xxxxsh4d0wxxxx

iTrader: (1)

Odd question, but my buddy has an 06 ss/sc and so do I, however, I have the "shark fin" on the roof, and he does not. What is this?

I assumed the "fin" on mine was for onstar, but his says "XM" on it, but strange thing is, I have XM also.. So where is my XM antenna?

Shibito

It is XM. The Onstar antenna is in your trunk.

xxxxsh4d0wxxxx

iTrader: (1)

So both of the cars are the same year but I have a shark fin and he does not, but they're both XM..? Doesn't make much sense

Shibito

Previous owner likely had it removed and had the antenna installed in a different location. My friend had his taken off from his 08 SS and had the antenna mounted inside the car at the top of the windshield. Was much cleaner looking.

Acey

iTrader: (3)

I can say with 100% that my antennas have not been modified, yet I have no fin, but have XM and no Onstar. I'm pretty sure the fin is for Onstar. Given that more expensive GM vehicles have the fin, and I doubt they would hide it in the Cobalt.

Shibito

When I had my 2.4L they had to replace the antenna which was in the trunk. I know 100% that the fin is not for Onstar.

Rocky87

me and two of my friends have supercharged cobalts. mine is a 2006 and my buddies have a 2005 and 2006, I have the shark fin and they have a little square instead. was wondering the same thing. I have xm and onstar also dont know about my buddies.

xxxxsh4d0wxxxx

iTrader: (1)

What I have:



What he has:



What I'm saying is we both have XM, and obviously they wouldn't mount 2 things on the roof because that would look horrible, but it's just strange. I don't think he has onstar, which would explain his XM on the roof, but where is mine then?

This has been bothering me for quite some time now lol

Shibito

Doing a little searching on Google now. The ones on the Equnoix and Silverado's are for XM on the roof. I would expect the Cobalt to be the same.

GM does some weird things so maybe they decided to put the antenna somewhere else on random cars?

Acey

iTrader: (3)

What year is your car? I'm just using logic here. Onstar cars have it. Non-Onstar cars don't. So what the hell is it for.

Shibito

2.4L was an 08 and my SS was an 09. They both had the same fin.

What year did GM start offering Onstar standard on every car? That may be the year they changed it and they may have wired the onstar antenna to the fin to get a boost in signal strength?

Just taking a shot in the dark with that though.

xxxxsh4d0wxxxx

iTrader: (1)

The top picture I posted is from GM Parts Direct and the fin is in-fact onstar. So we can safely assume if you have the "XM square" on your roof, you DO NOT have onstar.

Now where the hell is our XM antenna?

And Shibito, that doesn't make sense because my buddy's car is a 2006 also. No reason I got the fin and he didn't. It was an option still in 2006.

Rocky87

i believe the sharkfin is for both xm and onstar, and the little button on top will mean they only have xm and no onstar. i work at a chevy dealership so ill find out tomorrow for sure and post back.

murphy0789

iTrader: (1)

Do you both have onstar? I second this ^ sounds about right

Nighthawk243

I have a roof mounted OEM XM antenna. It is NOT for Onstar... my 05 didn't come with that.

xxxxsh4d0wxxxx

iTrader: (1)

Sounds good! Like I said this is highly insignificant really but it's bugs the hell out of me.

I do, but he doesn't.

Now, on another note, what is digital audio and how do I know if I have it?

Sox-Fan

iTrader: (7)

The Onstar box in my 08 is mounted in the package tray behind the rear seats, above the trunk. It has two antenna connections. One clips on the side, that is for bluetooth. The second is for a cable that runs off to the side. I haven't followed it all the way, but I assume it goes to the roof.

There seems to be two leads coming off the "shark fin" so there is no reason it cannot handle both the xm and the Onstar

Erod

not general. moved

Disposable-Hero

iTrader: (2)

Could someone with an 06 that has xm help me out? Im trying to get a factory head unit with xm, as my car didnt come with it, but the dealer is no help without the last 8 digits of a vin. Anyone know a part number? Something? any help is appreciated

donkeyballs

iTrader: (3)

the fin is for onstar

NCC-2000

My 07 has no OnStar but did have XM, and the antenna I had was the small square shaped one. The bigger antenna with the shark fin thing is for cars that have both XM and OnStar from what I've seen, so if a car that has only XM also has the shark fin antenna, then it must have been swapped out at some point.

Staged07SS

iTrader: (25)

This.

alleycat58

On the 05s they had a separate antenna for each. IIRC the smaller front antenna was XM and the shark fin was OnStar.

Rocky87

talked to the parts manager and the fin is for onstar and xm, they are built together. i even took mine off and i couldnt get a signal so i guess that solves that.

EmperorJJ1

iTrader: (5)

how did u take it off? isnt it glued to the roof?