CAMPAIGN: REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 96-C-01 REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE
Models Affected: 1989-91 PONTIAC 6000
TO: ALL PONTIAC DEALERS
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 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 solutions, 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 letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the Pontiac 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 certain 1989-91 Pontiac 6000 model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 21 0, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage". These vehicles were assembled with rear outboard seat belt anchorage's that may not withstand the required load. During loading, stress could cause the attachment metal to tear and allow the anchorage to separate from the body.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring and in order to comply with FMVSS 210, dealers will replace the existing anchor bolts with a new shoulder bolt and thread locking adhesive. Additionally, noise control patches will be applied at each anchorage.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1989-91 Pontiac 6000 model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Up To And Year Plant Beginning Including ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1989 Tarrytown KT200001 KT216810 1989 Oklahoma City K6200026 K6283776 1990 Oklahoma City L6200021 L6266398 1991 Oklahoma City M6200019 M6234721
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign.
These 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. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
PARTS INFORMATION
NOTICE: A pre-shipment of part number 15677022 (merchandise pack of 10), and part number 11 515174 (6 patches per sheet, merchandise pack of 3), will be sent to involved dealers the week of October 9, 1995. Pre-shipment will equal parts for 15% to 20% of the number of vehicles to be repaired. Pre- shipment parts will be charged to the dealers' open parts account.
Additional parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "C.I.O." order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2). All Goodwrench Parts System Test Dealers should order on a "V.I.P." order.
Part Quantity Description Number Per Vehicle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bolt, Seat Belt Anchor (Merchandise Pack of 10) 15677022 2 Patch, Sound Barrier (6 per sheet, Merchandise Pack of 3) 11515174 2
Adhesive, Loctite Thread (10ml) or Equivalent Thread Locking Adhesive 12345493 .2 ml
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of Customer Letter 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 of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no customer 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 customers a copy of the customers lefter 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 Section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 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 $1,000 for each such sale.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
IMPORTANT: THE PATCH, GM PART NUMBER 11515174, SHOULD BE CUT IN HALF LENGTHWISE, AND EACH PIECE THEN CUT IN THIRDS, TO PROVIDE SIX (6) PIECES (APPROXIMATELY 2 1/8" X 2 1/2") FOR EACH PATCH. TWO OF THESE SMALLER PIECES ARE TO BE USED PER VEHICLE AS "ANTI-RATTLE" PATCHES.
1. Remove rear seat cushion assembly (See Figures 1 & 3).
2. SEDAN & WAGONS: Remove rear attaching screw from carpet retainer at rear door opening.
3. SEDAN & WAGONS: Carefully pull lock pillar trim from under the sill plate and using a block of wood as a brace, reposition the lock pillar trim inboard to provide access to the seat belt attaching bolt (See Figure 2).
COUPES: Using a utility knife (or other suitable tool), remove a portion of the trim panel at the seat belt opening. This portion should be equal to the width of the opening on the trim panel (See Figures 3 & 4). Caution should be taken not to damage seat belt.
4. Remove the original seat belt attaching bolt (See Figures 2 & 5). Bolt IS NOT to be reused.
5. Remove release paper from back of one 2 1/8" x 2 1/2" noise control patch, position and install patch to body (prior to anchor bolt installation) directly over seat belt attaching hole (See Figure 6).
6. Apply high strength thread adhesive, such as GM #12345498 or Loctite #272 (or equivalent), to new anchor bolt threads prior to bolt installation.
7. Reinstall seat belt using NEW attaching bolt and torque bolt to 42 Nm (31 Lb.Ft.) (See Figures 2 & 5).
8. SEDAN & WAGONS: Remove wood block, reinstall lock pillar trim and carpet retainer attaching screw.
9. Repeat applicable steps 2 through 8 for other side of vehicle.
10. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each label provides space to print the campaign number and the five digit dealer code of the dealership performing the campaign. Insert this information with a typewriter or a ball point pen. When installing label, clean and dry the surface of the radiator support tie bar and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible when the hood is raised. Be sure to apply the clear protective plastic cover over the label. Additional GM Campaign Identification Labels (Item Number S-1015) are available at no cost from Vispac, Inc., 35000 Industrial Road, Livonia, MI 48150, 1-800-269-5100 (Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Est.).
CLAIM INFORMATION
A separate repair order must be used for each vehicle. A completed warranty claim is to be kept as a permanent record of completion.
DEALERS SHOULD SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THEIR NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS:
Failure Labor Labor Operation Code Operation Hours ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Replace Rear Outboard Seat Belt Attaching Bolts 96 V9730 0.3*
* ADD: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours". This entry will not require authorization.
The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% for: 2-Bolts, 2 - 2 1/8" x 2 1/2" noise control patches and .2ml thread adhesive required for the repair.
FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.
Dealers will be credited via Warranty Document or Terminal Transmission, whichever is their normal method of submission for payment. Claim must contain all information required and should list the labor operation as outlined.
RECORDING COMPLETION
Repairs submitted for vehicles not involved in the campaign will not be paid.
Campaign completion will be recorded from "PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS." Customers are being asked to present the customer reply card for identification to their dealer at the time they bring in their vehicle to have the campaign performed.
Dear Pontiac 6000 Customer:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has decided that certain 1989-91 Pontiac 6000 model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage". These vehicles were assembled with rear outboard seat belt anchorage's that may not withstand the required load. During loading, stress could cause the attachment metal to tear and allow the anchorage to separate from the body.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring and in order to comply with FMVSS 210, your dealer will replace the existing anchor bolts with a new shoulder bolt and thread locking adhesive. Additionally, noise control patches will be applied at each anchorage. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Pontiac dealer as soon as possible to arrange an appointment and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair.
Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately twenty (20) minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
Your Pontiac dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date, or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center by calling: 1-800-762-2737.
After contacting your dealer and the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center, if 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, S. W., Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 366-0123).
The enclosed Campaign Customer Reply Card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary inspection/correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid Customer Reply Card and returning it 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 products.
PONTIAC 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.
