How to disable onstar

[nocoolnames]

How do I disable onstar? I see that you can pull a fuse but I would like to pull the antenna. I see on the cruzes it's on passenger side dash behind the glove box and airbag. Has any one tried to pull it in a sonic before I dig in and see what's there? And I want to pull it because I don't like onstar looking over my shoulder. The 2011 terms let them use your gps and data for 3rd party marketing. I've read about police speed traps that onstar helped by selling info to the police.Just canceling the service doesn't stop the data link to them you have to disable the antenna or module. I was told this car won't run if you disable the onstar module, does anyone know if this is true?

 

[TIEfighter]

Good question. I would like to know the answer to this as well.

 

[laborsmith]

Never heard that car won't run if OnStar is disabled before but given the way GM wires everything together I would not be surprised. I do know a whole bunch of electronics related items are run through the OnStar module. I myself have never considered actually disabling OnStar or removing its antenna, in large part because the same forces that would OnStar against me have a variety of other methods to get their way.

If anyone is interested, John Twelve Hawks "novel" The TRAVELER does an excellent job of describing these alternate methods.

Laborsmith

 

[RS Turbo]

I will tell you to disable it out of the vehicle for a fee! ROFLMAO

 

[CoHPhasor]

OnStar can be removed.
There is a factory delete available, mainly for fleet cars, and some dealers will even do it.

The problem is that you lose features.
Like the 2013 can't have MyLink if you order the OnStar delete.
I believe you lose voice command/the microphone for handsfree and a few other things, even on the 2012.

I'd definitely like to know as well, there's no way anything about me besides my purchase details and when I come in for service.
I'd go so far as to not only remove the antenna, but also put it in a Faraday cage.

 

[severous01]

there's no fuse?

 

[nocoolnames]

Okay did some research on the cruze forums and yes if you disable the onstar module you loose the blue tooth and hands free calling. However people who left the module alone but pulled antenna only lost the compass, everything else still functioned other than gps. Calls to onstar still went through but they where not able to track anyone. I'm thinking this is the route I'll go so I don't loose my blue tooth for calls and music streaming. When I find the antenna location and get into the dash to pull it I'll post some pics. I know they can still get a rough idea of my location by the cell service unless I can find that antenna also.

 

[CoHPhasor]

It's **** like OnStar that really makes me consider looking into a woven-fiber tech like CF but instead making it so it's like a Faraday cage you can apply like vinyl.
I'd run a single external antenna that has direct line to whatever I want to get out/in.
(My cell phone, AM/FM, etc)

The only PITA would be making a transparent Faraday over the window glass.
I'm not kidding, this stuff really needs to happen.

Maybe I could get Anthony Michael Hall to endorse it, we'd call it "Dead Zone"...

 

[Thaifight-R]

Wasn't there something about the Ultragauge and other things that plugged into the OBD2 port that prevented Onstar from collecting data or something?

 

[nocoolnames]

Wasn't there something about the Ultragauge and other things that plugged into the OBD2 port that prevented Onstar from collecting data or something?

I thought I saw that to and was hoping for that. My ultra gauge seems to have no effect on onstars ability to track or read data from my car. My sonic was born July 2012 so mabey it was the older ones that it messed with.

 

[laborsmith]

Among other things, OnStar collects OBD-II data which Ultraguge can interfere with depending on its refresh rate setting. Using UG or other such products does not interfere with any other OnStar program.

But that is just a side effect and if the gauge refresh rate is set to slow it will not interfere. My preference is to interfere however much or little I can so I am set at the fastest refresh rate.

Laborsmith

 

[nocoolnames]

Good to know, thanks laboursmith I'll have to change my refresh rate.

 

[RS Turbo]

I thought I saw that to and was hoping for that. My ultra gauge seems to have no effect on onstars ability to track or read data from my car. My sonic was born July 2012 so mabey it was the older ones that it messed with.

It has nothing to do with Onstars Functions. Onstar does not "Track" anything. Onstar only reports GPS/data location when blue button is pressed It can also tell what Cell tower the vehicle is hitting. As for data it must be requested from the vehicle by Onstar. It does a just general Scan just like the Ultra gauge but it does not really update it in real time. It just takes 1 frame of the data requested and uploads it.

 

[laborsmith]

Not sure, but I thing ^ is a more detailed version of what I tried to say.

For me, among the problems I have with OnStar is not what it specifically does but what it can potentially do. On the other hand our modern society seems to accept all kinds of privacy interdictions (note I did not say invasions) and the OnStar potential now seems to be accepted as "just one of those things."

And if OnStar can get it, than what makes anyone think the National Security Agency (which can now operate in the US thanks to 9/11) or the National Reconnaissance Office can not?

I recall a recent news report that one state required photos for the licenses to not have broad smiles as broad smiles interfered with computer facial recognition programs. What!

Laborsmith

 

[RS Turbo]

I understand your thoughts. Just think if Onstar can do it what is your Cell phone company doing? your phone has a Camera and a Speaker connected to the system. Not only can it tell your location it can see and hear what your doing.... MMMMmmm

Opps did I open up a Huge can of worms! I wonder how many other people that worry about Onstar forgot about there Internet Cell phones....

 

[laborsmith]

Tracfone user here. No camera and no GPS.

Now you get a sense of why I do not have a smartphone.

Laborsmith

 

[RS Turbo]

ROFLMAO! Its all good... They cant track 8 million of us at 1 time. I will take my Chance.

 

[laborsmith]

I strongly suspect the NSA and the NRO already are.

But I use credit cards and we know how susceptible their use is to tracking ones interests.

No, my dream of living off the grid and under the radar are long buried, else I would not be considering how to take advantage of the Sonic MyLink's use of smartphone technology.

Laborsmith

 

[SuperFudd]

I hope you realize that, if your Sonic computer(s) get wind of plans to disable it, it may pull a 2001 on you and lock you out.

 

[seanp1]

Tracfone user here. No camera and no GPS.

Now you get a sense of why I do not have a smartphone.

Laborsmith

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