CAMPAIGN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT. GMC Truck GMC C Pickup

SUBJECT: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL OVERHEAT

MODELS: 1991-1993, C3500HD MODELS (C31003 / 31403 W/C5B, C31803) EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (MT1)

General Motors has determined that some 1991- 1993, C3500HD models equipped with automatic transmissions may overheat the transmission oil during certain operating conditions. Overheating oxidizes the transmission oil and reduces its useful life. if these operating conditions occur often enough, they can reduce the life of the transmission.

To correct this condition, an external transmission oil cooler will be installed at no charge.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are ALL 1991-1993 C3500HD models (C31003 / 31403 W/C5B, C31803) equipped with automatic transmission built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Model Year Model From Through

1991 C3500HD SOP EOP 1992 C3500HD SOP EOP 1993 SOP PJ516578

The specific vehicles involved in this campaign have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These listings are furnished to all involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS Vehicle Information Service System) or SERVICENET prior to beginning campaign repairs.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold 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 vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

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.

If the name and address of the owner of an involved vehicle was unavailable to GMC Truck Division at the time of campaign initiation, the dealer must determine the owner's name and address from the dealership sales records. Please provide this information directly on the second copy of the listing next to the applicable VIN so that our records may be updated and the appropriate notification mailed to the owner. This second copy should then be submitted to the address listed below in the previously supplied yellow campaign envelopes.

GMC Truck Division General Motors Corporation 101 Union Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by GMC Truck Division (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 follow 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

To install the cooler kit, the radiator grille must be removed. Refer to the appropriate year C/K service manual, Sheet Metal Section 2B, for radiator grille R & R procedure. Transmission cooler installation instructions are included in every kit. After installing the transmission oil cooler, the transmission fluid level should be checked and adjusted to the correct operating level as specified in the appropriate C/K Service Manual.

If the vehicle already has an aftermarket transmission cooler, and the owner does not want the GM cooler installed, the campaign should be closed as completed. No reimbursement should be provided as noted in the Reimbursement Section of this bulletin.

NOTICE: Make sure there are no sharp edges on the end of the transmission cooler metal lines. Sharp edges can cut the inside of the cooler hose causing a leak and possible transmission damage.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts operation (GMSPO). To ensure parts are obtained as soon as possible, order them from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code but order under an advise code (2).

Part Number Description Quantity ----------- ----------- -------- 12546253 Cooler Kit, Tran Oil 12346143 Fluid, Auto Trans As Required Dexron III, 1 qt.

REIMBURSEMENT

If an external transmission cooler has been installed on the vehicle at the owners expense, and if the owner so requests. GMC Truck will replace it with the GM cooler and reimburse the owner the cost of purchase and installation up to $150.00. Customer claims for reimbursement are to be submitted to an authorized GMC Truck dealer. Connecticut, Virginia and Wisconsin residents must write to GMC Truck, 31 E. Judson St. (1607-07), Pontiac, MI 48342-2230 for reimbursement. This information must be provided by March 31, 1995 (this time limitation for presenting the original paid receipts may be longer depending upon the laws in your state).

When the customer requests reimbursement, the following must accompany the request and be attached to the repair order file copy in the dealership:

- Proof of ownership, and

- Original documentation that confirms amount of external transmission cooler purchase and installation expense, the date of purchase / installation and the place of purchase installation.

If the vehicle owner already has an aftermarket external transmission cooler, and the owner does not want the GM cooler installed, you should close the campaign as shown in #4 in the Warranty Information section below. No reimbursement should be provided.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Dealers should submit a warranty claim on each vehicle completed under this campaign.

There are five possible customer situations which may be encountered with this campaign. The following details these situations to help you correctly complete this campaign and submit an accurate warranty claim.

1. Customer vehicle has no external transmission oil cooler, customer requests GM cooler.

- Install cooler - Labor Op - V 8970

2. Customer vehicle has a GM external transmission oil cooler which was installed by GM at no cost to customer.

- Labor Op V 8971

3. Customer vehicle has a GM external transmission oil cooler which was installed at customer expense, customer requests reimbursement.

- Reimburse up to $150.00 max - Original paid receipt required

- 12 month time limit - Labor Op V 8972

4. Customer vehicle has an aftermarket external transmission oil cooler which was installed at customer expense, customer does not want GM cooler.

- Reimbursement not available - Labor Op V 8973

- Close campaign as completed

5. Customer vehicle has an aftermarket external transmission oil cooler which was installed at customer expense, customer requests GM cooler.

- Remove customer cooler - 12 month time limit

- Cooler removal use straight time - Original paid receipt required

- Install GM cooler - Labor Op V 8974

- Reimburse up to $150.00 max

Labor Customer Operation *Time Trouble Situation Number Description Allowance Code ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. V 8970 Install Transmission 1.1 hrs. 96 Oil Cooler

2. V 8971 Customer has 0.1 hrs. 96 GM Cooler

3. V 8972 Reimburse Customer 0.1 hrs. 96 for GM Cooler

4. V 8973 Customer Refused 0.1 hrs. 96 GM Cooler

5. V 8974 Remove Existing 1.1 hrs.** 96 Cooler, Install GM

* For dealers to receive Administrative Time Allowance associated with this campaign, add 0.1 hour to the Labor Operation Time Allowance.

** Removal of the existing transmission oil cooler should be submitted as Other Labor Hours. Documentation as detailed in the Policies and Procedures Manual is required (maximum time .5 hrs.).

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 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 Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

Procedures covering this campaign are outlined in Section V of your dealership's "GMC Truck Warranty Claims Processing Manual" #P9119 Rev 2\94 Eff 4\ 1 \94.

Dear GMC Truck Owner:

As a valued customer, your complete satisfaction with your GMC Truck 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 has determined that some 1991-93 C3500HD models equipped with automatic transmissions may overheat the transmission oil during certain operating conditions. Overheating oxidizes the transmission oil and reduces its useful life. If these operating conditions occur often enough, they can reduce the life of the transmission.

To be absolutely sure that your vehicle performs as intended, we will install a GM external automatic transmission oil cooler on your vehicle at no charge.

If you previously installed an external transmission oil cooler on your vehicle and you replace it with the GM oil cooler, you may receive a refund up to $150.00 of the purchase and installation price. You should request reimbursement by contacting your GMC Truck dealer. Connecticut, Virginia and Wisconsin residents must write to GMC Truck, 31 E. Judson St. (1607-07), Pontiac, MI 48342-2230 for reimbursement. In either case, please provide your original paid receipts verifying the purchase and installation, the amount charged, proof of ownership, proof of your payment and date of payment. This information must be provided by March 31, 1995 (this time limitation for presenting the original paid receipts may be longer depending upon the laws in your state). Contact GMC Truck at 1-800-GMC-TRUCK if further help is needed.

Instructions for performing this service have been sent to your GMC Truck dealer, and parts are available. Please contact you GMC Truck dealer to arrange a service date as soon as possible. This procedure will take about one hour and ten minutes to complete, but you should ask how much additional time your dealer will need to schedule and process your vehicle.

The enclosed postage paid owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please furnish us the complete name and address of the person you sold or traded your vehicle to and return the card to us.

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

GMC TRUCK 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.