OnStar SUCKS

[ljones]

Originally Posted by MMC

No default message, phone never connects to anything including a ring signal, all I hear is dead silence then a disconnect.

Damn, ok. So the cell tower can not reach it either. But that may be due to the satellite routing as CamaroKid300 mentioned.

Originally Posted by Shu71

Is the reason you can not connect to the car by phone app because it is out of the view of the satellite or whatever they use to communicate with the car? Also if the app can not communicate with the car, then they might not be able to either. They may only be able to see the last time their service updated your car???? Is there anyone you can contact, neighbor, buddy or whatnot who could drive by and see if it is still there for you?

The car seems to not be responding for some reason. OnStar last pull down was July 20th for my monthly email. I left the car August 19th... the day before their next pull down... which I never got. I was able to call the car on the 19th, while I was sitting in the car. That was the last thing I checked before leaving, before unplugging my other iPhone in the glove box.

I'll likely have to get someone at the condo office to check things out eventually if there is no communication by next weekend.

[v6sonoma]

Just an FYI. I didn't read the whole thread but if you are away from your car and trying to check on it (which is what I think you're trying to do) you should know that the onstar module will power down 3 days after the cars last start up to preserve the battery. So if it's been over 3 days it wont work till the next key turn. This is also why when I haven't driven in a while and I get an e-mail from them (monthly diagnostic) on my phone seconds after I start it up. Hope that helps some.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

Just an FYI. I didn't read the whole thread but if you are away from your car and trying to check on it (which is what I think you're trying to do) you should know that the onstar module will power down 3 days after the cars last start up to preserve the battery. So if it's been over 3 days it wont work till the next key turn. This is also why when I haven't driven in a while and I get an e-mail from them (monthly diagnostic) on my phone seconds after I start it up. Hope that helps some.

Damn, all this back and forth and that is likely why, lol. Well I guess if i can connect or a status emails shoots through... someone has the car, lol. Thanks dude.

Edit...
But if that is the case, the car would have been on the 19th through the 22nd. So the reports are sent while the car is running to give a realtime reading at that moment?

[Ciscokid]

Onstar has worked for me. I had a blow-out on a tire last week, pulled over, contacted roadside assistance. Told them what happened, they knew exactly where the car was located and connected me to GM roadside assistance. Talked with those folks a bit, gave them my contact information, they sent me a text message with the estimated time the flatbed was showing up to pick up my car and take us to the dealer to drop off the car, driver took me to a hotel.
Btw, for those that haven't experienced a flat yet, you don't have a spare, if you don't have onstar road side assist, you will be f'd. You have a temp repair kit in your trunk. It won't work to patch a large hole or rip in your tire.
The tow truck showed up 40 minutes after the first call was placed.
To be honest, I'm so glad I had onstar because I was stranded on the freeway late at night with no place to really go.
If you don't have onstar you might regret it one day.

On star knows where your car is, don't kid yourself. They don't want tons of people calling them asking where my car is, they need to try and keep their agents from dealing with BS discussions. They need to make sure those agents are available for real issues, like flat tires and stranded in the middle of the night in BFE.

Just my experience.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by Nohope

My car is new and I’m still in the free trial period. I like the friendly people who work for the On Star network but Helen Keller would give better driving directions. I don’t need any phone apps, I have to have a cell phone for work and I hate it.
Is the anti theft system worth it? This is a dumb question but how much does On Star cost a month? Is it worth it to keep? I had a Viper anti theft system on my truck. How does the On Star system compare?

Well there technically is no antitheft features... unless the car is stolen. At which time they can "Assist" in the recovery of the vehicle. The price is 28.90 or 18.95 a month.

I think its good to have if you are like me, in a town with no family in event of a breakdown or emergency.

[daytripper]

I've only had mine 10 days but I like it . I live where no one I know has been able to get a cell signal . Just for grins I bought 100 mins : 14.95
I tried my phone today and it worked perfectly . That impressed me ! The robot direction giver not quite so much, but it is fun to play with.

[ravensjeff]

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

Just an FYI. I didn't read the whole thread but if you are away from your car and trying to check on it (which is what I think you're trying to do) you should know that the onstar module will power down 3 days after the cars last start up to preserve the battery. So if it's been over 3 days it wont work till the next key turn. This is also why when I haven't driven in a while and I get an e-mail from them (monthly diagnostic) on my phone seconds after I start it up. Hope that helps some.

V6- Good information. That generates another question- Are you saying that if a car sits >3 days that ONSTAR powers down and is useless from that point on until someone turns correct key in ignition? You would like to think that ONSTAR & phone app contact attempts would power onstar module back up?

I'm guessing that this power down feature has nothing to do with OP/onstar's inability to contact the car-- and that visibility or (God forbid) stolen car is the issue.

[CRChevy]

Regardless I have found that despite renewing it for another , I'd trust Casey Anthony as a daycare advisor befeore I trust onstar to get me to my EXACT destination without me going "Uhm there is nothing here" or some other malfunction!!!

I get a 50% "call them back" rate in jacksonville while finding my location!!

[rwmiller56]

It's true that OnStar won't give you a vehicle position report on request. But here's what I do when I'm out of town, and for example, have the car parked in an airport parking lot.

At my earliest convenience after parking the car, I log into my OnStar account, and select Vehicle Profile >> Overview. Then, I request a Vehicle Diagnostics Email on demand. When you request this email, the data will be uploaded and the email sent the next time the car is started. So, while I'm away, if I receive an email, I know the car has been started, and I can legitimately report it as stolen.

Roger

[Cmicasa the Great XvX]

LOVE Onstar... has never let me down.. and I love the Emails. Have it all 5 of my rides and makes me feel safer knowing its there.

[Ladybugsmom]

This is why I added LoJack.... LoJack will tell ME when my car is stolen, I don't need to call and tell them....

[Cmicasa the Great XvX]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsmom

This is why I added LoJack.... LoJack will tell ME when my car is stolen, I don't need to call and tell them....

Personally the theft feature is the one thing about Onstar I don't like. Somebody steals my car and drives her.. is like taking my lady. I don't want her back... keep her for 30 days and let me use Insurance to get "Fresh one."

[FL1CK]

I just think it's funny you kept mentioning you were "sold" on a product from the dealer which means you didn't "reseach" anything. Then you blast people for trying to tell you what it really does when you personally have "no clue".

[jimkerr]

I have to disagree. Not having Onstar doesn't mean you don't get Roadside assistance. I have 3 years of Roadside assistance which we all get when buying the car new. All Onstart did is route your call to the GM roadside assistance folks. You could have called them directly without using Onstar too.

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

Onstar has worked for me. I had a blow-out on a tire last week, pulled over, contacted roadside assistance. Told them what happened, they knew exactly where the car was located and connected me to GM roadside assistance. Talked with those folks a bit, gave them my contact information, they sent me a text message with the estimated time the flatbed was showing up to pick up my car and take us to the dealer to drop off the car, driver took me to a hotel.
Btw, for those that haven't experienced a flat yet, you don't have a spare, if you don't have onstar road side assist, you will be f'd. You have a temp repair kit in your trunk. It won't work to patch a large hole or rip in your tire.
The tow truck showed up 40 minutes after the first call was placed.
To be honest, I'm so glad I had onstar because I was stranded on the freeway late at night with no place to really go.
If you don't have onstar you might regret it one day.

On star knows where your car is, don't kid yourself. They don't want tons of people calling them asking where my car is, they need to try and keep their agents from dealing with BS discussions. They need to make sure those agents are available for real issues, like flat tires and stranded in the middle of the night in BFE.

Just my experience.