We love it when people find OnStar services helpful — even when it doesn’t involve an emergency. So we were happy to hear that Annie, the blogger at Stowed Stuff, likes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics.¹

She writes: “One of the coolest features of the Chevy Traverse is the automatic emails I get once a month from OnStar … They know my oil life is at 47% and I am soon due for maintenance!”

“Now only if OnStar could let me know when I’ll be going into labor! I hope I get that notification soon!”

Annie’s words had us wondering: Have you ever been thankful for an OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics email? When and why?

And Annie — we’ll let you know if we ever add labor notifications to the service. Read the rest of Annie’s “I Heart OnStar” post or find out more about “Annie’s Traverse Travels” at Stowed Stuff.

Spot a story about OnStar on the Web? Submit a link on our story submission page and we might just feature it on this site.

¹ Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for many of us, a summer road trip can’t be far behind. If you’re planning a long road trip or just heading to the local beach, these driving trips can help make your summer plans run more smoothly.

Caring for your car this summer
Before you hit the road, it’s important to make sure your car is ready for the unique demands of summer driving.

To lessen the odds of a breakdown, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recommends that you check the following:

Cooling system
According to the ASE, the greatest cause of summer breakdowns is overheating. So have your cooling system checked — it may need a flush and refill.

Air conditioning
Speaking of cool, have your mechanic check your air conditioning and fluids to make sure you won’t be left sweltering in the sun.

Wiper blades
Winter’s salt and ice may have wreaked havoc on wiper blades, and a dirty windshield can be a safety hazard. Replace your old blades and make sure your windshield washer fluid is filled.

Tires
According to Drive Safe PA, hot weather can cause the air inside the tire to expand, causing a blowout if the tire is in poor condition. The ASE recommends that you have your tires rotated every 5,000 miles, and don’t forget to check that your spare is in good condition.

Oil
How often you need to change your oil and filter will depend on driving conditions and your vehicle specifications, so check out your owner’s manual for what’s recommended.

OnStar subscribers can check your monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics¹ email, which keeps you up-to-date on your vehicle’s key operating systems, including oil life and tire pressure. It also alerts you when it’s time to take your vehicle in for regular maintenance. And when you enroll in OnStar Dealer Maintenance Notification, your dealer will contact you to schedule a service appointment and provide you with the latest offers. It’s just one of the ways an OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics email can help you save money and drive with confidence.

Keeping the trip on course
Of course, even the best-laid plans are sometimes spoiled. If the unexpected does happen — you run out of gas or lock your keys in the car — just push your blue OnStar button and an OnStar Advisor can help with OnStar’s Roadside Assistance.²

Planning a summer driving trip doesn’t have to be stressful — with a little bit of preparation (and OnStar on your side) your vehicle will be ready to hit the road.

¹ Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.
² Roadside Assistance provided by Cross Country.

Sources:
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Drive Safe PA

When we arrived home we took our vehicle directly to the garage where they removed a screw from the rear tire.  I had decided earlier that when my current subscription ran out in May I would not renew!  Well, I will say that I did RENEW and I will continue to RENEW with OnStar!  I am proud to say that I have been an OnStar subscriber since 2003! Thankyou OnStar!!”

Jancie Hall In Her Chevy Tahoe

It seems like everyone is talking about fuel economy these days. With Earth Day marking its 40th anniversary this year, it’s a good time to talk about ways to green your drive.

Following these simple tips from epa.gov can help you be kinder to the environment — and kinder to your budget, too. And that may mean more greenbacks in your wallet.

Drive fewer miles

Whenever possible, carpool and combine activities into one trip. As an added bonus, being mileage conscious might qualify you for the OnStar Low Mileage Discount.¹

Maintain your vehicle properly

A poorly tuned vehicle can pollute significantly more than one that’s well maintained. Your vehicle is designed to perform best when maintained according to the instructions found in the owner’s manual. And OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics² emails help you easily track maintenance needs by running checks of your vehicle’s key operating systems, including your engine and transmission, oil life and — if your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System — the air pressure of each tire.

