CAMPAIGN: REAR AXLE U-BOLT FRACTURE. GMC Truck GMC G Van 1996

SUBJECT: 96-C-31 - REAR AXLE U-BOLT FRACTURE -----------------------------------

MODELS: 1996 G-VAN (GMT 600) WITH 7,700# OR GREATER GVW -----------------------------------------------

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.

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1996 G-Van model vehicles having a 7,700# or greater GVW. These vehicles may exhibit breakage of one of the four rear-axle U-bolts. When one of the U-bolts breaks and becomes ineffective, the other U-bolt on that side also becomes ineffective and the joint is no longer capable of correctly transmitting forces from the axle to the spring. The potential exists for the spring to lift from the axle under certain rebound, braking, or cornering maneuvers, and then the rear axle would be free to provide steering inputs to the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the four rear-axle U-bolts on the suspect vehicles.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1996 G-Van model vehicles having a 7,700# or greater GVW and built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PONTIAC-GMC:

Assigned Dealer Ship To Dealer VIN

48-26998 48-26596 1GTGG25W9T1002699 48-56790 48-21127 1GTGG25R1T1002741 1GTGG25R9T1002745 48-10391 48-10391 1GTGG25R6T1002847 48-06422 48-06422 1GTGG25R7T1003201 48-21525 48-21525 1GTHG35R3T1003349 48-26008 48-26008 1GTGG25R5T1003424 48-21249 48-56120 1GDGG25R5T1003449 48-42308 48-42308 1GTHG35R3T1003531 48-21681 48-21681 1GTGG25R8T1003613 48-21548 48-21548 1GTGG25R6T1003691 48-06151 48-06151 1GTGG25R2T1003834

CHEVROLET:

---------- PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH

1996 Chevrolet G-Van Wentzville 1 T1000789 T1004308

NOTICE: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) or ServiceNet (GMC only) 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 INFORMATION

Notice: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment will occur the week of June 10, 1996. Parts received for a recently transferred vehicle should be forwarded by the original dealer (with a phone call) to the dealer that received the transferred vehicle. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.

Additional parts, if required, 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.

Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle ------ ----------- -------

15973471 U-Bolt 4

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of divisional customer letter(s) included with this bulletin).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

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 appropriate divisional 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.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Perform procedure on both sides of axle, 1 side at time (Refer to Figure #1):

REMOVAL PROCEDURE

1. Raise vehicle and support rear axle with safety stands.

2. Remove U-bolt nuts, washers, and anchor plate (Figure #1, Items 2,3,4).

3. Leaving the spacer plate in place on top of the axle, remove the U-bolts (Figure #1, Items 1).

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1. With the spacer plate in place, install new U-bolts (Figure #1, Items 1). Make sure that the rear spring is correctly positioned on the rear axle.

Install the anchor plate and hold it in place by installing the existing U-bolt washers and nuts finger tight (Figure #1, Items 2,3,4). With the first sequencing torque pattern, torque the U-bolt nuts in a diagonal sequence (e.g. 1-3-2-4) to 35 Nm (25 lb. ft.) (Refer to Figure #1). For the final torque sequence, torque the U-bolt nuts in a diagonal sequence (e.g. 1-3-2-4) to 135 Nm (100 lb. ft.). Repeat procedure on other side of axle.

2. Remove safety stands and lower vehicle.

3. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

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 install the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

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

CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

REPAIR PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC OP HOURS

U-Bolt Replaced 4 15973471 ** MA-96 V9927 0. 8

* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 40% for U-bolts needed to complete the repair.

Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear GMC Customer:

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

To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the four rear-axle U-bolts on the suspect vehicles. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Instructions for performing this service have been sent to your GMC dealer. Please contact your dealer to arrange a service date. The labor time necessary to perform this correction will be approximately 40 minutes and parts are available. Please ask your dealer how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.

Your GMC dealer is best equipped to provide service to ensure your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date and they do not service this condition on that date or within five days, we recommend you contact GMC Consumer Relations by telephone. Consumer Relations will assist you and your dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The telephone number of the Consumer Relations office is listed in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Manual.

After contacting your GMC dealer and GMC Consumer Relations, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).

The enclosed postage paid owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please furnish us complete name and address of the person you sold or traded your vehicle to and return the card to us.

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 product.

Pontiac-GMC Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

Object Number: 108199 Size: FS

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.