Product Safety - Driver Side Impact Air Bag Inflator

Caution: For vehicles involved in this campaign, do not follow the normal procedure of deploying replaced air bag modules. If a side impact air bag module replaced under this campaign is deployed, the inflator could separate from the air bag module and could result in severe injury.

To arrange for the return of side impact air bag modules removed from vehicles involved in this campaign, contact TRW via telephone at (810)781-8085 or (810)677-8253. A TRW representative will make arrangements for return of the replaced module. Removed modules should be stored in an area with limited access.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2000-01 Chevrolet Impala, Buick Regal and Buick Century model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment. If the inflator separates from the air bag module, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection could be reduced. It is also possible that a separated inflator could be propelled downward and could result in injury to a rear seat passenger whose foot is positioned approximately under the inflator module.

Dealers are to replace the side impact air bag module.

Involved are the following 2000-01 Chevrolet Impala, Buick Century and Buick Regal model vehicles equipped with driver side impact air bag (RPO AW6):

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Caution: For vehicles involved in this campaign, do not follow the normal procedure of deploying replaced air bag modules. If a side impact air bag module replaced under this campaign is deployed, the inflator could separate from the air bag module and could result in severe injury.

To arrange for the return of side impact air bag modules removed from vehicles involved in this campaign, contact TRW via telephone at (810)781-8085 or (810)677-8253. A TRW representative will make arrangements for return of the replaced module. Removed modules should be stored in an area with limited access.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Important: Due to the small number of vehicles involved, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock.

Important: For additional information, refer to the Seats subsection of the Body and Accessories section and the Seat Belts and SIR subsections of the Restraints section of the appropriate Service Manual.

1. Disable the SIR system.

1.1.	Turn the ignition to the OFF position and remove the key. Remove the driver's side instrument panel access cover and remove the SDM fuse.

1.2.	Remove the left side instrument panel access (insulator) cover. Remove the connector position assurance (CPA) and disconnect the yellow 2-way steering wheel air bag module connector near the base of the steering column.

1.3.	Remove the CPA from the driver side impact air bag yellow 2-way connector located under the driver's seat and disconnect the connector.

2. Move the seat track adjuster to the full rearward and up position.
3. Disconnect the side impact air bag wiring retainers from under the seat.
4. Move the seat track adjuster to the full forward position.
5. Remove the seat belt nut from the side of the seat and reposition the belt as necessary.
6. With the seatback upright, disengage the J-strip fastener on the bottom of the seat back cover.
7. With the seatback reclined rearward and from the bottom of the seat back, place your hand up the front side of the seat back cover and release the hook and loop fasteners that attach the seat back cover to the foam pad.
8. Release the seat back cover retainers from around the side impact air bag module.
9. On vehicles equipped with a seat back heater, disconnect the heater electrical connector and remove from the lower seat cushion.

Important: Only pull the seat back cover up as far as necessary to access the side air bag retaining nuts. It is not necessary to remove the seat back cover completely.

10. Starting at the bottom of the seat back, pull the seat back cover upwards. The bottom of the cover should be turning inside out as the cover rolls upwards.
11. Remove the rear side seat trim panel retaining screw and remove the panel.

Important: Make note of how the electrical harness is routed and retained in the seat before removing it in the next step.

12. Route the air bag electrical harness out through the lower seat cushion.
13. Remove the side impact air bag retaining nuts and remove the air bag module.
14. Install the side impact air bag module and retaining nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

15. Route the side impact air bag electrical harness through the lower seat cushion.
16. Install the rear side seat trim panel and retaining screw.

Tighten
Tighten the screw to 3 N·m (27 lb in).

17. Reinstall the seat back cover.
18. On vehicles equipped with a seat back heater, reinstall and connect the seat back heater electrical connector.
19. Clip in seat cover retainers around the side impact air bag module.
20. Reconnect the hook and loop fasteners that attach the cover to the foam pad.
21. Reconnect the J-strip fastener at the bottom of the seat back.
22. Install the seat belt to the side of the seat and install the nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 42 N·m (31 lb ft).

23. Move the seat track adjuster to the full forward position.
24. Connect the side impact air bag wiring retainers under the seat.
25. Move the seat tracker adjuster to the full rearward position.
26. Enable the SIR system.

26.1.

Connect the driver side impact air bag yellow 2-way connector located under the driver's seat and install the CPA.

26.2.

Connect the yellow 2-way steering wheel air bag module connector located near the base of the steering column and install the CPA. Install the left side instrument panel access panel cover (insulator).

26.3.

Install the SDM fuse and install the driver's side instrument panel access cover.

26.4.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify that the AIR BAG warning lamp flashes seven (7) times and goes out.

27. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Material by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Campaign Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which 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 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

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 who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers 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 the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

There will be no dealer mailing.

An owner mailing has not been scheduled at this time. Owners will be notified on an individual basis as information becomes available.