2004 Dale Jr edition SS, is it worth this?
First, congrats on your impending nuptials! 
When I bought my Monte, the dealership told me that the Onstar in my Dale Jr edition was the Analog system and would have to be upgraded to the digital system. He gave me the info on subscription packages, but that was over two years ago and I didn't really care much about Onstar.
I took the external antenna off my back window and put it away incase I ever decide to upgrade the Onstar and actually use it. It's very easy. The base of the antenna is simply held onto the glass by double sided foam tape. Simply use a razor blade or a thin sharp knife. There is no hole going through the glass. And no wire going into the external antenna. Oddly enough, the light on my rearview mirror still shows me getting a signal occasionally. Even though the antenna is removed, and I never upgraded.
The public library in my town has service manuals going back decades. But I noticed from 2000 and up, the number of printed service manuals is fewer and fewer each year. If any at all. I think it's possible that GM may not be printing them anymore.
Dealership service departments don't use printed manuals anymore. They simply look up the needed info on their shop computers, and print out a copy only if they need to. That's what my local Chevy dealership did for me with the cabin filter instructions. They don't normally give step by step instructions like that to customers. But if you have a good relationship with them, they may help you out like that.
I'll get a detailed How To for the cabin filter posted tomorrow. Don't have time tonight.
When I bought my Monte, the dealership told me that the Onstar in my Dale Jr edition was the Analog system and would have to be upgraded to the digital system. He gave me the info on subscription packages, but that was over two years ago and I didn't really care much about Onstar.
I took the external antenna off my back window and put it away incase I ever decide to upgrade the Onstar and actually use it. It's very easy. The base of the antenna is simply held onto the glass by double sided foam tape. Simply use a razor blade or a thin sharp knife. There is no hole going through the glass. And no wire going into the external antenna. Oddly enough, the light on my rearview mirror still shows me getting a signal occasionally. Even though the antenna is removed, and I never upgraded.
The public library in my town has service manuals going back decades. But I noticed from 2000 and up, the number of printed service manuals is fewer and fewer each year. If any at all. I think it's possible that GM may not be printing them anymore.
Dealership service departments don't use printed manuals anymore. They simply look up the needed info on their shop computers, and print out a copy only if they need to. That's what my local Chevy dealership did for me with the cabin filter instructions. They don't normally give step by step instructions like that to customers. But if you have a good relationship with them, they may help you out like that.
I'll get a detailed How To for the cabin filter posted tomorrow. Don't have time tonight.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 702
Taz, thanks for the info and congratulations. I'm still undecided about getting Onstar or not. I'll probably keep the antenna on regardless.
I may just have to buy a service manual CD instead of trying to find a paper one.
Wayne
I may just have to buy a service manual CD instead of trying to find a paper one.
Wayne
Monte Of The Month - February 2010
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 11,981
From: Pittsburgh, PA
wayne, check this out, 04 MONTE CARLO OWNERS MANUAL AND LICENSE PLATE
i know it is not for the JR monte, but it is better than nothing!! hope it helps, see ya
or this one, it has the CD
2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual Packet & CD
i know it is not for the JR monte, but it is better than nothing!! hope it helps, see ya
or this one, it has the CD
2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual Packet & CD
Last edited by monte carlo 3831; Dec 5, 2009 at 08:29 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 702
Monte carlo 3831,
Thanks for the links. I actually saw both of those on Ebay today. I have all of that info already. I'm looking for a service manual for my car. All I have seen are aftermarket CD's for service info. Maybe they don't make a paper manual for that year car. Thanks again.
Wayne
Thanks for the links. I actually saw both of those on Ebay today. I have all of that info already. I'm looking for a service manual for my car. All I have seen are aftermarket CD's for service info. Maybe they don't make a paper manual for that year car. Thanks again.
Wayne
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 702
Thanks, I will keep checking Ebay for a service manual. I went to my house today and checked on what tires are on the car. The backs are the Goodyear GSA's which might be the originals though I can't imagine they have gone almost 88,000 miles and still have some tread left. The fronts are the same Pirelli Pzero Nero's that I saw on Tirerack.com that I was thinking of getting. They have between 5 & 6/32's of tread left. I need to figure out how deep the tread is on new ones and see if I possibly can get by with only getting two tires. Of course I have a slight shaking while driving so I don't know if its a tire problem or a balance one and maybe these tires are not what I should get.
Wayne
Wayne
Monte Of The Month -- August 2007
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,231
1st, I have 2 sets of Goodyears. I run, Ultra Grips in the winter, and F1s in the summer.
Onstar. Yes I've used it. Several times. I used it this summer. The car behind me missed a curve and wrecked. I heard it happen. Went off the road and hit a tree and stopped about 5 ft below the road. In the Smokeys, and the bottom of the hill was 100 ft down. This was 11:00 at night. ZERO cell phone service. The passenger was dead, and the driver was gasping for life. These were my friends. The driver was air lifted to the hospital. The state trooper asked me if I was the one that used Onstar to make the call. Does it work? YES! It saved my friends life. BTW, alcohol was NOT a factor. We believe a coyote ran out in front of him.
Onstar. Yes I've used it. Several times. I used it this summer. The car behind me missed a curve and wrecked. I heard it happen. Went off the road and hit a tree and stopped about 5 ft below the road. In the Smokeys, and the bottom of the hill was 100 ft down. This was 11:00 at night. ZERO cell phone service. The passenger was dead, and the driver was gasping for life. These were my friends. The driver was air lifted to the hospital. The state trooper asked me if I was the one that used Onstar to make the call. Does it work? YES! It saved my friends life. BTW, alcohol was NOT a factor. We believe a coyote ran out in front of him.
Last edited by RocknSS04; Dec 6, 2009 at 08:14 PM.
Monte Of The Month -- January 2010
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,464
From: San Jose, CA
I pay for Onstar every month. I like that is runs diagnostics on your car once a month, and e-mails you all the results. Plus, it almost pays for itself because my insurance gives me a discount for having an active Onstar account. I've only used it a few times though. But knowing the features are there if I need them is nice. I also like that it acts as a low-jack equivelent (main reason insurance is cheaper because of it).