CAMPAIGN: SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP CRACKING-NEW P/N RELEASED
SUBJECT: SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP CRACKING
MODELS AFFECTED: CERTAIN 1991 REGALS (SEDAN/COUPE) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 repair within sixty (60) days after tender of a vehicle is prima facia 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 Buick 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 certain 1991 Buick Regal (Sedan/Coupe) model vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208 "Occupant Crash Protection". Some of these vehicles have been built with cracked front door shoulder belt guide loops which may not provide front seat occupants with proper protection in the event of a vehicle crash.
To correct this condition, dealers are to inspect the front door shoulder belt guide loops for possible cracks. If a cracked guide loop is found, both front door guide loops will have reinforcing plates installed.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1991 Buick Regal (Sedan/Coupe) model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- ------- 1991 Regal Oshawa #2 1 M1800001 M1852079
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 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 Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION
Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (DCS) to provide Buick Motor Division with subsequent Buick owner information. By reporting a change of owner name or address of a vehicle in campaign status over the DCS, the need to send a CVAR form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the DCS Manual under Section 9, page 9-J01A and B.
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 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 contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
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.
PARTS INFORMATION
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).
IF GUIDE LOOP IS NOT CRACKED
Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- -------- 10115018 Guide Loop Nut (second style) 2 as required
NOTICE: The nut for the Regal is not to be reused under any circumstances. These are not the same nuts used in Campaign 91-C-1 (first style and are not interchangeable.
IF GUIDE LOOP IS CRACKED
Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ---------- ----------- ---------- 10216391 Guide Loop Reinforcement Kit 1 as required
Each Kit contains: 2 Reinforcing Plates, 2 Nuts and an Instruction Sheet
NOTICE: It is anticipated that less than 3% of vehicles will require the guide loop reinforcement kit to complete this campaign. Please order parts accordingly.
NOTICE: During the early stages of this product safety campaign, GMSPO may restrict the number of kits which may be requested on any one order due to available parts quantities.
SPECIAL TOOLS AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Each dealer will be shipped a Guide Loop Inspection/Drilling Fixture J-39425-4, T-Handle Cutting Tool J-39425-1 and a Bulb PT7190-12 with metal dust, during the week of January 13, 1992. These tools are being furnished to dealers at no charge. Each tool package will be identified with Buick Campaign Number 91-C-4. Additional tools, if required, may be ordered from Kent-Moore.
Instructional Video tapes will also be sent during the week of January 13, 1992. Mechanics should be certain to view this video tape before attempting to perform the service procedure.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Tools Required: J-39425-4 Guide Loop Inspection/Drilling Fixture J-39425-1 T-Handle Cutting Tool PT7190-12 Bulb with Metal Dust
Inspection Procedure
1. Lower front door window glass and remove plastic shoulder belt guide loop plug cover, nut and rubber washer. DO NOT USE POWER TOOLS TO REMOVE GUIDE LOOP NUT.
2. Pull guide loop outside of vehicle and place in Guide Loop Inspection/Drilling Fixture (J 39425-4) (See View A) Use "Magnetic Inspection" side of fixture for this step.
3. Apply small amount of metal dust to guide loop (see View B, page 4).
4. With guide loop still in fixture, gently shake dust from side to side to highlight any possible crack.
5. Inspect guide loop for cracks. If guide loop is cracked, metal dust will have been drawn to crack line (see Views C and D) and a guide loop reinforcement kit must be installed on both sides of vehicle.
If guide loop does not have a crack, perform steps 1 through 5 on the opposite front door guide loop to determine if that guide loop is cracked. Do not Reinstall Guide Loop Until Both Sides Have Been Replaced.
6. Remove all traces of dust from guide loop(s) and from magnetic fixture by brushing or blowing.
7. If cracks were not found, reinstall on both sides the guide loop, rubber washer and a new guide loop nut (to be ordered). The old nuts can not be reused under any circumstances.
Torque nut to 18 N.m (21 lb. ft.). Reinstall nut cover and install Campaign Identification Label.
NOTICE: Use only guide loop nut P/N 10115018. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE OR REUSE OLD NUT.
8. If crack(s) were found on a guide loop, a reinforcement plate must be installed on both sides following the "Installing Reinforcement Assemblies" procedure below.
Installing Reinforcement Assemblies
(To be performed on Both Front Door Guide Loops when Either Front Door Guide Loop is cracked).
1. Using "Drilling Operation" side of Guide Loop Inspection/Drilling Fixture (J 39425-4), place guide loop in fixture (see View E).
2. Locate two holes in guide loop plate on either side of threaded stud. While holding guide loop in fixture with palm, use 3/16" (##mm) drill bit to drill through black plastic material (see View F).
3. Using T-Handle Cutting Tool (J 39425-1), remove all black plastic material from in and around holes in guide loop as illustrated in View G. This creates two circular cutouts in lower corners of triangular area on back side of guide loop.
NOTICE: Turning handle back and forth while applying downward pressure has been determined to do a better cleaning job than full rotation of the handle.
4. Install reinforcement plate studs into holes in guide loop. Ensure reinforcement plate is completely seated by firmly pressing plate into guide loop cutout area (see View H).
5. Reinstall guide loop (with reinforcement assembly in place) using rubber washer removed previously and new nut supplied in reinforcement kit. Torque nut to 28 N.m (21 lb. ft.). Reinstall nut cover. (See View I).
6. Repeat reinforcement assembly installation on opposite front door guide loop.
7. Install Campaign Identification Label.
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 five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ballpoint pen.
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.
DISPOSITION OF PARTS
Replaced parts must be held for disposition by Buick Zone or Branch contact personnel. Parts must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which they are removed.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
FAILED OTHER SUBLET PART PART PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR LABOR DEALER OPER COUNT NUMBER ALLOW CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TWG ---- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ----- ----- ------- o Inspect - no reinforcement kit required
2 10115018 ** 96 V7260 0.3 *O.1 --
o Inspect/Install - reinforcement kit
1 10216391 ** 96 V7262 0.5 *O.1 --
* Campaign Administrative Allowance
** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.
Notification Used By Buick Motor Division
Dear Buick 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 certain 1991 Buick Regal (Sedan/Coupe) model vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, "Occupant Crash Protection". Some of these vehicles have been built with cracked front door shoulder belt guide loops which may not provide front seat occupants with proper protection in the event of a vehicle crash.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To correct this condition, your Buick dealer will inspect the front door shoulder belt guide loops on your vehicle for possible cracks. If a cracked guide loop is found, both front door shoulder belt guide loops will have reinforcing plates installed. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date 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 inspection/correction is approximately thirty (30) minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
Your Buick 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 Buick Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300.
After contacting your dealer and the 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, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 366-0123.
The enclosed owner 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 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.
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.
