Onstar Steering Wheel Control Functions Inoperative

ONSTAR STEERING WHEEL CONTROL FUNCTIONS INOPERATIVE

Some vehicles equipped with the OnStar(R) system have the capability of accessing voice mailboxes and other automated phone systems by means of the steering wheel controls, while the OnStar(R) personal calling (OPC) feature is in use. If the Talk or Mute button, depending upon the vehicle, on the steering wheel controls are depressed during an OPC call, the vehicle communication interface module (VCIM) receives the message on the class 2 serial data bus from either the radio, driver information module, or body control module (BCM). This message is interpreted as a request to turn any spoken numbers into dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones to be delivered over the airwaves to the phone system the user is communicating with. Complete instructions for operation of these features can be found in the information provided to the customer with the OnStar(R) system.

The steering wheel controls are a resistor network that consist of multiple momentary contact switches and a series of resistors. The switches and resistor network are arranged so that each switch has a different resistance value. When a switch is pressed, a voltage drop occurs in the resistor network, which produces a specific voltage value unique to the switch selected, to be interpreted by either the radio, dash integration module (DIM), or BCM. In the event the OnStar(R) steering wheel control functions are inoperative, technicians should refer to Diagnostic System Check - Radio, Stereo and Compact Disc to begin diagnosis of the steering wheel control concern. Diagnostic System Check - Cellular Communication