SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (INFLATOR MODULE)
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) INFLATOR MODULE
MODELS AFFECTED: 1990 RIVIERA AND REATTA
This Product Campaign was announced to initial affected dealers by DCS 91-04, dated October 29, 1990. Subsequently, two additional DCS's have been issued with additional vehicles involved: DCS 91-04A and DCS 91-04B were sent to affected dealers. This bulletin contains additional information and vehicles involved.
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.
CONDITION
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1990 Buick Riviera and Reatta model vehicles. In the event of an accident requiring deployment of the driver's side Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR), the SIR Inflator Module, located in the steering wheel assembly, could separate. If separation occurs, the air bag will not inflate as intended, and the driver will not be properly restrained. In addition, separation of the SIR Inflator Module may result in hot combustion gases escaping into the occupant compartment, presenting the possibility that vehicle occupants could receive burn injuries.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1990 Buick Riviera and Reatta model vehicles within the following VIN breakpoints listed below:
Through and Assembly Plant From Included -------------- -------- ----------- Reatta Craft Centre LB903608 LB904594 Hamtramck LU400280 LU421713
Note: Approximately 302 vehicles within these ranges are affected.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicle by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The zone/branch is being requested to contact the owners to immediately advise them of this campaign and arrange this service.
CHANGE OF OWNER NOTIFICATION
Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (DCS) to provide Buick Motor Division with subsequent Buick owner information. By reporting a change of owner name or address of a vehicle in campaign status over the DCS, the need to send a CVAR form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the DCS Manual under Section 9, Page 9-J01A and B.
DEALER ACTION
To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the SIR Inflator Module per the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure. Dealer should contact zone/branch as soon as a replacement SIR Inflator Module is received. 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.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, 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 in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
DEALER MATERIAL
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following items:
- List of all vehicles involved in this campaign shipped to your dealership
- One (1) campaign identification label for each vehicle
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 vehicles 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.
PARTS INFORMATION
Dealers who received involved vehicles are to contact TRW - Mesa, AZ to obtain the SIR Inflator Module on a "No Charge" basis. Parts in most cases will be shipped overnight express.
Parts will not be billed on dealer parts account. Dealers should not order parts from GMSPO.
To obtain an SIR Inflator Module for a vehicle on the to be done list: Contact TRW - Mesa, AZ between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-800-346-0311 and asking for Frances Angelski. Provide her with the last eight (8) digits of the VIN, your shipping address, phone number and to whose attention you want the part shipped.
If transfers are involved, contact your zone or branch office to arrange transfer of campaign parts and/or assignment to the new dealer.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Refer to 1990 Riviera and Reatta Service Manual - Section 3F4
1. Read precautions on handling SIR Inflator Module (pages 2 and 3).
2. Disable the SIR system (page 2).
3. Remove and install new Inflator Module (pages 4 and 5).
4. Enable the SIR system (page 3).
5. Return the replaced Inflator Module properly tagged, and in the Inflator Module shipping container per the instructions included with the new module.
CAUTION:
DO NOT DEPLOY
6. Install Campaign 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 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:
SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPER COUNT PART NO ALLOW CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TWG ---- ----- ------- ----- ------ ----- ----- ----- --------- o Replace the SIR Inflator Module -- -- -- 96 V6640 0.5 *0.1 **113.40
* 0.1 hour for administration ** $113.40 represents 30% of current dealer price of furnished part.
Dear Buick Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1990 Buick Riviera and Reatta model vehicles. In the event of an accident requiring deployment of the driver's side Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR), the SIR Inflator Module located in the steering wheel assembly, could separate. If separation occurs, the air bag will not inflate as intended, and the driver will not be properly restrained. In addition, separation of the SIR Inflator Module may result in hot combustion gases escaping into the occupant compartment, presenting the possibility that vehicle occupants could receive burn injuries.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To correct this condition, your dealer will replace the SIR Inflator Module. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. (Your zone/branch has been instructed to try to contact you as soon as parts are received by the dealer.) The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately thirty (30) minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
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, Flint Home Office, 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).
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.
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.
