CAMPAIGN: POSSIBLE MISSING WHEEL WELD. Chevrolet Corvette 1988

Models: 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Equipped with 17 Inch Wheel

TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS

DEFECT INVOLVED:

General Motors of Canada has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Model vehicles equipped with 17 inch wheels. The weld attaching the wheel centre to the rim may be missing on a small number of wheels. Lateral forces during a cornering maneuver could cause the wheel centre to separate from the rim. Also, a brake reaction could cause rotation of the wheel centre relative to the rim. These conditions can result in partial loss of steering control and brakes, loss of tire air pressure and sudden change in vehicle direction, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

To prevent this condition from occurring, it will be necessary to inspect all wheels on involved vehicles for the presence of a weld. Wheels found with missing welds must be replaced.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are certain 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Model vehicles equipped with 17 inch wheels produced within the following VIN breakpoints:

Plant From Through ----- ---- ------- Bowling Green J5100002 J5108432

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:

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 modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

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. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Any parts that may be required should be ordered as an "E" item. Please note that out of a total of 5,245 vehicles to be inspected in U.S. and Canada, it is estimated that only 5 right-hand and 5 left-hand wheels will have missing welds. Do not order wheels unless required.

Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- -------- 10117702 Wheel - Two Piece Aluminum RH As Required

10117701 Wheel - Two Piece Aluminum LH As Required

NOTE: There is a total of 5,245 vehicles to be inspected in this campaign. It is estimated that there is a total of five (5) right-hand (RH) and five (5) left-hand (LH) wheels with missing welds. Do not order wheels unless required.

Any wheels that may have to be replaced must be returned to Oshawa, properly tagged and identified.

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card, RAPID terminal or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- -------------- 1A Inspect all four (4) wheels - .4 No further action required

2A Inspect all four (4) wheels- 1.0 Replace one (1)

3A Inspect all four (4) wheels - 1.6 Replace two (2)

Inspect all four (4) wheels - 2.2 Replace three (3)

Inspect all four (4) wheels - 2.8 Replace all four (4)

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for Dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on Dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.

NOTE: If 3 or 4 wheels are required, the claim must be forwarded to Oshawa for manual processing as the claim system will not accept a parts amount over $1,000.00.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. Raise vehicle.

2. Inspect all four (4) wheels for presence of a weld around circumference of wheel centre where it meets the rim on the back side of wheel (see illustration). Replace any wheels with missing welds.

3. Lower vehicle.

4. 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.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

It will be necessary to inspect all wheels on your Corvette for the presence of a weld. Wheels found with missing welds must be replaced. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Please contact your GM Dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Dealer. The labour time necessary to perform the inspection is approximately twenty (20) minutes but additional time will be required if a wheel(s) requires replacement. Please ask your Dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

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.

Further assistance, if required, may be obtained from the General Motors Zone Office nearest you. Your vehicle Owner's Manual provides the location and phone number of each respective Zone Office.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

Service Department General Motors of Canada Limited

Object Number: 92637 Size: FS

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.