File in Section:

Service Bulletin

Bulletin No.:
Date:

08 - Body and Accessories
05-08-46-006S
May, 2014

INFORMATION
Subject:

Information on Upgrading Certain OnStar® Analog/Digital-Ready Systems to OnStar®
Generation 6 Digital-Capable System

Models:

2000-2004 Buick LeSabre
2003-2004 Buick Rendezvous
2004 Buick Rainier, Regal
2004-2005 Buick Century
2002-2004 Cadillac DeVille, Seville
2003-2004 Cadillac CTS
2003-2004 Cadillac Escalade Models
2004-2005 Cadillac SRX, XLR
2005 Cadillac CTS, STS
2001-2004 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo
2002-2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Models
2003-2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2003-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier, Venture
2004 Chevrolet Colorado
2004-2005 Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, Corvette, Equinox
2002-2004 GMC Envoy Models
2003-2004 GMC Savana, Sierra, Yukon Models
2004 GMC Canyon
2001-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
2003-2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
2000-2004 Pontiac Bonneville
2003-2004 Pontiac Aztek
2003-2005 Pontiac Montana, Sunfire
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
2005 Pontiac G6
2003-2004 HUMMER H2
2002-2004 Saturn VUE
2003-2004 Saturn ION
2003-2004 Saturn L-Series
Equipped with OnStar® (RPO UE1)

Attention: This program has been discontinued in Canada, effective May 01, 2014.
This bulletin has been revised to remove the Canadian dealer information. Please discard
Corporate Bulletin Number 05-08-46-006R.

This bulletin is being issued to provide dealer personnel
with information and procedures to follow should an
owner wish to upgrade their OnStar® Analog/
Digital-Ready system to an OnStar® Generation 6
Digital-Capable system.
Copyright 2014 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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May, 2014

Program Overview
To upgrade their vehicle to an OnStar® Generation 6
Digital-Capable system, all that a customer must do is:
• Take their vehicle to their dealer for the system
upgrade.
• Pay the dealer the regular retail price (no
discounts are available) for one of the following
1-year, non-refundable OnStar® Analog-to-Digital
Transition (ADT) Service Subscription Plans:
– 1-year Safe & Sound Subscription: $199
– 1-year Directions & Connections
Subscription: $399
• Pay the dealer the applicable state and local sales
taxes on the subscription: Taxes only apply in
these states: CT, DC, FL, HI, ND, NJ, NM, NY, SC,
SD, TX, and WV
• Pay the dealer a one-time charge of $15 for the
upgrade: Do not collect taxes on the $15
Note: Dealers should NOT remit OnStar® ADT-related
taxes to their taxing authority as OnStar® is
responsible for tax remittance.
Please Be Sure To Read these Important Points:
• The 1-year OnStar subscription is not refundable
or transferable to another person. Upgraders can
apply unused subscription months to a new or
Certified Pre-Owned digital OnStar-equipped GM
vehicle purchase or lease. As noted above, the
digital upgrade program requires the subscriber to
purchase a one-year prepaid OnStar®
subscription. Assuming the subscriber intends to
keep their vehicle, but subsequently purchases or
leases a 2006 model year or newer
OnStar®-equipped new or certified used GM
vehicle, in the interest of subscriber satisfaction,
they may apply remaining unused whole months
of the subscription to the new vehicle. The
subscription may not be applied to another
person's vehicle.
Important: This is a customer satisfaction measure
that would usually occur several months after an
upgrade. It is not intended to be leveraged as part of a
new/used vehicle purchase or lease transaction.
• The $15 charge is not refundable.
• Dealer ADT kit orders are VIN specific. Dealer kit
orders require a VIN and must be exchanged with
the OnStar® unit in the vehicle with that VIN.
Proper activation and enrollment depends on
this step.
• You must put the actual miles on the Repair Order.
Do not estimate.
• Customers will receive a Hands-Free Calling
number once the digital hardware is installed and
configured.
• Any nametags that were stored in the old system
will need to be re-set by the subscriber once the
new hardware is installed.

