FMVSS Non-Compliance 99047 - Instrument Panel Backlighting/Test BCM

Important: It is estimated that only 4% of involved vehicles will require BCM replacement and initial parts availability will be extremely limited.

The Highway Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty (60) days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time.

If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.

To avoid having to provide these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

General Motors has decided that certain 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 101, "Control Location, Identification, and Illumination". Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the instrument panel backlighting may not function after adjusting the interior light intensity. If the instrument panel is not lit at night, the driver may not be able to see the controls and displays.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to test the body control module (BCM) for the condition, and if necessary, replace the BCM.

Involved are certain 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" prior to ordering requirements. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. An emergency requirement should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Important: Due to the small number of vehicles involved and due to limited initial parts availability, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock. Parts should only be ordered when inspection determines that it is necessary to replace the body control module (BCM).

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of typical customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

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

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under 41 U.S.C. section 30112 of the Highway Safety Act as amended, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,100 for each such sale.

1. With the ignition in the OFF position, test the battery voltage with a digital voltmeter (DVM).

If the battery voltage is less than 12.2 volts, charge the battery.

2. Determine the temperature inside the passenger compartment.

If the passenger compartment temperature is over 27°C (80°F), run the engine with the A/C control set to the maximum position for approximately 20 minutes in order to lower the passenger compartment temperature.

3. Install a Tech 2 and view the body data diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

If DTC B2625 is set, proceed to Step 9 and replace the BCM.

4. Set the instrument panel light control to the lowest (dim) setting.
5. Turn the engine OFF and leave the ignition in the OFF position. Install a battery charger and a digital voltmeter (DVM) to the battery terminals.
6. Adjust the battery charger so that the DVM reads 16 to 17.5 volts.

For chargers with three settings (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH), set the charger to MEDIUM and move it up to the HIGH setting if required.

Important: 

•	Do not perform the diagnostic test if the voltage is lower than 16 volts. The test will not reliably detect the problem below 16 volts.

•	Do not perform the diagnostic test if the voltage is higher than 18.5 volts. Certain BCM functions shut down at or above 18.5 volts, and the test will not be reliable.

•	If you are unable to set your charging equipment to charge at 16 to 17.5 volts, proceed to Step 9 and replace the BCM.

7. Turn the park lamps ON and rotate the instrument panel light control using the following sequence:

7.1.	Adjust to the maximum brightness position.

7.2.	Return the control to the lowest position.

7.3.	Adjust the control to the mid-point.

7.4.	Observe the backlighting function.

8. Remove the battery charger from the battery and turn the ignition to the RUN position. View the body data diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

•	If the instrument panel backlighting does not function, or if DTC B2625 is set, proceed to Step 9 and replace the BCM.

•	If the instrument panel backlighting functions properly, and DTC B2625 is not present, the BCM does not need to be replaced. Proceed to Step 11 and install the campaign identification label.

Important: Due to extremely limited initial parts availability, parts should only be ordered when inspection determines that it is necessary to replace the body control module (BCM) or if you are unable to set your charging equipment to charge at 16 to 17.5 volts.

9. Install a new BCM if a backlighting failure is confirmed, or if DTC B2625 is set, or if you are unable to adjust the battery charger to 16 to 17.5 volt output to perform the BCM test.
10. Program the new BCM and clear all diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from all modules.
11. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label". Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in by the customer for periodic servicing. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below. Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear <Division(s)> Customer:

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

General Motors has decided that certain 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 101, "Control Location, Identification, and Illumination". Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the instrument panel backlighting may not function after adjusting the interior light intensity. If the instrument panel is not lit at night, the driver may not be able to see the controls and displays.

To prevent the instrument panel backlighting from failing, your dealer will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

Until your vehicle has had this recall performed, set the instrument panel lighting intensity to the maximum level (without turning on the interior lamps) and do not adjust it. If the instrument panel backlighting fails before you have set the control to the maximum level, set the control to the maximum position (without turning on the interior lamps), turn the ignition to the OFF position, and restart the vehicle.

The length of time required to perform this inspection and service correction is approximately one hour, ten minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed schedule, process, and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your <<Division>>dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your <<Division>> dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance/Relations Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

The enclosed customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

Your dealer will provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

<Division(s)>

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure