CAMPAIGN: POWER WINDOW EXPRESS-DOWN MODULE
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN EXPRESS DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURES
MODELS AFFECTED: 1991 GRAND AM MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS
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 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 certain 1991 Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with power windows (RPO A31). These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which moisture enters the express down electronic control module and creates undesirable continuity. This may result in window operation without operator input and could cause the window to remain down. The module may eventually fail by overheating, which could result in a fire in the door panel area.
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to replace the power window express down electronic control module.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1991 Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with power windows (RPO A31) built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Up To And Year Plant Beginning Including ---- ----- --------- ----------- 1991 Lansing MC591095 MC678139
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner 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.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin).
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
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.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be con- tacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO). To ensure that these parts are obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but on advise code (2).
Part Quantity Description Number Per Vehicle ----------- ------ ----------- Module - Express Down 16626458 1
Note: Some parts may include a mounting bracket, which may be removed and discarded prior to installation.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTICE: MAKE SURE THE IGNITION IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR CONNECTING POWER WINDOW SWITCHES. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES.
1. Position the driver's door glass in full down position and remove door trim panel following the procedure in section 10-6 of the 1991 Pontiac Grand Am Service Manual.
2. Carefully peel the water deflector upward and rearward far enough to completely uncover the access hole at the front of the door inner panel. Use care to avoid damaging the water deflector.
CAUTION:
MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE WORKING INSIDE THE DRIVER'S DOOR. WHEN OPERATED, THE EXPRESS DOWN FEATURE ALLOWS THE DOOR GLASS TO DROP VERY QUICKLY WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
3. Disconnect the express down module wiring connector. See Illustration.
4. Depress the release tab on the lower edge of the express down module and pull the module toward the front of the vehicle. The module will move about 3/8" before the mounting stud on the module contacts the front of the slot in the mounting bracket. Disengage the module from the mounting bracket by tilting the module outward (away from the inner door). See Illustration.
5. Install the new express down module, P/N 16626458, by positioning the module to the mounting bracket and sliding into position until the release tab locks into position.
6. Reconnect the wiring connector to the express down module.
7. Reposition the water deflector to the door inner panel. Water proof tape must be used to reseal the deflector if the original adhesive becomes loose, if the holes in the deflector do not line up with the door inner panel, or if the deflector is damaged.
8. Reinstall the door trim panel following the procedure in section 10-6 of the 1991 Pontiac Grand Am Service Manual.
9. Check the window for proper operation.
10. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle modified 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, the five digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date the vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. Install the label only on a clean, dry surface of the radiator baffle where it is readily visible. (Additional campaign labels are available on stationery order as Form 7201-709).
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:
*Other Failure Labor Labor Labor Operation Code Operation Hours Hours --------- ------- --------- ------ ------ Replace Express Down Module . 96 V7340 0.6 0.1
* In addition dealerships will receive 0.1 hours credit for dealer administrative services associated with this campaign. The 0.1 hours allowance is to be entered in the "Other Labor Hours" field with each campaign repair listed for credit. This entry will not require authorization.
FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.
Parts required are to be listed in your warranty claim in the normal manner. Parts will be credited at dealer net plus 30% dealer handling allowance.
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." Owners are being asked to present the owner reply card for identification to their dealer at the time they bring in their vehicle to have the campaign performed.
April , 1992
Dear Pontiac Owner:
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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1991 Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with power windows. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which moisture enters the express down electronic control module and creates undesirable continuity. This may result in window operation without operator input and could cause the window to remain down. The module may eventually fail by overheating, which could result in a fire in the door panel area.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on your vehicle, your Pontiac dealer will replace the power window express down electronic control module located in the driver's door. 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 a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Pontiac Dealer and parts are currently available. The labor time to perform this service is approximately forty (40) minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.
Your Pontiac dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and 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 he does 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 Owner Reply Card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time,. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid owner 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 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.
