CAMPAIGN:TIE ROD TOUCHES TIRE REPLACE TIRES AND WHEELS. GMC Truck GMC P RV/Van/Commercial Chassis 1985

MODELS: 1985 P35 MODEL LIGHT DUTY TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH I-BEAM FRONT AXLES (RPO FS3) AND 16" WHEELS & TIRES

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 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 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 the 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 a defect which relates to Motor Vehicle Safety exists on some 1985 P35 Light Duty Trucks equipped with an I-beam front axle and 16" wheels and tires.

During a combined cornering and braking maneuver, the tie rod end could contact the tire wall. This contact can cause grooving of the tire which if it went unnoticed, could eventually result in a tire failure and a possible vehicle crash without prior warning.

To prevent the possibility of this occurring on the vehicles involved, the standard 16" wheels and tires (7.50-16 or LT215/85R16) will be replaced with 19.5" wheels and tires (8.00-19.5LT). This increases the clearance and eliminates contact between the tire and tie rod end.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1985 P35 model Light Duty Trucks equipped with I-beam front axles (RPO FS3) and 16" wheels and tires manufactured within the following VIN breakpoints:

Plant Model Year From Through ----- ---------- ---- ------- Detroit 1985 F3504938 F3510442

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.

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 should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

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.

If no owner's name and address were available to GMC Truck at the time of campaign initiation, the dealer will 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 General Motors Corporation 101 Union Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170

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 fumished 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

Replace the 16" wheels and tires with 19.5" wheels and tires following the procedures as out-lined in the light Duty Truck Service Manual, X- 8532 and X-8632 Section 3E-1.

It will also be necessary to replace the speedometer driven gear to adjust for the larger rolling radius of the 19.5" tires with the proper gear, determined by the type of transmission and rear axle ratio.

To replace speedometer gear for vehicles equipped with automatic tranmissions (RPO M40):

1. Disconnect speedometer cable from transmission.

2. Remove retainer bolt, retainer, speedometer driven gear and "O" ring seal.

3. To install, reverse removal procedure, using new "O" ring seal (if required) and adjust fluid level.

To replace speedometer gear for vehicles equipped with 4 speed manual transmissions (RPO M20):

Removal

1. Raise vehicle.

2. Disconnect speedometer cable from the transmission, then remove lock plate. Insert screw-driver in lock plate slot in fitting and pry fitting, gear and shaft from housing. Pry "O" ring from groove in fitting.

Installation

1. Install new "O" ring in groove in fitting, coat "O" ring and driven gear shaft with transmission lubricant and insert shaft.

2. Hold the assembly so slot in fitting is toward lock plate boss on housing and install in housing. Push fitting into housing until lock plate can be inserted in groove and attached to housing.

3. Install speedometer cable and lower vehicle.

TIRE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE

A special procedure has been established with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., in ordering the following tire in quantities necessary to complete the campaign: Goodyear-8.00-19.5LT-Load Range "D"-Highway Tread-Bias Ply Black- wall.

Dealers will order the replacement tires on a "no charge" basis from:

Dick Swartz/Penny Meyers Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Phone: (216) 796-6724

Requests for tires must be made with the following information:

1. Vehicle Identification Number. 2. Vehicle owner name and address. 3. Dealer name, address and code number.

The replacement tires will be shipped ground freight prepaid to the dealership; however, any further forwarding is not reimbursable.

PARTS INFORMATION

Wheels and speedometer parts are to be obtained from the Warehousing and Distribution Division of General Motors (WDDGM). To ensure that these parts are obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from WDDGM on a CIO order with no special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

Part Number Description Quantity Req/Vehicle ----------- ----------- --------------------- 14005766 19.5" x 6" Wheel 6 -(7 if equipped w/spare) 6264904 Driven Gear "O" Ring 1 273487 Valve Stem A/R 3866919 Speedo-Driven Gear 1- Equipped with manual transmission (M20) and 4.10 axle ratio (GT5). 14020836 Speedo-Adapter Asm. 1- Required only with manual transmission (M20) and 4.10 axle ratio (GT5). 3866799 Speedo-Driven Gear 1- Equipped with manual transmission (M20)and 4.56 axle ratio (HC4). 1359272 Speedo-Driven Gear 1- Equipped with automatic transmision (M4O) and 4.10 axle ratio (GT5). 1362049 Speedo-Driven Gear 1- Equipped with automatic transmission (M40) and 4.56 axle ratio (HC4). 1359273 Speedo-Driven Gear 1- Equipped with automatic transmission (M40) and 5.12 axle ratio (HC7). 1362294 Sleeve/Sensor and 1- Required only with auto- Attached Parts matic transmission (M40) and either 4.10 or 5.12 axle ratio (GT5 or HC7).

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Dealers should submit an accurately filled out Warranty PLepair Order on each vehicle completed under this campaign.

Labor *Time Operation **Material Allow- Trouble Number Description Allowance ance Code ------ ----------- --------- ---- ----- V3520 Replace 6 wheels $21.00 4.3 hr. 96 and speedometer driven gear

Add if equipped $ 3.50 0.6 hr. with spare tire

NOTE: Time allowance includes labor time for painting, paint "mix time", tire mounting, balancing, and R & R of wheel assembly from vehicle.

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

** This amount is to be placed in the Net Item Amount column of the claim and use type Code "M".

REMOVED WHEELS AND TIRES

Wheels and tires removed from a campaigned vehicle must be scrapped by cutting the wheels with a torch and by drilling holes through the tire's serial number--the wheels and tires must not be reused.

ALTERATION LABEL INSTALLATION

Dealers will receive a supply of vehicle alteration labels with their campaign information package, Figure No. 1. The dealer must type in the spaces provided on the label the date of alteration (date repair performed) and the VIN of the vehicle altered (campaigned). This label then must be installed next to the body builder's completed vehicle certification label located over the driver's window and to the left of the sun visor. The clear adhesive overlay supphed must be installed for label protection.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified 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 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 outlilied in Section V of your dealership's "GMC Truck Claims Processing Manual" #SD8519.

Dear GMC Truck Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to Motor Vehicle Safety exists on some 1985 P35 Light Duty Model Trucks equipped with an I-beam front axle and 16" wheels and tires.

To prevent the possibility of the condition occurring on your vehicle, please contact your GMC Truck Dealer on or after the date shown below to arrange a service date. Your dealer will replace your 16" wheels and tires (7.50-16 or LT215/85Rl6) with 19.5" wheels and tires (8.00-19.5LT). This increases the clearance between the tie rod end and tire and eliminates the possibility of grooving of the tire. In addition, your speedometer gear will be replaced to compensate for the new size wheels and tires. The service will be completed at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your GMC Truck Dealer. It is, estimated that parts will be available to your dealer on September 8, 1986. The labor time necessary to perform this correction is approximately 5-1/2 hours. Please allow additional time for the dealer 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 Of fice, 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, National 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 continued satisfaction with our products.

Object Number: 81778 Size: FS

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.