OnStar® Button Assembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The OnStar® button assembly may be part of the rearview mirror, or a separate, stand alone unit. The button assembly is comprised of 3 buttons and a status LED. The buttons are defined as follows:

The answer/end call button, which is black with a white phone icon, allows the user to answer and end calls or initiate speech recognition.
The blue OnStar® call center button, which displays the OnStar® logo, allows the user to connect to the OnStar® call center.
The emergency button, which displays a white cross with a red background, sends a high priority emergency call to the OnStar® call center when pressed.

The CIM supplies 10 volts to the OnStar® button assembly on the keypad supply voltage circuit. When pressed, each button completes a circuit across a resistor allowing a specific voltage to be returned to the CIM on the keypad signal circuit. Depending upon the voltage range returned the CIM is able to identify which button has been pressed.

The OnStar® status LED is located with the button assembly. The LED is green when the system is ON and operating normally. When the status LED is green and flashing, it is an indication that a call is in progress. When the LED is red, this indicates a system malfunction is present. In the event there is a system malfunction and the OnStar® system is still able to make a call, the LED will flash red during the call.

If the LED does not illuminate, this may indicate that the customers OnStar® subscription is not active or has expired. Push the blue OnStar button to connect to an advisor who can then verify the account status.

Each LED is controlled by the CIM over dedicated LED signal circuits. Ground for the LED is provided by the wiring harness attached to the button assembly.