How integrated is OnStar?

[tkat]

I posted this on the Technical forum, too, but I'm not sure if that gets as much activity.

Now that OnStar is standard on GM (I'm looking at Hummer H3), I'm trying to find a definitive answer to this question:

Can I completely disconnect and remove the OnStar box? If I do, will it disrupt the engine or other electronics systems? Will I loose anything that is not OnStar?

I know that I can disconnect antenna, remove fuse, pull cord from mirror, etc. But can I pull the box completely?

[Hummertech]

I think the real reason he doesn't want onstar is because he's afraid that they will see that he likes to frequent the gay bars.

[firm]

tkat- tell me more about these abuses, and TiVo.

[tkat]

OK - A last post before I bail on this thread since it is quickly going off-topic.

HummerNewbie is correct that everyone is entitled to their opinion. The fact is that most people are willing to trade the accumulation of their data for marketing purposes (within limits) in return for convenience or features.

For those that asked for more information, searching the web for TiVo or Onstar and privacy will get you lots of hits. Note that there is a lot of junk and rumors out there - don't beleive most of what you read. (For instance, I'm pretty sure that OnStar does NOT just open the mic in your vehicle to listen covertly)

Thanks for those that responded to the original question and I'm sorry if I fueled an off-topic discussion.

[Hummer Guy]

The onstar system is not tied to any operations of other systems. You could remove it and not lose anything else (besides the phone feature as well..) Just curious -- why would you want to do this?

[WPBGUY]

I think the On-Star is great. I keep discovering new features. I knew that they could run remote diag via satelite. I just found out that you can do it your self via the internet. You can also view you mileage, service and recall records. You can also get automated e-mails monthly or when and event occours. I You will asso get e-mails reminding you that service is needed. here is the link to sign up.

https://www.mygmlink.com/main/US/en/gm/home


here is a sample: I think is is so COOL!!!!



OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics for your
2006 Hummer H3 as of 09/17/2005
Dear WPBGUY,
Welcome! We're glad you chose to enroll in the OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics service, exclusively for OnStar-equipped GM vehicles. Here is your first of the ongoing e-mail reports you'll receive about every 30 days to help keep your vehicle ready for the road. In each report, we'll tell you about the performance of certain vehicle systems and let you know when it is time for scheduled vehicle maintenance. This type of active maintenance can help add years of life to your GM vehicle while lowering your cost of ownership. We hope you enjoy the many benefits of OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics.
You'll find top-line checkup results below. A green, yellow, or red symbol helps to quickly indicate if any action is needed. For more detailed information, just click as shown.
If you have questions about this report or OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, please call 1.888.4.ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827) or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle.



VIN:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Account Number:
000-000-0000
Vehicle Phone Number:
561.400.0000






Engine and/or Transmission System
Diagnostic Status: Complete. No action needed.
More Information

Antilock Braking System
Diagnostic Status: Complete. No action needed.
More Information

Air Bag System
Diagnostic Status: Complete. No action needed.
More Information

OnStar System
Diagnostic Status: Complete. No action needed.
More Information



Remaining Oil Life: 100%
No service needed.
More Information

Mileage: 3,895
No maintenance needed.
More Information

Hands-Free Calling:
92 minutes remaining.
Good until 06/12/2006.
More Information






This is an automated e-mail — please do not respond. If you no longer wish to participate in the OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics service or feel you have received this e-mail in error, please call 1.888.4.ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827) to speak to an Advisor. Please allow up to 30 days to process your request.

Diagnostic capability varies by model. Requires valid e-mail address. The cost of required maintenance are not included in this service.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION: OnStar services require vehicle electrical system (including battery), wireless service, and GPS satellite signals to be available and operating for features to function properly. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. Subscription Service Agreement required. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that wireless carriers will no longer be required to support the analog wireless network after February 16, 2008. As of January 1, 2008, OnStar plans to offer service only through equipment that operates on the digital network, which may require the purchase of a system upgrade for eligible vehicles. Call 1.888.4.ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827) or visit onstar.com for Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and system limitations and details. Additional information can be found in the OnStar Owner's Guide.

Do you have questions or concerns? Direct any inquiries to customercare@onstar.com. Please include your OnStar account number with your inquiry.

You can contact OnStar at the following address: OnStar Subscriber Services, P.O. Box 0217, Troy, MI, 48099-0217.

© 2005 OnStar Corporation. All rights reserved. OnStar and the OnStar emblem are registered trademarks of the OnStar Corporation.

[usetosellhummer]

Some of the dealers that sell cars to high risk folks aready have that device Phil. If you do not make your payment they will try to deactivate the vehicle remotely. Sounds like a lawsuit but they do it.

