Product Safety - Fuel Filter Mounting Bolts Reversed

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2001-2002 Chevrolet and GMC medium duty C6/7 vehicles equipped with 8.1L engine (L18) and left hand or dual fuel tanks. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the fuel filter-to-component box mounting bolts are reversed. With the bolts reversed, the threaded bolt end is oriented toward the front wall of the left hand fuel tank. In the event of a frontal collision with sufficient force, the threaded end of the bolts could pierce the front wall of the fuel tank resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, fuel leakage could result in a vehicle fire.

Dealers will inspect and correctly install the two fuel filter mounting bolts, if necessary.

Involved are certain 2001-2002 Chevrolet and GMC medium duty C6/7 vehicles equipped with 8.1L engine (L18) and left hand or dual fuel tanks 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 recall 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 recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall 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 recall.

No parts are required for this recall.

Important: The type or style of fuel filter used on a vehicle is determined by the option content. The following service procedure is generic and covers the different production fuel filters. The illustrations below are samples of two designs and may vary somewhat from what you actually find on the vehicle.

Important: Do not disconnect the fuel lines when performing this procedure.

1. Locate the fuel filter in the left component box which is directly forward of the left side fuel tank. The filter can be seen through the openings in the cover of the component box and the bolts can be seen by looking in the space between the fuel tank and the box. It is not necessary to remove the box cover for the inspection.





2. Inspect the two fuel filter bracket-to-component box mounting bolts.

•	Bolts that are installed INCORRECTLY (1) have the threaded end of the bolt facing the fuel tank. Remove these bolts and reinstall in the opposite direction, as shown (2). Proceed to the next step of this procedure.

•	Bolts that are installed CORRECTLY (2) have the head of the bolt facing the fuel tank. If the bolts are installed like this, no further action is required. Install the GM Recall Identification Label.

3. If the fuel filter mounting bolts are installed incorrectly, remove the component box cover by loosening the top two inboard bolts and removing the other three.

Important: Only remove and correctly install one bolt at a time in the next step. Removing both at the same time may result in the fuel filter mounting bracket not staying lined up with the holes in the component box side.

Important: Use of long needle-nosed pliers in the next step will make installation of the bolts in the space between the fuel tank and the component box easier.

4. Remove one fuel filter mounting bolt and correctly install it so that the head of the bolt is facing the fuel tank and the washer and nut are located inside the component box. Remove and install the second bolt the same way.

Tighten
Tighten both bolts to 22 N·m (17 lb ft).

5. Reinstall the component box cover and install the three bolts.

Tighten
Tighten all five bolts to 30 N·m (22 lb ft).

6. Install the GM Recall Identification Label.

Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Recall 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 Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Recall Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-866-700-0001 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

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

Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Recall 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 Recall 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 91when ordering.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

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

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

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 sample letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall 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 notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

FOR ALL

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

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. Recall 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 recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors 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 2001-2002 Chevrolet and GMC medium duty C6/7 vehicles equipped with 8.1L engine and left hand or dual fuel tanks. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the fuel filter-to-component box mounting bolts are reversed. With the bolts reversed, the threaded bolt end is oriented toward the front wall of the left hand fuel tank. In the event of a frontal collision with sufficient force, the threaded end of the bolts could pierce the front wall of the fuel tank resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, fuel leakage could result in a vehicle fire.

Your dealer will inspect and correctly install the two fuel filter mounting bolts. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this inspection and service correction, if necessary, is approximately fifteen to twenty 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 dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your 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 GMICT Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-862-4389.

If, after contacting the GMICT 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.

General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck, LLC

Enclosure