CAMPAIGN:THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS
SUBJECT: Third Row Seat Belt Retractors
YEAR: 1994
MODEL: Silhouette
CONDITION
General Motors has determined that certain 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette models fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies", which requires that seat belt retractors must not lock-up while a vehicle is parked on less than a 150 slope. Involved vehicles have 3rd 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 this condition from occurring on involved vehicles and in order to comply to FMVSS 209, retailers are to remove the third row seat belt retractors and reinstall them properly.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Certain 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette models built within the following VIN breakpoints:
THROUGH & YEAR MODEL MODEL NAME VIN BEGINNING INCLUDING
---- ----- ---------- ------------- ---------- 1994 U Silhouette RT300013 RT307934
All vehicles listed on the retailers printout will require correction. Other suspect vehicles should be checked for campaign involvement by utilizing the VISS (Vehicle Information Service System).
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 & 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.
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.
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 fo 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 owner's vehicle. The letter to owners (copy attached) 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.
Retailers with vehicles to correct will also receive one printout of vehicle identification numbers, owner names and addresses in VIN sequence (in California, VIN's 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.
Your cooperation in completing this campaign as soon as possible will be greatly appreciated.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
1. Remove cargo net, jack storage panel and accessory power outlet (compressor inflator) cover.
2. Fold both rear seats forward to provide access to shoulder belt retractors.
3. Starting on the right side, pull all webbing from the 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 the number differs from those listed in the chart below, continue to step 5. If the part number matches a number listed in the chart below, remove clip and reinstall items removed in steps 1-2 and proceed to step 16.
BELT COLORS/PART NUMBERS ------------------------ Light Gray Medium Beige Ruby Red Adriatic Blue ---------- ------------ -------- ------------- Left 10261890 10261891 10261892 10261893 Right 10261895 10261891 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 secure locking cap supplied in the kit (Figure 1, View B). To prevent locking cap from failing out, wrap tape around the retractor and over the 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).
Note: Should locking cap become disengaged from retractor any time after the webbing is removed from the spool, the spool will unwind and the complete belt/retractor assembly will require replacement. DO NOT attempt to repair retractor should this occur.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for the left side of the vehicle. In step 5, cross off the word "Left" on the retractor and mark it "#2."
10. Staying on the left side of the vehicle and using retractor #1, feed webbing through the slot in the retractor spool and insert the retaining pin in the loop. Pull webbing to seat the spool securely.
11. Reinstall the clip at the "D" ring as in step 3 and remove tape and locking clip from the retractor.
12. Reinstall the original, black plastic cap to the retractor.
13. Assure the webbing is not twisted and reinstall the retractor assembly to the body and torque to 42 N-m (31 lb. ft.). Remove the clip at the "D" ring and check operation of the retractor.
14. Repeat steps 10 through 13 to install retractor #2 to the right side of the vehicle.
15. Reinstall items removed in steps 1 and 2.
16. 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
There are no parts required to complete this campaign.
SPECIAL TOOLS
Each retailer will be shipped a special retractor repair tool kit, J-41258, from Kent-Moore, the week of February 21, 1994. The tool is furnished at no charge to the retailer. Additional tools, if required, may be ordered from Kent-Moore and will be charged to the retailer's open account. Fleet Warranty Stations may obtain information on how to purchase tools from Kent-Moore by calling 1-800-345-2233 and asking for the "order desk".
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit claims using only one of the "V" labor-ops below for each vehicle:
FAILURE LABOR LABOR STRAIGHT OPERATION CODE OPERATION HOURS TIME (ST)* ---------- ------- --------- ----- ---------- Inspect - Correct Seat Belt 96 V8480 0.2 0.1 Already Installed
Inspect - Swap Left And Right 96 V8481 0.4 0.1 Retractor Assemblies
* Administration Allowance: .1 hour for clerical administration may be applied for in the Straight Time (ST) column.
OWNER LETTER
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
General Motors has determined that certain 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette models fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies", which require that seat belt retractors must not lock-up while a vehicle is parked on less than a 150 slope. Involved vehicles have 3rd 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.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent this condition from occurring on involved vehicles and in order to comply to FMVSS 209, retailers are to remove the third row seat belt retractors and reinstall them properly.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Oldsmobile retailer immediately to arrange a service date. Instructions have been sent to your retailer. Please ask your retailer if you wish an estimate of the total time needed to schedule, process and return your vehicle. Included in this time would be about twenty (20) minutes for a technician to perform the work required.
You may have your vehicle serviced at the authorized Oldsmobile retailer of your choice. 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. 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 for this inconvenience; however, we took this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.
OLDSMOBILE 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.
