CAMPAIGN: REAR AXLE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE
SUBJECT: REAR AXLE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE ---------------------------
MODELS: 1996 C/K TRUCKS BUILT AT PONTIAC EAST ASSEMBLY (VIN CODE "E") -------------------------------------------------------------
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle 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 owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to adequately repair within 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 owner 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 solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule appointments with owners and to repair their vehicles as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owner is being instructed to contact the GMC Division Consumer Relations Office if the dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed 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 C/K trucks built at the Pontiac East Assembly (PEA) Plant. A small number of these trucks may have been shipped with the four U-bolt nuts on either side of the rear axle significantly under torqued. In this condition, vehicle usage would cause the nuts to loosen and eventually fall off the U-bolt. The operator may notice noise from the rear axle as the nuts loosen, but if this warning went unnoticed or was ignored, the rear axle would eventually be free to provide steering inputs to the vehicle. This could possibly result in a loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, dealers will check the U-bolt nut torque and torque any loose U-bolts to specification.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are CERTAIN vehicles 1996 C/K Trucks built at Pontiac East Assembly within the following VIN breakpoints:
Plant Year Model Code From Through ---- ----- ----- ---- -------- 1996 C/K E TE528753 TE536114
The specific vehicles involved in this campaign have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Computer Listings. These listings are furnished to all involved dealers with the campaign. Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) or SERVICENET prior to beginning campaign repairs.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
All unsold vehicles in dealers'possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE owners take possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner 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.
If the name and address of the owner of an involved vehicle was unavailable to Pontiac-GMC Division at the time of campaign initiation, the dealer must determine the owner's name and address from the dealership sales records. Please provide this information directly on the second copy of the listing next to the applicable VIN so that our records may be updated and the appropriate notification mailed to the owner. This second copy should then be submitted to the address listed below in the previously supplied yellow campaign envelopes.
Pontiac-GMC Division General Motors Corporation 101 Union Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170
SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Verify that rear U-Bolts are torqued to the proper specifications. If not, torque to the specifications listed below. Nm Lb. Ft. - 100 & 200 Models without L29A/L65 engines or 110 81 without both L31 engine & MW3 manual transmission
- 200 Models with L29/L65 engines or 148 109 with L31 engine & MW3 manual transmission
- 300 Models 148 109
3. Install Campaign Identification Label.
PARTS INFORMATION
No parts are required for this campaign.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Dealers should submit an accurately filled out Warranty Repair Order on each vehicle completed under this campaign. Labor *Labor Description CC FC Op Hrs ----------- -- -- ----- ------
Torque Rear U-Bolt: Both Sides) MA 96 V9930 0.2
* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "LaborHours".
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 five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information must be inserted with a typewriter or ball point pen. This label is to be used in conjunction with the clear protective plastic cover provided with the Campaign Identification Labels.
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 for periodic servicing by the owner. Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface. Additional Campaign Identification Labels and covers are available in sheets of 49 by calling VISPAC, Incorporated at 1-800-269-5100 (Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST).
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
Procedures covering this campaign are outlined in Section IV of your dealership's "WINS Claims Processing Manual".
Dear GMC 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 a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1996 Sierra trucks built at the Pontiac East Assembly (PEA) Plant. A small number of these trucks may have been shipped with the four U-bolt nuts on either side of the rear axle significantly under torqued. In this condition, vehicle usage would cause the nuts to loosen and eventually fall off the U-bolt. The operator may notice noise from the rear axle as the nuts loosen, but if this warning went unnoticed or was ignored, the rear axle would eventually be free to provide steering inputs to the vehicle. This could possibly result in a loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, your GMC dealer will check the U-bolt nut torque and torque any loose U-bolts to specification. 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 15 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
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.
