CAMPAIGN: REAR BENCH SEAT STRENGTH (SERVICE PROCEDURE)
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 91C09 REAR BENCH SEAT BACK STRENGTH
Model and Year: 1989-91 "G" VANS WITH REAR BENCH SEATS (RPO'S AQ3 OR AQ4)
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty (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.
To avoid having to provide these burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that the rear bench seats on certain 1989-91 "G" Vans fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 207, "Seating Systems". Should one of these vehicles become involved in an accident and there were passengers in the seat, the seat back frame could break and suddenly recline without supporting the loading specified in the Federal Standard. This could increase the likelihood of occupant injury.
In order to comply with FMVSS 207, and to correct this condition, dealers are to install reinforcements that run from the side of the seat back frame assembly to the seat cushion frame assembly. This will strengthen the seat back.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1989-91 "G" Vans equipped with rear bench seats and built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ----- ---------- ---------- ----- -------- --------- 1989 G-Van W/ Scarborough "4" K4103092 K4165752 Rear Bench Seats
1989 " Lordstown "7" K7100001 K7188654
1990 " Scarborough "4" L4100010 L4154728
1990 " Lordstown "7" L7100001 L7170768
1991 " Lordstown "7" M7100002 M7102413
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 involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner names and addresses obtained from 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 to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Chevrolet Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, 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 in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling 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 correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each such sale.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "C.I.O." order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2) .
NOTICE: Depending on the seat configuration of each vehicle, multiple parts kits may be required.
Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- -------- For G-Vans with AQ3 Seating - Three-Passenger Bench Seat
15661527 Reinforcement Kit 1 Contains: 2 reinforcing plates & 2 self-tapping fasteners
For G-Vans with A04 Seating - Four-Passenger Bench seat
15677204 Reinforcement Kit 1 Contains: 2 reinforcing bars & 4 push-on fasteners
SERVICE PROCEDURE
G-VANS WITH A03 SEATING - THREE-PASSENGER BENCH SEAT(S) Requires Parts Kit # 15661527
THIS PROCEDURE IS TO BE PERFORMED ON ALL THREE-PASSENGER BENCH SEATS IN THE VEHICLE. A SEPARATE KIT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR EACH SEAT.
1. Remove bench seat from vehicle and place upside down on a clean tarp.
2. Loosen seat back cover corners by clipping of f hog rings as shown in Figure 1 on next page.
3. Remove arm rests.
4. Slide reinforcing plate under the seat back cover by inserting it up the seat side as shown in Figure 2 (below) . Largest diameter hole on plate should be inserted first. See Figure 3 (next page) for visual reference of how bracket should be located underneath seat cover.
5. Align hole in reinforcing plate behind the hole in the seat back frame used for the arm rest retention bolt as shown in Figure 3 (above).
6. Install arm rest.
7. Slide the reinforcing plate toward the front of the bench and locate the flat surface found just as the seat back mounts to the seat bench. Using the reinforcement as a template, punch the hole location through the vinyl seat bench cover onto the seat bench frame as shown in Figure 4 (below).
8. Cut a small amount of material away from drilling locations. This will help to prevent the vinyl material from ripping during drilling operation.
9. Drill 6.7mm (17/64 inch) holes at punch locations in seat bench frame as shown in Figure 5 (below).
10. Install lower half of reinforcing plate to seat bench using self taping fastener. See Figure 6 on next page.
11. Torque fasteners to 20-25 Nm. (15-19 lbs. ft.).
12. Refasten seat back cover corners using hog rings as shown in Figure 7 (next page).
13. Reinstall seat in vehicle (see Figure 8 below).
14. If vehicle has a four-passenger bench seat, continue with next procedure. Otherwise, install Campaign Identification Label and return vehicle to customer or dealer stock.
G-VANS WITH A04 SEATING - REARMOST FOUR-PASSENGER BENCH SEAT
Requires Parts Kit #15677204
1. Remove bench seat from vehicle and place upside down on a clean tarp.
2. Remove seat belt retractor (Figure 9, next page).
3. Loosen seat back and bench cover corners by clipping off hog rings as shown in Figures 9 and 10 on next page.
4. Two holes must now be drilled on each side of the seat assembly. These holes will be located on the centerline of the seat back and bench frames. The first hole location will be on the seat back frame centerline approximately 1/4" below the break line as shown in Figure 11 (page 10).
5. The hole in the seat bench frame will be located by using the reinforcing rod as a template and holding one end fixed at the point on the seat back frame described in step 4 above. The hole location on the seat bench frame will be where the reinforcing rod intersects the seat bench frame centerline (Figure 11, above).
6. Holding the reinforcing rod in position, and using a hammer, strike the reinforcing rod to transfer punch marks into seat frame assembly (Figure 11, above).
7. Drill four (two each side) pilot holes at punched locations using a 1/8" drill.
8. Drill four (two each side) holes at piloted locations using 21/64" drill.
9. Insert reinforcing rod into drilled holes and attach using "push-on" fasteners (Figure 12, next page).
10. Install push-on fasteners so that the reinforcing rod is secured tightly against the seat back and bench frames.
11. Pull down the seat bench cover and hog ring.
12. Pull down the seat back cover and hog ring.
13. Reinstall seat belt retractor according to service manual procedures.
14. Reinstall seat in vehicle.
15. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected 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 five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.
Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in for periodic servicing by the owner.
Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS ----------------- -- -------- ----- ----- ---- --- --- AQ3 Standard 5-Passenger Seating 1 15661527 SK-00 V6560 0.4 0.1 - AQ3 Kit Installed
FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS ----------------- -- -------- ----- ----- ---- --- --- AQ3 8-Passenger Seating - 2 AQ3 Kits 2 15661527 SK-00 V6561 0.7 0.1 Installed
AQ3 & AQ4 12-Pass. Seating - 3 Kits 3 15677204 SK-00 V6562 1.4 0.1 Installed (2 AQ3 & 1 AQ4) - Stan. Model
AQ3 & AQ4 12-Pass. Seating - 3 Kits 3 15677204 SK-00 V6563 1.4 0.1 Installed (2 AQ3 & 1 AQ4) Ext. Model
FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS ----------------- -- -------- ----- ----- ---- --- --- AQ3 & AQ4 15-Pass. Seating - 4 Kits 4 15677204 SK-00 V6564 1.8 0.1 Installed (3 AQ3 & 1 AQ4) - Ext. Model
AQ3 & B6S Travel Bed - 8 Passenger - 1 15661527 SK-00 V6565 0.4 0.1 AQ3 Kit Installed
* 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.
Dear Chevrolet G10-30 Van Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has determined that the rear bench seats on certain 1989-91 "G" Vans fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 207, "Seating Systems". Should one of these vehicles become involved in an accident and there were passengers in the seat, the seat back frame could break and suddenly recline without supporting the loading specified in the Federal Standard. This could increase the likelihood of occupant injury.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To correct this condition and to comply with FMVSS 207,, dealers are to install reinforcements which run from the side of the seat back frame assembly to the seat cushion frame assembly to strengthen the seat back. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction will vary from 1/2 hour to 2 hours depending on the number and type of bench seats involved. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-222-1020.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if you are still not satisfied that 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 Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 366-0123).
The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
Chevrolet Motor Division General motors Corporation 30007 Van Dyke Avenue, Warren, Michigan 48090
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and 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.
