INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. Cadillac Concours 1995

SUBJECT: INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN INTERIOR EXPOSED TO WET CONDITIONS (REPLACE SDM)

MODELS: 1995 CADILLAC CONCOURS, DEVILLE, ELDORADO, SEVILLE 1995 VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINTS: ELDORADO 613664 SEVILLE 821128 DEVILLE/CONCOURS 267835

CONDITION:

INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN VEHICLE INTERIOR HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO EXTENSIVE WATER INTRUSION.

CAUSE:

SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) WATER DAMAGE.

CORRECTION:

THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PROCEDURE SHOULD BE UTILIZED IF THE VEHICLE INTERIOR HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO EXTENSIVE WATER INTRUSION, SUCH AS WATER LEAKS, WINDOW LEFT OPEN, OR DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WATER SOAKING THE CARPET. THE SIR SYSTEM SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MUST BE REPLACED WITH THE NEW WATER RESISTANT UNIT (PART NUMBERS LISTED BELOW), IF THE VIN IS PRIOR TO THOSE LISTED ABOVE.

BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS, THE SIR SYSTEM MUST BE DISABLED. SEE ON-VEHICLE SERVICE IN THE APPROPIATE SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISABLE THE SIR SYSTEM AND REPLACE THE SDM. SHOULD THE VEHICLE REQUIRE TOWING AS A RESULT OF THE WATER INTRUSION, THE BATTERY CABLE MUST BE DISCONNECTED FIRST BEFORE TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL.

A COPY OF AN INFORMATIONAL LETTER, WHICH IS BEING SENT TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, IS ON THE REVERSE SIDE. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FROM CUSTOMERS RELATIVE TO THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006.

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION MODEL 16230106 SDM ELDORADO 16230096 SDM SEVILLE 16230116 SDM DEVILLE/CONCOURS

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN LIMITED QUANTITIES FROM GMSPO. PART ORDERS SHOULD BE FOR CONFIRMED CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS ONLY. DO NOT ORDER FOR SHELF STOCK. ADDITIONAL INVENTORY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH, 1996.

DEAR CADILLAC CUSTOMER:

PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE CADILLAC FAMILY IS GIVING YOU EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR 1995 CADILLAC. THIS PROCESS BEGINS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE OWNER MANUAL AND WARRANTY BOOK AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT YOUR OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH OUR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, HIGHER STANDARD. IN ADDITION, YOU'LL RECEIVE NOTICES, SUCH AS THIS, WHEN THERE IS SPECIFIC PRODUCT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD HAVE.

RECENTLY WE BECAME AWARE OF A SITUATION THAT COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT CERTAIN 1995 MODEL DEVILLES, CONCOURS, ELDORADOS AND SEVILLES EVEN THOUGH THE CHANCES OF IT OCCURRING ARE VERY REMOTE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DEVASTATING FLOODS THIS PAST YEAR. FLOOD WATER CAN DAMAGE OR DESTROY NUMEROUS VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND EVEN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. IF YOUR CADILLAC IS EVER, OR HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN, EXPOSED TO SIGNIFICANT STANDING WATER - WATER UP TO THE LEVEL OF THE CARPET, THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER CAN BE SOAKED AND RUINED. IF THIS OCCURS, AND YOU START THE CAR, THE DAMAGED CONTROLLER CAN MAKE BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS INFLATE, EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO FRONTAL IMPACT OR CRASH.

THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THESE BAGS CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. SINCE THEY INFLATE ONLY ONCE, YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE BOTH AIR BAGS, TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED SENSING EQUIPMENT, REPLACED.

IF YOUR CADILLAC IS EVER IN A FLOOD OR OTHERWISE EXPOSED TO WATER THAT SOAKS THE CARPET, YOU CAN SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS BY TURNING YOUR IGNITION KEY OFF IMMEDIATELY. DON'T LET ANYONE TURN THE KEY BACK ON - EVEN TO TOW YOUR VEHICLE - UNLESS THE BATTERY CABLE IS FIRST DISCONNECTED. YOU ALSO MAY WISH TO CONTACT CADILLAC ROADSIDE SERVICE AT 1-800-882-1112 FOR ASSISTANCE.

WE HOPE YOUR CADILLAC IS NEVER IN A FLOOD, BUT JUST IN CASE, YOU MAY WANT TO PLACE THIS LETTER IN YOUR VEHICLE'S GLOVE BOX AS A REMINDER FOR YOU AND ANY SUBSEQUENT OWNER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER OR CALL OUR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006.

REGARDS,

JOHN O. GRETTENBERGER GENERAL MANAGER, CADILLAC MOTOR DIVISION

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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.