CAMPAIGN: STEERING COLUMN TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 95-C-61 STEERING COLUMN TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
Model and Year: 1995 CAPRICE/IMPALA
To: All Chevrolet Dealers
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 decided that certain 1995 Chevrolet Caprice/Impala model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 114, 'Theft Protection'. Some of these vehicles have been produced with an improperly adjusted shift control linkage. As a result, it may be possible to shift from the 'park' position with the ignition key removed. This condition may increase the risk of accidents resulting from unauthorized use or from the unintended movement of parked vehicles.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, and in order to comply with FMVSS 114, dealers are to perform an adjustment to the shift control linkage system.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1995 Chevrolet Caprice/Impala model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH -------------------------------------------------------------- 1995 B-Car Arlington "R" SR126330 SR191040
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.
PARTS INFORMATION
No parts are required.
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
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 owners take possession of these vehicles.
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.
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 the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owners 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 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.
This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each such sale.
SERVICE PROCEDURE - Figures Referenced Are Located On Page 5.
Note: The shift linkage must be adjusted each time the transmission is replaced.
1. Place vehicle on hoist. Place steering column range selector in the "N" (neutral) position.
Important: The vehicle must be at the correct trim height for proper linkage adjustment. The vehicle must be supported by all four (4) tires or by jack stands on the rear axle tube such that the suspension is at the proper trim height.
2. Loosen screw, automatic transmission range selector rod swivel (Figure 1, Item 816).
Note: Ensure rod assembly, automatic transmission range selector (Figure 1, Item 820) will move freely in swivel, automatic transmission range selector rod (Figure 1, Item 818). Tapping on assembly with hammer may help to free the rod and swivel assembly.
3. Hang a weight (approximately three (3) pounds 1.4 kilograms) on the end of the steering column selector lever to bias the selector lever towards but not into the "OD" (overdrive) position. See Figure 2.
Note: Kent-Moore tool number "J8092" driver handle, weighs approximately three (3) pounds, may be a possible choice.
4. Verify that transmission is in "Neutral" position.
5. Tighten screw, automatic transmission range selector rod swivel, (Figure 1, Item 816)to 28 Nm (21 lb. ft.).
6. Inspect to ensure the steering column selector lever has not moved from the "N" (neutral) position".
7. Verify the transmission shift control system is properly adjusted.
a. With ignition key removed, while attempting to shift the steering column selector lever from "P" (park) into the "R" (reverse) position, verify the vehicle will not roll either by placing the vehicle on an incline or by pushing the vehicle.
Note: If the transmission shift control system is improperly adjusted, the column select lever may not have to be completely out of the "P" (park) position in order for the vehicle to roll.
b. verify the proper operation of steering column selector lever and transmission in all gear ranges. If transmission is not functioning properly, repeat steps 1 through 7.
8. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label". 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.
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. When installing the new Campaign Identification Label, be sure to install the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.
Apply "Campaign Identification Label", only on a clean, dry surface.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR REPAIR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC OP HOURS -------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjust Shift Linkage - - - - - - MA-96 V9800 0.4*
*For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".
Refer to the General Motors Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.
Dear Chevrolet Customer:
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 decided that certain 1995 Chevrolet Caprice/Impala model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 114, "Theft Protection". Some of these vehicles have been produced with an improperly adjusted shift control linkage. As a result, it may be possible to shift from the "park" position with the ignition key removed. This condition may increase the risk of accidents resulting from unauthorized use or from the unintended movement of parked vehicles.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, and in order to comply with FMVSS 114, your dealer will adjust the shift control linkage system. 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 for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 25 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
The enclosed owner 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 have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to provide service to ensure 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 202-366-0123).
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
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.
