Information on OnStar System - Possible Loss of GPS and/or Unable to Replenish Hands-Free Calling Minutes

This bulletin is being revised to add the 2007 model year, the Saab 9-7X model and update the content. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 02-08-46-007A (Section 08 -- Body & Accessories).

Certain 2001-2007 model year vehicles equipped with OnStar® may exhibit a condition with the Global Positioning System (GPS) that causes inaccuracies in the GPS clock. The GPS system is internal to the OnStar® Vehicle Interface Unit (VIU) or the Vehicle Communication Interface Module (VCIM). This inaccuracy can prevent OnStar® from being able to add Hands-Free Calling minutes to the customer's OnStar® account.

OnStar® will notify the customer by mail and direct them to contact their dealership service department. To facilitate the pre-order of a VIU/VCIM, customers will be asked to provide the VIN and odometer reading when making a service appointment.

In order to correct this condition, the OnStar® VCIM/VIU needs to be replaced. Replacement procedures can be found in Service Information (SI) under OnStar® Vehicle Interface Unit (VIU) Replacement or Vehicle Communication Interface Module (VCIM) Replacement.

To minimize the inconvenience to customers, dealers are asked to schedule a service appointment with the customer and to pre-order a replacement VIU/VCIM. Dealers in the U.S. should contact AutoCraft Electronics via the web at www.autocraft.com or at 1-800-336-3998. Canadian dealers should contact MASS Electronics at 1-877-410-6277.

Dealers DO NOT need to call the GM Technical Assistance Center (TAC) for replacement approval. AutoCraft Electronics and MASS Electronics will be responsible for verifying that the subject vehicle is a candidate for a replacement VIU/VCIM.

Important: After replacing the VIU/VCIM, it is essential to reconfigure the OnStar® system. Failure to reconfigure the system will result in an additional customer visit for repair.

OnStar® VIU, Generations 2 and 3, will require the technician to press the blue OnStar® button to reconfigure the vehicle with an OnStar® advisor.

OnStar® VCIM, Generations 4-7 will require the technician to reconfigure the vehicle with the use of the TIS2WEB and SPS applications (pass thru only), along with the Tech 2®. The configuration and set-up procedure is a two-step process that enables an automated activation by the OnStar® Center, without a button press by the technician to the OnStar® Call Center. Following this procedure, it may take up to 24 hours for all OnStar® services to be fully activated.

Important: If the customer's vehicle has analog-upgradeable OnStar® hardware, then the customer should be made aware of the digital upgrade program per the latest version of Service Bulletin 05-08-46-006. Any analog OnStar® system that is not upgraded prior to the end of 2007 will be deactivated due to the upcoming phase-out of the analog cellular network in the U.S. and Canada.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the applicable model-specific labor time.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: