CAMPAIGN: STEERING COLUMN INSTALLATION
Model and Year: 1989 P30 TRUCKS WITH I-BEAM FRONT AXLE (FS3) AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (M40)
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 a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1989 P30 commercial truck chassis equipped with I-beam front axles (RPO FS3) and automatic transmissions (RPO M40). The shift lever may not drop into the "Park" detent when placed into the "Park" position. In this position, it is possible for the shift lever to move from "Park" to "Reverse" without having to lift the shift lever. This inability of the shift lever to go into the "Park" detent could allow unexpected vehicle movement and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, it will be necessary to inspect for clearance between the shift rod lever and dash panel opening, and if necessary, adjust the steering column and shift linkage to obtain clearance. If clearance is unobtainable by adjustment alone, then the upper steering column bracket will be replaced.
Owners/drivers should continue following the "Parking/Leaving Drivers Seat" instructions as stated in the Owners Manual prior to exiting the vehicle, which includes applying the parking brake.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1989 Chevrolet P30 trucks built within the following VIN breakpoints:
MODEL/YEAR PLANT FROM THROUGH ---------- ----- ---- ------- P30 1989 Detroit K3300014 K3310786
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 subiect 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.
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).
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------- ----------------- 15594610 Bracket Assembly 1
SERVICE PROCEDURE
A. INSPECTION PROCEDURE (See Figure 1)
1. Set parking brake and block wheels.
2. Place transmission shift selector in "PARK" position.
CAUTION:
With the selector lever in the "PARK of position, check to insure that the parking pawl is engaged and that the vehicle will not roll and cause personal injury.
3. Raise hood and check lower shift lever (1) at base of mast jacket (3) for proper seating in selector gate plate (2). Also, check for any interference between shift lever (1) and clearance hole in dash panel. If there is clearance, no further action will be required.
4. If lever (1) does not seat properly in the selector gate plate (2) or there is any interference at clearance hole when shifting through gear positions, the mast jacket must be readjusted as described below.
B. STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE (See Figure 1 and 2)
1. Loosen upper mast jacket clamp (2) on brake hanger bracket.
2. Lift floor mat and remove 4 screws (3) on mast jacket floor cover (4). Lift cover (4) and seal (5) up out of the way on jacket.
3. Loosen lower mast jacket clamp (7).
4. Place shift selector in "PARK" position.
5. Move mast jacket up or down until lower shift lever (1 Fig. 1) is approximately halfway between top and bottom of clearance hole in dash panel and proper clearance is obtained.
6. Turn mast jacket clockwise or counterclockwise until clearance is obtained between lower shift lever (1) and side of clearance hole in dash panel.
7. Tighten bolts (1) on upper clamp and bolts (8) on lower clamp (7). Torque all bolts to 14-17 Nm (125-150 lb. in.)
8. Move shift selector out of "PARK" position and then return to "PARK" position. Visually check lower lever for proper clearance in dash panel clearance hole in all gear positions and full seating in park position of selector lever plate gate (2).
NOTE: If shift selector still cannot be properly positioned, it will be necessary to adjust the shift linkage as described in Procedure C below.
The engine must start in the "P" (park) or "N" (neutral) positions only. Adjust neutral start switch if needed.
CAUTION:
With the selector lever in the "PARK" position, check to insure that the parking pawl is engaged and that the vehicle will not roll and cause personal injury.
9. Replace mast jacket floor cover (4) and seal (5) and secure with (4) screws.
10. Replace floor mat.
C. SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE LFigure 3)
1. Apply parking brake and block wheels.
2. Loosen swivel screw (1).
3. Put column selector lever in the "N" (neutral) position.
NOTE: Be sure to put column selector lever into the neutral gate, do NOT use the indicator to find the neutral position.
4. Put the transmission in neutral by moving the shift lever (2) counterclockwise (as you face the transmission) to the forward position (the transmission will be in "Park"), and then back to the second detent.
5. Hold the rod (3) tightly in the swivel (4) and tighten the screw to 23 Nm (17 ft. lb.).
6. Put the column selector lever in the "P" (park) position.
7. Check the adjustment as follows:
a. The column selector must go into all positions.
b. The engine must start in the "P" (park) or "N" (neutral) position only. Adjust neutral start switch if needed.
CAUTION:
With the selector lever in the "PARK" position, check to insure that the parking pawl is engaged and the vehicle will not roll and cause personal injury.
8. If proper adjustment cannot be accomplished, the steering column upper bracket assembly may be out of tolerance. Replace the bracket assembly and repeat steering column and linkage adjustment procedures. (It is estimated that very few vehicles will require bracket replacement.)
9. Release parking brake and remove wheel blocks. Install campaign identification label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Poduct 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 ---------------- -- -------- ----- ----- -- --- --- Inspect, no action - - - SK-00 V5550 0.2 0.1 necessary
Inspect, adjust - - - SK-00 V5551 0.5 0.1 steering column
Inspect, adjust cot. - - - SK-00 V5552 0.6 0.1 and shift linkage -
Inspect, replace brkt 1 15594610 ** SK-00 V5553 0.7 0.1 adj. column & Linkage
* 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 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 a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1989 P30 commercial truck chassis equipped with optional I-beam front axles (RPO FS3) and automatic transmissions (RPO M40). The shift lever may not drop into the "Park" detent when placed into the "Park" position. In this position, it is possible for the shift lever to move from "Park" to "Reverse" without having to lift the shift lever. This inability of the shift lever to go into the "Park" detent could allow unexpected vehicle movement and a vehicle crash could occur.
Owners/Drivers should continue following the "Parking/Leaving Drivers Seat" instructions as stated in the Owners Manual prior to exiting the vehicle, which includes applying the parking brake.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To correct this condition, it will be necessary to inspect for clearance between the shift rod lever and dash panel opening, and if necessary, adjusting the steering column and shift linkage to obtain clearance. If clearance is unobtainable by adjustment alone, then the upper steering column bracket will be replaced. 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. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle. The labor time necessary to perform this service (inspection/correction) is approximately fifteen (15) to forty-five (45) minutes.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to insure 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/inspection) 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.
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.
