SB-08-08-46-004A

File in Section:
Bulletin No.:
Service Bulletin
Date:
08 - Body and Accessories
08-08-46-004A
December, 2012
INFORMATION
Subject:
Information on Aftermarket Device Interference with OnStar ® Diagnostic Services
Models:
2013 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Trucks
Equipped with OnStar® (RPO UE1)
This bulletin is being revised to add the 2010-2013 model years. Please discard Corporate
Bulletin Number 08-08-46-004 (Section 08 – Body and Accessories).
This bulletin is being issued to provide dealer service
personnel with information regarding aftermarket
devices connected to the Diagnostic Link Connector
(DLC) and the impact to OnStar ® diagnostic probes and
Vehicle Diagnostic e-mails.
Certain aftermarket devices, when connected to the
Diagnostic Link Connector, such as, but not limited to,
Scan Tools, Trip Computers, Fuel Economy Analyzers
and Insurance Tracking Devices, interfere with
OnStar's ability to perform a diagnostic probe when
requested (via a blue button call) by a subscriber.
These devices also prohibit the ability to gather
diagnostic and tire pressure data for a subscriber's
scheduled OnStar® Vehicle Diagnostic (OVD) e-mail.
These aftermarket devices utilize the Vehicle's serial
data bus to perform data requests and/or information
gathering. When these devices are requesting data,
OnStar® is designed not to interfere with any data
request being made by these devices as required by
OBD II regulations.
The OnStar® advisor is unable to definitively detect the
presence of these devices and will only be able to
inform the caller or requester of the unsuccessful or
incomplete probe and may in some cases refer the
subscriber/requester to take the vehicle to a dealer for
diagnosis of the concern.
When performing a diagnostic check for an
unsuccessful or incomplete OnStar ® diagnostic probe,
or for concerns regarding completeness of the OnStar ®
Vehicle Diagnostic (OVD) e-mail, verify that an
aftermarket device was not present at the time of the
requested probe. Regarding the OVD e-mail, if an
aftermarket device is interfering (including a Scan Tool
of any type), the e-mail will consistently display a
“yellow” indication in diagnostics section for all vehicle
systems except the OnStar® System and Tire Pressure
data (not available on all vehicles) will not be displayed
(i.e. section is collapsed). Successful diagnostic probes
and complete OVD e-mails will resume following the
removal or disconnecting of the off-board device.
GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.
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