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Bulletin No.: 05-08-46-006S
Customers are responsible for the charges
described above regardless of whether their
vehicle is in or out of the New Vehicle Warranty
period. In addition, customers should not be
charged labor costs. Dealers can charge GM the
labor for the upgrade as specified at the end of
this bulletin using the listed labor operation.
Vehicles eligible for an OnStar® hardware
upgrade are listed in this bulletin. Vehicle
upgradeability can also be determined by typing
the VIN into the field entitled “Determine VIN
Hardware Functionality” on the OnStar® Online
Enrollment website, located in the sales or service
workbench tab of GM GlobalConnect.
Access to the sales, service and/or business
administration workbench in the GM
GlobalConnect website can be granted by the
dealership’s Partner Security Coordinator (PSC).
If you are unsure who the PSC is, check with the
Sales Manager.

Ordering the Upgrade Kit
1. To order a kit, you will need to access the OnStar®
Online Enrollment webpage, located under the
sales or service workbench of GM GlobalConnect.
These kits cannot be ordered from GMCC&A.
2. Click on the Analog-to-Digital Program link to start
the ordering process.
3. To order a kit, you will need the following
information:
• VIN
• OnStar® account holder's first name
• OnStar® account holder's last name
• OnStar® account holder's e-mail address
(optional)
• OnStar® account holder's phone number
• OnStar® account holder's street address
• OnStar® account holder's ZIP code
• 6-digit Dealer BAC code and the 5-digit
Divisional Dealer Code (do not use a Parts
Department Dealer Code).
• Service department contact's name, phone
number and a dealership e-mail address
• Repair Order (R.O.) Number
• Mileage on vehicle
• Which OnStar® subscription plan do they want
(Safe & Sound or Directions & Connections)?
4. After submitting the order, the "Terms and
Conditions of Your OnStar® Service” page will
display. This is your confirmation that the upgrade
kit order has been created. U.S. Dealers will also
receive an e-mail from Autocraft within several
hours of ordering an upgrade kit.
5. Print the "Terms and Conditions of Your OnStar®
Service" page, and have the customer sign a copy.
6. A copy of this form should be stapled to the
customer’s copy of the Repair Order and one copy
should be retained in the customer service folder.

Bulletin No.: 05-08-46-006S

May, 2014

7. If the kit you ordered is available, you will receive
the upgrade kit within 4 business days of entering
your order through the OnStar® Online Enrollment
webpage.
8. To check on kit availability or the status of your
order, U.S. Dealers can log onto the distributor's
website at www.autocraft.com.
Upgrade Kit Installation
1. Skip to the next step if the vehicle to be upgraded
is not listed below:
• 2003 Buick Rendezvous
• 2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV,
Escalade EXT
• 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado,
Suburban, Tahoe, Venture
• 2003 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
• 2003 HUMMER H2
• 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
• 2003 Pontiac Aztek, Montana
Unscrew the existing analog OnStar® antenna
mast from the antenna base and discard. Screw
the provided Digital-Capable OnStar® antenna
mast onto the antenna base.
2. Skip to the next step if the vehicle to be upgraded
is not listed below:
• 2000-2004 Buick LeSabre
• 2004 Buick Regal
• 2004-2005 Buick Century
• 2002-2004 Cadillac DeVille, Seville
• 2003-2004 Cadillac CTS
• 2004 Cadillac SRX built prior to VIN breakpoint
40171353
• 2002-2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer,
TrailBlazer EXT
• 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express
• 2002-2004 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo
• 2003-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
• 2002-2003 GMC Envoy, Envoy XL
• 2003-2004 GMC Savana
• 2001-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
• 2002-2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
• 2000-2004 Pontiac Bonneville
• 2003-2005 Pontiac Sunfire
• 2003-2004 Saturn L-Series
• 2003 Saturn ION
• 2002-2004 Saturn VUE
Replace the existing OnStar® analog on-glass
antenna mast, inner coupler and outer coupler
with the provided new Digital-Capable antenna
components. Refer to the antenna component
replacement instructions included in the kit or
those found in the Cellular Communication
section of SI. You must follow these instructions
carefully in order to ensure proper adhesion of
the new antenna.

