CAMPAIGN: HEADLIGHT SWITCH PANEL REPLACEMENT

MODELS AFFECTED: 1988 SKYLARK WITH ELECTRONIC DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RPO U52

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 adequately 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 which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Buick Home Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the agreed service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, the owners 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 1988 Skylark models equipped with Electronic Digital Instrument Cluster (U52 option). The affected vehicles may experience unexpected loss of tail lamp and side marker lamp function, reducing other drivers' ability to see the vehicle, which might lead to a vehicle crash without prior warning in conditions of poor visibility; i.e., severe weather or nighttime.

DEALER ACTION

To prevent this condition, dealers are required to replace the headlight switch panel on suspected vehicles, per the Vehicles Involved and Technical Procedure sections of this bulletin.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

* Certain 1988 Skylarks with U52 option, within the following VIN breakpoints:

Model Year Plant Beginning Through & Including ---- ----- --------- ------------------- 1988 Lansing JMOOOO3 JMOO3129

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles involved in this campaign, at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into used car inventory, dealers are to take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling the vehicle.

In addition, dealers are to perform the campaign on all affected vehicles as they are brought in for any kind of service.

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 per vehicle involved.

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 the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.

These computer listings 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.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners of vehicles involved in this campaign will be notified by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).

CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION

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 CS Manual under Section 9, Page 9-JOlA and B.

SHIPMENT OF PARTS

The correct quantity of Headlight Switch Panels are being shipped to each dealer on a "NO CHARGE" basis. They will not be billed on dealer parts account. Dealers should not order from GMSPO. If transfers make additional parts necessary, contact your Zone or Branch office.

Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------- --------------- 22539950 Headlamp Switch Panel 1 (Part furnished)

TECHNICAL PROCEDURE

1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.

2. Remove center cluster trim plate.

3. Remove left switch pod trim plate.

4. Remove screws securing headlight switch panel, and remove switch panel from wiring connectors.

5. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to install new switch.

6. Check functional operation of switch panel.

7. Install a Campaign Identification Label.

Each label provides a space to include the campaign number, the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. When installing label, clean the surface of the radiator support tie bar. When installing label, clean the surface of the radiator upper mounting panel and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.

DISPOSITION OF PARTS

Replaced parts must be held for disposition by Buick Zone or Branch contact personnel. Parts must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which they were removed.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPER. COUNT PART NO. ALLOW. CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TWG ---- ----- ------- ----- ------ ----- ----- ----- -------

* Replace Headlight Switch Panel -- -- -- 96 V4250 .2 *.1 **11.48

* .1 hour for administration. ** 30% of current dealer price of furnished headlight switch panel, Part Number 22539950.

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 RECALL

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1988 Skylark models equipped with Electronic Digital Instrument Cluster (U52 option). The affected vehicles may experience unexpected loss of tail lamp and side marker lamp function, reducing other drivers' ability to see the vehicle, which might lead to a vehicle crash without prior warning in conditions of poor visibility; i.e., severe weather or nighttime.

Until you have had an opportunity to have your Buick corrected, you should be alert for signs of loss of parking light circuitry functions. For example, loss of interior panel light dimming control (stays full bright) or loss of "lights on" indicator in the cluster.

WHAT WE WILL DO

Replace the headlight switch panel. This service will be completed at no charge to you.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions have been sent to your Buick dealer. The labor time to replace the switch panel is about 15 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.

Your Buick dealer is best equipped to provide service to ensure .your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and he does not remedy this condition on that date, or within five days, we recommend you contact the Customer Assistance Department, Flint Home Office, by calling 800-521-7300.

After contacting your dealer and the Buick Home Office, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge, within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 426-0123).

The enclosed Owner Reply Card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of the card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid Owner 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.