General Motors of Canada has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1992 Pontiac Bonneville SE model vehicles with console shift (Option D55). The transaxle shift control cable may disengage from the shift control cable bracket (at the transaxle) resulting in loss of gear indicator reference and shift selector operation. The gear position indicated by the selector may differ from the actual gear position of the transaxle with the transaxle remaining in the position last selected prior to cable disengagement.
If this occurs, a number of possible conditions can exist. Unless the transaxle is actually in the park or neutral position, the engine cannot be started.
If the driver places the gear shift selector in the park position without setting the parking brake, the transaxle may not actually be in the park position and the vehicle may move if it is on an inclined surface. Also, if the driver places the gear shift selector in a drive or the reverse position without turning off the engine, the transaxle may not be in the position indicated and the vehicle may move in the opposite direction. In either case, unexpected vehicle movement could result in an accident without prior warning.
To correct this condition, dealers are to install a transaxle shift control cable retaining clip on suspect vehicles as per the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure sections of this bulletin.
Involved are certain 1992 Pontiac Bonneville SE model vehicles with console shift (Option D55) produced within the following VIN breakpoints:
Up To And Year Plant Beginning Including ------ ---------- ---------- --------- 1992 Wentzville N1200734 N1207834
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.
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 new or 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.
Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
Two retaining clips for each vehicle involved will be shipped to involved dealers by General Motors of Canada Limited-Oshawa on a no-charge basis.
If shift levers or shift control cable brackets are required, they can be ordered through regular channels as follows:
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- --------------- ----------------- NPN Retaining Clip 2 25551336 Shift Lever As required 25527503 Shift Control Cable Bracket As Required
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: Time Repair Code Description Allowance ----------- ------------------------------------- --------- 2A Inspect and install 2 retaining clips 3
3A Inspect, replace shift control cable bracket, 4 install 2 retaining clips, and adjust shift control cable
4A Inspect, replace shift lever, install 2 retaining 3 clips, and adjust shift control cable
5A Inspect, replace shift lever and shift control cable 5 bracket, install 2 retaining clips, and adjust shift control cable
Time allowance includes 0. 1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.
1. Set parldng brake and open hood.
2. Inspect shift control cable bracket mounted below cruise servo unit. Bracket colour should be gray. If bracket colour is black, it must be replaced with part number 25527503. See parts information section to obtain new shift control cable bracket. Nut torque for shift control cable bracket to transaxle is 24 N.m (18 lb. ft.).
3. Using a flashlight, inspect shift lever (see Figure 2) for the word "out" stamped on the top side of lever. In the assembled position, only the "ut" of out is visible. If lever does not have "out" stamped on top side, replace lever with part number 25551336. See parts information section to obtain new shift lever. Nut torque for shift lever to manual shaft is 6 N.m (4 lb. ft.).
4. Make sure transaxle shift control cable is properly seated in the shift control cable bracket (see Figure 1, view A). Insert two retaining clips between the shift cable body and cable retaining tabs (as per View A). This will force the tabs outward so that the cable is firmly locked to the bracket.
5. If part(s) were replaced in Step 2 or 3, the shift control cable must be adjusted. To adjust:
a) Raise adjustment lock tab so that tab is fully raised and allows free movement of cable in adjustment assembly. (See Figure 1, View A.)
b) Place shift lever in "Neutral." This is found by rotating the selector shaft clockwise from "Park" through "Reverse" to "Neutral."
c) Place shift control assembly in "Neutral."
d) With lock tab fully raised push tab down to fully seat in cable adjuster to adjust cable in mounting bracket.
6. Install Campaign Identification Label.
7. Close hood and release parking brake.
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.
INSERT CAMPAIGN NUMBER
INSERT DEALER CODE
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.