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3. Skip to the next step if the vehicle to be upgraded
is not a 2005 Cadillac STS. The 2005 Cadillac STS
kit may include a new inside rearview (ISRV) mirror
assembly and a new ISRV mirror wiring cover. If
the kit you receive includes these parts, please
remove the existing ISRV mirror and wire cover
from the vehicle and install the ones provided in
the kit per the instructions in SI.
4. Skip this step if the vehicle to be upgraded is not
listed below.
• 2003-2004 Saturn L-Series
• 2003 Saturn ION
• 2002-2003 Saturn VUE
4.1. Locate and remove the Right Audio output
signal terminal 7 from Connector C2 at the
Vehicle Communication Interface
Module (VCIM).
4.2. Remove the terminal end and strip the wire.
4.3. Locate the Left Audio output signal wire from
terminal 1 in Connector C2.
4.4. Splice the Right Audio output signal wire from
terminal 7 with the Left Audio output signal
wire from terminal 1.
4.5. See Wiring Repairs in SI for approved splicing
methods.
4.6. See wiring diagram at end of this bulletin, for
details.
5. Replace the OnStar® Vehicle Communication
Interface Module (VCIM) in the vehicle with the
provided Digitally-Capable VCIM. Refer to the
Communication Interface Module Replacement
procedure in the Cellular Communication section
of SI. This kit may include a new VCIM bracket. If it
does, use this new bracket on the vehicle and
discard the original bracket. The kit may also
include a small wiring jumper cable. If it does, plug
the wiring jumper cable into the connector on the
VCIM and the other end to the corresponding
vehicle wiring harness connector.
• For 2001, 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet Impala and
Monte Carlo, do not reinstall the black plastic
OnStar® module cover onto the vehicle after
the VCIM and module bracket have been
installed. This black plastic cover will no longer
fit on the vehicle.
• The upgrade kit for 2002 Sevilles and DeVilles,
and some 2003 Sevilles and DeVilles, will
contain a large bracket. To install the new VCIM
into this bracket you’ll need to carefully line up
the notch in the VCIM with the tab in the
bracket.
• On 2002 Sevilles and DeVilles, the GPS jumper
cable MUST be unclipped from the back seat
cross brace, or unplugged from the VCIM first.
DO NOT pull back on the mounting bracket until
the GPS antenna jumper cable is unclipped
from the back seat cross brace or unplugged
from the VCIM. The short length of jumper cable

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May, 2014

does not allow the VCIM mounting bracket to be
pulled back very far, and could lead to a break
at the VCIM connector.
• On 2000-2002 Bonnevilles and LeSabres and
2001-2002 Auroras you will need to follow
these steps:
5.1. Remove the 4 nuts that secure the VCU/VIU
bracket assembly to the rear seat back brace.
Note: Save these nuts for later use.
5.2. Remove and discard the plastic VCU/VIU
bracket assembly from the vehicle.

Bulletin No.: 05-08-46-006S

5.5. Install two of the nuts saved from step (1).
Tighten the nuts to 4 Y (36 lb in).
5.6. Connect the new OnStar jumper harness
supplied in the kit to the VCIM (two white
connectors) and the body wiring harness
(C345 connector).
5.7. Connect the small coaxial jumper cable
supplied in the kit, to the VCIM, with the end
that has a blue plastic housing connector.
Plug the other end of this coaxial jumper
cable to the OnStar Global Positioning
Satellite (GPS) antenna coaxial cable at the
right angle connector. Note: The GPS cable in
the new OnStar jumper harness is not
utilized.
5.8. Connect the cellular coaxial cable to the
OnStar VCIM.
On 2001 Impala and Monte Carlos you will
need to follow these steps:
5.9. Remove the Vehicle Communications Unit
(VCU) and Vehicle Interface Unit (VIU)
following the procedures listed in SI. Save the
bracket nuts for later use.
5.10. Disconnect and remove the OnStar®
jumper harness.
Note: You will need to remove the short GPS cable
from this jumper harness.
5.11. Untape the cell antenna coax from the body
harness in the trunk. This will be necessary
to provide adequate length to connect to the
new VCIM.

