Product Safety - Fuel Gauge Inaccurate

THE LABOR TIME IN THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED. PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF BULLETIN 05111, ISSUED MARCH 2006.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2005-2006 Cadillac CTS and STS vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition where fuel stops flowing to the engine even though the fuel gauge indicates approximately 1/8 tank of gas in the vehicle. The "Fuel Level Low" indicator does not illuminate and the warning chime does not activate. If this were to occur, the vehicle would stop running due to inadequate fuel supply.

Dealers are to reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM).

Involved are certain 20005-2006 Cadillac CTS and STS vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) prior to beginning program repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

For US and Canada: For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report (CIDR) containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld (US) Recall Information, GMinfoNet (Canada) Recall Reports. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

For Export: For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name and address data has been prepared, and is being furnished to involved dealers. Dealers will not receive a report with the recall bulletin if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

The Campaign Initiation Detail Report may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

No parts are required for this recall.

Reprogramming the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)

Notice: : Before reprogramming, please check the battery condition to prevent a reprogram error of the Powertrain Control Module due to battery discharge. Battery voltage must be between 12 and 16 volts during reprogramming. If the vehicle battery is not fully charged, use jumper cables from an additional battery. Be sure to turn off or disable any system that may put a load on the battery such as automatic headlamps, daytime running lights, interior lights, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, radio, engine cooling fan, etc. A programming failure or control module damage may occur if battery voltage guidelines are not observed.

Important: Use data version 3.0 or later, broadcast to dealers on March 5, 2006; and on TIS CD-ROM version 3.0/2006, mailed to dealers beginning March 16, 2006. To complete this service procedure, the TECH 2 must also be updated to release 26.002 or greater. If you cannot access the calibration, call the Techline Customer Support Center at 1-800-828-6860 (English) or 1-800-503-3222 (French) and it will be provided.

1. Verify the battery charge of 12 to 16 volts. The battery must be able to maintain the charge during programming. Use an additional jump battery if necessary.
2. Connect the Tech 2 to the vehicle and the TIS terminal.
3. Turn the ignition to ON with the engine OFF.
4. Turn off or disable any systems that may place a load on the battery during programming, such as automatic headlamps, radio, interior lights, etc.
5. After all warning chimes inside the vehicle have stopped, turn on the Tech 2.
6. On the TIS terminal go into SPS Programming.
7. Select Pass Thru programming.
8. Follow the instruction on the TIS terminal. When you get to the Supported Controllers screen.

8.1.	Scroll down in the top box and select PCM/VCM, Powertrain Control Module/Vehicle Control Module.

8.2.	In the lower box, select Normal.

8.3.	Select Next.

9. When the calibrations screen comes up, pick the calibration described as, "Calibration addresses customer concern of fuel gage accuracy" (or any later supersession) and select Next.
10. Follow the on-screen prompts until programming is completed.
11. When the programming is complete.

11.1.

Turn off the Tech 2.

11.2.

Turn off the ignition switch.

12. Wait 30 seconds.
13. Turn the ignition switch to ON with engine OFF.
14. Turn on the Tech 2.
15. Go into Diagnostics and check for DTC codes.
16. Clear all codes.

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation Program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for courtesy transportation guidelines.

Submit a Product Claim with the information indicated below.

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claim Processing Manual for details on Product Recall Claim Submission.

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin). Customers were sent an advisory letter on December 23, 2005 to advise them to keep their fuel level above 1/4 tank.

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached sample letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty 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 customer 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Recently, you may have received a letter from General Motors about a condition where fuel may stop flowing to the engine of your vehicle. This letter is to notify you that the software calibration to service your vehicle is now available.

General Motors has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005 and 2006 model year Cadillac CTS and STS vehicles. As a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we have taken this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

These vehicles have a condition where, if too much fuel moves from the right side to the left side of the fuel tank during driving, fuel stops flowing to the engine even though the fuel gauge indicates approximately 1/8 tank of gas in the vehicle. The "Fuel Level Low" indicator does not illuminate and the warning chime does not activate. If this were to occur, the vehicle would stop running due to inadequate fuel supply.

Your GM dealer will reprogram the powertrain control module. This service will be performed for you at no charge. It is likely that your dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual service correction time of approximately 45 minutes because of service scheduling requirements.

If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty your dealer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner’s Manual and your dealer for details on courtesy transportation.

You should contact your GM dealer to arrange a service appointment as soon as possible. Bring the enclosed customer reply form with you when you visit your dealer. The form identifies the repairs required. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the form and mailing it back to us.

If you have questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. More information about this recall can be found at the Owner Center at MyGMLink, http://www.gm.com/recall

If after contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

Scott Lawson

General Director,

Customer and Relationship Services

Enclosure

05111