The trouble began as John Hall, his wife AJ, and their cat, Bunny, were headed back to their home in Penticton, British Columbia, about 150 miles east of Vancouver, after a vacation trip to California.

“We were near Ashland, Oregon, when we noticed the first signs of a serious electrical problem with our vehicle,” says Hall. Even though Hall — who worked in the automotive industry for many years — could recognize the problem, it didn’t mean he was prepared to fix it himself, especially out on the road.

“We were traveling north on Interstate 5 and had just entered Oregon,” Hall says. “After navigating to the side of the road, we pushed the OnStar button and asked to run an On-Demand Diagnostics(1) check, which was quickly provided.”

If the “Check Engine” light comes on, or there are concerns about the vehicle while you are driving, an Advisor can run an On-Demand Diagnostics check to see if there is a maintenance issue that requires attention. OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics is a powerfully simple way to know what your vehicle’s key operating systems need by checking the transmission, engine, emissions, brakes, air bag, stability and much more.

“The OnStar operator ordered a tow truck and supplied the name and telephone number of the nearest dealership that could provide assistance for this type of problem,” Hall says. “It was all arranged within about five minutes, and the tow truck arrived in under an hour.”

It was a long tow of at least 50 miles to Springfield Buick in Springfield, Oregon, but the couple were greeted by friendly folks who were prepared to make their ordeal a bit easier. “We arrived in Springfield at about 5:45 p.m. The dealership’s service manager and several employees had waited for us to arrive,” says Hall. “They gave us a car to use overnight and made sure we had a place to spend the night.”

The repairs were made and Team Hall was ready to roll by noon the next day.

“We became big fans of the OnStar service, which we had never needed before that day. We’re grateful now that we had the Safe & Sound® OnStar plan,” says Hall. “Both the OnStar operators and Springfield Buick were so helpful and courteous that it turned a difficult situation into one in which we have fond memories of human kindness.”

In addition to having On-Demand Diagnostics available in case of a problem on the road, subscribers can also sign up for a monthly email report which offers peace of mind by sending you a summary of checks on your engine, transmission, antilock brakes and more to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

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

Have you ever had to use On-Demand Diagnostics — or wished you had it? Tell us about it in the comments below.

OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics⁽¹⁾ 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 comments below.

Most of us dread having to take our vehicles in for repairs. But if a trip to the repair shop is in your future, it may help to brush up on your communication skills.

Being able to accurately communicate what is happening with your car may help you get the right repair the first time — and avoid costly repairs in the future.

Tips for better communication
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers these tips for communicating with your mechanic:

• Don’t be embarrassed to ask for an explanation of the problem in language you can understand. Ask as many questions as you need to properly understand what is happening with your vehicle.
• Be prepared to describe the symptoms in detail. Pay attention to smell and sound, handling and leaks. Ask yourself: When did the problem first start? Is it constant or periodic? Does it occur at all speeds? Only during acceleration?
• Make a complete list of the symptoms to give your mechanic.
• Although it’s tempting to try to analyze the problem yourself, let the mechanic diagnose it and recommend a remedy.
• Make sure to leave a telephone number where you can be reached.

Peace of mind on the road
Not sure if you need a mechanic? OnStar subscribers have a powerful tool for checking their key operating systems when they need it: OnStar On-Demand Diagnostics.

If you have a concern while you’re driving, simply push your blue button and ask the Advisor to run an On-Demand Diagnostics check. The check can help alert you to a problem, possibly catching the problem before you need a more costly repair.

Tell us your story
Been to a repair shop recently? What was your experience communicating with the mechanic or auto shop?

Source: National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

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.