Electrical issue - Battery drain

[floorrunner]

just got a car in the shop today for this issue. 09 pontiac g3. anyway removed obd2 fuse and problem went away. found that there is a module under the driver seat, with a white and a yellow connector on it. i unplugged the white connector and the draw is now gone. hopes this helps you guys out. i will find out what the part is and a little more about it soon. thanks Chad a tech from A plus Automotive in Dinuba, CA

looks like its for the on-star system part# 96964229

[MetroMPG]

just got a car in the shop today for this issue. 09 pontiac g3. anyway removed obd2 fuse and problem went away. found that there is a module under the driver seat, with a white and a yellow connector on it. i unplugged the white connector and the draw is now gone. hopes this helps you guys out. i will find out what the part is and a little more about it soon. thanks Chad a tech from A plus Automotive in Dinuba, CA

looks like its for the on-star system part# 96964229

Chad - THANKS for that info.

[wkreps]

found that there is a module under the driver seat, with a white and a yellow connector on it. i unplugged the white connector and the draw is now gone.

So it was $108.90 out the door for the "FIX". I had the dealer mechanic tell me and explain exactly what he did (and I thanked him for it).

Explanation on my receipt
Found Onstar module staying "awake" and causing drain on battery. OBD fuse powers up OnStar module and Air Bag module Diagnose and remove power feed circuits from OnStar module connector X1. Terminals 15 and 16.

I made a crude drawing of what the mechanic drew out for me (see below). The power runs from the SJB fuse in the engine compartment to the OBD fuse in the driver compartment. The power splits there and one side goes to the SDM (Air Bag Module). The other leg splits again and goes to the VICM (Vehicle Interface Control Module/OnStar Module). The mechanic didn't know why the OnStar needed two power leads but he removed them both and taped them off individually. Yes floorrunner, there is a yellow and white plug under the front of the driver seat. The two power leads for the OnStar are in the white plug, terminals 15 and 16. They are both red wires with a white line on them. Note, this does fix the power drain but disables the OnStar as there is no power going to it. The dealer wanted $780 for a new OnStar module. I opted to disable it and run without it. I never subscribed anyways.

I hope this helps everyone out there.

[Thymeclock]

So it was $108.90 out the door for the "FIX". I had the dealer mechanic tell me and explain exactly what he did (and I thanked him for it).

The dealer wanted $780 for a new OnStar module. I opted to disable it and run without it. I never subscribed anyways.

I hope this helps everyone out there.

I find it remarkable that we haven't heard from the girls at GM (the Chevy reps) who used to chime in on this list constantly. Their recent silence is a welcome relief. The ongoing helpful support we give each other as Aveo owners is priceless and deserving of recognition.

Thanks for posting this. You may have saved all us Aveo owners $780 in the future, dealing with the electronic crap that GM embedded and wired into our Aveos.

[floorrunner]

you could just install a switch where the 10amp obd fuse goes with a fuse in-line of course. it may even act as a kill switch, cuz when i disconnected the on star module it would not start anymore. this way you can still use the on star, (as if anyone really uses that) lol..... good luck guys....

[wkreps]

cuz when i disconnected the on star module it would not start anymore.

That could be because the dealer told me those systems on that fuse run in a loop. That is why they cut just the power wires to the OnStar instead of just unplugging it.

[LadyMechanic]

That could be because the dealer told me those systems on that fuse run in a loop. That is why they cut just the power wires to the OnStar instead of just unplugging it.

My customer just opted to pull the obd fuse & leave it out at this point. I too had narrowed it down to the red/white wire but the customer was afraid the bill was going to get too big so he said just stop where you are. Glad to know where to look next time altho I'd rather there not be one. If gm knows there's a problem this is a good as any recall.

[amrgym]

Very helpful, thanks for sharing. my Onstar on 2011 was causing the 10A fuse to blow. Well, now I took the two wires that you have mentioned and reconnect the white and yellow harness and the fuse was fine. My issue was different which I can't connect the OBD reader and get the codes so this helps. I have read in a different thread that we can disconnect the yellow and purple wires from both yellow and white harness but I haven't tired that since your method served the purpose. I don't know what is exactly functioning in the Onstar but will update when I find out. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
One more thing, other mentioned that the car won't start without the module. I am trying to get the car started but so far, the OBD codes won't read until the module is connected.