CAMPAIGN:THROTTLE MODULATOR CABLE WATER INTRUSION
SUBJECT: THROTTLE MODULATOR CABLE WATER INTRUSION
MODELS AFFECTED: CERTAIN 1994 CENTURYS WITH 3.1L (RPO LB2, VIN CODE M) ENGINES
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 Buick 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 exists in certain 1994 Century model vehicles equipped with the 3.1 liter engine. The throttle modulator cable on some vehicles may develop a high effort and/or binding condition in very cold weather.
Under certain conditions at the assembly plant, water may have entered the cable conduit. In very cold weather, the water may freeze in the cable conduit, resulting in high accelerator pedal effort or binding of the throttle modulator cable. If the throttle modulator cable requires high effort or binds, loss of normal throttle control may result, or the throttle may not return to idle when the accelerator pedal is released. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to purge the throttle cable of any trapped water per the Service Procedure section of this bulletin.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Involved are all (except as noted below) 1994 Buick Century model vehicles built at Ramos Arizpe within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT THROUGH AND PLANT CODE FROM INCLUDING ----- ----- ---- ----------- Ramos Arizpe S RS600002 RS610737
NOTICE: VEHICLES WITHIN THIS RANGE WHICH OUR RECORDS INDICATE HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE MODULATOR CABLE (P/N 12550710) REPLACED HAVE BEEN DELETED FROM THE VEHICLES INVOLVED LISTING.
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 Buick 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.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owners letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.
In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
PARTS INFORMATION:
No parts are required to complete this campaign.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
Refer to figures shown in this bulletin.
IMPORTANT: IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ANY POSSIBLE WATER INSIDE THE CABLE IS NOT FROZEN THE VEHICLE MUST BE PARKED INSIDE A HEATED SERVICE AREA FOR AT LEAST TWO (2) HOURS BEFORE ANY CAMPAIGN SERVICE CAN BE PERFORMED.
REMOVE:
------ 1. Throttle modulator cable end fitting from throttle lever stud.
NOTICE: DO NOT UNLOCK CABLE ADJUSTER.
2. Throttle modulator cable from throttle body bracket.
3. While holding the smaller diameter sleeve, unsnap the smaller diameter sleeve from the throttle cable assembly to expose cable.
4. Using air blow off gun, air pressure set at a minimum of 90 pounds per square inch (PSI), blow air through throttle cable conduit for at least thirty (30) seconds.
NOTICE: FOR ADDED SAFETY, PLACE SHOP TOWEL OVER BLOW OFF GUN AND CABLE CONDUIT WHILE BLOWING AIR THROUGH CABLE CONDUIT.
INSTALL:
------- 5. While holding the smaller diameter sleeve, snap the smaller diameter sleeve back onto the throttle modulator cable assembly.
6. Throttle modulator cable to throttle body bracket.
7. Throttle modulator cable end fitting to throttle lever stud.
VERIFY THROTTLE ANGLE:
1. With key on, engine off, use a Tech I to monitor throttle angle.
2. Depress on accelerator pedal to full throttle position and release.
Perform this procedure three (3) times.
- Throttle angle must read 100% at full throttle and return to zero (0) each time the throttle returns to the fully closed position.
3. If above readings cannot be obtained, inspect for mispositioned or kinked cables or for additional frozen water inside conduit and repeat all of above procedures.
4. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL:
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 campaign number and 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.
WARRANTY INFORMATION:
PART FAILED PART FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER NET OPER COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CODE OP NO. HRS. HRS. AMT. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Dry water from throttle modulator cable conduit -- -- -- 96 V8560 0.3 *0.1 #
* Campaign Administrative Allowance
# Towing expenses, if required, should be applied for in the usual manner.
Dear Buick Century Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
SAFETY DEFECT:
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1994 Century model vehicles equipped with the 3.1 liter engine. The throttle modulator cable on some vehicles may develop a high effort and/or binding condition in very cold weather.
Under certain conditions at the assembly plant, water may have entered the cable conduit. In very cold weather, the water may freeze in the cable conduit, resulting in high accelerator pedal effort or binding of the throttle modulator cable. If the throttle modulator cable requires high effort or binds, loss of normal throttle control may result, or the throttle may not return to idle when the accelerator pedal is released. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
REPAIR:
------ To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your Buick dealer will purge the throttle cable of any internally trapped water if present. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
OPERATING CAR PRIOR TO RECALL:
When starting your Century after it has been parked in freezing weather, the following precautions should be taken until you have the recall completed:
1. Always start the vehicle in park with the brakes applied.
2. After starting and with the car still in park, depress the accelerator pedal part way and release. This should be repeated several times.
- If the effort to move the accelerator pedal seems higher than normal and/or the engine does not return to normal idle speed, the car should not be driven.
- If the effort and return to idle speed seems normal, shift the shift lever to reverse or drive keeping the brakes applied, then slowly release the brakes.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF CONDITION OCCURS BEFORE YOUR DEALER VISIT:
If this condition occurs before you have the opportunity to have the correction made at your Buick dealer:
1. Turn your Century engine off and place the shift lever in the park position.
2. Do not operate your vehicle. Contact your Buick dealer for towing or call Buick Roadside Assistance 1-800-252-1112 for towing assistance.
HOW LONG WILL REPAIR TAKE?
The time needed to perform the service correction is approximately two (2) hours and twenty (20) minutes. However, due to scheduling times, your dealer may need your car for one (1) full work day. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your car.
CONTACTING YOUR DEALER:
Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making the correction have been sent to your dealer.
Your Buick 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 Buick Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, 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).
OWNER REPLY CARD:
The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer 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 to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.
Buick 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.
