General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1992 Pontiac Sunbird model vehicles. The secondary hood latch spring is improperly installed and/or missing on some of these vehicles. This could lead to a condition where the secondary hood latch does not engage the secondary striker.
If the secondary hood latch is not engaged, and the primary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to inspect the hood latcyl assembly, and where necessary, install a new secondary hood latch spring.
Involved are certain 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier models built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Plant Up To And Year Model Code Beginning Including ---- --------- --------- ----------- --------- 1992 J-Car "7" N7100036 N7105030
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin.
A DCS message has been sent to all Pontiac dealers with instructions to hold all suspect vehicles until the campaign service procedure has been performed. All suspect vehicles MUST be held at dealers and repaired BEFORE owners take possession of these vehicles. There will be no owner notification from Pontiac.
In the unlikely event a vehicle has been sold prior to receiving the DCS message, the owner should be contacted and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO). To ensure that these parts are obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but on advise code (2).
Part Quantity Description Number Per Vehicle ------------------- --------- ----------- Spring, Hood Secondary 22581208 1
1. Open hood and support using hood support rod.
2. Inspect hood latch for proper installation of the secondary hood latch spring. See figure 1.
3. If the spring is not present, or if it is not installed properly, install a new spring, Part Number 22581208, per steps 4 and 5 below.
4. Place the spring partially into position over the large stud that the secondary latch pivots on. Make sure that the flat end of the spring is resting on the horizontal spring stop. See figure 2.
5. Using a small, flat-blade screwdriver, place the hooked end of the spring into position on the outboard side of the secondary latch. See figure 3.
6. Install Campaign Identification Label.
Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label." Each label provides a space to include the campaign number, the five digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date the vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. Install the label only on a clean, dry surface of the radiator baffle where it is readily visible. (Additional campaign labels are available on stationery order as Form 7201-709).
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
FAILED PARTS LABOR LAB *OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART # ALLOW CC-FC OP HRS HRS ---------------- --- ------- ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ Inspect/No new - - - - - SK-00 V6990 0.2 0.1 Spring Required
Inspect/New Spring Required 1 22581208 ** SK-00 V6991 0.2 0.1
* Campaign Administrative Allowance. ** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net Price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.
Dealers will automatically receive the correct labor and material allowance based on the labor operation performed.
Refer to the Chevrolet Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.
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.