Connected cars aren’t just for hacking

We visited the Connected Car Expo and found some interesting new applications.

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[giltwist]

I just bought a new Chevy. First thing I did was completely remove the onstar module. The in-dash compass stopped working, but that's easily replaced with a stand-alone GPS. Both terrestrial and satellite radio work. The blue-tooth is a bit wonky; but I'm hoping that, with some trial and error, I can reconnect the bluetooth antenna without reconnecting the cellular antenna. Even if I can't get the bluetooth working, that's a VERY small price to pay to know my car is secure from wireless hacking.

 

[giltwist]

Drizzt321[/url]":3egrsd7g]

giltwist[/url]":3egrsd7g]I just bought a new Chevy. First thing I did was completely remove the onstar module. The in-dash compass stopped working, but that's easily replaced with a stand-alone GPS. Both terrestrial and satellite radio work. The blue-tooth is a bit wonky; but I'm hoping that, with some trial and error, I can reconnect the bluetooth antenna without reconnecting the cellular antenna. Even if I can't get the bluetooth working, that's a VERY small price to pay to know my car is secure from wireless hacking.

Wait, you can totally remove that module? Is there a way to get the vehicle without that module installed?

In many vehicles, the onstar module is just a discrete box about the size of a hardback book. In my particular car, it was behind the glove compartment, but I've seen it in a trunk side-panel as well as under the dash. Based upon my googling, some vehicles fare better or worse when removing the module entirely, but the procedure is basically just a matter of unplugging it.

I removed mine entirely, but got the symptoms mentioned in my earlier post. This video directed me to try opening the box. The internals in mine weren't identical to what was in the video, but close enough that I think I may have removed the board with the cellular antenna. I haven't tried reconnecting it yet, though.