OnStar Connections � Door Unlocks

Left Behind

OnStar — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:08:48 +0000

With many of us taking trips this summer, our top concern is having fun. But what happens when you leave part of the fun locked in your car 30 minutes away? That’s what happened to retiree Jim Cox when he took a trip to Bald Head Island.

See what Jim left behind — and how OnStar helped save the trip — in this video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Have a tale of vacation woe that OnStar helped resolve? Let us know about it in the comments.

Mom Locks Her Keys — and Kids — in the Car

OnStar — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:06:38 +0000

After locking her keys — and her kids — in the car,¹ blogger Kristin from Ellie-Town wrote, “Now we just have to wait to see if my voice ends up on the ‘Thank you, OnStar!’ commercials.”

Kristin, will you settle for this blog post instead?

Kristin’s story sounds similar to others we’ve posted here on Connections. She says: “My mom had taken us to the mall and pulled into our driveway. She unlocked the car and put her keys down. My diaper bag, which was stuffed to the brim, bumped the lock button on the way out just as Mom was reaching for the backseat door. But it was too late. The kids were locked in…”

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

¹ Services vary by model and conditions.

"Standing in 100 Degree Weather and Locked Out" – Audrey “Penny” Fain

socialstacy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:31:40 +0000

“I had 30 minutes left to my lunch hour with the state and my keyless entry would not work on my brand new HHR. I was hot and bothered and not even thinking that I could use the key! Good thing I had OnStar on speed dial, because I got into a cool car before I knew it!”

"Rockies Game" – James Sandoval

OnStar — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:15:08 +0000

“What a beautiful day it was to go to a MLB Baseball game. 70 degrees outside, sunshining, all I needed was gas. However, little did I know that if it wasn’t for Onstar, I would not have enjoyed the Rockies vs. Nationals. I had to stop for gas on my way up to Denver, as usual, I was in a hurry, being an ER RN, that is a normal pace for me, fast. Fast can get the best of you when you realize that you locked your keys and phone in your vehicle!!! What was I going to do, I had no close family in Pueblo, then I gazed at the window and star the stickable Onstar sticker, Thank gosh I placed that sticker while setting up my account with Onstar. I was able to give Onstar a brief call and my doors unlocked! Onstar saved the day. Recently we recognized fellow nurses at the hospital I worked at for being everyday heros. Onstar is an everyday hero. Onstar saves lives by alerting EMS when a crash has occured, stops stolen vehicles, assists lost individuals and last but not least, unlocks doors! Thank you Onstar.”

"Wonderful work On-Star, I will definitely renew when needed" – Charles Riley

socialstacy — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:59:47 +0000

“At 12:40, my wife Teresa placed her groceries (and car keys) in the trunk of the car. She had no cell phone. Using a store phone she called me at home, I called On-Star, and a wonderful lady Christa, had the car doors unlocked and “honked” the horn for Teresa. She was able to get inside and unlock the truck. All this took only about one minute or less! Wonderful work On-Star, I will definitely renew when needed! God Bless.”

A Truly Remote Door Unlock

OnStar — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:20:00 +0000

Last January, Garrett Gunter and his two sons decided to take a road trip to visit Garrett’s father. The trip would take them to some remote areas of Nebraska, so Garrett decided to renew his OnStar subscription before they left.

On the second day, 1,000 miles from home and 90 miles from the nearest town, Garrett accidentally locked the keys in his TrailBlazer. Cell reception was spotty. But Gunter didn’t panic.

Find out what happened next in the video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

"I was in a panic with only my Tahoe key to be found" – Jamie Lynn

socialstacy — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:24:43 +0000

“My husband and I had just finished settlement on our first home….great day to say the least! We were moving things into this home and he had just left to return to our former house to haul another load of possessions. This is when I ended up locking myself out of our new home within just an hour of being there for the first time….shoeless, no cell phone, and with two gigantic labs roaming freely in the house. Needless to say I was in a panic with only my Tahoe key to be found.