[HummerNewbie]

Personally I don't care if TiVo knows what I watch. What are they going to do, tell my mother I watched that "R" rated movie three time. They can provide the service they do at the price they do because they track this type of information and sell it for more income. I would doubt that any of the information sold would have any more detail about you other then broken down to city or zip code. This allows the networks to offer more shows that people are actually watching. I also don't care if GM knows how many miles I drive or where I drive for that matter. Unless I am doing something wrong and don't want them to know where I am at, then it really won't effect me. I am also in the tech industry and there are definitely abuses going on but those are primarily online abuses as far as I know. Just my opinion and to each his own

[HummerNewbie]

tkat,

No need to appologize for the topic. If you are going to ask the question, this is probably the most likely place to get the right answer. May get some jabs here and there to go with your answer but you didn't take any of our questions/posts as an attack so you will do well here You are correct that most will go with convenience rather than privacy. More power to you if you choose the privacy I certainly was not trying to say you were wrong, just putting in my two cents which could be wrong anyway

[HummerNewbie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by usetosellhummer:
Some of the dealers that sell cars to high risk folks aready have that device Phil. If you do not make your payment they will try to deactivate the vehicle remotely. Sounds like a lawsuit but they do it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We helped develop a system for a big buy here pay here dealer that could get the vehicles location via GPS. We used a paging system and a GPS unit that could be hidden in the vehicle. When it was time to repo they would send a signal to the pager that would turn on the GPS unit so they could locate it. They only tracked the vehicle if they were repoing it and did not disable the vehicle. They could then pick the best time to grab it. That is how these dealers make their money. Sell them at a high interest rate to anyone, if they pay great, if not just repo it and sell it to someone else.

[usetosellhummer]

Cut the box and everything should be fine. It is a very usefull tool to track you and your vehicle. They won't admit it but I belive they will be able to disable a vehicle in the near future ( late on payment, crime, etc.)

[usetosellhummer]

oops another good story. I sold an H2 to a guy taht had not held a job in 8 years. this guy looked like a member of zz top without a shower for a month. His parents had left him a house when they passed and he had 250k in his checking account and wanted an H2. He paid full pop cash and lives in a trailer outside of town. Well one day his wife calls and says he ran off with the neighbor and she needs to locate him. This guy was smart in that he never listed his wife on the paperwork and when I pulled his on-star enrollment sheet he offerd no other people on his account. The thing is i told her there was nothing i could do to help her, she had to contct the police. If a numbnut had gotten the call and given her the passcode (if he didn't change it) She might have had enough with a police report that he is missing to locacte the man. Scarey stuff! a year later her blew all the money and traded the H2 for a pick-up. The truck had 45000 miles on it in one year....

[HummerNewbie]

Sorry, don't have the answer for you, but have a question. Why do you want to totally remove it?

[HummerNewbie]

Having fun Fox Keep them coming.

Its all in fun tkat

[Hummer Guy]

I know that TiVo can keep track of what people watch, what they re-watch (e.g. they knew how many people replayed Janet Jackson's super bowl performance). And they'll also make 'suggestions' as to what you may like...they say that its not tied to any account information (Name, Address, etc) but it certainly seems like they have the capability to do so...

[Efrain]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tkat:
At the risk or being labeled a paranoid whacko, it is a privacy thing for me.

I work in the technology world, and I see abuses of information and access all of the time. I wouldn't get a TiVo for the same reason. The contracts for OnStar and Tivo are very similar - the service provider has the right to access their hardware and download any information that they want.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that there's already a black box on some cars and its not the onstar. that black box can be used by law enforcement agencies to determine your speed in a car crash and might also be used by insurance agencies. So you are on the right track about the black box, but on the wrong track about it being onstar.

[HummerNewbie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by usetosellhummer:
They won't admit it but I belive they will be able to disable a vehicle in the near future ( late on payment, crime, etc.) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Now I might take it out at that point. Couldn't tell you how many stories I have heard about GMAC applying a payment to the wrong account. Guess you could have a case on your hands if this happened though

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Efrain:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tkat:
At the risk or being labeled a paranoid whacko, it is a privacy thing for me.

I work in the technology world, and I see abuses of information and access all of the time. I wouldn't get a TiVo for the same reason. The contracts for OnStar and Tivo are very similar - the service provider has the right to access their hardware and download any information that they want.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that there's already a black box on some cars and its not the onstar. that black box can be used by law enforcement agencies to determine your speed in a car crash and might also be used by insurance agencies. So you are on the right track about the black box, but on the wrong track about it being onstar. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

you are correct, the onstar module is not the infamous black box, the infamous black box is the SDM used to control the air bags.

tkat:
if you are that paranoid, u can just pull the fuse, and the onstar module is disabled. pull the fuse for the SDM and your air bags are disabled, but the aluminum foil will protect your head

[tkat]

At the risk or being labeled a paranoid whacko, it is a privacy thing for me.

I work in the technology world, and I see abuses of information and access all of the time. I wouldn't get a TiVo for the same reason. The contracts for OnStar and Tivo are very similar - the service provider has the right to access their hardware and download any information that they want.

On the older OnStar, I would have just yanked the VCU to prevent access to the data, but now the cell and black box are one unit.

Thanks for the responses.

[tkat]

Cheers to those on the forum. Rest assured that I don't take any comments here personally. I just wasn't sure that this was the correct forum to get into social politics.

Reading through the forum and getting feedback from those that have purchased has been very informative. It is like comparing apples to oranges, but I'm torn between a true off-roader like the H3 or waiting until winter to see the new Audi Q7. It is much more sport than utility, but I'm not sure which way I want to go, yet.

BTW - Love the cat! Had to put down my Siamese a couple of years ago.