CAMPAIGN: SEATBELT LATCH PLATE MAY NOT ENGAGE OR RELEASE
Models: 1991 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird
TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS
General Motors of Canada has determined that certain 1991 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird model vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." The seat belt latchplates in these vehicles (front and rear in Coupes; front only in Convertibles) may not engage or release from the buckle assemblies because the latchplate is too wide. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted or improperly belted occupants are more at risk of injury than those using seat belts properly.
To prevent this potential condition, we are asking owners to perform an inspection procedure to determine if their vehicle has the described condition, or have a dealer perform the inspection. If an owner discovers this latchplate condition exists, dealers will replace the suspect retractor side safety belt assemblies (which include latchplates) at no charge to the owner.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Involved are certain 1991 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Plant Year Model Plant Code From Through ----- --------------- -------- ---- --------- -------- 1991 Camaro (Coupe) Van Nuys "L" ML132380 ML159728 1991 Camaro (Convertible) Van Nuys "L" ML132379 ML164281 1991 Firebird (Coupe) Van Nuys "L" ML220154 ML235207
All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:
Dealers are to perform, this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres traveled, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:
Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.
PARTS INFORMATION:
Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:
NOTICE: Due to the small number of vehicles involved in this campaign, parts should only be ordered after inspection has verified that this condition exists on an involved vehicle. Please do not order "stock" parts of these assemblies.
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------------------- ------------------ (COUPES) 12500488 Belt Assembly - Black - Passenger (1) As Required 12500487 Belt Assembly - Black - Driver " " " 12503618 Belt Assembly - Black - Right Rear " " " 12503619 Belt Assembly - Black - Left Rear " " " 12500489 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood (1) As Required - Passenger 12500490 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood " " " - Driver 12503620 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood " " " - Right Rear 12503621 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood " " " - Left Rear
12500492 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Passenger 12500491 Belt Assembly - Flame Red " " " - Driver
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- -------------------------- ------------------ (COUPES CONT'D.) 12503622 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Right Rear 12503623 Belt Assembly - Flame Red " " " - Left Rear 12500494 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey (1) As Required - Passenger 12500493 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey " " " - Driver
12503624 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey " " " - Right Rear 12503625 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey " " " - Left Rear
(CONVERTIBLES) 12500230 Belt Assembly - Black - Passenger (1) As Required 12500231 Belt Assembly - Black - Driver 12500232 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood (1) As Required - Passenger 12500233 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood " " " - Driver 12500236 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Passenger 12500237 Belt Assembly - Flame Red " " " - Driver 12500234 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey (1) As Required - Passenger 12500235 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey " " " - Driver
PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:
Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:
Repair Code Description Time Allowance
1A Inspect All Belts - No Replacements Necessary - .3 Coupe or Convertible
2A Inspect/Replace Both Rear & One (1) Front Shoulder 1.2 Belt Assembly - Coupe Only Inspect/Replace One (1) Front & One (1) Rear Shoulder 1.2 Belt Assembly - Coupe Only Inspect/Replace Both Front Shoulder Belt Assemblies - 1.3 Convertible
3A Inspect/Replace Both Rear Shoulder Belt Assemblies - .9 Coupe Only Inspect/Replace One (1) Front Shoulder Belt Assembly - .8 Convertible
4A Inspect/Replace Both Front & One (1) Rear Shoulder 1.7 Belt Assembly - Coupe Only Inspect/Replace Both Front Shoulder Belt Assemblies - 1.7 Coupe 5A Inspect/Replace All Four (4) Shoulder Belt Assemblies - 2.0 Coupe Only 6A Inspect/Replace One (1) Front Shoulder Belt Assembly - .9 Coupe Inspect/Replace One (1) Rear Shoulder Belt Assembly - .6 Coupe
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
For vehicles which are sold units, ask the vehicle owner whether he has inspected all of the vehicle's safety belts. If he has, ask him to describe any difficulties he may have had in latching or unlatching each of the belts. If the owner has noted a problem, perform the campaign repair procedure described below on the belt or belts with the described problem.
If the owner has not inspected his own belts, or if he is unsure about his inspection (and for dealer in-stock units), perform the inspection as described below to determine if a repair is necessary.
INSPECTION
1. Without sitting in the seat, buckle each safety belt. You should hear an audible click which indicates that the latch is buckled.
Then push the red release button. The latchplate should pop right out.
A problem exists if-
The seat belt cannot be buckled at all; or
The latchplate does not pop right out when the red release button is pressed.
2. If no problems are found during the belt inspection, no replacement is necessary. Install the Campaign Identification Label and retum the vehicle to the customer or to dealer stock.
If any of the belts had either of the problems described in the inspection procedure, replace the retractor side safety belt assembly for that belt, using the procedure described below.
REPLACEMENT
1. First check the buckle to be sure that there are no foreign objects (such as a penny or gum wrapper) interfering with its operation. If you find a foreign object, replace the buckle side of the assembly first. Then check the belt system again, using the inspection procedure set out above.
If the problem no longer exists, there is no need to replace the retractor side of the assembly. If there are no foreign objects in the buckle, or if the problem still exists after the buckle has been replaced, go to the next step.
2. Replace the retractor side of the safety belt system, following the procedure found in die 1991 Service Manual (Pages 10-10-2 through 10-10-4 for Coupes; Pages 10-10-5 through 10- 10-6 for Convertibles).
When you are through, be certain to test the newly installed belt to assure that it works properly.
3. Install Campaign Identification Label.
INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.
INSERT CAMPAIGN NUMBER INSERT DEALER CODE
General Motors of Canada bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer." They are written to inform these 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 your General Motors dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada has determined that certain 1991 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird model vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
One or more of the seat belts in the car might not latch properly, so that if there is a crash, the person wearing that belt would not have the protection that a seat belt can give.
Please check each safety belt in your vehicle, it takes only a few seconds, or your General Motors dealer can check your safety belts for you if you prefer.
Without sitting in the seat, buckle each belt. You should hear an audible click which indicates that the latch is buckled.
Then, push the red release button. The latch plate should pop right out.
There is a problem if:
You cannot buckle the belt at all or
When you push the red release button, the latchplate does not pop right out.
If either of these things is true for any of your safety belts, we want to fix your car right away.
Please call your General Motors dealer now and schedule a time to go in. Be sure to give your car's model and interior colour, so they can be sure to have the correct colour safety belts for your car when you get there.
In cars that have either of die problems described above, we will replace the retractor assembly for the safety belt(s) with the problem at no charge. This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary connection to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
Subsequent to contacting your dealer, further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English), or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
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.
