NEW DCS APPLICATION 'VEHICLE INFO. SERVICE SYS.'

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform you of the development of an on-line Vehicle Information Service System which will be made available to all GM dealers in the near future.

Overview

The New Car Limited Warranty for certain 1985-1988 vehicles contained Major Assembly coverage provisions. In early 1987 General Motors announced a new 6 year/60,000 mile Powertrain Limited Warranty coverage for all 1987 vehicles which carried over to all 1988 vehicles. These coverages differ from most other GM warranties in that they are provided to the first owner at no charge. Second owners only, can obtain any unexpired portion of these coverages upon application and payment of a $100 transfer fee. Any subsequent owners (and second owners who do not transfer) receive a substantially reduced warranty.

To promote second owner awareness of the transfer provisions, General Motors will solicit by mail (in states where permitted) second owner warranty transfers based on second owner vehicle registrations and title changes.

To currently manage the Major Assembly and 6/60 Powertrain Coverages, General Motors is developing an on-line Corporate Vehicle Information Service System to track vehicle ownership that can be used to determine a vehicle's warranty eligibility. Dealers will be able, through DCS, to access the system and inquire into a vehicle's current and previous ownership, applicable warranties, open campaigns, and GM extended service contracts. This new system will be available to all dealers by the fall of 1988. Procedures on the use of the system will be forwarded to your prior to system availability.

Special Note: The Vehicle Information Service System will include all open campaigns and can be used to inform dealers of any outstanding campaigns on any model year vehicle in for service. This system will eventually replace the current Computerized Recall Information System (CRIS). It is anticipated that CRIS will be discontinued by March, 1989.

Dealer Required Equipment

The Vehicle Information Service System DCS application will be accessible through current DCS equipment. Dealers, however, may purchase through approved DCS vendors a full or partial (conversational only) DCS device that can conveniently be located in the service write-up area for use by service personnel. Because of the benefits of having easy access to the Vehicle Information System in the dealership write-up area, GM would like its dealers to seriously consider making this purchase.

Other systems that will be accessible through a full or "partial" device include: Car Locator, Dealer Status, Mailbox Inquiry, Status Inquiry.

Note: DCS vendors have been notified. Contact your vendor for further information on approved full or patial DCS devices and availability.

SYSTEM PROCEDURE

1. Predetermination of Eligibility:

Prior to using the Vehicle Information Service System, dealers are to follow the verification procedure as outlined in Article 1.3 of the 1988 Cadillac Service Policies & Procedures Manual. The Manual states:

"In making verificaiton, it is the responsibility of dealer service personnel to verify as follows that the person requesting repairs is either the first retail purchaser or a second retail purchaser who has obtained a warranty transfer card:

Compare the name on the vehicle registration with the name on the warranty booklet and/or warranty transfer card. If the owner or user requesting the service is unable to provide the vehicle registration, other suitable identification such as the owner's drivers license, major credit card, and/or lease contract should be requested."

If after following the owner verification procedure there is still a question of eligibility, the dealer service personnel should inquire into the Vehicle Information Service System. The system will display Cadillac's most current records of the vehicle's ownership.

2. Dealer Screen Format:

The dealer will enter the VIN of the vehicle requiring verificaiton of warranty coverage.

The Vehicle Information Service System will reply within 30 seconds with the following information:

Vehicle Information Service System

A. Vin: 1G6CB5183H4205926 Inquiry Date: 09/01/88 B. Sales Date: 04/05/87 Sales Mileage: 18 C. Open Campaigns: 87C D. Vehicle Warranty: 24/24 Powertrain-$100 Deductible 5/50 Emissions 6/100 Corrosion E. Type of Sale: Retail F. First Retail Owner:Harold C. Richter G. Second Owner: Frank S. Wayne H. Transfer Date: 01/18/88 I. Eligibility for Transfer Expires: J. Current Owner: Robert H. Horner, Jr. K. Total # Owners: 3 L. Service Contract(s):None M. Opt. Limited Warranty Extension Exp. Date: - - - Mileage:-------

Note: (*) These lines will only display if information is present.

A. VIN requested and inquiry date.

B. Sales date and mileage of vehicle: Sales or in-service date and mileage.

C. Open Campaigns: Open product, safety or emission campaigns on vehicle.

D. Vehicle Warranties: As recorded on the Cadillac Warranty Validation System, this will depend on Cadillac's owner of record.

In the event Cadillac records show the vehicle warranty has not been transferred to the second owner of the vehicle is in third or subsequent owners' hands, the "Vehicle Warranties" line on the display will show the reduced warranty applicable to the vehicle.

E. Type of Sale: i.e. retail, fleet, GM PEP, etc.

F. First Retail Owner: Name of first retail owner as reported to Cadillac by selling dealer.

G. Second Owner: Name of second owner as reported by transfer applications, state registrations and title changes, campaign reports, etc.

Note: State vehicle registration or title change data will not be available from Hawaii, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.

H. Transfer Date: Date warranty transfer was accepted by General Motors.

I. Eligibility for Transfer Expires: Date when warranty transfer application will no longer be accepted by Cadilla.

J. Current Owner: As listed on Cadillac records.

K. Total Number of Owners: As recorded by Cadillac through various system inputs.

L. Service Contracts: This line will indicate if any GMPP or VPP service contracts were purchased.

M. Optional Limited Warranty Extension Expiration Date: The expiration date and mileage of the optional limited warranty extension received by the first retail purchaser (if purchased) on used dealer demos, GM company vehicles etc.

3. Final Confimation of Eligibility when GM Records Differ from Customer Records

There may be instances where the vehicle owner can offer proof of warranty eligibility and Cadillac records may be questionable (name change due to marriage, etc.). The vehicle owner should always receive the benefit of the doubt whenever there is a quesiton of eligibility. The dealer should perform the repair, but before submitting a claim, the dealer must contact the local zone office and provide the necessary detail to update the GM records to ensure the claim will be paid.

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.