U.S. Campaign Number Cross Reference: CANADA ONLY
General Motors of Canada has determined, under the provisions of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in certain 1988 Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, and Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with 2.3L (VIN Code "D", RPO LD2) engines. The production crankcase ventilation system may restrict return of the throttle blade to the closed (idle) position if a specific sequence of events occurs:
A series of many short driving cycles during cold weather permits moisture to accumulate in the crankcase. Subsequently, the low vacuum crankcase ventilation hose introduces warm, moist air into the throttle body above the throttle blade directly into high velocity incoming fresh air. Under certain conditions (constant speed highway driving in sub zero temperature, Fahrenheit), this may result in ice buildup behind the throttle blade, preventing the throttle from fully returning to closed bore (idle). "Snapping" the accelerator pedal eliminates the restriction by removing the ice buildup.
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install Engine Ventilation Kit.
Certain 1988 Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, and Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with 2.3L (VIN Code "D", RPO LD2) engines, within the breakpoints listed below:
Engine VIN Beginning Through & Year Model Model Name Codes VIN Including ---- ----- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- 1988 N Buick Skylark D S.O.P. E.O.P
1988 N Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais D S.O.P. E.O.P
1988 N Pontiac Grand Am D S.O.P. E.O.P
All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.
Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres traveled, 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, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling 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 modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.
All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.
Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------- ---------------- 12339306 Engine Ventilation Kit 1
The above kit contains the following parts:
22545197 Air Inlet Duct Assembly 1 22545453 Crankcase Ventilation Tube Assembly 1 22545239 Fuel Vapour Harness Assembly 1 22542296 Support, Engine Wiring/Vapour 1 25529877 Cap, Throttle Body Port 1
Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:
Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- -------------- 2A Install Engine Ventilation Kit .4
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.
1. Raise and support the hood.
2. Figure 1 shows an early 1988 system (upper view) and a late 1988 system (middle view). Figure 2 shows the 1989 system that is in the kit. The main difference between 1988 and 1989 is that the 1988 has a three port block connector verses a two port block connector on the 1989. Figure 3 shows the support used with the fuel vapour harness assembly in late 1988 and later production.
3. Remove the air inlet duct assembly.
4. Remove the vapour harness assembly, and record the ports or fittings to which the hoses attach.
5. Inspect the harness support (at the location shown in Figure 2) and if the vehicle you are working on has a support different than the one shown in Figure 3 (or no support), replace it with a new support from the kit.
6. Install a new vapour harness assembly to the correct ports noted above.
7. Install a rubber cap over the exposed port on the throttle body.
8. Install new air inlet duct and crankcase ventilation tube assembly.
9. Block drive wheels, set parking brake and start the engine to check operation.
10. Shut off engine. Install a Campaign Identification Label. Close hood.
Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the connect campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada has determined, under the provisions of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in certain 1988 Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, and Pontiac Grand Am model vehicles equipped with 2.3L engines. The production crankcase ventilation system may restrict return of the throttle blade to the closed (idle) position if a specific sequence of events occurs:
A series of many short driving cycles during cold weather permits moisture to accumulate in the crankcase. Subsequently, the low vacuum crankcase ventilation hose introduces warm, moist air into the throttle body above the throttle blade directly into high velocity incoming fresh air. Under certain conditions (constant speed highway driving in sub zero temperature, Fahrenheit), this may result in ice buildup behind the throttle blade, preventing the throttle from fully returning to closed bore (idle). "Snapping" the accelerator pedal eliminates the restriction by removing the ice buildup.
To prevent this condition from occurring, we will install an Engine Ventilation Kit on your vehicle. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.
This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary connection to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
Subsequent to contacting your dealer, further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English), or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your 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.