CAMPAIGN: SEAT BELT BUCKLES BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH/RELEASE

Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 90-C-03A SEAT BELT BUCKLES

MODELS AFFECTED: 1984-90 PONTIAC FIREBIRD

TO: ZONE MANAGERS

THIS BULLETIN CANCELS CAMPAIGN BULLETIN 90-C-03 ISSUED JUNE, 1990. THE DEFECT INVOLVED, PARTS INFORMATION, SERVICE PROCEDURE AND CLAIM INFORMATION SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REVISED. ADDITIONALLY, A SPECIAL TOOLS SECTION HAS BEEN ADDED. ALL COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL BULLETIN SHOULD BE DESTROYED."

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 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 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 an appointment with each owner 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 owners, the owners 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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1984-90 Pontiac Firebird model vehicles. Some seat belt buckle assemblies in affected vehicles may not latch, or may not release, due to fracture of the red push button which can occur during seat belt connection or disconnection. These buckle malfunctions would prevent a person from using his seat belt system, and the risk of injury to an unbelted person in an accident would be increased.

To correct this condition, all involved vehicles will have the pushbutton assemblies replaced and have a button protector shield added (except for certain 1989 and all 1990 vehicles which have revised lower cover ramps and as a result do not need protectors). Also, any buckle assemblies which are found not to function correctly, or which have fractured pushbuttons, will be replaced.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Up To And Year Plant Beginning Including ---- -------- --------- ---------- 1984 Van Nuys EL200001 EL277542 1984 Norwood EN200001 EN250762 1885 Van Nuys FL200001 FL654874 1985 Norwood FN200001 FN241006 1986 Van Nuys GL200001 GL259110 1986 Norwood GN200001 GN251373 1987 Van Nuys HL200001 HL235610 1987 Norwood HN200001 HN253013 1988 Van Nuys JL200001 JL262467 1989 Van Nuys KL200001 KL264406 1990 Van Nuys LL200001 LL220555

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of example Owner Letter included with this bulletin). This second mailing to owners will be scheduled as parts become available.

PARTS INFORMATION

Description Part Number Per Vehicle --------------- ----------- ----------- Push Button Kit 14097930 1

Each Kit Includes:

4 - Push Buttons 4 - Button Springs 4 - Protector Shields

CLAIM INFORMATION

Failure Labor Labor Labor Operation Code Operation Hours Hours ---------------------- ------- ---------- ------ ------ Install Push Button Kit On 4 Buckles 96 V6051 0.3 0.1

Install Push Button Kit On 3 Buckles/ Replace 1 Buckle 96 V6052 0.4 0.1

Install Push Button Kit On 2 Buckles/ Replace 2 Buckles 96 V6053 0.4 0.1

Install Push Button Kit On 1 Buckle/ Replace 3 Buckles 96 V6054 0.4 0.1

Replace All 4 Buckles 96 V6050 0.4 0.1

Reimbursement For Previous Buckle Replacement 95 T1605 --- ---

REIMBURSEMENT

Customer claims for reimbursement of prior repair to correct a previous seat belt buckle condition are to be submitted in the following manner: Use the special "Owner Reimbursement" labor operation listed under the Claim Information Section of this bulletin. Reimbursement amounts of $150.00 or less can be processed by the dealer. If the amount exceeds $150.00 an Owner Reimbursement Form 7201-039 (Rev. 6/88) must be forwarded to and processed by the Zone Office.

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.