CAMPAIGN: REAR CRADLE BOLT RETAINER NEW PART RELEASED. Buick Century 1983

Models: 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (Framingham Built Vehicles Only)

TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS - ONTARIO-QUEBEC-NEW BRUNSWICK- NOVA

SCOTIA-NEWFOUNDLAND-PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera models. The subject vehicles may exhibit a condition whereby the rear cradle bolt pulls through the retainer due to corrosion of the retainer. If this condition occurs, the cradle would no longer be supported at that mounting location and the steering shaft may separate from the steering gear. This condition could result in a loss of vehicle control.

This condition is a result of crevice corrosion due to moisture and road dust combined with a metal thickness condition in the shoulder area of the retainer.

To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are all Framingham built 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera models within the following VIN breakpoints:

MODEL YEAR PLANT FROM THROUGH ----- ---- ------------- ---- ------- 'A' 1983 Framingham (G) SOP EOP

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres traveled, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete this campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:

PART QUANTITY/ NUMBER DESCRIPTION VEHICLE -------- ---------------------- ------- 14002114 Rear Cradle Bolt Retainer 2

14103529 Rear Cradle Bolt 2

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ------------------ -------------- 2A Replace Rear Cradle 0.3 Bolt and Retainer

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. Raise vehicle and support rear of cradle assembly with jack stand.

2. Utilizing an impact wrench, remove right hand rear cradle bolt and lower retainer and discard.

NOTE: To insure that cradle alignment is maintained, only one bolt and retainer should be removed and replaced at a time.

3. Install new retainer (P/N 14002114) and bolt (P/N 14103529) and torque to 137-143 N.m.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for left hand rear cradle location, remove jack stand and lower vehicle.

5. Install Campaign Identification Label.

INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This condition is a result of crevice corrosion due to moisture and road dust combined with a metal thickness condition in the shoulder area of the retainer.

To correct this condition, dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainer. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

Further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777, or if you Live in Quebec, 1-800-263-7854.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your 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.