I got a letter in the mail yesterday about my onstar system. It says that after 2008, Onstar will no longer supports analog systems. It goes on to say that it will still try to connect to Onstar if the airbags are deployed, but will fail. It will retry until the battery is drained. I can take it to a dealer to get it disconnected for free.

Anyone else get this letter too?

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-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

Don't they offer some sort of upgrade??? That's pretty lame if it's true.

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-Joshua-

Nope no upgrade. I don't see why it isn't true, the letter was most certainly from Pontiac, unless its a scam, but I highly doubt that. I dont subscribe to Onstar, but it would still be nice to have the Emergency feature. That does still work if you dont subscribe right?

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-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

I'm surprised you just got that now.

Do a Google search to find more info.

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

I found some info on their website.

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/ex ... tech_equip

Sounds like its for real, Im guessing 2000's dont have the dual mode. I dont have my VIN handy or I would check.

EDIT: Haro- I was in the process of searching when you replied . Thats odd that Im just getting the letter now....maybe has something to do with the fact that I have only owned the car for a year...little more.

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-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

You're not the original owner and you got it? That surprises me. How'd they track down everyone that isn't the original purchaser? Even more so, why do they care to let the next owner even know?

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-Joshua-

i don't think the emergency 911 thing works if you aren't subscribed.

but what i have learned it that your insurance is suppose to be cheaper if you pay for onstar or not. just for having it in the car.


time to call my insurance? but heads.

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2004 Bonneville GXP, Pearl White
Hifonics, QB Quart, & Pioneer Makes Up My System
Member #550

I didn't know about this... but I've only owned my 02 a little over a year now.

It does look like you can do an upgrade on it through the dealer.

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2002 Buick Lesabre Custom L36 Titanium Blue Metallic/Medium Gray Cloth
2004 Buick Lesabre Custom L36 White/Graphite Gray Cloth
2015 SS Roof, Spare & 6M 6.2L LS3 415HP/415TQ SLIHRM/Jet Black Leather-Red Stitching
2010 Silverado LTZ Crew 4x4 6.2L L9H 417HP/403TQ NHT Black Granite Metallic/Ebony Leather
2013 Enclave Premium AWD 3.6L LLT White Diamond Tricoat/Cocoa Leather
2001 Wellcraft Martinique 2400 Merc 5.7L BIII 327hrs

1995 Bonneville SSE L36 Dark Polo Green Metallic **R.I.P. 4/28/10 236,400 miles**

Nope I bought the car used in may of 2007. Im guessing maybe they tracked it through the title, would they be able to access that infomation? I would imagine they want to let the next owner know because I could still subscribe to onstar even though Im not the original owner.



Yep the way I understand it, you can upgrade if you have analog/digital-ready equipment. If you have analog only, you can't upgrade. I dont know what version I have. I'll write down the VIN next time Im by my car, and then I will punch in it and find out.

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-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

if the air bags go off on your car, its totalled. (most likely)

i may look into this, but im not concerned right now. im not at the point in my life where i can spend money on stuff like that, but knowing i can upgrade it would be cool, cuz im upside down on this bish(due to my remainder of my firebird loan), i will have it for a while.

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~Ryan, 2002 bonneville ssei(sold)

Thats what I thought, so I probably wont bother with getting it disconnected.

I just entered my VIN and it says that my 2000 is eligible for the upgrade like WhiteCrystal mentioned. I would imagine that all the later years would be able to also.

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-Tom

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab - Charcoal - 128,000 miles - Stock...for now.
2000 SSEi - Gone, but not forgotten.

It says mine is analog but can be upgraded

Does that mean mine is analog/digital-ready and it's just not listing it that way?

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2002 Buick Lesabre Custom L36 Titanium Blue Metallic/Medium Gray Cloth
2004 Buick Lesabre Custom L36 White/Graphite Gray Cloth
2015 SS Roof, Spare & 6M 6.2L LS3 415HP/415TQ SLIHRM/Jet Black Leather-Red Stitching
2010 Silverado LTZ Crew 4x4 6.2L L9H 417HP/403TQ NHT Black Granite Metallic/Ebony Leather
2013 Enclave Premium AWD 3.6L LLT White Diamond Tricoat/Cocoa Leather
2001 Wellcraft Martinique 2400 Merc 5.7L BIII 327hrs

1995 Bonneville SSE L36 Dark Polo Green Metallic **R.I.P. 4/28/10 236,400 miles**

Huh...

Even if you GOT the upgrade...would you get OnStar? I have an Analog/Digital system..so I guess I can get it if I want...but it just seems kinda...pointless for the money. I mean, they even have hands free calling, but then you have to buy the minutes (OnStar uses Verizon's networks for those that don't know) and can only use them in your car? Umm...right...so if you're getting in and out of your car... Dumb. Sounds better for GM to integrate Bluetooth handsfree capabilities into their cars for that feature, and then you're still able to keep the call when you get out, and can engage the hands free just by pushing a button on the mirror or something. We're well within that era..and OnStar's gimmicky features have us in the 80s. Airbag deployment notification, remote unlocking, turn by turn directions, directory, etc all sound like good features, but we've got the technology in our hands nowadays...sounds like the only thing OnStar needs is the Airbag deployment...and that in my mind is not justified by paying the kind of money they want for the service.

Yeah..I'd have the service in a second if I had the extra cash...but...how many people just want another bill?

I can think of another thing I'd use it for...is the Vehicle Diagnostics...now THAT has a cool factor to it...to get a report by email about your vehicle's conditions. THAT is pretty *dang* cool stuff.

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John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k
Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k

I'm going to the dealer today to get the car scanned, will look into that.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

My wife got a similar letter for her 2001 Grand Prix GT. I have to agree with the poster who said it doesn't make sense anyway. It's a nifty trick for them to unlock the car if you lock yourself out, but we've never done that, and there are other effective ways to open a locked car door. Cell phones give far more features for less cost than an OnStar plan. If the airbags go off, you're probably not too far off from getting help anyway, someone usually notices those sorts of accidents. I never could see the point to OnStar.

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PontiacDad at WCBF `08: "By any chance, was his name. . .Radomir?"

R.I.P. 10/31/15: 1997 SE: "Silver Shadow"
`05 Mercedes S500

My dad got the same letter for his 2003 Yukon Denali. He did end up bringing it into the local GMC dealer and getting the upgrade to the digital Onstar. He does pay for it because he likes to use the phone (the white dot button) that Onstar comes with. He also feels its good in case of an emergency although I always tell him its a waste of money. I think the dealer actually did charge him for the digital upgrade which I thought was bullcrap.

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1997 SSEi | Bright White | 170,000+ Miles | Stock | Best 1/4: 15.374

Its true but $199 to save only $52 on the insurance isn't worth it. But our insurrance company said that you must submit proof of subscription to the local office.

Yeah but on GM's premium cars are SOL.

WAAAIITTT a minute - since when can a 2000 be upgraded? I have a 2001, and as of a few months ago, could NOT be upgraded. I have looked into this extensively, and last I knew, only 2003 and newer could be upgraded. However, there was a class action lawsuit against OnStar for essentially stranding hundreds of thousands of customers with incompatible equipment...so maybe they changed it.

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"SLE without the ugly" - leather, climate control, sound, 3.05 gearing, 180* t-stat, tints. http://www.gillsystems.com