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OnStar Digital Upgrade for 03 & 04 NOW Available!

Classic Chevrolet in Central Florida did mine
 
I was  talking to Hamilton Chevrolet in Warren Michigan where I bought the truck, it's a really good dealer and I highly recommend, it's across town from me.  To tell you how this dealer is every time I take it in they call me back in a couple of days to see if everything is OK you don't find service like that these days. They are on Mound Rd  about 1 mile north of Generous Motors Tech Center aka (GM Tech Center)

http://hamiltonchevrolet.com/service1.htm
 
Found the link to this issue on the Onstar site , also posted on the  my other post I started I don't know why Onstar didn't  publish something on this 
Look at question 8
http://www.onstar.com/us_english/downloadable/en_FAQs.pdf

Here is the other post
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,74449.0.html
 
Has anyone in Southern Mass or RI had this done?  Nobody around here seems to have heard of it, and the one dealer that has wants $400 in labor to install it.  Onstar isn't helping at all.

I BADLY need a new cell phone and have been holding out to sign up for a new Verizon contract until I have the digital in place for the Onstar.
 
TIETANIC said:
Has anyone in Southern Mass or RI had this done?  Nobody around here seems to have heard of it, and the one dealer that has wants $400 in labor to install it.  Onstar isn't helping at all.

I BADLY need a new cell phone and have been holding out to sign up for a new Verizon contract until I have the digital in place for the Onstar.
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I'm going in wednesday to have mine done I'll let you know I have the letter from oOstar and I will let you know what the dealer has to do. I think they will have to call OnStar Dealer services 
 
Found out a little more about the details Dealer has to get you to sign a one year agreement they get it to On-star and On-star sends them the equipment, 15.00 goes for handling  So hopefully I can get it done nextweek.
 
MichiganSilver03 said:
When is your contract up I think that's why they sent me the new deal, you may have to just wait, but if your contract goes past 07? tell them you what to cancel now if they can't do something now. OnStar is not stupid they knew it was coming and they had to do something or lose 50% of their customers.
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I'm waiting until late this year when my contract runs out, I paid for a year with GM discount. I want to see how bad OnStar wants to retain me as a customer when the digital becomes mandatory.
 
I think mine is up in January
 
TIETANIC said:
Has anyone in Southern Mass or RI had this done? Nobody around here seems to have heard of it, and the one dealer that has wants $400 in labor to install it. Onstar isn't helping at all.

I BADLY need a new cell phone and have been holding out to sign up for a new Verizon contract until I have the digital in place for the Onstar.
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Contact SpottyJ
 
I finally had the upgrade done.  I had it done at Best Chevrolet in Hingham, MA (which as a sidenote, their service department has impressed me twice, so they are my new service spot).

Only paid for one year of the cheapest plan ($199) + $15.00 shipping fee for the new unit for a total of $214.

They had to order the unit and it was in the next day and they brought over the hands free minutes.  It seems like the reception is slightly worse (although we have had some nasty weather over the last couple days).  I had to reprogram all the stored phone numbers, and my phone number changed.

My main reason for doing it is now I can put my cellphone, and the Onstar hands free phone on the same plan.
 
Did your phone get turned on yet, when I did mine they said it took 24 hours then 48 hours  I finally got PO'ed and they put me thru to Tech support and they got it activated
 
Yo, Sperry. Don't know you, but seems you're a go-to guy these days. I'm an early adapter here, w/ an '02. Been around a while (since CA Fun CNA and before Cindy started the So Cal; Hey Cindy!) Anyhow, pretty PO'd about this no OnStar fix for us 02'ers. Screwed after year end. You hear anything yet? I'm guessing we're hosed. GM is just too messed up financially to be able to afford to care about '02 and earlier. Not worth it to them. Hell, the Chinese will prolly own GM before too long.

Well, I'll be checking for updates to this thread. Hopeful, but doubtful. Glad to see the place is still going strong. It was sure a hoot in the beginning, w/ all the mods and meeting new folks. Kinda sorry I've been away. Still luv the truck!!
 
MichiganSilver03 said:
Did your phone get turned on yet, when I did mine they said it took 24 hours then 48 hours? I finally got PO'ed and they put me thru to Tech support and they got it activated
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Well it had to stay overnight for other service stuff, but it worked on my way home.

When I originally got Onstar, they said it would work in 24 hours, it still didn't, so I called them again and they told me it didn't look like it was "set up right" the first time.  She did something and it worked imediately after.

I gotta say, outside of the price, I like the hands free calling.
 
I like the handfree also but I wait till they offer a special price or they give me minutes for some reason like waiting a long time on hold.
 
