CAMPAIGN:REAR AXLE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE
SUBJECT: REAR AXLE U-BOLT/NUT TORQUE ---------------------------
Models: 1996 Chevrolet & GMC C/K Trucks -------------------------------
TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS
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General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1996 Chevrolet & GMC C/K Trucks built at the Pontiac East assembly plant. A small number of these trucks may have been shipped with the four u-bolt nuts on either side of the rear axle significantly under torqued. In this condition, vehicle usage would cause the nuts to loosen and eventually fall off the u-bolt. The operator may notice unnoticed or was ignored, the rear axle would eventually be free to provide steering inputs to the vehicle and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, dealers will check the u-bolt nut torque and torque any loose u-bolts to specification.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Involved are certain 1996 Chevrolet & GMC C/K Trucks built at the Pontiac East assembly plant within the following vin breakpoints:
Year Model Plant Plant Code From Through ---- ------ ----- ---------- ---- -------
1996 Chevrolet C/K Pontiac East E TE188387 TE206331 1996 GMC C/K Pontiac East E TE528753 TE536114
NOTE: PLEASE CHECK DCS SCREEN 445 OR YOUR V.I.N. LISTING BEFORE PERFORMING CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. ONLY AFFECTED VIN'S WILL BE PAID.
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:
All unsold new vehicles in dealer's possession and subject to this campaign must be held and inspected/repaired per the Service Procedure of this Campaign Bulletin before owners take possession of these vehicles.
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.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.
In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
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 (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.
PARTS INFORMATION:
No parts are required to complete this campaign.
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 Torque Rear U-Bolt Nuts, Both Sides 0.3
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Verify that rear u-bolts are torqued to the proper specifications. If not, torque to the specifications listed below: N.m Lb. Ft - 100 And 200 Models Without L29/L65 Engines Or Without 110 81 Both L31 Engine And MW3 Manual Transmission
- 200 Models With L29/L65 Engines Or With L31 Engine 148 109 And MW3 Manual Transmission
- 300 Models 148 109
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.
April 1996
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1996 Chevrolet & GMC C/K Trucks built at the Pontiac East assembly plant. A small number of these trucks may have been shipped with the four u-bolt nuts on either side of the rear axle significantly under torqued. In this condition, vehicle usage would cause the nuts to loosen and eventually fall off the u-bolt. The operator may notice noise from the rear axle as the nuts loosen, but if this warning went unnoticed or was ignored, the rear axle would eventually be free to provide steering inputs to the vehicle and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, your GM dealer will check the u-bolt nut torque and torque any loose u-bolts to specification.
This service will be provided for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.
If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.
This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited
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.
