CAMPAIGN: INSTALL ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK SHIELD
MODELS: 1984, 1985 AND 1986 C35 LIGHT DUTY MODEL CAB AND CHASSIS
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 adequately repair within 60 days after tender of a vehicle is prima fade 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 appointments with owners and to repair their vehicles as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owner is being instructed to contact the nearest GMC Zone Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that certain 1984, 1985, and 1986 light duty GMC C35 cab and chassis models equipped with a low service body and loaded to the maximum required weight for an FMVSS 301 test failed to comply with the requirements of FMVSS 301 "Fuel System Integrity" during a 30 mph frontal barrier test. The impact caused a hole to be cut into the fuel tank which allowed greater than acceptable fuel spillage. Fuel spillage during and after such a collision could result in a fire.
To correct this noncompliance, it will be necessary to add an additional shield to the front of the original equipment stone shield to protect the fuel tank in the event of a severe frontal impact.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1984, 1985 and 1986 C35 light duty cab and chassis built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Model Plant Year From Through ----- ----- ---- -------
Pontiac 1984 EV500536 EV553837 Janesville 1985 FJ508942 FJ530662 St. Louis 1985 FS512846 FS534247 Pontiac 1985 FV501259 FV605154 Janesville 1986 GJ500002 GJ527315 St. Louis 1986 GS500006 GS527888
The specific vechicles involved in this campaign have been identified on Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These listings are furnished to all involved dealers with the campaign 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 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 sbould take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling 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.
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.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by GMC Truck (see copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin). A listing of owner names and addresses has been furnished to the involved dealers to enable dealers to foflow up with owners involved in this campaign. This listing 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 this campaign.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
o Raise and support vehicle on a hoist.
o Remove the plastic fuel tank shield from the left hand mounted fuel tank, Figure No. 1.
o Mark and then drill the four hole locations in the existing fuel tank shield, using the new shield extension as a template, Figure No. 1, View A. Use a 13/64" bit for drilling.
o Rivet the two fuel tank shields together. The shield extension fits on the inside of the existing shield. The flat washers, used as reinforcements, should be visible on the outside of the shield assembly, Figure No. 1.
o Reinstall the fuel tank shield assembly to the vehicle. Torque fasteners 10-15 N.m (7-11 lb. ft.), Figure No. 1.
o Repeat procedure on right hand fuel tank if the vehicle is equipped with RPO NL2, dual 20 gallon fuel tanks.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure that 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 order under an advise code (2).
Quantity Part Number Description Per Vehicle ----------- ----------- -----------
15549268 Fuel Tank 1 Shield Kit
Trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks (RPO NL2) require two kits.
Kit Contents:
Part Number Description Quantity ----------- ----------- --------
15549269 Instruction Sheet 1
15549267 Extension-Fuel 1 Tank Shield
2477054 Rivet-Dome 4 Head Blind
9416128 Washer-Flat 4
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Dealers should submit a warranty claim on each vehicle completed under this campaign.
Labor Operation *Time Trouble Number Description Allowance Code --------- ----------- ---------- -------
V3810 Add shield to .6hr 96 left side only
V3811 Add shield to 1.1 hr 96 both sides
*Add 0.1 hour for Administrative Time Allowance.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identificadon 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 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 Identificadon Label" only on a clean dry surface.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
Procedures covering this campaign are outlined in Section V of your dealership's "GMC Truck Claims Processing Manual #SD8519"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear GMC Truck Owner:
This notice is being sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
General Motors has determined that certain 1984, 1985 and 1986 light duty GMC C35 cab and chassis models equipped with a low service body and loaded to the maximum required weight for a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301 test failed to comply with the requirements of FMVS "Fuel System Integrity" during a 30 mph frontal barrier test. The impact caused a hole to be cut into the fuel tank, which allowed greater than acceptable fuel spillage. Fuel spillage during and after such a collision could result in a fire.
To bring your vehicle into FMVSS 301 compliance, it will be necessary to add an additional shield to the front of the original equipment stone shield to protect the fuel tank in the event of a severe frontal impact. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your GMC Truck dealer. It is estimated that parts will be available to your deater on January 30, 1987. The labor time necessary to perform this correction is approximately 30 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.
Your GMC Truck dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if 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 days, we recommend you contact your nearest GMC Truck Zone Office, either in person or by telephone. The Zone Office will assist you and your dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The locations and telephone numbers of the Zone Offices are listed in your Owner's Manual.
After contacting your dealer and the Zone Office, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, Nabonal Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents use 426-0123).
The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist them in making the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid owner 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 confinued satisfaction with your products.
GMC TRUCK GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 86CO8 Enclosure
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.