RCinSoCal said:
Yo, Sperry. Don't know you, but seems you're a go-to guy these days. I'm an early adapter here, w/ an '02. Been around a while (since CA Fun CNA and before Cindy started the So Cal; Hey Cindy!) Anyhow, pretty PO'd about this no OnStar fix for us 02'ers. Screwed after year end. You hear anything yet? I'm guessing we're hosed. GM is just too messed up financially to be able to afford to care about '02 and earlier. Not worth it to them. Hell, the Chinese will prolly own GM before too long.

Well, I'll be checking for updates to this thread. Hopeful, but doubtful. Glad to see the place is still going strong. It was sure a hoot in the beginning, w/ all the mods and meeting new folks. Kinda sorry I've been away. Still luv the truck!!
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I agree with all the 02 owners with OnStar wanting the upgrade.

It's a real let-down and certainly demands legal action for some resolve. No doubt you will see this develop.

It's my understanding that Motorola Telematics makes the units and for some reason or other won't "tool-up" for a production run of re-designed modules. Perhaps a cost issue between them and GM/OnStar.

Updating the later Analog, digital-ready systems was simply obtaining current production (to 06 anyway) VCIM's and the physical changeout with the other subscriber processes.
 
I agree with all the 02 owners with OnStar wanting the upgrade.

It's a real let-down and certainly demands legal action for some resolve. No doubt you will see this develop.
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This probably won't develop into anything, but:

http://voipservices.tmcnet.com/news/2007/03/30/108233.htm

As another idea, is it possible to pull the OnStar hardware our of a wrecked '06, say, and install that in an '02? I figure it can't be that simple. Right?
 
I strongly agree.? I have a 2002 Suburban and am pretty miffed about this and would like to see if there is any way to jury rig or pull a new digital VCIM unit off of a wrecked 06 suburban and get it to work with mine with replacing the antenna at the same time.? Does anyone know if this is even possible and is there any success stories out there? ???
 
No 02 have very different systems from the 03 up. Don't even think about it.


by the way :welcome: to the club
 
Yup.. That 06 module just won't communicate with the 02 data bus system.
 
blackbeauty said:
Hmmmm to upgrade or not to upgrade... that is the question.
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latest offer was they sent me was $15 with the one year $199 or $399 service. I'm waiting for a better deal
 
Flint4x4 said:
latest offer was they sent me was $15 with the one year $199 or $399 service. I'm waiting for a better deal
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That makes two of us. We have until Dec perhaps they will sweeten the offer to keep long time customers since they are going to loose all of those that cannot upgrade.
 
blackbeauty said:
That makes two of us. We have until Dec perhaps they will sweeten the offer to keep long time customers since they are going to loose all of those that cannot upgrade.
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I should get an employee discount but I have to ask for it, sometimes twice. I'm paid to Dec., I'll see how bad they want to keep me.
 
I'm bumping this for another thread, so I won't clutter it up in a Mod thread

sperry said:
OnStar to cease analog operation after 12-31-2007!​

-------------------------------------------​

GM Document ID# 1638038​

"Information on Upgrading Certain OnStar Generation 5 Analog/Digital-Ready Systems to OnStar Generation 6 Dual-Mode (Analog/Digital) #05-08-46-006 - (Mar 24, 2005)

2003-2004 Buick Rendezvous

2004 Buick Rainier

2003-2004 Cadillac Escalade Models

2005 Cadillac SRX

2003-2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe

2004 Chevrolet Colorado, TrailBlazer Models

2003-2004 GMC Sierra, Yukon Models

2004 GMC Canyon, Envoy Models

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada

2003-2004 Pontiac Aztek

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

2003-2004 HUMMER H2

This program is only available to dealers located in the United States. Canadian dealers will not be able to order upgrade kits at this time.

This bulletin is being issued to provide dealer personnel with information and procedures to follow should an owner wish to upgrade their OnStar? Generation 5 analog/digital-ready system to an OnStar? Generation 6 Dual-mode (analog/digital) system.

Service Procedure

Customers who wish to upgrade their vehicle to an OnStar? Generation 6 Dual-mode (analog/digital) system will be required to purchase a 3-year, non-refundable, subscription to OnStar?. If they agree to this, they will be eligible for an upgrade, which will be provided to them at no additional cost. This program will be available beginning on March 29, 2005.

Important:: If the customer sells their upgraded vehicle prior to the end of the 3-year subscription, any unused whole months of their subscription can be transferred to their next OnStar?-equipped General Motors vehicle.

Important:: The new Dual-mode (analog/digital) OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Module (VCIM) that will be installed into the customer's vehicle, as part of this upgrade, will have a new telephone number assigned to it. There is no way to transfer the customer's current telephone number to the new system.

