CAMPAIGN:SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. Oldsmobile Silhouette 1993

SUBJECT: SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

YEAR: 1992 - 1993

MODEL: SILHOUETTE

CONDITION

General Motors has determined that certain 1992-93 Oldsmobile Silhouette models fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". These vehicles are equipped with rear seats which may be installed in the second row center seating position. When occupying a seat in this position, a lap-only seat belt is worn. The lap-only seat belt may exhibit a condition in which it will lock- up and not allow seat belt webbing to be withdrawn. As a result, seat occupants will be unable to use the affected seat belt. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are more at risk of injury than those using seat belts.

This condition may occur only in the following seats when they are used in the center seating position:

0 For vehicles with six (6) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the third row left position when the vehicle was delivered.

0 For vehicles with seven (7) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the second row center position when the vehicle was delivered.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, owners are being asked to inspect their vehicles to determine if the suspect retractors exhibit this condition. Owners are also being advised that they may take their vehicle to the retailer for inspection, if they choose. If an owner or the retailer determines, based on the inspection, that a retractor is locked up, the retailer should replace that retractor. Replacement of suspect seat belts will remain available for the life of the vehicle.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Certain 1992 and 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette models built within the following VIN breakpoints:

NUMBER OF VIN THROUGH & YEAR MODEL MODEL NAME SEATS BEGINNING INCLUDING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 U SILHOUETTE 6 NT300033 NT316680 1992 U SILHOUETTE 7 NT300010 NT316727 1993 U SILHOUETTE 6 PT300062 PT3188 1993 U SILHOUETTE 7 PT300023 PT319481

Should a question arise concerning the campaign involvement of a specific vehicle(s) within the breakpoints listed above, retailers should access the Vehicle Information Service System (V.I.S.S.) for verification.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by Oldsmobile Division (see copy of the owner letter included with this bulletin).

RETAILER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold new vehicles in retailers' possession subject to this campaign MUST be held at the retail facilities and the campaign must be performed BEFORE owners take possession of these vehicles.

Retailers are to perform this campaign on all vehicles involved 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 retail facility for service, retailers are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Retailers are to contact owners of vehicles recently sold from your new or used vehicle inventory and arrange for the campaign correction to be performed.

ATTENTION:

A 1991 amendment to Section 154 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires retailers to HOLD unsold new vehicles which are subject to a recall for a safety defect or safety noncompliance and to perform the campaign BEFORE delivering the vehicles to owners.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides each vehicle subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair (Prima facie evidence of failure to repair is 60 days). Otherwise, 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 providing burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule and repair each owners vehicle. The letter to owners (copy included) suggests they contact Oldsmobile Customer Assistance if you do not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed service date. Owners are also told how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This letter is notice to you that new motor vehicles involved in this campaign may not comply with the standard noted above. Under the Safety Act, it is illegal for retailers to knowingly sell one of these new vehicles without first performing the campaign. You may be fined up to $1000 for each violation.

Retailers with vehicles to correct will also receive one printout of vehicle identification numbers, owner names and addresses in VIN sequence (in California, vehicle identification numbers only, no names or addresses). This data will enable you to follow-up with involved owners.

We urge you to limit the use of the printout to the follow-up needed for this campaign. Names and addresses from State Vehicle Registration files may be included; it is illegal in many states to use such data outside of campaigns.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

For vehicles with six (6) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the third row left position when the vehicle was delivered.

For vehicles with seven (Z) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the second row center position when the vehicle was delivered.

Only retractors for these seats are suspect.

See "Figure 1 " for illustration of suspect seat location.

It is necessary to assure that the suspect seat has not been moved to another location. Suspect seats will have a label at the lower right-hand corner of the seat back which reads "CENTER OR LEFT." If the label reads other than "CENTER OR LEFT", the seat has been installed in another position. Locate the correct seat by checking the remaining seats for the "CENTER OR LEFT" label.

PERFORM THIS PROCEDURE FOR ANY INVOLVED VEHICLE IN WHICH A CUSTOMER HAS INSPECTED AND DISCOVERED A LOCKED-UP SEAT RETRACTOR FOR A SUSPECT SEAT. ONLY SEAT BELTS WHICH ARE LOCKED ARE TO BE REPLACED.

1. For vehicles which have not been inspected by the owner, perform the steps A and B below.

A. Sit in the suspect seat and attempt to withdraw the seat belt from the lap only retractor five times.

B. If webbing will not withdraw from the retractor during any one of the five attempts, the retractor requires replacement. Proceed to step 2 below.

If no problems are experienced withdrawing the webbing during the five attempts, retractor replacement is not required. Proceed to step 9 below. Also, the owner should be reminded that replacement of the retractor assembly will be available for the life of the vehicle should the condition occur in the future.

2. Remove seat from vehicle.

3. Remove retaining screw and seat side cover.

4. Remove retaining bolt and seat belt retractor.

5. Install new retractor with retaining bolt.

6. Install seat side cover and secure with retaining screw.

7. Reinstall seat.

8. Verify proper operation of safety belt assembly by withdrawing and latching the belt several times.

9. Install a Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each label provides space to print the campaign number and the five (5) digit retailer code of the retailer performing the campaign. Insert this information with a typewriter or ball-point pen. When installing the label, clean and dry the surface of the radiator support tie bar and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.

