CAMPAIGN: STEEL WHEELS

SUBJECT: STEEL WHEELS

MODELS AFFECTED: CERTAIN 1988,1989, AND 1990 REGALS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS (RPO PB9-14" AND RPO PG1-15")

IMPORTANT: IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT A NUMBER OF VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL 90-C-13 "STEEL WHEELS" ISSUED APRIL, 1994, AND EXPANDED BY 90-C-13C ISSUED MARCH, 1995; WILL REQUIRE REINSPECTION. A NEW SAFETY CAMPAIGN AND NEW LABOR CODES ARE BEING ISSUED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES. A SECOND NEW CUSTOMER LETTER WILL BE SENT TO THE INVOLVED VEHICLE CUSTOMERS.

VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER 90-C-13 THAT HAD LESS THAN FOUR WHEELS REPLACED ARE TO BE REINSPECTED. IF THE WHEEL CODES WERE NOTED ON THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN DEALER REPAIR ORDER AND DO NOT MATCH THE CODES INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE CUSTOMER CAN BE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AND ADVISED THAT A TRIP TO THE DEALER IS NOT NECESSARY.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended , provide that each vehicle that is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer 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 customer 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 customer 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 customers, the customers 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 decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988, 1989, AND 1990 Buick Regal model vehicles equipped with steel wheels (RPO's PB9 [ 14"] and PG1 [ 15"]). These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to reinspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel to determine if the wheels were produced during a suspect period. Whenever a wheel falls within the new specified date code range, dealers are to replace that wheel assembly.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1988, 1989, and 1990 Buick Regal model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

WHEEL PLANT SIZE YEAR PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14" PB9 1988 Oshawa#2 1 J1480947 J1530075

14" PB9 1989 Oshawa#2 1 K1400026 K1441900 14" PB9 1989 Oshawa#2 1 K1456579 K1458985

14" PB9 1990 Oshawa#2 1 L1430170 L1432588 15" PG1 1990 Oshawa#2 1 L1430170 L1432519

IMPORTANT: ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH STANDARD STEEL WHEELS WITHIN THESE RANGES ARE INVOLVED. VEHICLES WITH STYLED STEEL WHEELS OR ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE NOT INVOLVED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR DEALER CAMPAIGN LISTING OR THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM (VISS) FOR CAMPAIGN INVOLVEMENT OF SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign.

These listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from State Motor 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.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers of vehicles affected by this campaign will be notified by letter from Buick Motor Division. (See copy of the new (second) customer letter included with this bulletin.)

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers of vehicles recently sold from your used vehicle inventory, with no customer 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 customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer 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 steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

DEALERS MAY ALSO WISH TO CONTACT CUSTOMERS ON THEIR INVOLVED VEHICLE LIST WHO CAN BE INFORMED THAT THE DISC DATE CODES WERE WRITTEN ON THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN (90-C-13) REPAIR ORDER. IF THE CODES DO NOT MATCH ADDITIONAL SUSPECT DATE CODES, THEN A TRIP TO THE DEALER IS NOT NECESSARY.

PARTS INFORMATION

A pre-shipment of part number 9592409, 14" steel wheel, will be sent to involved dealers the week of June 12, 1995. Pre-shipment will be a quantity of four (4). Pre-shipment parts will be charged to the dealers' open parts account.

Additional parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "CIO" order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2). All Goodwrench Parts System test dealers should order on a "V.I.P." order.

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE ------------------------------------------------------------------ 09592409 14" Steel Wheel 1 to 4 - As Required 09592147 15" Steel Wheel 1 to 4 - As Required 09439866 Valve Stems 1 to 4 - As Required

NOTICE: TO ASSIST IN ORDERING WHEELS, THE TO-BE-DONE LISTING OF ADDITIONAL VEHICLES HAS AN IDENTIFYING SIZE CODE LETTER AFTER THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER AS FOLLOWS:

A - 14" (PB9) B - 15" (PG1)

SERVICE PROCEDURE

------------

IMPORTANT: REINSPECTION MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY REVIEWING THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN 90-C-13 REPAIR ORDER IF THE WHEEL CODES WERE NOTED ON THE REPAIR ORDER. IF REPAIR ORDER REVIEW INDICATES EXPANDED CODES ARE STILL NOT INVOLVED, NOTIFY CUSTOMER AND IF VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP, PROCEED TO STEP 7 AND INSTALL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

OR

REINSPECT ALL WHEEL LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE.

