App-Based Connected Services Considerations: General Motors

Have you had the experience where the vehicle notified the owner that it was being moved while it was in your repair facility? App-based connected services are available from many vehicle makers and may require special considerations before beginning repairs. Let's see what General Motors (GM) has to say.

In 1997, Cadillac was the first to offer OnStar as a dealer-installed device. Since then, GM has expanded its offerings across most of its vehicles. Per the OnStar support webpage www.onstar.com: "Your vehicle mobile app is compatible with select 2011 and newer model year Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles.” In the service information, GM discloses the RPO code of UE1 that helps determine vehicles with OnStar with a backup battery."

GM may use different terms for their app-based connected services, including:

  • myChevrolet
  • myGMC
  • myCadillac
  • myBuick
  • OnStar
  • Digital Key
  • Back-up Battery (BUB)
  • Telematics Control Module

GM has documents in most vehicle-specific service manuals regarding these systems. On many vehicles it is shown when you first enter a service manual. It may also be found under: Preface ➤ Preface ➤ Danger. This document includes an important precaution for vehicles with app-based connected services.

Per the Danger document:

"When performing work in the engine compartment or under the vehicle, ensure that the hood is fully open, or opened to its secondary latch. When the hood is opened to the secondary latch, the vehicle will disable the remote start features from the key fob and OnStar mobile app ..."

System information, and removal and installation procedures for telematics-related parts are found under: Driver Information And Entertainment ➤ Cellular, Entertainment, And Navigation.

Always remember to perform any required initializations after disconnecting the battery and restore any modified vehicle settings before returning the vehicle to the owner.

For additional GM information, check out the following pages:
Chevrolet OEM Information
GMC OEM Information
Buick OEM Information
Cadillac OEM Information

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:


Related I-CAR Courses