Refuel wisely

When the weather is warm, try to refuel early in the morning or late in the evening. This will reduce the amount of evaporative emissions being pushed out of the tank during the heat of the day, when smog most easily forms. On Ozone Action Days, try not to refuel at all. And never top off your tank beyond the automatic shutoff point.

Got any green driving tips and tricks of your own? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

¹ Not available in all states.
² Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.

OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics¹ emails contain valuable information that can help save you time and money. Every month there’s new information about your vehicle. You can track things like your engine and braking systems, oil life and — if your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System — the air pressure of each tire. Be sure to read your report and take advantage of money-saving tips like these:

Tire Pressure

Properly inflated tires can help improve your gas mileage by up to 3 percent.² Using data retrieved from your Tire Pressure Monitoring System, your OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics report lets you know if your tire pressure needs attention. Check out how Mary Hall’s diagnostic report alerted her to a tire with low pressure: “That OnStar email was a lifesaver.”

Oil Life

Monitor your vehicle’s oil life through your report. Thanks to advanced technology, if your vehicle is equipped with the GM Oil Life System, your “Change Oil” light comes on only when you actually need an oil change and not simply after 3,000 miles. By having your oil changed only when it’s needed, you’ll save time, money and oil — which is good for the environment. Check out how much Elijah Scott saved on oil changes by following his diagnostics reports: OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics helps save time and money.

Regular maintenance

If something needs your attention, it will be flagged on your monthly diagnostic report — letting you know if “action is suggested” or “immediate attention required.” Read how Butch Grafton was alerted to a potential problem: Finding a road hazard under the hood.

On-Demand Diagnostics, anytime

If the “Check Engine” light should come on or you have any kind of concern while you’re driving, you can push the blue OnStar button and ask the Advisor to run an On-Demand Diagnostics check immediately. Read what happened to Debbie Yaeger when she and her daughter were traveling far from home: On-Demand Diagnostics to the rescue.

If you haven’t signed up for your monthly diagnostic emails, do it now. There’s no additional cost — it’s part of your OnStar subscription. And it’s easy. Enroll online at onstar.com or push your blue button anytime and talk to an OnStar Advisor.

¹ Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.
² Estimates based on U.S. EPA information (see www.fueleconomy.gov).

Missing information?

OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics emails track a vehicle’s key systems, but what other information do you wish your car could share with you? Let us know in the OnStar Connections forums.

Mick Johnson commutes fewer than 20 miles a day to and from work. He’s been taking advantage of the OnStar Low Mileage Discount since 2004. “It’s a great benefit to get a lower premium,” Mick says.

The OnStar Low Mileage Discount is an auto insurance discount for subscribers residing in eligible states who drive within the mileage ranges specified by their auto insurer. Mick has auto insurance through GMAC Insurance, one of several insurance companies that offer discounts to OnStar subscribers.

How the Low Mileage Discount works

Once you’ve enrolled in the program, your insurer will notify OnStar. With your permission, the odometer reading from your monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics email is forwarded to your participating insurance provider. Based on those readings, the company will modify your premiums using discount tiers corresponding to miles driven. This can earn you a larger discount because your report verifies actual mileage. So the fewer miles you drive, the higher your discount. For example, if you have auto insurance through GMAC Insurance and you only drive up to 2,500 miles a year, you are eligible for a 54 percent Low Mileage Discount. Conversely, if you drive between 12,501 and 15,000 miles per year, your Low Mileage Discount through GMAC Insurance would be 13 percent.

“Anyone who drives less than 15,000 miles a year should get a quote from GMAC Insurance,” says Mick.

Not a low mileage driver? No problem. The Active OnStar Subscriber Discount can also save you money on your insurance and requires only an active OnStar subscription.

To see if your insurance provider offers the OnStar Low Mileage or Active OnStar Subscriber Discount, check out this list of participating insurance providers.

