Product Safety - Automatic Shift Lever Interlock

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.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997 Chevrolet Geo Metro model vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle. These vehicles exhibit a condition whereby the automatic transaxle shift lever appears to be in PARK, but can easily be moved from the PARK position without the use of the key, transaxle lever detent button, or depressing the brake. If the shift lever were to come out of PARK while the vehicle is parked on a non-level surface, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur without prior warning.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to replace the shifter assembly. Customers are being cautioned as follows in owner notification letters:

"Until you've contacted your dealer and had your vehicle serviced, when you shift to PARK, always apply the park brake before releasing the service brake."

Involved are 1997 Chevrolet Geo Metro model vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles and built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to beginning campaign repairs.

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.

Important: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign, equivalent to 20% of involved vehicles, will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment will occur the week of October 26, 1998. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.

Additional parts, if required, 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.

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).

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 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.

Important: The new shifter assembly is shipped with a red cam alignment pin which must not be removed until the shifter is completely assembled into the vehicle. Do not remove this cam alignment pin until directed to do so in the service procedure.

Removal Procedure

1. Remove the six (6) center console screws.
2. Remove the center console.
3. Unsnap the shift indicator plate. While moving up towards the selector knob, disconnect the indicator light.
4. Disconnect the shift selector electrical connector.
5. Disconnect the shift select cable and the park lock cable (2) from the shift selector.



6. Remove the park lock cable retainer bolt (1) with the retainer (4). Disconnect the park lock cable (2) from the key release cam (3) and move the cables clear. Refer to Figure 1.
7. Raise and suitably support the vehicle.



8. Remove the shift selector retaining nuts (4). Refer to Figure 2.
9. Lower the vehicle.
10. Remove the shift selector assembly from the vehicle.
11. Remove both selector knob screws (2) and the selector knob (3) from the selector lever.
12. Remove the shift indicator plate (1) from the selector.

Important: Do not remove the red cam alignment pin from the new shifter assembly until Step 9 of this service procedure.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the shift indicator plate to the selector.
2. Install the selector knob and both screws to the selector lever.
3. Install the shift selector assembly to the vehicle.
4. Raise and suitably support the vehicle.
5. Install the shift selector retaining nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 16 N·m (12 lb ft).

6. Lower the vehicle.
7. Install and connect the shift select cable to the shift selector.
8. Connect the park lock cable (2) with the retainer (34) and install the park lock retainer bolt (1). Adjust the cable as necessary. Refer to Figure 1.

Tighten
Tighten the retaining bolt to 11 N·m (8 lb ft).

9. Remove the red cam alignment pin only after assembly and adjustment of the park lock cable.
10. Connect the shift selector electrical connector.

Important: While assembling the shift indicator plate to the shift selector assembly in the next step, remember to connect the indicator light.

11. Connect the shift indicator plate to the shift selector assembly and firmly snap into place.
12. Install the center console.
13. Install the six (6) center console screws. Tighten until fully driven and seated, but not stripped.
14. Install the GM 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 the 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 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below.

Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear Chevrolet Geo Metro 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 1997 Chevrolet Geo Metro model vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle. These vehicles exhibit a condition whereby the automatic transaxle shift lever appears to be in PARK, but can easily be moved from the PARK position without the use of the key, transaxle lever detent button, or depressing the brake. If the shift lever were to come out of PARK while the vehicle is parked on a non-level surface, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur without prior warning.

Until you've had your vehicle serviced (see "Contacting Your Dealer," below), when you shift to PARK, always apply the park brake before releasing the service brake to keep the vehicle from rolling.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to replace the shifter assembly. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 40 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.

Please contact your Chevrolet 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.

Your Chevrolet 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 appropriate Customer Assistance/Relations Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate 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).

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 Motor Division

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure