Product Safety - Lap Belt Webbing Twisted

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997-2000 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the lap belt webbing may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the belt may be unusable. In a vehicle crash, an unbelted occupant may receive more severe injuries.

Dealers are to install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor.

Involved are all 1997-2000 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC Only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Important: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to begin the week of November 6, 2000.

Additional parts, if required, are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Important: For additional information and fastener torque specifications, refer to the Interior Trim subsection of the Body and Accessories section and the Seat Belt subsection of the Restraints section of the appropriate Service Manual.

1. Remove the sill plate starting at the lock pillar by lifting and unsnapping the clips from the door opening finish trim panel.
2. Unsnap the sill plate from the hinge pillar.
3. Slide the sill plate out from under the hinge pillar upper trim, and on the driver's side out from around the hood release handle and the footrest.
4. Remove the lock pillar trim by pulling the panel with retainers away from the lock pillar and the side rail.
5. Slide the lock pillar trim out from under the rear compartment side trim panel.
6. Separate the trim panel from the seat belt webbing and remove the lock pillar trim.

Figure 1





Important: Some vehicles may have had one or both seat belt retractor assemblies replaced in service prior to the vehicle coming in for this campaign. The replacement service seat belt retractors already have a black non-removable one-piece guide installed and therefore the two-piece guide listed in this campaign does not need to be installed on those replacement retractors.

7. Inspect for the presence of a black plastic guide (1) as shown in Figure 1. If a guide IS present, no further action is required on that retractor. However, you still must inspect the retractor on the other seat. Proceed to Step 12. If a guide is NOT present, proceed to Step 8 and install the two-piece guide listed in this campaign.
8. Pull the lap belt webbing material out of the retractor and remove any twists in the webbing if present. Allow the webbing material to retract fully into the retractor.
9. Pull the lap belt webbing material out of the retractor approximately 300mm (12 inches).

Figure 2





Important: The two-piece plastic guide in the next step has been designed so that it can ONLY be assembled CORRECTLY one way. When assembling the guide on the belt webbing, do NOT attempt to FORCE the two pieces together. No effort should be required for correct assembling of the two halves except for the final snapping or locking of the two halves at the location shown (4) in Figure 2. When properly assembled there should only be a narrow opening for the belt webbing to pass through.

10. Assemble the two-piece plastic guide on the belt webbing as shown in Figure 2 and lock them together at the location shown (4).
11. After the two-piece guide has been assembled correctly on the belt webbing, slide the guide assembly along the webbing and lock onto the retractor as shown in Figure 2.

Important: When properly installed, the legs on the plastic guide will lock on the retractor cross-bar (1) with the two lower legs (2) on the underside, and the center leg (3) on the top.

12. Verify proper retractor operation by allowing the belt webbing to retract back into the retractor. After it is fully retracted, pull the belt webbing out of the retractor at least 300mm (12 inches) and again allow it to retract.
13. Route the seat belt webbing through the lock pillar trim panel.
14. Position the lock pillar trim panel under the rear compartment side trim panel.
15. Position the lock pillar trim panel retainers to the holes in the lock pillar and the side rail.
16. Push in on the panel to secure the retainers.
17. Position the front of the sill plate under the hinge pillar upper trim with the rear of the sill plate tilted up.
18. Lower the rear of the sill plate, inserting the front of the sill plate behind the hood release handle and the foot rest (driver's side).
19. Push forward on the sill plate, aligning the sill plate retainers with the slots in the door opening finish trim panel.
20. Snap the sill trim plate into the hinge pillar first and then into the door opening finish trim panel.
21. Repeat Steps 1 through 20 on the lap belt retractor on other side of the vehicle.
22. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

FOR US AND IPC

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and 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.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Material by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Campaign Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

FOR CANADA

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and 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.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

FOR US AND CANADA

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

FOR IPC

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached suggested dealer letter.

FOR US AND IPC (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty 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 customer 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

FOR ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your 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.

Dear Chevrolet Customer:

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

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997-2000 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the lap belt webbing may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the belt may be unusable. In a vehicle crash, an unbelted occupant may receive more severe injuries.

Your dealer will install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 20 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

The attached customer 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 no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

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.

Chevrolet Motor Division

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure