CAMPAIGN: AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN
SUBJECT: 97017 - AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ------------------------------
MODELS: 1997 GEO PRIZM --------------
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 1997 Chevrolet Geo Prizm model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air bag control module can be affected by a severe mechanical shock. Such mechanical shock can be caused, for example, by rapid sliding of the front seat or a sudden release of the parking brake. To affect the air bag control module, this shock must occur within a very short time period just after the engine is started (ignition key in ON or ACC). If all these conditions are present, the airbags may deploy inadvertently. In the worst case, a front seat occupant who is close to an airbag could be seriously injured. After the initial SRS ("AIR BAG") warning light goes off, this condition will not occur.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to replace the air bag control module.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are all 1997 Chevrolet Geo Prizm model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH
1997 Chevrolet Prizm Fremont "Z" VZ400001 VZ417095
NOTICE
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System).
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
NOTICE An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment will occur the week of April 28, 1997. 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.
Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle -------- -------------- ---------- 94858444 Module-Air Bag 1
NOTICE
Due to limited initial parts availability, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock.
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. Disconnect negative battery cable. CAUTION: WAIT AT LEAST 90 SECONDS (11/2 MINUTES) BEFORE BEGINNING TO WORK ON THE SRS. THE SRS IS EQUIPPED WITH A BACK-UP POWER SOURCE, AND COULD INADVERTANTLY DEPLOY IF WORK IS STARTED SOONER THAN 90 SECONDS AFTER DISCONNECTING THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.
2. Disable SRS (Supplemental Restraint System).
3. Remove two (2) screws securing center console to rear center console.
4. Remove tray liner and three (3) screws underneath tray liner.
5. Raise parking brake lever and remove rear console.
6. Remove console mounting bracket from vehicle (three bolts).
7. Remove air bag control module (center sensor assembly) - three bolts (torx T- 40), one electrical connector.
8. Install new air bag control module (center sensor assembly). Secure with three (3) bolts - tighten to 21 Nm (15 LbsFt). Engage electrical connector.
9. Install center console mounting bracket, secure with three (3) bolts. Tighten to 10 Nm (7 LbsFt).
10. Install rear console and lower parking brake lever. Secure with three (3) screws at the rear and two (2) screws at the front. Screws are to be fully driven but not stripped. Install tray liner.
11. Enable SRS system.
12. Connect negative battery cable.
13. Verify SRS function by turning ignition to either 'ACC' or 'ON' position and check that SRS (AIR BAG) warning light illuminates. The SRS (AIR BAG) light should go out after approximately six (6) seconds.
14. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.
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 install 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:
REPAIR PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC 0P HOURS Replace Air Bag 1 9485444 ** MA-96 V0031 0.5 Control Module
*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 air bag control module needed to complete the repair.
Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.
April, 1997
Dear Chevrolet Geo 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 1997 Chevrolet Geo Prizm model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air bag control module can be affected by a severe mechanical shock. Such mechanical shock can be caused, for example, by rapid sliding of the front seat or a sudden release of the parking brake. To affect the air bag control module, this shock must occur within a very short time period just after the engine is started (ignition key in ON or ACC). If all these conditions are present, the airbags may deploy inadvertently. In the worst case, a front seat occupant who is close to an airbag could be seriously injured. After the initial SRS ("AIR BAG") warning light goes off, this condition will not occur.
What Will Be Done: To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to replace the air bag control module. This service will be performed for you at no charge..
How Long Will The Repair Take? The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 35 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 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 r'epair your vehicle. Your Chevrolet Geo dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service 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 Chevrolet Geo Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222- 1020. Deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired call 1-800-833-2438 (Utilizes Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Text Telephones TDD/TTY).
If, after contacting the Chevrolet Geo 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, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. 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 Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Enclosure
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.