1. Remove wheel cover, using care to avoid damage to cover and wheel surfaces.

2. Thoroughly clean outer surface of wheel using appropriate cleaning materials and tools.

NOTICE: WHEEL MUST BE CLEANED TO ASSURE CORRECT READING AND INTERPRETATION OF DATE CODE STAMPED ON THE CENTER PORTION OF WHEEL.

3. Read and record on repair order date code stamped on center portion of wheel in the following order (see figure on page 4):

A. Manufacturer, in plant and year codes

B. Disc code

C. Day code is not to be considered

If codes match any of the combinations on next page or are unreadable/illegible, the wheel must be replaced.

4. Repeat above procedure for remaining three wheels on vehicle.

REPLACEMENT

5. As required by inspection, replace necessary wheels (& balance). Use torque stick J39544-15 and impact gun to tighten lug nuts to appropriate torque.

This should be done in two steps using the star pattern. First, snug the nuts down by hand. Then using the star pattern and a torque stick or torque wrench, tighten the wheel nuts to about half the final torque. Finally, tighten the wheel nuts to specification using the star pattern and the torque stick/wrench. Use the same amount of impact wrench operating time as would normally be used without a torque stick.

6. Render all removed wheels unusable and scrap as required by Corporate Policy and Procedures.

7. Install Campaign Identification Label.

Manufacturer (M) Plant (P) Year (Y) -------------------------------------------- M P Y DATE CODE -------------------------------------------- K 2 8 J K 2 8 K K 2 8 L K 2 8 M K 2 8 N K 2 8 O K 2 8 P K 2 8 Q K 2 8 R K 2 8 S K 2 8 T K 2 8 U K 2 8 W K 2 9 A K 2 9 B K 2 9 C K 2 9 Y K 2 9 EE K 2 9 FF K 2 9 GG K 2 9 JJ K 2 9 KK L 2 9 LL K 2 0 A

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 customer. When using the new campaign identification label, be sure to install the clear protective covering. Additional "Campaign Identification Labels" can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday through Friday 8: 00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering

Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS

Steel wheels removed from vehicles involved in this campaign may be scrapped immediately after rendering removed wheels unusable.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Submit a claim using the one appropriate operation:

Repair Parts Failed Parts Failure Labor Labor Net Performed Count Part Allow Code Op Hrs. Amount NO. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Verified Wheel Codes on Prior Repair Order - no wheels replacement necessary, advise customer OR

Inspect all wheels - no wheels replaced -- -- -- 96 V8625 *0.2 --

o Inspect all wheels - one (wheel) replaced 1 9592409 (14") 96 V8626 *0.5 *** or 9592147 (15") o Inspect all wheels - two (2) wheels replaced 2 9592409 (14") 96 V8627 *0.7 *** or 9592147 (15") o Inspect all wheels - three (3) wheels replaced

3 9592409 (14") 96 V8628 *0.9 *** or 9592147 (15")

o Inspect all wheels - four (4) wheels replaced 4 9592409 (14") 96 V8629 *1.1 *** or 9592147 (15")

*The "Labor Hours" time shown include time for replacement of valve stems(s) and wheel balancing, but not removal of locking wheel covers or Campaign Administrative Allowance.

Add: For locking wheel covers, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours" for wheel cover lock removal/reinstall (one or all).

Add: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours the "Labor Hours."

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO dealer net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.

*** The "Net amount" should represent the dealer cost, plus 30% for balance weights and valve stem used.

Dear Buick Regal Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

SAFETY RECALL FOR:

In April, 1994, General Motors decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988, 1989, and 1990, Buick Regal model vehicles equipped with steel wheels. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

Since that time, an additional group of wheels has been identified as possibly exhibiting the same condition. A new campaign is being initiated to re-examine previously inspected 1988, 1989, and 1990 vehicles and replace any suspect wheels from this additional population.

ACTION:

------ We apologize for causing you this additional inconvenience; but to prevent this condition from occurring, your dealer will reinspect the manufacturing date code stamped on each wheel of your vehicle to determine if the wheels were produced during suspect period. Whenever a wheel falls within the specified date code range, your dealer will replace that wheel assembly. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

HOW LONG WILL REPAIR TAKE?

The labor time necessary to perform this service inspection/correction is approximately ten (10) minutes to one (1) hour depending on the repairs required. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

CONTACTING YOUR BUICK DEALER:

Please contact your Buick as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this inspection/correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available.

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 (5) days, we recommend you contact 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 202-366-0123).

CUSTOMER REPLY CARD:

The enclosed customer 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 additional 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.