CAMPAIGN: STEERING COLUMN INSTALLATION
MODELS: 1989 P35 WITHI-BEAM FRONT AXLE (FS3) AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (M40)
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as ammended, 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 vehide safety exists in certain 1989 P35 commercial truck chassis' equipped with I-beam front axles (FS3) and automatic transmissions (M40). The shift lever may not drop into the "PARK" detent when placed in the "PARK, position. In this position, it is possible for the shift lever to move from "PARK" to "REVERSE" without having to lift the shift lever. This inability of the shift lever to go into the "PARK' detent could allow unexpected vehicle movement and a vehicle crash could occur.
Owners/drivers should continue following (Parking/Leaving Drivers Seat) instructions as stated in the owners manual, prior to exiting the vehicle.
To correct this condition, it will be necessary to inspect for clearance between the shift rod lever and the dash panel opening, and if necessary, adjusting the steering column and shift linkage to obtain clearance. If clearance is unobtainable by adjustment alone, then the upper steering column bracket will be replaced.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1989 P35 commercial chassis' equipped with FS3 and M40 and built within the following VIN breakpoints:
MODEL ASSEMBLY YEAR PLANT FROM THROUGH ---- ----- ---- ------- 1989 Detroit K3500020 K3501191
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. Dealers are to correct all affected vehicles in new and used vehide stock prior to their sale.
Whenever a vehide 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 ensure 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 cor- rection according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
If no owner's name and address were available to GMC Truck Division 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 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 INFORMATION
A.INSPECTION PROCEDURE (See Figure 1)
1. Set parking brake.
2. Place transmission shift selector in "PARK" position.
3. Raise hood and check lower shift lever (1) at base of mast jacket (3) for proper seating in selector gate plate (2). Also, check for any in- terference between shift lever (1) and clearance hole in dash panel. If there is clearance, no further action will be required.
4. If lever does not seat properly or there is any interference at clearance hole when shifting through gear positions, the mast jacket must be readjusted as described below.
B. STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE (See Figure 1 and 2)
1. Loosen upper mast jacket clamp (2) on brake hanger bracket.
2. Lift floor mat and remove 4 screws (3) on mast jacket floor cover (4). Lift cover (4) and seal (5) up out of way on jacket.
3. Loosen lower mast jacket clamp (7).
4. Place shift selector in "PARK' position.
5. Move mast jacket up or down until lower shift lever (1) is approximately halfway between top and bottom of clearance hole in dash panel and clearance is obtained.
6. Turn mast jacket clockwise or counterclock-wise until clearance is obtained between lower shift lever (1) and edge of clearance hole in dash panel.
7. Tighten bolts (1) on upper clamp and bolt (8) on lower clamp (7). Torque all bolts to 14-17 Nm (125-150 in lb).
8. Move shift selector out of "PARK' position and then return to "PARK" position. Visually check lower shift lever for proper clearance in dash panel clearance hole in all gear positions and full seating in park position of selector lever plate gate (2).
NOTE: If shift selector still cannot be properly positioned, it will be necessary to adjust the shift linkage as described in Procedure C below. The engine must start in the "P" (park) or "N" (neutral) positions only. Adjust neutral start switch if needed.
CAUTION:
With the selector lever in the "PARK" position, check to insure that the parking pawl is engaged and that the vehicle will not roll and cause personal injury.
9. Replace mast jacket floor cover (4) and seal (5) and secure with 4 screws.
10. Replace floor mat.
C. SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE (Figure 3)
1. Apply parking brake.
2. Loosen swivel screw (1).
3. Put column selector lever in the "N" (neutral) position.
NOTE: Put lever into the neutral gate, do not use the indicator to find the neutral position.
4. Put the transmission in neutral. Move the shift lever (2) to the forward position and then back to the second detent.
5. Hold the rod (3) tightly in the swivel (4) and tighten the screw to 23 Nm (17 ft lb).
6. Put the column selector lever in the "P" (park) position.
7. Check the adjustment as follows:
a. The column selector must go into all positions.
b. The engine must start in the "P" (park) or "N" (neutral) positions only. Adjust neutral start switch if needed.
CAUTION:
With the selector lever in the "PARK" position, check to insure that the parking pawl is engaged and that the vehicle will not roll and cause personal injury.
8. If proper adjustment cannot be accomplished,the steering collumn upper bracket assembly may be out of tolerance. Replace the bracket assembly and repeat steering column and linkage adjustment procedures. (It is estimated that very few vehicles will require bracket replacement.)
9. Release the parking brake.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (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).
PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY ------- ----------- --------- 15594610 Bracket Assembly AR
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Dealers should submit an accurately filled out Warranty Repair Order on each vehicle completed under this campaign.
LABOR OPERATION *TIME TROUBLE NUMBER DESCRIPTION ALLOWANCE CODE ------ ----------- ---------- ----
V5550 Inspect shift lever for .2 Hr 96 proper clearance. No action necessary.
V5551 Inspect shift lever .5 Hr 96 for proper clearance. Adjust steering column for proper clearance.
V5552 Inspect shift lever .6 Hr 96 for proper clearance. Adjust steering column and shift linkage.
V5553 Inspect shift lever for .7 Hr 96 proper clearance. Replace upper steering column mount bracket assembly. Adjust steering column and shift linkage.
* For dealer to receive Administrative Time Allowance associated with this campaign, add 0.1 hour to the Labor Operation Time Allowance.
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 five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performmg 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 "GM Truck Claims Processing Manual" P 8819.
Dear GMC 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 in certain 1989 P35 commercial truck chassis' equipped with I-beam front axles (FS3) and automatic transmissions (M40). The shift lever may not drop into the "PARK' detent when placed in the "PARK' position. In this position, it is possible for the shift lever to move from "PARK" to "REVERSE" without having to lift the shift lever. This inability of the shift lever to go into the "PARK" detent could allow unexpected vehicle movement and a vehicle crash could occur.
Owners/drivers should continue following (Parking/Leaving Drivers Seat) instructions as stated in the owners manual, prior to exiting the vehicle. To correct this condition, it will be necessary to inspect for clearance between the shift rod lever and the dash panel opening, and if necessary, adjusting the steering column and shift linkage to obtain clearance. If clearance is unobtainable by adjustment alone, then the upper steering column bracket will be replaced. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Instructions for performing this service have been sent to your GMC Truck dealer. Parts are available. Please contact your dealer to arrange a service date. The labor time necessary to perform this inspection and correction may vary from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. Please ask your dealer how much additional time will be needed 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 service this condition on that date or within five days, we recommend you contact your nearest GMC Truck Zone Office by telephone. The Zone Office will assist you and your dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The telephone numbers of the Zone Offices are listed in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information 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 366-0123).
The enclosed 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 let us know by completing the postage paid 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.
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.
