How to disable OnStar?

[Lord Ryan]

I don't want onstar. Almost didn't buy because it. If Camaro wasn't my dream car there is no way I would have.

Don't want anyone tracking, recording or selling any information about me. Even if it's not an invasion of my privacy it's a scam/ripoff. Why doesn't my mylink have navigation, probably because of onstar's monthly sub. Had to buy a garmin even though I have this bigass screen in my dashboard. I know Sync get a lot of bad review, but my wife as an Edge and I love it. I'm a hater of all things microsuck but the Sync is just easy to use(once you get used to it) and nicely organized. Also has navigation and doesn't have onstar.

[3GPa]

Originally Posted by Lord Ryan

I don't want onstar. Almost didn't buy because it. If Camaro wasn't my dream car there is no way I would have.

Don't want anyone tracking, recording or selling any information about me. Even if it's not an invasion of my privacy it's a scam/ripoff. Why doesn't my mylink have navigation, probably because of onstar's monthly sub. Had to buy a garmin even though I have this bigass screen in my dashboard. I know Sync get a lot of bad review, but my wife as an Edge and I love it. I'm a hater of all things microsuck but the Sync is just easy to use(once you get used to it) and nicely organized. Also has navigation and doesn't have onstar.

Right On!

[RavenZL1]

Originally Posted by Lord Ryan

I don't want onstar. Almost didn't buy because it. If Camaro wasn't my dream car there is no way I would have.

Don't want anyone tracking, recording or selling any information about me. Even if it's not an invasion of my privacy it's a scam/ripoff. Why doesn't my mylink have navigation, probably because of onstar's monthly sub. Had to buy a garmin even though I have this bigass screen in my dashboard. I know Sync get a lot of bad review, but my wife as an Edge and I love it. I'm a hater of all things microsuck but the Sync is just easy to use(once you get used to it) and nicely organized. Also has navigation and doesn't have onstar.

MyLink does have the Navigation option. I believe it was around $700.

[orange-infernoSS]

Originally Posted by Cbrenthus

Bluetooth is part of Onstar, if you pull the onstar box you lose BT. You might be able to just disconnect the antenna, though, but if you love BT and hate Onstar, your bets bet is costar/bluestar.

I love how everybody always defends Onstar on here and think that those that have a problem with it are tin foil hat nutjobs. I don't want to hear any of you complain when your warranty is denied because Onstar noticed you accidentally overreved your engine, or you insurance goes up because you drove 1000 miles more than you said you would, or you have to pay a road tax because you drove x amount of miles on your local roads, etc.

The problem you all don't understand is that its a slippery slope, and the further the sled goes down the slope, the more momentum it builds up and the more difficult to stop. Sure, maybe right now they aren't going to give your information to the cops for an automatic speeding ticket because they know your car did 90 in a 65, however, give it a few years as they keep sharing more and more info. They'll keep sending out new privacy notices as you get used to it little by little, by the time you wake up, its too late.

Exactly, if you aren't concerned about this then you are either naive or lucky youv'e never experienced power abuses by insurance companies or police powers. There has been documented cases where I believe it was the FBI that listened to someone through the car microphones. Corporations will do everything they can to steal from your wallet, CEO's are the most unfeeling SOB's on the planet (ever been layed off?)

Like others the information I have seen out there is spotty. Some say that if you just unplug the unit, you will get codes and the fuel system will not work. I also saw a post that said if you unplug the antenna that it will still transmit to a cell tower through the bluetooth.

I'm not a tin-foil crazy, I've just worked in the computer/ electronics industry for a lot of years and have a Masters degree in Cyber-Security.

Drive free or don't drive at all!

[Castrosua]

This didn't even occur to me until today. I didn't give Onstar my credit card when i bought the car, but they can still track me. Not a fan of that.

Im probably going to set aside a weekend to tear apart the dash and will put up pictures of what i do. Makes you really long for times when cars were simple. They had what you needed, horsepower and torque and an 8-track

And im not tin foil wearing guy...but, i worked in the government, and in law enforcement and while there may be laws and regulations, that doesnt mean somebody CANT use your info.

I dont trust onstar, or any corporation. So ill be yanking this out of my car. And if they give me hell for it because im still in warranty then, i guess this will be my last GM...ill be going back to my 73 Lincoln as a daily driver.

[BitchenCamaro]

I like to point out even if you disconnect the antenna, it can still broadcast and receive if close enough to a transmitter. What you want to do its open the OnStar box and remove the IDE connector bridge from the Antenna module to the Main motherboard. This IDE connector looks a lot like a Hard drive ribbon connector.

I will post later a picture of this when I remove this from my Camaro.


Thanks

[Rainbow1616]

I'll be keeping My Onstar thanks. I don't really care what they do. If you use a gps or smart phone your always being tracked anyway. Its just a matter of which system you want to be the most paranoid with and what color tin foil hat you need to wear.
Ford just admitted they track cars thru gps so you can't get away from it.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101323703#.

[JayTee2014]

Originally Posted by BitchenCamaro

I like to point out even if you disconnect the antenna, it can still broadcast and receive if close enough to a transmitter. What you want to do its open the OnStar box and remove the IDE connector bridge from the Antenna module to the Main motherboard. This IDE connector looks a lot like a Hard drive ribbon connector.

I will post later a picture of this when I remove this from my Camaro.


Thanks

This is good info! Thanks and looking forward to the pics!

[Castrosua]

Well, some of us dont have smart phones LOL...and I have three other cars that cant be tracked..hell two of them only have transistors in the radio, no "electronics", electrics and vacuum baby! No tin foil hat, just a steel roof over my head with a vinyl top!

[4510]

Originally Posted by BitchenCamaro

I like to point out even if you disconnect the antenna, it can still broadcast and receive if close enough to a transmitter. What you want to do its open the OnStar box and remove the IDE connector bridge from the Antenna module to the Main motherboard. This IDE connector looks a lot like a Hard drive ribbon connector.

I will post later a picture of this when I remove this from my Camaro.


Thanks

Did you manage to get the pictures?

[Low Saturn]

I'd like to completely disable OnStar as well. That ribbon cable idea sounds promising.

I don't care about them tracking me or anything. I just want to make it a little bit harder for thieves to steal the car. Thieves are now using the OnStar electronics to unlock and start Camaros and other GM vehicles remotely to steal them.

[Vader2011v6]

In also interested in trying to find out how to disable Onstar completely. I get parinoid about my car being stolen with the Onstar electronics.

[springer03]

From what I have read(not sure what year they started it on) they tied the fuel injection into it, so they can cut off the car if its stolen. So you can't just remove the box.

I have found a company that makes a replacement box(you keep your bluetooth also) only downside is it costs $300. That being the reason I haven't ordered it yet. To many other mods I want first.

Not sure about posting links. The companys name is costartech if you want to check it out.


Ps. I have nothing to do with the company, just found them when I was researching how to disable Onstar myself.

[Castrosua]

I think that once my car is paid off and warranty is all gone, Im going to rip out all the electric stuff...and I think im crazy enough to yank the engine (the LFX is a good motor, but its missing two cylinders!)

Yes, its nuts, yes, so many people talk about putting an LS3 or L99 in their 1LS's but im thinking going big block, carbureted, no computers at all!