mentioned, in the trucks it is located in the dash, so you shouldn't have to worry about anything in the dash on your vehicle.

jeffries.cody · June 15, 2011

Greetings everyone. I come to you all asking for help that i haven't been able to find over at the CadillacForums.com.

I have a 2008 Escalade ESV with factory Navigation and Bose Radio and have added a GMX550 and BlueStar 2010. Upon installing the BlueStar i was disappointed to realize that i had lost the factory voice commands for the navigation and radio. With so many VCIM options out there i haven't been able to get an answer and dont have the cash to experiment. Hopefully someone here will have experience and can offer guidance.

MY question is this. Is there a 2010 + VCIM that will allow for the following with my vehicle:

1. Maintain Factory voice commands for navigation and radio

2. Integrate Bluetooth functionality

3. (optional) Retain OnStar functionality(i am aware of the vin mismatch issues) and work with the onstar app

KCXLT · June 18, 2011

Greetings everyone. I come to you all asking for help that i haven't been able to find over at the CadillacForums.com.

I have a 2008 Escalade ESV with factory Navigation and Bose Radio and have added a GMX550 and BlueStar 2010. Upon installing the BlueStar i was disappointed to realize that i had lost the factory voice commands for the navigation and radio. With so many VCIM options out there i haven't been able to get an answer and dont have the cash to experiment. Hopefully someone here will have experience and can offer guidance.

MY question is this. Is there a 2010 + VCIM that will allow for the following with my vehicle:

1. Maintain Factory voice commands for navigation and radio

2. Integrate Bluetooth functionality

3. (optional) Retain OnStar functionality(i am aware of the vin mismatch issues) and work with the onstar app

Well I've got a 2008 Silverado LTZ with factory Navigation. I put a VCIM in #20829984

1. I believe the voice commands for the Nav work. I'll try it to confirm

2. Bluetooth works with the steering wheel controls and you can voice dial from your phone address book. Number shows up in the DIC.

3. I lost Onstar and didn't bother trying to get it to work since many people on here have tried with no luck.