Important:: Only vehicles listed in this bulletin will be eligible for the Digital-upgrade program. Other vehicles are being studied for possible inclusion into the Digital-upgrade program and may be added at a later date. You may also determine vehicle upgradeability by typing the VIN into the appropriate field on www.onstarenrollment.com.

Technicians are to install the OnStar? Digital-upgrade kit using the following procedure:

  1. If the customer's vehicle is listed in this bulletin, and they have agreed to sign up for a 3-year, non-refundable subscription to OnStar?, an upgrade kit can be ordered by calling the distributor, Autocraft, at 1-888-947-8100. Upgrade kits will be shipped out within 24 hours and a pre-paid return package label will be included for returning the customer's Generation 5 VCIM. By returning the customer's original VCIM, you will avoid a significant non-return core charge. Refer to the Parts Information table below to determine which OnStar? upgrade kit to order.
  2. Once the kit has been received, remove and discard any existing OnStar? Owner's Manuals in the customer's Instrument Panel Compartment. Place the new OnStar? Owner's Manuals from the upgrade kit in the customer's Instrument Panel Compartment.
  3. Unscrew the existing analog OnStar? antenna mast from the antenna base and discard. Screw in the provided analog/digital OnStar? antenna mast into the antenna base. This step only applies to the following 2003 model year vehicles (skip to step 4 if the vehicle to be upgraded is not listed below).
        - 2003 Buick Rendezvous
        - 2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
        - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
        - 2003 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
        - 2003 HUMMER H2
        - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  4. Replace the OnStar? VCIM in the vehicle with the provided analog/digital VCIM. Refer to the Communication Interface Module Replacement procedure in the Cellular Communication section of SI. As SI states, the appropriate steps to reconfigure the new OnStar? VCIM are as follows:
        - Press the blue OnStar? button to connect to the OnStar? call center.
        - Tell the advisor that this vehicle has received a new VCIM.
        - Ask the advisor to add the new Station Identification (STID) and Electronic Serial Number (ESN) to update the customer's account.
        - Follow any additional instructions from the OnStar? advisor.
        - Ask the advisor to activate the OnStar? Personal Calling feature , if available.

      Important:: Please note that the OPC functionality will not be available until the following day.

        - Ask to be transferred to the OnStar? Dealer Center (ODC). If you are disconnected, call the ODC at 1-888-ONSTAR-1 (1-888-667-8271). Request that a 3-year Analog-to-Digital Transition (ADT) upgrade package be applied to the customer's account. All upgrade packages are dealer prepaid. The dealer's open account will be charged for the cost of the package plus any applicable taxes. The three Digital-upgrade packages that are available are:
              ? 3-year Safety and Security (S&S) ADT package
              ? 3-year Directions and Connections (D&C) ADT package
              ? 3-year Luxury and Leisure (L&L) ADT package

      Important:: As SI states, YOU MUST REMEMBER TO RECONFIGURE THE NEW MODULE WITH AN ONSTAR ADVISOR TO COMPLETE THIS REPAIR. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN COMEBACKS AND CHARGEBACKS. In addition, pressing and holding the white dot button on the keypad will NOT reconfigure the OnStar? system. This action will cause a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) to set.

  5. Have the Service Advisor, Service Manager or Sales Consultant review the new OnStar Personal Calling (OPC) procedure with the customer. The customer is used to their Generation 5 analog/digital-- ready OPC system, which uses individual digit dial to make a call. Generation 6 Dual-mode (analog/digital) uses continuous digit dial, and the customer needs to be made aware of this change.
  6. Give the "OnStar Generation 6 Dual-Mode analog/digital Tip Sheet" to your customer. This tip sheet will help your customer better understand their new OnStar? system.
  7. Have the customer sign the form that is titled "Terms and Conditions of Your OnStar Service". Fax this form to 313-665-0485 and give a copy to the customer. You may also like to keep a copy for your records.
  8. Collect payment from the customer. Your dealership will be charged for the upgrade package, so you must collect payment from your customer. The prices for the three upgrade packages are as follows:
        - 3-year Safety and Security (S&S) ADT package. $549 plus tax (if applicable)
        - 3-year Directions and Connections (D&C) ADT package. $1099 plus tax (if applicable)
        - 3-year Luxury and Leisure (L&L) ADT package. $2159 plus tax (if applicable)
  9. Use labor code Z2096 to submit your claim for the labor time published below plus 0.2 hr Administrative Allowance and an additional $20.00 Net Amount.. For claim submission, use Complaint Code MH -- Technical Bulletin, and Failure Code 93 -- Technical Service Bulletin."
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