CAMPAIGN: AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEM

THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, AS AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT EACH VEHICLE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO A PRODUCT CAMPAIGN OF THIS TYPE MUST BE ADEQUATELY REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE OWNER HAS TENDERED TI FOR REPAIR. FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REPAIR WITHIN 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 NEAREST CADILLAC ZONE OFFICE IF THEIR DEALER DOES NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE AGREED SERVICE DATE. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT REMEDIED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, THEY ARE INSTRUCTED HOW TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

DEFECT INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 1981 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLES ASSEMBLED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEMS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE". THE DOOR FRAME TO BODY CENTER PILLAR INTERLOCK ON THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FO THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISALIGNED. DURING AN ACCIDENT, MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERLOCK WOULD PREVENT PROPER TRANSFER OF OCCUPANT LOADS THROUGH THE SEAT BELT TO THE ANCHORAGE AT THE CENTER PILLAR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, THUS INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY.

TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS OCCURRING ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, DEALERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ALIGN BOTH THE RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE STRIKER AND CLEVIS ASSEMBLIES ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PROCEDURES INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

ALL 1981 SEDAN DEVILLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE VIN RANGE OF B9111687 THROUGH B9193805 REQUIRE THE CAMPAIGN SERVICES SPECIFIED IN THIS BULLETIN (CADILLAC RECORDS INDICATE THAT A TOTAL OF 86 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED). NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN BE READILY IDENTIFIED SINCE THE LETTER "B" APPEARS IN THE FOURTH ALPHA NUMERIC CHARACTER SLOT OF THE VIN; EXAMPLE: 1G6DB6942B9111687.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED BY CADILLAC OF THIS CAMPAIGN. A COPY OF THE OWNER LETTER AND A SUGGESTED OWNER FOLLOW UP LETTER FOR DEALERSHIP USE ARE ATTACHED. A LIST OF THOSE VEHICLES INVOLVED, WHICH OUR RECORDS INDICATE WERE SOLD BY YOU, IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR FOLLOW UP. THIS LISTING CONTAINS OWNER NAMES AND ADDRESSES OBTAINED FROM CADILLAC DELIVERY RECORDS AND STATE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORD. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DTA FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE IS A VIOLATION OF LAW IN SEVERAL STATES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE URGED TO LIMIT THE USE OF THIS LISTING FOR THE FOLLOW UP NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE, AT NO CAHRGE TO THE OWNER, ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP.

WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED CAR INVENTORY IN THE FUTURE, YOU SHOULD 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 SERVICES ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN FOR ANY KIND OF SERVICE UNTIL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOTICE TO YOU THAT SOME OF THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNDER SECTION 108 OF THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR A DEALER TO SELL A NEW MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER KNOWS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH AN APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IF YOU SELL ANY OF THESE MOTOR VEHICLES WITHOUT FIRST PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION, YOUR DEALERSHIP MAY BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY UP TO $1,000 FOR EACH SUCH SALE.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

TO DETERMINE IF THE STRIKER AND CLEVIS ASSEMBLIES ARE PROPERLY ALIGNED, OPEN AND CLOSE BOTH FRONT DOORS SEVERAL TIMES AND VISUALLY INSPECT THE STRIKER AND CLEVIS ASSEMBLIES. REFER TO FIGURE 1. WITH THE DOOR IN A CLOSED POSITION, THE STRIKER SHOULD BE CENTERED UP AND DOWN AND FORE AND AFT IN THE MOUTH OF THE CLEVIS AND SHOULD BE FREE OF BINDS AND INTERFERENCE.

IF THE STRIKER IS NOT PROPERLY ENTERING THE MOUTH OF THE CLEVIS, AS ILLUSTRATED IN FIGURE 1, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENTS FOR EACH MISALIGNED STRIKER AND CLEVIS ASSEMBLY.

1. REMOVE CENTER PILLAR TRIM TO EXPOSE CLEVIS ATTACHING BOLT. REFER TO FIGURE 1.

2. USING TOOL J-23457, ADJUST CLEVIS FORE AND AFT, AS REQUIRED, TO ALIGN CLEVIS WITH STRIKER. TORQUE CLEVIS BOLT TO 35 TO 48 N.M (26 TO 36 FT.LBS.).

3. DISENGAGE PLASTIC COVER ON DOOR UPPER FRAME AND ROTATE TO EXPOSE STRIKER ATTACHING NUTS AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2.

4. LOOSEN STRIKER ATTACHING NUTS AND ADJUST STRIKER UP AND DOWN AS REQUIRED TO ALIGN STRIKER WITH CLEVIS AS ILLUSTRATED IN FIGURE 1. TORQUE STRIKER ATTACHING NUTS TO 18 TO 25 N.M (14 TO 19 FT.LBS.).

5. REINSTALL PILLAR TRIM AND DOOR COVERS AS REQUIRED.

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS CAMPAIGN, A WHITE CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL (CAT.NO. S-1015) SHOULD BE AFFIXED ON A CLEAN, DRY SURFACE OF THE RADIATOR SUPPORT TIE BAR IN AN AREA CLEARLY VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE'S HOOD IS RAISED. EACH LABEL PROVIDES SPACE TO PRINT IN INK OR TYPE CAMPAIGN NUMBER 81-C-2 AND YOUR 5 DIGIT DEALER CODE. DEALERS ARE TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO INSURE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE PROPERLY RECORDED ON THE LABEL.

CREDIT

CREDIT FOR THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE ISSUED UPON RECEIPT OF A PROPERLY PREPARED WARRANTY CLAIM AS FOLLOWS:

FAILURE LABOR LABOR DESCRIPTION CODE OPERATION TIME

INSPECT ONLY 96 V0890 .2 HR.

INSPECT AND ADJUST 1 STRIKER & CLEVIS ASSEMBLY 96 V0891 .4 HR.

INSPECT AND ADJUST 2 STRIKER & CLEVIS ASSEMBLIES 96 V0892 .6 HR.

THE LABOR TIME LISTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE INSPECTION AND/OR CORRECTION. DEALERS SHOULD APPLY FOR 0 ADDITIONAL HOURS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE AS "OTHER LABOR HOURS".

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.