THANK GOODNESS I thought quickly enough to contact OnStar via my Tahoe and the ‘hero of my day’ got me in touch with my husband, even though I was not a subscriber for a hands-free calling plan. I cannot thank you enough OnStar. The service we receive and the peace of mind we get from always having you in our vehicles is worth any amount of money. I honestly cannot express how thankful I am to your company and to the great lady that saved my day! We will be life-long OnStar subscribers!”

6 Tips for Opening Day

OnStar — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:56:24 +0000

Shh. If you listen closely, you may hear the faint sounds of cracking baseball bats in the distance. It can only mean one thing: Opening Day is upon us.

If you’re looking forward to skipping work — not that we’d endorse that — OnStar¹ can help make your ballpark outing run smoothly. So as you head out, remember these six tips designed to knock Opening Day out of the park.

1. Give yourself plenty of time. Mid-day games mean mid-day traffic, so allow plenty of time to get there before the first pitch. When you’re using Turn-by-Turn Navigation, you can ask the Advisor for an alternate route should you run into a traffic jam. Still running behind? Give your friends a call and let them know when to expect you with Hands-Free Calling. (Or go ahead and call your friends who are still stuck at work. Home plate seats are worth rubbing in.)

2. Use accurate directions. Before you leave, you can use OnStar eNav to download the destination from MapQuest.com^® directly to your vehicle. Or you can always hop in the car with the confidence that Turn-by-Turn Navigation will get you there even if you only sort of know where you are going. Simply push your blue button and tell the Advisor where you want to go. You won’t even need the address because OnStar has over 13 million points of interest in the database, including major stadiums.

3. Lock your car from afar. You’ve finally got your hot dog and are settled into your seats when a sinking feeling starts to overtake you. Did you remember to lock your car? Luckily, OnStar can lock it for you. Just call OnStar and ask the Advisor to lock your door remotely. (And while we’re on the subject: Make sure to save the OnStar number (1.888.4.ONSTAR) in your cell phone before you leave home.)

4. Follow some simple anti-theft precautions. Follow these quick tips to protect yourself from theft. But if you’ve taken every precaution and the worst still happens, Stolen Vehicle Assistance from OnStar can help recover your car.

5. Forget where you parked (on purpose). Stadium parking lots are big — and it’s easy to forget where you parked. But you don’t need to remember which letter you parked your car under — or spend hours wandering around trying to find it. Just give OnStar a call and an Advisor can flash your car horn and lights until you locate your car.

6. Refuel with food. Need a place to nosh after the game? With Information & Convenience Services, available with the Directions & Connections subscription plan, you can request the address to a local restaurant — then download the phone number directly to your vehicle. And with Hands-Free Calling, you can call ahead to reserve a table for you and your friends to relive the game highlights.

What are your plans for Opening Day? Do you have any yearly traditions?

¹ Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Services vary by model and conditions.

Three Generations of OnStar Users

OnStar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:50:38 +0000

Beverly Hartley, her sister, her mom and her 89-year-old grandmother are all avid OnStar subscribers. And they all have had firsthand experience with various OnStar features — from Remote Door Unlock¹ and Hands-Free Calling² to Turn-By-Turn Navigation³ and Low Mileage Discount⁴. Ginny Weaver, Beverly’s mom, is especially grateful for the peace of mind OnStar gives her. As she says, “The thing I love most about OnStar is that my mother and my daughters can get immediate emergency help if they ever need it. When they are out driving, I know they’re safe.”

Watch the video to see what OnStar means to three generations of one family.

Click here to view the embedded video.

¹ Service varies by model and conditions. .
² Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations.
³ Requires ABS and Directions & Connections plan. Visit onstar.com for coverage map. Services vary by model.
⁴ Not available in all states.

Laura Cantrells Story

socialstacy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:54:02 +0000

“I had finised my workout at the YMCA and was heading for home. I put my pass and lock in my gym bag in the trunk. Just as I closed the trunk I realized I had also put my car keys in there! I remembered to call OnStar and they had my doors unlocked within 2 minutes. Much faster than calling AAA or my husband! Onstar is a great service; thank you so much.”