CAMPAIGN:LOOSE STEERING SHAFT BOLT

PRODUCT CAMPAIGNS 98046 OCTOBER, 1998

PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN

PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT: 98046 - LOOSE STEERING SHAFT BOLT

MODELS: 1998 CHEVROLET AND GMC W4 SERIES GAS VEHICLES

THE HIGHWAY 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 CUSTOMER 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 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. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE DIVISIONAL LETTER THAT IS BEING SENT TO CUSTOMERS, THE CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE 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 A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1998 W4 SERIES GAS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT-TO-STEERING GEAR ATTACHING BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER-TORQUED. LOW TORQUE OF THIS BOLT WOULD PRODUCE ABNORMAL NOISE, A LOOSE FEEL TO THE STEERING, AND COULD IN SOME INSTANCES RESULT IN AN UNCENTERED STEERING WHEEL. IF THESE WARNINGS WERE IGNORED, A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE BOLT FOR DAMAGE, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE IT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED ARE CERTAIN 1998 W4 SERIES GAS VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:

YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH

1998 CHEVROLET W4 JANESVILLE "J" WJ001097 WJ001486 1998 GMC W4 JANESVILLE "J" WJ001080 WJ001428

IMPORTANT: DEALERS SHOULD CONFIRM VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY THROUGH VISS (VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM) OR SERVICENET (GMC ONLY) PRIOR TO 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 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.

PARTS INFORMATION

PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE PARTS OPERATIONS (GMSPO). PLEASE REFER TO YOUR "INVOLVED VEHICLES LISTING" PRIOR TO ORDERING REQUIREMENTS. NORMAL ORDERS SHOULD BE PLACED ON A DRO = DAILY REPLENISHMENT ORDER. AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE ORDERED ON A CSO = CUSTOMER SPECIAL ORDER.

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/ VEHICLE

94247692 BOLT (12 MM) 1 (IF REQ'D) 94249011 BOLT (14 MM) 1 (IF REQ'D)

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY GENERAL MOTORS (SEE COPY OF TYPICAL CUSTOMER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN - ACTUAL DIVISIONAL LETTER MAY VARY SLIGHTLY).

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 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 APPROPRIATE DIVISIONAL 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.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT THE FRONT WHEELS ARE POINTING STRAIGHT FORWARD. MAKE SURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED.

2. FROM INSIDE THE CAB, REMOVE THE PLASTIC COVER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN (FIGURE 1).

3. LOOSEN THE STEERING SHAFT BOLT (FIGURE 1).

4. TORQUE THE STEERING BOLT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF BOLTS USED IN THIS APPLICATION. USING THE SOCKET HEAD SIZE AS A REFERENCE, FIND THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION IN THE CHART BELOW:

SOCKET HEAD SIZE TIGHTENING TORQUE

12 MM 25 NM (18 FT. LBS.)

14 MM 40 NM (30 FT. LBS.)

6. REINSTALL THE PLASTIC COVER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN (FIGURE 1).

7. INSPECT THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR PROPER OPERATION.

8. INSTALL THE GM CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

FIGURE 1

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 BY THE CUSTOMER FOR PERIODIC SERVICING. WHEN INSTALLING THE CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL, BE SURE TO PULL THE TAB TO ALLOW ADHESION OF 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 THE "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 NET REPAIR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC OP * HOURS ITEM

RETORQUE STEERING COLUMN BOLT (INCLUDES REPLACING BOLT, IF NECESSARY) 0-1 --- ** MA-96 V0198 0.2

* FOR CAMPAIGN ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE, ADD 0.1 HOURS TO THE "LABOR HOURS".

** THE "PARTS ALLOWANCE" SHOULD BE THE SUM TOTAL OF THE CURRENT GMSPO DEALER NET PRICE PLUS 40% FOR THE BOLT, IF NECESSARY, NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR.

REFER TO THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION CLAIMS PROCESSING MANUAL FOR DETAILS ON PRODUCT CAMPAIGN CLAIM SUBMISSION.

FIGURES: 1

GM BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THESE 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 TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, 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 YOUR DEALER/RETAILER FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

98046

(SAMPLE OF NOTIFICATION USED)

OCTOBER, 1998

DEAR CHEVROLET/GMC 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 A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1998 CHEVROLET/GMC W4 SERIES GAS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT-TO-STEERING GEAR ATTACHING BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER-TORQUED. LOW TORQUE OF THIS BOLT WOULD PRODUCE ABNORMAL NOISE, A LOOSE FEEL TO THE STEERING, AND COULD IN SOME INSTANCES RESULT IN AN UNCENTERED STEERING WHEEL. IF THESE WARNINGS WERE IGNORED, A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

WHAT WILL BE DONE: TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING, YOUR CHEVROLET/GMC DEALER WILL INSPECT THE BOLT FOR DAMAGE, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE IT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU AT NO CHARGE.

HOW LONG WILL THE REPAIR TAKE? THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THIS INSPECTION IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. ADDITIONAL TIME MAY BE REQUIRED TO SCHEDULE AND PROCESS YOUR VEHICLE. IF YOUR 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.

CONTACTING YOUR DEALER: PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CHEVROLET/GMC 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. PLEASE ASK YOUR DEALER IF YOU WISH TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE NEEDED TO SCHEDULE, PROCESS AND REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE. YOUR CHEVROLET/GMC 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 GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-462-8782. THE DEAF, HEARING IMPAIRED, OR SPEECH IMPAIRED SHOULD CALL 1-800-462-8583 (UTILIZES TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES FOR THE DEAF/TEXT TELEPHONES, TDD/TTY).

IF, AFTER CONTACTING THE GMC 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- 800-424-9393 (WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS USE 202-366-0123).

CUSTOMER REPLY CARD: THE ENCLOSED 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 POSTAGE PAID 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 CONTINUED SATISFACTION WITH OUR PRODUCTS.

CHEVROLET/PONTIAC-GMC DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION ENCLOSURE

COPYRIGHT 1998 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.