CAMPAIGN: PRODUCT SAFETY SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY

Model and Year: 1987-88 CHEVROLET CORSICA AND BERETTA

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 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 Chevrolet 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 may exist in certain 1987-88 Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assembly on these vehicles may not be properly adjusted, possibly resulting in the secondary latch becoming bent. A bent secondary latch can contact the primary latch return spring which could cause the primary latch to disengage.

If the secondary hood latch were not properly engaged and the primary latch were to disengage, the hood could unexpectedly open. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, the secondary latch assembly will be inspected for proper adjustment. Additionally, damaged (bent) secondary latch assemblies will be replaced as required on all involved vehicles.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1987-88 Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta model vehicles produced within the following VIN breakpoints:

MODEL YEAR PLANT FROM THROUGH ---------- ----- ---- ------- 1987 Linden HE106766 HE110671

1987 Wilmington HY101931 HY106246

1988 Linden JE200001 JE541533

1988 Wilmington JY200001 JY551659

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 Chevrolet Motor 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 campaian is taken into vour new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in vour 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.

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).

Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- -------- 10115341 Latch Assembly - Hood Secondary Beretta Only..................... As Required

10115340 Latch Assembly - Hood Secondary Corsica Only..................... As Required

11509135 Bolt/Screw - Hood Secondary Latch Guide - Both Corsica & Beretta... As Required

1052349 (Or Lubricant........................... As Required Equivalent)

It is estimated that 82% of the vehicles involved will require inspection only (no adjustment required), 17% may require secondary latch assembly adjustment only and less than 1% may require a new secondary latch assembly. Order parts accordingly based on attached involved vehicle listing.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Visually inspect secondary hood latch assembly. If damaged (bent), install a new secondary latch assembly and adjust for proper operation as described below.

If secondary latch assembly is not damaged, adjust for proper operation as described below.

2. Make two (2) marks on secondary latch striker surface at 12.5 mm (0.49 in.) and 21.5 mm (0.85 in.) up from rolled edge at bottom striker surface (See Figure 2, Views A & C) .

3. Lower hood and check for initial contact of latch to striker surface. Contact should be between two (2) marks established in Step 2 (See Figure 2, View C) . If contact is above top mark, adjust latch assembly forward on hood, repeat check. If contact is below bottom mark adjust latch assembly rearward on hood, repeat check.

4. Check operation - while slowly lowering hood, secondary latch should slide down striker surface.

5. Should secondary latch rest on striker surface without sliding down sloped surface of striker, adjust latch forward slightly. Check operation by slowly lowering hood as before. After engaging secondary latch to striker, pull up on hood to insure proper engagement.

6. When latch is adjusted properly, install bolt/screw (P/N 11509135, see Figure 2, View B). Note: It may be necessary to first drill a 9/64" pilot hole if latch assembly required adjustment for proper operation.

7. Apply lubricant (P/N 1052349 or equivalent) to striker surface.

8. Install Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL (Figure 1)

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 ball point 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.

CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

* *** FAILED PARTS LABOR LAB OTH NET REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW FC OP HRS HRS AMT

Inspect Secondary Hood 00 V4530 0.2 0.1 $0.10 Latch

Inspect & Adjust 00 V4531 0.2 0.1 $0.10 Secondary Hood Latch

Inspect, Replace & 2 10115340 ** 00 V4532 0.3 0.1 40.10 Adjust Secondary or Hood Latch 10115341

* 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.

*** The $0.10 identified in the "Net Amount" column represents the cost plus 30% for lubricant used in conjunction with labor operations V4530, V4531 & V4532.

Dealers will automatically receive the correct labor and material allowance based on the labor operation performed.

Refer to the Chevrolet Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim submission.

(Notification Used by Chevrolet Motor Division)

Dear Chevrolet 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 may exist in certain 1987-88 Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assembly on these vehicles may not be properly adjusted, possibly resulting in the secondary latch becoming bent. A bent secondary latch can contact the primary latch return spring which could cause the primary latch to disengage. If the secondary hood latch were not properly engaged and the primary latch were to disengage, the hood could unexpectedly open. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.

WHAT WE WILL DO

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on your vehicle, the secondary latch assembly will be inspected and, if necessary, adjusted for proper operation. Additionally, damaged (bent) secondary latch assemblies will be replaced as required with new latch assemblies. The inspection, adjustment and/or replacement of the secondary latch assembly on your vehicle will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for performing this service have been sent to your dealer. It is estimated that parts will be available on or about April 26, 1988. The labor time necessary to perform this service is approximately fifteen (15) minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

Your Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-222-1020.

After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Conter, 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 providing the necessary service 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.

Chevrolet Motor 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.