CAMPAIGN: FRONT SHOULDER BELT SEW STOP STUCK IN RETRACTOR

SUBJECT: FRONT SHOULDER BELT

MODELS AFFECTED: ALL 1990-1993 RIVIERAS

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 customer has tendered it for repair. A failure within sixty (60) days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair with 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 has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1990-93 model Buick Rivieras. These vehicles exhibit a condition where the front outer shoulder belt web sew stop may become stuck in the retractor. This can occur when the web sew stop is jammed into or passes through the retractor web guide. As a result, the belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor, and some occupants may even be unable to fasten the belt. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are at a significantly greater risk of injury than those who are wearing seat belts properly.

To correct this condition, dealers are to install webbing stop button if the customer requests repair.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are ALL 1990-93 model Buick Rivieras.

IMPORTANT: NO FOLLOW-UP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. CORRECTION IS ONLY TO BE MADE AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST.

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.

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 as necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

PARTS INFORMATION

During the week of June 26, 1995, an initial supply of two (2) sets of each button color will be pre-shipped to each dealer. (Note: White is not being preshipped due to low volume). Preshipped 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.

IMPORTANT: ONLY ORDER ADDITIONAL PARTS BASED ON CUSTOMER RESPONSE AND NOT THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON COMPUTER LISTINGS.

INTERIOR TRIM PART NUMBER QUANTITY/ COLOR AND COLOR VEHICLE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Blue, Graphite, Gray, 12525166 Graphite 1 (2 buttons per kit Medium Gray, Slate As required)

Taupe, Brown, Medium 12525169 Med. Beige 1 (2 buttons per kit Beige, Beige As required)

Red, Auburn, Ruby Red 12529738 Dk. Auburn 1 (2 buttons per kit As required)

White with Red, Blue, or 12529739 White 1 (2 buttons per kit Beige As required)

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers of vehicles affected by this campaign will be notified by letter from Buick Motor Division. (See copy of the 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 notified of the campaign action. 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, if the customer desires, before selling or releasing the vehicle.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT: BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SHOULDER BELTS ARE TO RECEIVE WEBBING STOP BUTTON (EVEN IF COMPLAINT IS ONLY ON ONE SIDE).

1. If the shoulder belt web stop is lodged in the retractor, give a quick tug on the shoulder belt to free.

2. Locate the upper edge of the sew stop and insert the pin half of the plastic button into the center of the seatbelt webbing as shown in figure.

3. While wearing proper eye protection, snip off the pointed tip of the pin at the groove just above the rounded bulge. Use Snap-on Tool #E710CG (True-Flush Cut, Tapered Head, Electronic Service Cutter) or equivalent as shown in View A of figure.

4. Align other button half to the remaining portion of the pin.

5. Press the two halves together firmly with pliers.

IMPORTANT: CHECK AND MAKE SURE NO SHARP PROTRUSION EXISTS THAT COULD CATCH ON CLOTHING. CORRECT AS REQUIRED.

6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 on other side.

7. Install Campaign Identification 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 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 on a clean dry surface.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

REPAIR PARTS FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR PERFORMED COUNT PART ALLOW CODE OP. HRS. NO. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Install 1 * *** 96 V9630 **0.2 Snap-on Webbing Stop Buttons - Both Sides Reimbursement ---- -- -- 96 T2600 ***** for Prior Front Outer Safety Belt Replacement

* Use applicable GMSPO part number

** ADD: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to 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.

**** Follow submission procedure as outlined in Claims Processing Manual Section VII Special Claim Types for Claim Type "S" - Customer Reimbursement.

Dear Buick Riviera Customer:

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

SAFETY RECALL FOR:

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1990-93 model Buick Rivieras. These vehicles exhibit a condition where the front outer shoulder belt web sew stop may become stuck in the retractor. This can occur when the web sew stop is jammed into or passes through the retractor web guide. As a result, the belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor, and some occupants may even be unable to fasten the belt. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are at a significantly greater risk of injury than those who are wearing seat belts properly.

Note: The shoulder belt web sew stop is the raised stitching area on the belt.

ACTION:

------ Most Rivieras do not have this condition. However, if you have ever found it hard to pull either the driver or right front passenger shoulder belt out as you buckle the safety belt, or should you ever experience this in the future, please contact your Buick dealer and have the dealer install front shoulder belt stop buttons. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

If you choose not to bring your Riviera in now, we suggest you keep this letter in your glovebox for future reference.

HOW TO INSPECT YOUR BELTS FOR THIS CONDITION:

If you are not sure whether your Riviera has this condition, you can easily inspect it by following the inspection procedure included with this letter.

HOW LONG WILL REPAIR TAKE, IF NEEDED?

The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately fifteen (15) minutes. 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:

To bring your Riviera in, please contact your Buick dealer to arrange a service date. Your dealer will need to know the color of your safety belts when you make this contact. Instructions for making this 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 the 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 REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR FRONT OUTER SAFETY BELT REPLACEMENT:

If you have already paid for some or all of the cost to have a front outer safety belt replaced due to this condition, prior to receipt of this letter, you may contact your Buick Dealer Service Department to seek reimbursement. Please provide your dealer with your original paid receipts or invoices verifying the repair, the amount charged, proof of your payment and date of payment of those charges by December 31, 1995, (this time limitation for presenting the receipt may be longer depending upon the law in your state).

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 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

INSPECTION PROCEDURE FOR SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP

Perform the following procedure five (5) times on both the driver's and right front passenger's shoulder belts.

1. Hold the shoulder belt latch plate in one hand and pull the shoulder belt all the way out with the opposite hand.

2. At full extension, move the belt webbing to minimize contact with the head rest guide loop.

3. Allow the webbing to retract as quickly as possible, keep the latch plate in your hand to prevent its weight from slowing the webbing down.

If the web sew stop becomes stuck in the retractor during one of these checks making the shoulder belt hard to pull out again, contact your dealer to have the web stop buttons installed.

If both belts work properly, no repair is necessary.

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.