Disable Onstar at dealership

[Ridenbaugh]

hey all just a quick questions. I found this letter about onstar. I did not get one of my own but would like to get the onstar disable for free so I no longer get warning messages. Do you guys think it will be accepted if I print it off and take it in. If you read it, it says to take it with you to the dealership.

http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.go...26586-6407.pdf

[Rogue Reaper]

The bulliten is for a certain range of 2003 vins.


It doesnt remove it it just replaces a cable.

[Wheelsup68dart]

This campaign is available on any onstar equipped analog car produced by GM. I have disabled 2000 9-5's through 2005 9-3's. Make sure you inquire about availabilty of fiber optic cable b4 taking in your 03 9440 model.

[JonV]

The TSB is on the NHTSA site, it has to be done/expires by Dec 31.

TSB # 08-089

[Ridenbaugh]

great thanks guys

edit. what exactly will they do?

[Wheelsup68dart]

On 9440 models it requires (03) new fiber optic cable routed from right lower kick panel to the rear electrical center bypaaing the CU/PU module(onstar) so the the optical Bus system can maintain it's loop once the CU/PU module is removed via the tech II. We also have to extract a pin and clip wire from the Airbag control module. On 04-05, and older 9-5 or 9400 models just need to clip and extract ACM wire and remove CU/PU module. 03 9440 will take about 1 hour to perform properly, the others can be done by someone with experience in less than a half hour.

[Ridenbaugh]

now before I completely have this removed are we sure that it will no longer be usable. because about 2 months ago my friend tried to call 911 which I didn't stop him because I knew the system didn't work because I tried to call normal numbers. but low and behold it went through and the 911 operator was not to happy. I know this was stupid but my idea is that if i were to fly off the road and airbags deploy and I am knocked out will it still call 911 for me?

[Wheelsup68dart]

It is my belief that it will not work, but I do not know for sure. When it goes totally digital which it will it will definitely be useless. Also the malfunctioning CU/PU can cause battery drainage issues.

[sptsdn]

Originally Posted by Ridenbaugh

... if i were to fly off the road and airbags deploy and I am knocked out will it still call 911 for me?

The FCC requires that wireless service providers transmit 911 calls regardless of whether or not the user subscribes to service or not. So Onstar is required to transmit any 911 call as long as the device receives a signal. While analog is being phased out, you can still get a signal in many places.

From the FCC website:
"Basic 911 rules require wireless service providers to:

• transmit all 911 calls to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), regardless of whether the caller subscribes to the provider’s service or not."

However, I doubt that Onstar would still function if you were in a wreck because the device does not call 911 directly - it contacts an Onstar operator who then relays the information. If you're a conspiracy theorist, you could view this as one of the reasons that Saab will gladly remove/disable your Onstar for free in order to reduce their liability.