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Used Equinox 1LT, can't use bluetooth or XM??

13401 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Mjoe82
Hello all,

Apologize if this is common knowledge, but I am a little desperate for answers. So I just bought a pre-owned 1LT Equinox, 2011 model. The features listed XM and Bluetooth as part of the car. After I purchase it, I go to try to switch to satellite radio, nothing. I also try to pair a phone via bluetooth .. go to configure --> Phone Settings, and it says "Not Available".

I called the dealer where I bought the car, they wind up telling me when they delete Onstar, the bluetooth and XM radio gets deleted too. He claims there's no way I can get it back.

I find this both completely mystifying and unbelievably annoying. I guess I should've done more research, but I asked the dealer "it has bluetooth?" "Yes" was the answer, pre-purchase.

Is there really no way for me to get it back? There is no way to reconnect it? Seems ludicrous to me. The dealer told me to try Best Buy, but I assume if Best Buy does it, I wouldn't be able to control the BT or XM through the steering wheel mounted controls, which was a huge perk for me. Does anyone know?

Thank you very much in advance, and again sorry if this is common knowledge.
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I think you are stuck :( At least this time around it was Onstar and bluetooth/XM, imagine some people's surprise to find no side airbag in their used fleet Impala!

http://cnettv.cnet.com/chevy-impala-missing-airbags/9742-1_53-50084068.html
Your dealer may be full of it. In the first place XM radio and Onstar are two separate services. If the subscription for XM ran out all you have to do is renew it, but it's not free. The Bluetooth will never work until you pair a phone with it. If you don't have a phone paired to it it will try to use Onstar. Look at page 7-48 in your manual.
Thanks for the replies guys.

The XM/ BT is simply not there. Hitting "radio band" only switches between AM/FM. Following the instructions to pair a phone, I can't get even get to the point of trying to pair it - after selecting "phone settings", the screen says "Not available". Hitting the phone button on the steering wheel does nothing.


I really don't get it. Why strip out all these features just because it's being resold? I am completely annoyed. :banghead:

So I guess let this be a warning to anyone thinking about buying a used chevy and expecting xm/bt.. at the very least test it out firsthand. Luckily for me I love everything else about the car. The thing about the airbags is beyond insane, sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

And also if theres anyone else who might be affected by this, Best Buy claims I could get an external BT installed and get the audio through the speakers, but obviously no control through the steering wheel mounted controls.
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cb701 said:
I really don't get it. Why strip out all these features just because it's being resold? I am completely annoyed. :banghead:
They did not pull it, it was like this when the car was ordered, to save money.

It was either a rental or company car, yes?
They did not pull it, it was like this when the car was ordered, to save money.

It was either a rental or company car, yes?
Wow, you're right, it was a rental car.

Ok then that makes sense, except why bother ordering the LT trim? Any trim could've gotten AWD, why have audio mounted controls if half the audio is stripped out? Argh.

I do love the car, but this is the last time I buy a used one :)
There are special OPTION codes for cars ordered for rental companies.
This automatically deletes Onstar/BT/XM from these vehicles.
They order thousands of cars- not having these- saves them tons of $$.
Ive seen Options codes for rental companies. Enterprise comes to mind. But look for these on your decal-

U2J- XM radio delete .Available for Fleet and Government order types only. Required with (UEO) OnStar delete.
UEO- OnStar, delete

You probably DO NOT have the following since you most likely have UEO.

PCP- PCP Bluetooth Package, includes (NP5) leather-wrapped steering wheel, (UK3) steering wheel mounted audiocontrols and (UPF) Bluetooth for phone
1 - Not available with (UE0) OnStar delete
I can also look into this for you. I can check to see if you vehicle has these features with the VIN. Please feel free to contact me via private message as well. Thank you in advance.

Tricia, GM Customer Servic
Hi Tricia, thanks, I did PM you the vin #.

rbarrios - that's why it seems strange, I DO have the steering wheel mounted audio controls, as well as the phone button on the dash. Doesn't make sense (and the reason why the dealer thought it DID have bluetooth).


Thanks all for the information.
youre not the 1st person to be told you have BT because the salesman 'THOUGHT' the car had the feature because the buttons were there.
rbarrios said:
youre not the 1st person to be told you have BT because the salesman 'THOUGHT' the car had the feature because the buttons were there.
I am in the same position. I was wondering if there is a way to buy the parts and install the XM receiver myself.
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