INFO. ON INCORRECT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. Buick Skylark 1996

SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON INCORRECT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) SET BY SIR MODULE CONTAINING 1997 SOFTWARE

MODELS: 1996 BUICK SKYLARK 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM BUILT ON 7/17/96

SOME OF THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES BUILT ON 7/17/96 WERE RELEASED WITH A 1997 SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM). THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SIR SYSTEM IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, BUT INCORRECT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) MAY BE SEEN BY SERVICE TECHNICIANS WHEN PERFORMING DIAGNOSTICS.

DUE TO CHANGES IN THE SDM SOFTWARE, A TECH 1 MAY DISPLAY THE WRONG DTC OR "NO DATA".

BEFORE ATTEMPTING REPAIRS, CONFIRM WHICH SDM IS IN THE VEHICLE. PERFORM THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK USING A TECH 1, THEN SELECT DATA LIST TO FIND THE MODULE IDENTIFICATION. THIS WILL IDENTIFY WHICH MODEL YEAR SDM IS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE.

96 SDM-R P/N 16227379 MODULE ID = $52 97 SDM-RSD P/N 16209209 MODULE ID = $50

IF THE TECH 1 CONFIRMS THAT THE VEHICLE CONTAINS A 97 SDM, USE A TECH 2 TO DIAGNOSE THE SYSTEM WHILE USING 1997 SERVICE INFORMATION. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT DTC'S ARE RETRIEVED BY THE TECHNICIAN TO ENSURE PROPER DIAGNOSIS OF THE SYSTEM. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SDM TO CORRECT THE CURRENT FAULT CONDITION, A 1996 SDM SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. IF NO FAULT IS FOUND WITH THE 1997 SDM, IT SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED.

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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.