NEW LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR SHEET METAL
Recently General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO) announced a "lifetime" corrosion rust-through warranty covering replacement sheet metal panels. Quantities of the attached warranty certificate have already been forwarded to you under separate cover through GMSPO.
The warranty is effective with sheet metal panel sales on or after March 1, 1989, and shall remain in effect for as long as the purchaser owns the vehicle on which the panel was installed. The GM Service Replacement Parts Warranty of 90 days/4,000 miles continues in effect for any failures other than corrosion.
Another significant element of this new lifetime warranty is that it covers the cost of repairs, parts, and labor at a GM dealership regardless of who performed the original panel replacement. Parts warranty claims for panel repair or replacement, even if originally replaced by an independent body shop, are to be submitted for processing by dealers in the same manner as if original replacement was dealer installed. Claims processing procedures are as follows:
- Submit replacement sheet metal panel claims in the normal warranty claim format.
- Use trouble code "88" to identify the claim as an extended replacement parts warranty claim.
- Select the appropriate panel replacement Labor Operation number and time from the "S-Non-Warranty and Panel Corrosion Repair" section of the Cadillac Labor Time Guide.
- Use a claim type "B" to identify the claim as a replacement parts warranty claim.
- Paint time and paint mix should be submitted as other labor hours on the claim. Paint time can be determined by using the "A-Paint" section of the Cadillac Labor Time Guide. Paint mix time can be determined by converting the material indicator, shown under each operation labor time, into its corresponding material allowance dollar amount and then applying this amount to the paint mix time chart.
- Submit the material allowance in the sublet column.
- Claim requires authorization.
Dealers are responsible for verifying warranty eligibility. This is to be accomplished by comparing owner identification (vehicle registration, driver's license, etc.) with the original sales slip or repair order information. Specific language in the warranty text supports these warranty administration practices.
Details of the new warranty will be included in the next edition of the Cadillac Service Policies and Procedures Manual. Should you have any questions regarding this warranty, please contact either your Cadillac District Service Manager or GM Parts representative.
Please provide copies of this letter to all concerned dealer personnel to ensure proper handling of these claims.
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.
