CAMPAIGN: FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS

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 IT 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.

IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE BURDENSOME SOLUTIONS, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO PROMPTLY SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH EACH OWNER AND TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER WHICH IS BEING SENT TO OWNERS, THE OWNER IS BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE NEAREST CADILLAC ZONE OFFICE IF HIS DEALER DOES NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT REMEDIED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, HE IS INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

DEFECT INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN SOME 1981 CADILLAC SEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES. THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THESE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF. WITH ADDITIONAL DRIVING, THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY EVENTUALLY WORK ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION. THIS WOULD CAUSE NOTICEABLE CHANGES IN STEERING CONTROL DURING ACCELERATION AND CORNERING. WHILE IT IS DOUBTFUL STEERING WOULD BE LOST, REDUCED CONTROLLABILITY COULD OCCUR. IF THIS WARNING OF THE NEED FOR REPAIRS IS NOT HEEDED, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS OCCURRING ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, DEALERS WILL BE REQURIED TO TORQUE BOTH LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PROCEDURES INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

ALL 1981 CADILLAC SEVILLES AND ELDORADOS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN RANGE REQUIRE THIS CAMPAIGN (CADILLAC RECORDS INDICATE THAT A TOTAL OF 4,760 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED):

SEVILLE BE693814 THROUGH BE695369 ELDORADO BE622786 THROUGH BE625989

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 RECORDS. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA 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 CHARGE 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.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. RAISE THE VEHICLE ALLOWING THE FRONT WHEELS TO DROP DOWN.

2. HOLD LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT HEAD TO INSURE BOLT DOES NOT MOVE AND TORQUE BOTH LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO 95 N.M (70 FT.LBS.). LOWER VEHICLE.

3. INSTALL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL DESCRIBED BELOW.

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS CAMPAIGN, A WHITE CAMPAIGN 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-1 AND YOUR FIVE-DIGIT DEALER CODE. DEALERS ARE TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO INSURE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE PROPERLY RECORDED ON THE LABEL.

CREDIT

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

DESCRIPTION FAILURE CODE LABOR OPERATION LABOR TIME

TORQUE BOTH LEFT UPPER 96 V0880 .2 HRS. CONTROL ARM NUTS

THE LABOR TIME LISTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE CORRECTION. DEALERS SHOULD APPLY FO 0.1 ADDITIONAL HOUR 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.