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 the Campaign Identification Label on a clean, dry surface.

PARTS INFORMATION

To ensure that any parts your retail facility may require are obtained as soon as possible, order them from GMSPO (GM Service Parts Operations) on a C.I.O. order, with NO special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER QUANTITY/VEHICLE

Rear Seat Belt Retractor - 12523914 1 Gray - Lap Only Rear Seat Belt Retractor - 12523915 1 Beige - Lap Only Rear Seat Belt Retractor - 12516347 1 Sapphire - Lap Only Rear Seat Belt Retractor - 12516348 1 1992 Red - Lap Only Rear Seat Belt Retractor - 12523917 1 1993 Red - Lap Only

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit claims using only one of the "V" labor-ops below for each vehicle:

TOTAL FAILURE LABOR LABOR STRAIGHT OPERATION PARTS CODE OPERATION HOURS TIME (ST)*

Inspect - No replacement 0 96 V8500 .2 .1 required

Replace lap-only seat belt 1 96 V8501 .3 .1 retractor

*Administration Allowance. .1 hour for clerical administration may be applied for in the Straight Time (ST) column.

Parts Allowance: Current retailer price, plus 30% allowance for handling.

Dear Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

REASON FOR RECALL

This condition may occur only in the following seats when they are used in the center seating position:

0 For vehicles with six (6) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the third row left position when the vehicle was delivered.

0 For vehicles with seven (7) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the second row center position when the vehicle was delivered. .

WHAT WE WILL DO

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring and in order to comply with FMVSS 209, we are asking owners to inspect their vehicles to determine if the suspect retractor exhibits the condition. You may also have your Oldsmobile retailer inspect your Silhouette at no charge. If, based on this inspection, the seat belt retractor is locked-up, your Oldsmobile retailer will replace the seat belt. Replacement of the suspect seat belt will remain available to you for the life of the vehicle or until the campaign is completed. Seat belt replacement will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Using the following instructions, please perform the inspection procedure and if your retractor exhibits the lock-up condition, contact your Oldsmobile retailer to arrange a service date. This will allow your retailer to order the necessary parts to replace your seat belt. Instructions for replacing for replacing the seat belt have been sent to your retailer and parts are available. If replacement is required, the labor time to perform the repair is approximately eighteen (18) minutes. Please ask your retailer if you wish to know how much additional time may be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

If your vehicle does not exhibit the lock-up condition during inspection, keep this letter with your owner's manual so you may refer to it if the belt exhibits the lock-up condition at a later date. If the seat belt locks at any time during the life of the vehicle, bring the vehicle to you retailer and the belt will be replaced free of charge.

LAP - ONLY SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INSPECTION

1. Locate the seat to be inspected:

For vehicles with six (6) passenger seating , the affected seat is the one which was placed in the third row left position when the vehicle was delivered.

0 For vehicles with seven (7) passenger seating, the affected seat is the one which was placed in the second row center position when the vehicle was delivered.

Only the lap-only retractors for these seats are suspect and require inspection. Figure 1 (below), illustrates the suspect seat locations.

As the suspect seat may have been removed and reinstalled in a different position, please verify that you are inspecting the proper seat by checking the label located at the lower right-hand corner of the seat back. This label should read "CENTER OR LEFT". If the label reads other than "CENTER OR LEFT", the seat has been installed to another position. Locate the correct seat by checking the remaining seats for the "CENTER OR LEFT" label.

2. Once the suspect seat has been located, sit in the seat and attempt to withdraw the seat belt from the lap-only retractor five (5) times.

3. If the webbing will not withdraw from the retractor during any one (1) of the five (5) attempts, the retractor requires replacement. Please contact your Oldsmobile retailer to schedule a service date for the replacement.

If no problems are experienced withdrawing the webbing during the five (5) attempts, please complete the owner reply card to indicate the inspection was performed and return the card to us. Also, store this letter with your Silhouette owners manual so that you may refer to it in the event that the retractor exhibits the lock-up condition in the future. Replacement of this retractor assembly will be available for the life of your vehicle in the event the condition does occur.

Your Oldsmobile retailer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to promptly correct your vehicle. However, if you take your vehicle to your retailer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition then, or within five days, we suggest you call Oldsmobile Customer Assistance (1-800-442-6537). Deaf, hearing impaired, or speech impaired persons with telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD/TTY) may contact Oldsmobile Customer Assistance at 1-800-TDD-OLDS (1-800-833-6537). They will assist you and the retailer in getting your vehicle corrected.

After contacting your retailer and Oldsmobile Customer Assistance, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to correct this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents call 366-0123).

OWNER REPLY CARD

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your retailer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time.

Again, if you choose to inspect the suspect lap-only retractor and if no problems are experienced withdrawing the webbing during the five (5) attempts, please complete the owner reply card to indicate the inspection was performed and return the card to us. Also, if you have sold or traded your Silhouette, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

We are sorry for this inconvenience; however, we took this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

OLDSMOBILE DIVISION General Motors Corporation

Object Number: 90436 Size: MF

Object Number: 90309 Size: MF

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.