REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS. Buick Century 1980

Models: 1979-80 A & A Spl.

DEFECT INVOLVED:

Transport Canada has expressed a concern that a safety related defect may exist on certain 1979 and 1980 Chevrolet Malibu and Monte Carlo; Oldsmobile Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme; Pontiac Grand Prix, LeMans and Grand LeMans; Buick Regal and Century models. Specifically, Transport Canada is concerned that the heads may break off the rear seat belt anchor bolts during normal vehicle use and that in the event of accidents in which rear seat belts are in use, failure of a seat belt bolt will increase the probability of injury to the wearer of the seat belt.

Dealers will be required to replace the inner and outer rear seat belt anchor bolts.

VEHICLES AFFECTED ----------------- All 1979 Malibu, Monte Carlo, LeMans, Grand LeMans and Grand Prix; Buick Regal and Century models as well as 1980 model year up to and including the following:

1979 - All

1980 Division Model Plant From To -------- ----- ------ ---- -- Chevrolet Malibu Classic Oshawa SOP A1448701 Malibu Baltimore SOP AB468010 Malibu Fremont SOP AZ408439

1980 Division Model Plant From To -------- ----- ----- ---- -- Pontiac LeMans Oshawa SOP A1526115 Grand Prix LJ St. Therese SOP A2539739 Grand Baltimore SOP AS114648 Grand Am Pontiac SOP AP55003l

Oldsmobile Cutlass Sup & LS St. Therese SOP A2433440 Cutlass Salon & Cruiser Lansing SOP AM486627

Buick Regal Framingham SOP AG156l98 Century Custom Flint SOP AH177701 Century Ltd. Fremont SOP AZ117061

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

Dealers are to service all vehicies subject to this campaign at no charge to Owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your Dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure an handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required for this campaign should be ordered through regular channels:

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY ----------- ----------- -------- 20229360 Centre Location 2 per vehicle Seat belt bolt

20247145 Outer Location 2 per vehicle Seat belt Bolt

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a Properly completed campaign claim card or RAPID terminal transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Time Code Operation Allowance ----- --------- --------- 2A Remove and replace 2 inner .4 and 2 outer seat belt anchor bolts.

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for Dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.

Dealers encountering broken bolts may claim .4 labour as ar "add-credit"

SERVICE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE:

- Remove rear seat cushion.

- Remove left and right inboard and outboard seat belt anchor bolts.

NOTE: If bolt is broken, refer to Broken bolt Removal Procedure outlined ----- below.

- Reinstall seat belt assemblies using new bolts, part number 202293600 (inner) and 20247145 (outer). Torque new bolts from 35 to 48 N.m (20 to 30 ft. lbs.).

- Replace rear seat cushion.

BROKEN BOLT REMOVAL PROCEDURE

If breakage has occurred and a portion of bolt shaft is still threaded into anchor plate or bolt hole, remove threaded portion as follows:

a. After centre punching bolt shaft, use a 5mm (13/64 inch) drill bit and drill a pilot hole into centre of bolt shaft.

b. Insert an Easy Out or equivalent stud extractor tool into previously drilled hole and strike with a hammer until firmly seated.

c. Turn Easy Out or extractor tool counterclockwise with a wrench to remove threaded portion of broken bolt.

INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Transport Canada has expressed a concern that a safety related defect may exist on certain 1979 and 1980 Chevrolet Malibu and Monte Carlo; Oldsmobile Cutlass, Cutlass Supreme; Pontiac Grand Prix, LeMans and Grand LeMans; Buick Regal and Century models. Specifically, Transport Canada Is concerned that the heads may break off the rear seat belt anchor bolts during normal vehicle use and that in the event of accidents in which rear seat belts are in use, failure of a seat belt bolt will increase the probability of injury to the wearer of the seat belt.

To prevent the possibility of this occurring on your vehicle, please contact your General Motors Dealer in order to arrange un appointment to have the rear seat belt anchor bolts replaced. This will be done at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this replacement have been sent to your Dealer. The time required to replace the bolts is approximately thirty minutes. Please ask your Dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your Dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

Further aasistance, if required, may be obtained from the General Motors Zone Office nearest you. Your vehicle Owner's Manual provides the location and phone number of each respective Zone Office.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action to resolve any concerns in the minds of our customers, and to address Transport Canada's concerns with respect to the possibility of future rear seat belt anchor bolt breakage. Your prompt cooperation would be appreciated.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.