RETROFITTING OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLES. Buick Park Avenue 1992

SUBJECT: RETROFITTING OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLES FROM R-12 TO R-134A (INFORMATION)

MODELS: 1991-93 BUICK LESABRE, PARK AVENUE 1991-92 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 1991-93 CADILLAC DEVILLE, SIXTY SPECIAL 1991-93 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY-EIGHT, NINETY-EIGHT 1991-93 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

1991-93 CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK M/L VANS

BULLETIN 43-12-07B, SECTION 1 HVAC, PREVIOUSLY RELEASED ON RETROFITTING, STATED THAT ONLY VEHICLES STILL COVERED BY WARRANTY SHOULD BE RETROFITTED. THE PROCEDURES RELEASED TO DATE MAY NOW BE USED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE IS IN WARRANTY. TO CLARIFY, THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES SHOULD BE USED:

VEHICLE STILL IN WARRANTY:

WHEN GM MODELS FOR THE YEARS LISTED IN THE BULLETIN REQUIRE REPAIRS TO THE A/C REFRIGERANT SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLES ARE STILL COVERED UNDER THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY, DEALERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO PROCEED AS FOLLOWS:

IMPORTANT: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A/C SYSTEMS NOT PRODUCED BY GM (I.E., REAR A/C SYSTEMS IN VAN CONVERSIONS), CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER OF THAT A/C SYSTEM FOR RETROFIT GUIDELINES.

- OFFER THE CUSTOMER THE OPTION OF REPAIRING AND RECHARGING THE SYSTEM WITH R-12, OR RETROFITTING AFTER REPAIR AND RECHARGING WITH R-134A AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.

- PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH AND REVIEW THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE "CONVERTING YOUR AUTO AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO USE THE NEW REFRIGERANT" BROCHURE.

- RECORD THE CUSTOMER'S CHOICE ON THE REPAIR ORDER AND, AS WITH ALL PROPERLY COMPLETED REPAIR ORDERS, ASK THE CUSTOMER TO SIGN ON THE APPROPRIATE LINE ACKNOWLEDGING THE REPAIRS REQUESTED.

- UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE RETROFIT TO R-134A BE PERFORMED UNLESS THE CUSTOMER HAS HAD THE OPTION EXPLAINED PRIOR TO REPAIR. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETROFITTED TO R-134A, A SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURE WOULD BE INCURRED TO GO BACK TO R-12.

THIS IS NOT A SPECIAL POLICY, AND ANY EXISTING DEDUCTIBLES STILL APPLY. THIS IS SIMPLY A TEMPORARY OPTION BEING OFFERED TO THE CUSTOMER, DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

IF THE R-12 REFRIGERANT SYSTEM DOES NOT REQUIRE DISCHARGING FOR A WARRANTY REPAIR, BUT THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS A RETROFIT TO R-134A, THE RETROFIT WOULD BE PERFORMED AT THE CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE, EVEN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

CUSTOMER PAID RETROFITTING COSTS:

IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS A RETROFIT TO R-134A, THE CUSTOMER WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY THE COSTS TO RETROFIT UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

- THE RETROFIT PARTS AND PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR THE CUSTOMER'S SPECIFIC VEHICLE. IF NO RETROFIT HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR A SPECIFIC MODEL AND YEAR, GM STRONGLY DISCOURAGES ATTEMPTING TO RETROFIT THE VEHICLE.

- THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE TERMS OF THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY.

- THE VEHICLE IS COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT THE REPAIR COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY DOES NOT REQUIRE EVACUATING AND RECHARGING THE REFRIGERANT SYSTEM.

RETROFIT REQUIREMENTS:

THE CUSTOMER SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO RETROFIT ANY R-12 VEHICLE. VEHICLES BUILT WITH R-12 CAN BE SERVICED WITH R-12 AS LONG AS IT IS AVAILABLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF R-12, AND R-12 WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1995. GM IS TAKING STEPS TO HELP EXTEND THE SUPPLY OF R-12 AND RECOMMENDS THAT ALL R-12 VEHICLES NOT COVERED BY THIS OR SUBSEQUENT RETROFIT BULLETINS CONTINUE TO BE SERVICED WITH R-12.

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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.