Debbie Yaeger and her 9-year-old daughter had a long drive in front of them with very little time to spare. They left their home in Florida in pouring rain to travel to a funeral in Ohio. A few hours into the trip, Debbie started noticing her car didn’t feel quite right. She pushed her OnStar button and asked the Advisor to run an On-Demand Diagnostic¹ check while she was driving.

“The Advisor told me there was a problem with my drivetrain. She said I could continue to drive but when I told her how far we were going, she agreed it would be best to have it looked at right away. She stayed on the line with me while I drove to the nearest dealership in the area. She was just wonderful.”

Debbie was also impressed with the dealership, which went to great lengths to get her back on her way as quickly as possible, even making a special trip to pick up the part she needed for the repair. Debbie was back on her way less than two hours after she called OnStar.

“What a comfort it was to just be able to push the button and know I’d find help at the other end. I bought my car used, and when I saw it had OnStar I couldn’t wait to subscribe. My daughter and I love to travel and OnStar provides us with peace of mind on the road and the freedom to explore, all at the same time. I’m grateful to OnStar for being there.”

Push the button anytime for On-Demand Diagnostics

In addition to your monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics emails, you can ask OnStar for an immediate diagnostic check anytime. Just push the blue OnStar button and an Advisor can run an On-Demand Diagnostic check while you’re driving. If there is a problem, an immediate diagnostic check can help alert you, possibly saving you further damage and helping save you money on higher repair costs.

¹ On-Demand Diagnostic Services vary by model and model year. For details, call 1.888.4.ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827).

Cha-chunk, cha-chunk, cha-chunk: Do you remember the last time your car suffered a problem that your OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics report identified? Can you describe the sound your car made and how OVD helped you? Share your answer with others in our OnStar Connections forum.

Elijah and Nicole Scott have owned their 2008 Saturn VUE for just over two years, and they’ve already put 60,000 miles on it. To say they drive a lot would be an understatement. But Elijah, who also owns a couple of classic cars and loves working on them, takes pride in keeping all his cars in tip-top shape. In fact, he just got his oil changed on the VUE — for only the fifth time.

“My monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics emails have saved me a lot of money over the last two years,” says Elijah. “I figure I’ve saved $450 on oil changes alone. Thanks to the GM Oil Life System, I’ve been averaging 12,000 miles between oil changes. If I had been getting my oil changed every 3,000 miles like I used to, I would have been getting my 20th oil change at 60,000 miles instead of my fifth.” Elijah’s 12,000 miles between oil changes and savings are not typical. Actual mileage will vary based on vehicle/engine combination, driving conditions and driver habits.

Elijah says he really relies on his monthly diagnostic email. “Because all your key systems are monitored regularly, it can help head off some expensive repairs down the road.

“Two weeks ago, my wife was driving the VUE when the tire pressure warning light came on. She pushed the OnStar button and the Advisor immediately checked the last diagnostics report and let Nicole know which tire was low and its pressure, and advised her to have the tire checked as soon as possible. When Nicole got home, I found a nail embedded in the tire. People don’t realize how important tire pressure is and how much damage can occur if the tire shreds. We might not have noticed the tire pressure was low until it was too late.”

When Elijah and Nicole were shopping for their VUE two years ago and the salesman was explaining how OnStar worked, Elijah admits he didn’t pay much attention. He says he figured it was something they’d probably never use. Now he says he’ll never have another car without it.

“We feel like we’re really getting what we’re paying for. It’s there if we need it, it has helped save us money and it lets us know that our car’s key systems are in good working order. And when you drive as much and as far as we do, that little extra peace of mind can be very important.”

Sign up for your monthly emails

OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics¹ lessens the worry of maintaining your vehicle by performing regular checks for you and sending you a monthly diagnostics email. Your vehicle can let you know what it needs. Sign up for OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics to get your monthly email diagnostic report at no extra cost. To sign up, just go online or press your blue button.

¹ Capabilities vary by model and model year. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.

¹ Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.