HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION PERFORMANCE (REPLACE BULB). Pontiac Grand Prix 1997

SUBJECT: HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION PERFORMANCE (REPLACE BULB)

MODELS: 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX (ALL MODELS) BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINT VF228830

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE "HI-BEAM" HEADLAMPS ON THEIR VEHICLE DO NOT APPEAR TO ILLUMINATE AS BRIGHTLY AS THOSE ON OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, THEY MAY ALSO COMMENT THAT WHEN THEY SWITCH FROM "LOW-BEAM" HEADLAMP OPERATION TO "HI-BEAM", THE DIFFERENCE IN ILLUMINATION OR BRIGHTNESS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.

CAUSE:

PRODUCTION VEHICLES ARE ASSEMBLED WITH HEADLAMP BULBS MADE BY MORE THAN ONE MANUFACTURER. AS A RESULT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BULB MANUFACTURERS, SOME BULBS HAVE A HIGHER CANDLEPOWER (BRIGHTNESS) RATING FOR THE SAME BULB "TRADE" NUMBER (9007).

IMPORTANT:

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MEET OR EXCEED ALL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (MVSS) EVEN WHEN EQUIPPED WITH PRODUCTION HEADLAMP BULBS MADE BY DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS.

CORRECTION:

TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE HAS THE HIGHEST CANDLEPOWER (BRIGHTEST) HEADLAMP BULB RECOMMENDED, REVIEW THE COLOR OF THE BULB BASE (SEE FIGURE 1). BRIGHTER BULBS HAVE A "BROWN" BASE, WHILE DIMMER BULBS HAVE A "BLACK" BASE. REPLACE ANY BLACK BASE HEADLAMP BULBS WITH P/N 16524431 (BROWN BASE).

PARTS INFORMATION:

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME =============== =========== ==========

N0440 BULB, COMPOSITE HEADLAMP 0.2 HR REPLACE - RIGHT

N0441 BULB, COMPOSITE HEADLAMP 0.2 HR REPLACE - LEFT

N0442 BULB, COMPOSITE HEADLAMP 0.3 HR REPLACE - BOTH

FIGURES: 01 ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 1 - 1. BROWN BASE = BRIGHTER BULB 2. BLACK BASE = DIMMER BULB

Object Number: 169282 Size: SH

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.