Onstar drawing power?

[03BettyBuick]

This could be a longshot but I have an issue with my 2003 lesabre limited. bought it from a friend and they said that the battery used to just drain every night, they ended up unplugging the radio fuse and it stopped it. he mentioned that it would babble something about entering a phone number when off.. ive read that the radio and onstar are connected to the same module, and unplugging the unit can fix the battery issue. ive located the unit behind the rear seats but im not sure which of the two connectors are just power. ive heard that unplugging more than just the power on it can cause more issues for some reason?? if anyone could help me determine which one to unplug or if both are fine to disconnect that would be great. id love to have a working radio and not a draining battery lol. I can provide photos of the connectors when I get a chance

tldr; battery draining, need help with which onstar cables to disconnect..

 

[Rich B.]

I would look getting a new battery before severing OS connection(s), can induce other ramifications not expected. May as well cut the wires to alarm system also? With AGM battery I maintain trickle charge regardless. Also available is threaded quick disconnect - battery terminal. Entirely different theory applied with AGM(s) in my opinion with dead/bad new battery after a year in ‘16 LaCrosse.

Do what you must do…

 

[jotzgr]

As long as you have located the right box for Onstar (behind back set on RH side), there are no ramifications from disconnecting all the connectors to it, two large electrical plugs and a small antenna connector. There are multiple posts on here about this. The Onstar they put into Lesabres is no longer compatible with anything they have today and would not work even if you wanted it to. While I have heard of it creating a small parasitic draw from leaving the box in, completely draining the battery overnight sounds like a larger issue, probably not Onstar.

 

[Rich B.]

Good point jatzgr, quick question is did those Buicks have 2 antennas? One Sharkfin for OnStar and different for radio. No idea what Buick was doing back then.

 

[jotzgr]

Good point jatzgr, quick question is did those Buicks have 2 antennas? One Sharkfin for OnStar and different for radio. No idea what Buick was doing back then.

You are correct. 2000-2003 the Onstar antenna was stuck to the outside right top of the back glass, sort of a flimsy black plastic thingy. 2004-2005 had the sharkfin in the center rear of the roof for the Onstar antenna. Radio antenna on all years is embedded in the front & rear glass and has different connection points.

 

[JGBuick]

As long as you have located the right box for Onstar (behind back set on RH side), there are no ramifications from disconnecting all the connectors to it, two large electrical plugs and a small antenna connector. There are multiple posts on here about this. The Onstar they put into Lesabres is no longer compatible with anything they have today and would not work even if you wanted it to. While I have heard of it creating a small parasitic draw from leaving the box in, completely draining the battery overnight sounds like a larger issue, probably not Onstar.

I actually disconnected my Onstar connections (Rear Seat in Trunk) and it completely solved my battery-drain issue. Easy to do and now the car can sit for weeks without any issues. It was definitely trying to communicate. Got rid of the antenna also.

 

[G-367806]

2001 Park Avenue Ultra with cd changer that wouldn't eject cartridge caused battery drain overnight. Once unplugged, the issue was solved end //my2c

 

[02LTD2.0]

x2 on what JGBuick said.

 

[DrivenDaily]

I should probably pull my OnStar module's power just to ensure that it is not sucking power when I'm not driving it for a few days. I also have a battery maintainer but I don't always park near my outdoor power outlets. With winter nearing, I'll make sure to rearrange things along my driveway so I can.

On a side note, since my eyes are quite sensitive to these overly-bright lights, I recently removed my auto-dimming mirror in favor of a manual flip mirror. I can flip it instantly and it not only stays in that "setting" until I change it back, but it is also darker than the greenish tinting. It also allows me to prepare for things like the sun beaming through my back window, or for those who don't realize that that little blue light on their dash does not that the headlights are on, but that their "high beams" are burning holes in my eyes. I have a close friend who is unfazed by bright lights. I suspect that it has something to with his eyes being dark brown.

Either way, removing the mirror goes hand-in-hand with depowering the OnStar module, and this is the perfect time to make it happen.

 

[02LTD2.0]

I removed my Telematics (OnStar) unit entirely. I still enjoy my auto dimming mirror with compass as it is not affected by losing the OnStar. The OnStar was analog and was not functional anyway.

The only thing it did was suck the juice out of my battery about every week or so trying to send out a signal.

 

[CottonPicker]

DrivenDaily - I experience the same issue with bright lights with sight. I was tested and found I have Glaucoma. High eye pressure eroded my sight somewhat. Drops stopped it. My2cents - get your eyes examined. (Eye pressure tested)
Thanks to all about On-Star. it will be disconnected.

 

[02LTD2.0]

DrivenDaily - I experience the same issue with bright lights with sight. I was tested and found I have Glaucoma. High eye pressure eroded my sight somewhat. Drops stopped it. My2cents - get your eyes examined. (Eye pressure tested)
Thanks to all about On-Star. it will be disconnected.

Did you mean to say "bright lights at night"?

 

[DrivenDaily]

Did you mean to say "bright lights at night"?

Bright lights at night, whether from headlights, emergency vehicles, certain street lights.

Bright lights aimed at my face during the day, such as high beams and overly-intense DRLs.

 

[02LTD2.0]

Err...I was actually speaking to @CottonPicker.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Err...I was actually speaking to @CottonPicker.

D'oh! I saw my screen name in the quote and . . . squirrel!

 

[CottonPicker]

Bright Lights: just as DrivenDaily stated. It is similar to being in a dark place and exiting into bright sunlight, very bright. Very bright head lights with the projector beams directly in my eyes. Age may have something to do with it. No I drive with my sun visor down to block the light above the steering wheel.

 

[02LTD2.0]

Bright Lights: just as DrivenDaily stated. It is similar to being in a dark place and exiting into bright sunlight, very bright. Very bright head lights with the projector beams directly in my eyes. Age may have something to do with it. No I drive with my sun visor down to block the light above the steering wheel.

You do realize there is an edit feature at the bottom left don't you?
You said bright lights with SIGHT.

 

[JGBuick]

Yes, there is really a "problem" with today's modern LED headlights. (And it's not just bad aiming and regulations). LED's exhibit a very harsh wavelength, often in the blue spectrum. I find driving at night to be less enjoyable than ever before. Plus.... back in the "day".... Pickup trucks were not jacked-up ten inches like they are today with their headlights basically shining into your eyes and rear-view mirrors.

Whatever happened to regulations about bumper heights needing to be the same. (We'll save that for another time!)

But yeah... as much as LED's have changed the footprint of car lighting, I actually prefer a warmer temperature halogen-type light. I've learned to be skeptical as I get older. My eyes don't like driving at night.

 

[02LTD2.0]

I hear you.