How does this really work? Did a few searches and checked GMs site, but cant find the info I am looking for. If your car breaks and you use roadside assistance, and they deem the repairs outside of warranty, is the roadside assistance(towing) still free? I'm just curious...ya know, for future reference.

 

ya towing will still be free... I got my car stuck in a ditch before and they came and pulled me out for free... It's just like AAA or CAA whichever one u have

 

As far as i know, GM just uses CAA/AAA. Thats usually who comes to help you out.

 

Yeah... I believe GM has a deal with AAA... they'll give you a tow or a gallon or two of gas if you run out. Never needed it... but it's nice for piece of mind.

 

Better safe then sorry. My car insurance company took care of me when I got a flat in some nasty weather out in SD.

 

Onstar can also run diagnostics to determine the cause of the break-down. Don't know if they can reflash the ECU but they apparently can down-load data to the buss. They can read the GPS (in the Onstar phone) to determine your location. It would appear that they can or could read just about any warranty related information in the ECU .

When I took delivery on my wife's new Onstar equipped Trailblazer, it had a bad connector on the engine harness that didn't show until we were thirty miles down the interstate going home. The CEL came on several times and then the engine went into limp mode. I called Onstar each time, and they ran diagnostics and gave me a recommendation. When the engine went into limp mode, I pulled into a gas station and filled up, then when I pulled back out on the highway less than a mile from home, the engine quit... DEAD. Another call to Onstar for towing and police dispatch... Five calls to Onstar in the first 100 miles!

My Cobalt was ordered with Onstar.... and I have them run monthly diagnostics and email them to me.