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Comment by suking

14 years ago

Pretty scary that they collect data after you cancel unless you unhook it. What if you buy a used car that had OnStar - how is that legal?

15 comments

suking

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ams6110  14 years ago

Shutting down the connection is apparently something that they do remotely: it was difficult to ensure the data connection was shut down after canceling. I still have no guarantee OnStar did what they were supposed to

If it were me, I'd pull the fuse or if necessary cut the wires to the transmitter.

  • shabble  14 years ago

    "For your comfort, safety and security, OnStar technologies are now being directly integrated into your engine management unit. To ensure your safety even further, all protocols, wiring diagrams, instruction manuals and other materials are encrypted, obfuscated, and welded shut. Thank you for enjoying your OnStar Service!"

  • crenshaw  14 years ago

    I once decided to cut cord to the vanity light in my car (long story why). Even though the car was off I was able to get quick a scare. Lesson, electricity in a car is not off when the key is out. I was close to winning one of those Darwin awards.

    • praptak  14 years ago

      The voltage in car circuits is usually 12V, not enough to do you real harm.

      Yup, the sparks when you short circuit can be spectacular (the car battery can provide quite a current), but the voltage can't kill you. It would suck if it could - high voltage cables all around you would make accidents very dangerous. The worst that could happen to you is burns from the wires getting hot.

      3 replies →

    • ars  14 years ago

      Um, a car is 12v how did you manage to do anything at all scary? Even if you shorted it all you would do a blow a fuse.

rkalla  14 years ago

We'll have to wait and see how legal it is until a lawsuit is brought or outcry online embarrasses the company into action to change it.

Sad that those are the only two things that will get this addressed, but it seems born-into corporate existence to poke and prod at the rules until someone slaps its hand.