General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that certain 1994 Chevrolet Lumina and Pontiac Trans Sport Minivans fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies", which requires that seat belt retractors must not lock-up while a vehicle is parked on less than a 15 degrees slope. Involved vehicles have third row seat belt retractors which may lock-up on slopes less severe than this requirement. As a result, passengers seated in the third row seats will be unable to extract and fasten their seat belts until the vehicle is moved to a more level surface. Unbelted occupants are more at risk of injury than those using seat belts. It should be noted that these seat belts once extracted and worn properly will function normally in a vehicle crash regardless of slope.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring and in order to comply with CMVSS 209, dealers are to remove the third row seat belt retractors and reinstall them properly.
Involved are certain 1994 Chevrolet Lumina and Pontiac Trans Sport Minivans built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Year Model Plant Plant Code From Through ---- ----- ----- ----------- ---- ------- 1994 Chev Lumina Tarrytown "T" RT100001 RT115795 1994 Pont Trans Sport Tarrytown "T" RT200001 RT212605
All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.
All unsold new vehicles in dealer's 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 perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometers traveled, 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 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 is taken into your new or used 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.
Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.
All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.
NO PARTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.
Each dealer will be shipped (by Kent-Moore Tool Company, under a separate cover) a retractor repair tool kit, J-41258 for use in this campaign. This kit is being furnished at no charge. Additional tools, if required may be purchased by contacting Kent-Moore Tool Company at 1-800-345-2233.
Each Kit contains the following: 3 Retractor Locking Clips 1 Seat Belt Retaining Clip
Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:
Repair Description Time Allowance ------ ----------- -------------- 1A Inspect - Correct seat belt already installed .3
2A Inspect - Swap left and right retractor assemblies .5
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 40% to cover parts handling.
Figures referenced are located on pages 5 and 6
1. Remove cargo net, jack storage panel and, if equipped, accessory power outlet (compressor inflator) cover.
2. Fold both rear seats forward to provide access to shoulder belt retractors.
3. Starting on light side, pull all webbing from retractor and clip together just below "D" ring using seat belt retaining clip from kit (Figure 1, View A).
4. Check part number on belt webbing. If number differs from those listed in chart below, continue to step 5. If part number matches a number in the chart below, remove clip and reinstall items removed in steps 1-2 and proceed to step 16.
MEDIUM MEDIUM RUBY ADRIATIC DARK GRAY BEIGE RED BLUE --------- ------ ---- ------- LEFT 10261890 10261891 10261892 10261893 RIGHT 10261895 10261896 10261897 10261898
5. Remove bolt securing retractor to body. Cross off the word "Right", from retractor and mark it "# 1 " (Figure 2).
6. Remove small black plastic cap from side of retractor and insert locking cap supplied in kit (Figure 1, View B). To prevent locking cap from falling out, wrap tape around retractor and over cap as shown in Figure 1, View C.
7. Remove clip installed in step 3 from webbing and push end of webbing out of retractor spool.
8. Remove retaining pin from end of webbing and remove webbing from retractor (Figure 1, View D).
DO NOT attempt to repair retractor should this occur.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for left side of vehicle. In step 5, cross off the word "Left" on the retractor and mark it "#2".
10. Staying on left side of vehicle and using retractor #1, feed webbing through slot in retractor spool and insert retaining pin in loop. Pull webbing to seat pin in spool securely.
11. Reinstall clip at "D" ring as in step 3 and remove tape and locking clip from retractor.
12. Reinstall original black plastic cap to retractor.
13. Assure webbing is not twisted and reinstall retractor assembly to body and torque to 42 N.m (31 lb. ft.). Remove clip at "D" ring and check operation of retractor.
14. Repeat steps 10 through 13 to install retractor #2 to right side of vehicle.
15. Reinstall items removed in steps 1 and 2.
16. Install Campaign Identification label.
Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.
Dear General Motors Customer
General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that certain 1994 Chevrolet Lumina and Pontiac Trans Sport Minivans fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies", which requires that seat belt retractors must not lock-up while a vehicle is parked on less than a 15 degrees slope. Involved vehicles have third row seat belt retractors which may lock-up on slopes less severe than this requirement. As a result, passengers seated in the third row seats will be unable to extract and fasten their seat belts until the vehicle is moved to a more level surface. Unbelted occupants are more, at risk of injury than those using seat belts. It should be noted that these seat belts once extracted and worn properly will function normally in a vehicle crash regardless of slope.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring and in order to comply with CMVSS 209, your dealer will remove the third row seat belt retractors and reinstall them properly.
This service will be provided for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.
If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.
This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited
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.