2039160

5.3. Remove the upper right stud (1) from the rear
seat back brace and re-install in the middle
lower slot (2) on the brace. Tighten the
fastener to 4 Y (36 lb in).
5.4. Position the new VCIM in the vehicle over the
studs on the rear seat back brace.

1364564

2039161

5.12. Fasten three retainer clips (1) from the kit to
the new bracket that is included in the kit,
and position the VCIM to the bracket (2).
5.13. Install the three bolts from the kit. Tighten
the bolts to 10 Y (89 lb in).
5.14. Connect the new OnStar® jumper harness
supplied in the kit to the VCIM (two white
connectors on module).

Bulletin No.: 05-08-46-006S

May, 2014

5.15. Connect small GPS coax cable jumper
harness supplied in the kit (end with blue
plastic housing) to VCIM GPS connector.
5.16. Position the VCIM / bracket assembly to the
studs.

769963

5.17. Install the bracket nuts saved from the
Removal Procedure above to the VCIM /
bracket assembly mounting studs. Tighten
the nuts to 4 Y (35 lb in).
5.18. Connect the new OnStar® jumper harness
to the body wiring harness (C410
connector).
5.19. Connect small coax cable jumper from
VCIM to the OnStar® Global Positioning
Satellite (GPS) antenna coaxial cable at the
connector previously left in the vehicle
(short jumper removed from old harness in
step 5.10).
5.20. Connect the cellular coaxial cable
previously left in vehicle to the
OnStar® VCIM.
5.21. Verify that all harnesses are properly
secured in vehicle.
6. After replacing the VCIM, it is essential to configure
the new OnStar® system. Failure to configure the
system will result in an additional customer visit for
repair. DO NOT press and hold the white dot or
phone button on the keypad as it will not reset this
version of the OnStar® system and may result in a
DTC being set. Use of the TIS2WEB and SPS
applications, along with the Tech2®, are required
in order to perform the VCIM configuration and
setup procedure for this vehicle. The configuration
and set-up procedure is now a two-step process

Page 5

which enables an automated activation by the
OnStar® Center, without a button press by the
technician to the OnStar® Call Center.
6.1. Connect the Tech2® to the vehicle.
6.2. Connect the Techline Information System
(TIS) terminal to the Tech2®.
6.3. Scroll to the bottom of the Controller List, and
select the “ONSA TIS2WEB Pass-Thru
OnStar® Activation (Replaced/Upgraded
Units Only)” option using the Service
Programming System (SPS).
Important: Do not use the clear DTC function. This will
only temporarily turn the LED to green.
6.4. Upon completion of the OnStar® TIS2WEB
step, disconnect the TIS terminal from the
Tech2® and perform the VCIM/OnStar®
Set-up Procedure using the Tech2®. The set
up procedure is located under the special
function menu option.
Important: Failure to perform the above steps will
result in a red LED, DTC being set and limited or
incomplete OnStar® services, and will require a
customer return visit to the dealership.
6.5. The default language for the new VCIM will be
English. To change to French or Spanish,
access the special functions menu on the
Tech 2®, and follow the instructions
accordingly.
7. Skip to the next step if the vehicle to be upgraded
is not listed below:
• 2002-2004 Cadillac DeVille
• 2002-2004 Cadillac Seville
• 2005 Cadillac STS
Set up the Dash Integration Module (DIM) using
the following procedure:
7.1. On the Tech2® select the correct Year, Make
and Model.
7.2. Enter Dash Integration Module (DIM) >
Special Functions > Set Options > Misc.
Options 1 > and turn off phone (if the vehicle
does not have the UV8 option).
7.3. Enter Nav Radio Present and set to “No Nav”
(if the vehicle does not have a navigation
radio).
7.4. Turn the ignition off and open the door to turn
off the RAP.
7.5. Turn the ignition on and enter the Vehicle
Comm. Interface Module > Special Functions
> Set Up OnStar /VCIM.