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General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that CERTAIN 1996 Chevrolet and GMC K-Pickups & C/K Suburbans with Diesel Engine (L56/L65) and 4L80-E Automatic Transmission (MTI) built at Oshawa Truck Assembly or at Janesville Assembly, may have an automatic-transmission auxiliary oil-cooler inlet hose that is kinked. Restricted transmission fluid flow can result from this kinked hose, which can cause lack of lubrication to the transmission gear components. This can result in premature wearing of load carrying members, which can lead to noises, slipping, and/or loss of gear ranges, and eventually complete loss of transmission function. Further, since the kinked hose is not readily noticeable to the dealer, transmission replacement without correcting the kinked hose condition can result in repeat transmission failures.
To correct this condition, dealers will inspect for a kinked oil-cooler inlet hose. If it is kinked, a new hose will be installed, and if the vehicle has customer usage, the transmission fluid will be changed.
Involved are CERTAIN 1996 Chevrolet and GMC K-Pickups & C/K Suburbans with 6.5L Diesel Engine (L56/L65) and 4L80-E Automatic Transmission (MTI) built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Year Model Plant Plant Code From Through ---- ----- ----- ---------- ---- ------
1996 GMC C/K Janesville J TJ722607 TJ726284 1996 GMC K Oshawa 1 T1503959 T1523688 1996 Chev C/K Janesville J TJ344689 TJ361499 1996 Chev K Oshawa 1 T1103472 T1116982
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.
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.
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.
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 required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:
Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle ------ ----------- -------- 15996171 Hose Assembly Transmission Oil Auxiliary Cooler Inlet 1 12384501 Clip-Transmission Oil Auxiliary Cooler Pipe 1 10952623 Fluid Automatic Transmission, Dexron III 8 Litres 12354864 Filer Automatic Transmission 1
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 For Kinked Aux. Transmission Cooler Line 0.3
2A Inspect For Kinked Aux. Transmission Cooler Line 0.7 & Replace (Includes Fluid Level Check) Dealer Inventory Vehicles Only
3A Inspect & Replace Kinked Line, R&R Oil Cooler, 1.9 Replace Oil Filter & Refill
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus appropriate model year parts handling allowance.
1. Locate inlet hose to auxiliary transmission oil cooler (Figure 1, Item 1).
2. Inspect hose for any sign of a kink in the area of concern shown in Figure 1, Item 2.
3. If hose is not kinked, proceed to step #30. If the hose is kinked in the area of concern shown in Figure 1, Item 2, proceed to the next steps.
4. Remove left and right turn signal lenses.
5. Remove grille fasteners (6 screws).
6. Remove grille (includes unplugging marker lamps).
7. Remove deflector panel.
8. Disconnect hose at cooler (Figure 1, Item 3 quick connect, discard "E" clip).
9. Disconnect hose at radiator (Figure 1, Item 4).
10. Remove hose (Figure 1, Item 1).
11. Position new hose in the proper orientation to avoid kinking or interference with the inner fender in the area of concern shown in Figure 1, Item 2.
12. Connect hose at radiator (Figure 1, Item 4) using caution to not cross thread fitting and to prevent tube from rotating. Torque nut to 45 N.m (33 lb. ft.).
13. Install a new "E" clip on the cooler connector.
14. Connect hose at the cooler making sure that the pipe clicks into the connector. Pull back on pipe to make sure that the pipe is fully fastened to the connector. Snap plastic cap onto quick connector assembly. Do not depress the retainer clip during this operation. Plastic cap has to be fully seated against the connector hex. Make sure that the pipe is not bent during this process.
15. Install deflector panel.
16. Install grille (includes plugging in marker lamps).
17. Install grille fasteners (6 screws), and torque to 1.5 N.m (14 lb. in.).
18. Install right turn signal lens.
19. Install left turn signal lens.
20. If vehicle is a dealer stock unit, proceed to step #30. If vehicle is a customer owned unit proceed to next step.
21. Raise vehicle.
22. Remove transmission pan (I 7 bolts) and drain fluid.
23. Remove filter assembly (check that seal is removed from transmission case).
24. Clean transmission pan.
25. Install new filter and seal assembly.
26. Install reusable transmission pan gasket and pan (I 7 bolts), and torque to 24 N.m (I 8 lb. ft.).
27. Lower vehicle.
28. Fill transmission (should take 8 Litres). Do Not Overfill!
29. Check fluid level.
30. Install 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.
Dear General Motors Customer:
As a valued customer, your complete satisfaction with your 1996 Chevrolet or GMC K-Pickups or C/K Suburbans is our goal. In keeping with this goal, we want to let you know that we have discovered a condition that could affect your vehicle and we want to take care of it at no charge to you.
General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that CERTAIN 1996 Chevrolet and GMC K-Pickups & C/K Suburbans with 6.5L diesel engines built at Oshawa Truck Assembly or at Janesville Assembly, may have an automatic-transmission auxiliary oil-cooler inlet hose that is kinked. Restricted transmission fluid flow can result from this kinked hose, which can cause lack of lubrication to the transmission gear components. This can result in premature wearing of load carrying members, which can lead to noises, slipping, and/or loss of gear ranges, and eventually complete loss of transmission function.
To be sure that your vehicle is to specifications, your GM dealer will inspect for a kinked oil-cooler inlet hose. If it is kinked, a new hose will be installed, and the transmission fluid will be changed.
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.