Product Safety - Windshield Wiper Motor Failure

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2003 model year HUMMER H2 vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the windshield wiper motor may fail during use because of improper manufacture. If this were to occur in severe weather, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Dealers are to inspect the wiper motor assembly, and replace if necessary.

Involved are certain 2003 model year HUMMER H2 vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) before beginning recall 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 recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

Parts required to complete this program are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering requirements. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

1. Turn the windshield wipers ON and then OFF to allow them to cycle one time to ensure that they are in the parked position before beginning.
2. Open the hood.




Important: Note the location of the wiper blades on the windshield before removal.

3. Lift the wiper arm (1) and raise it approximately 50 mm (2 in) from the glass.
4. Release the locking tab at the base of the wiper arm (2) by sliding the tab outwards with a flat-bladed tool.
5. With a flat-bladed tool, pull the wiper arm off the transmission (3).

Notice: Applying a layer of masking tape on the wiper transmissions in the next step will help prevent paint damage to the air inlet grille when removing and installing it.

6. Apply layer of masking tape over the knurls on the wiper transmissions.



7. Release the retainer clips on the air inlet grille end panels from the vehicle by applying upward pressure to the panel.
8. Remove the air inlet grille end panels from the vehicle.



9. Remove the screw (1) from each side of the air inlet grille panel.
10. Remove the two black push-in type fasteners (2) from the front edge of the air inlet grille panel.

Notice: There are four retaining clips (3) located under the air inlet grille that attach it to the body. To avoid damaging the towers located on the underside of the panel in the next step, DO NOT attempt to remove it by pulling hard quickly. New retaining clips will be used later in this procedure.

11. Slide your fingers from the outside edge of the panel inwards until they are below one of the clips. Gradually lift the air inlet grille panel upwards as necessary at that location to release that clip. Repeat this step on the three remaining clips.

Important: Do not disconnect the washer hose when repositioning in the next step.

12. Reposition the panel out of the way.



13. Inspect the wiper motor for the manufacturing location.

•	If the wiper motor has printing (2) on it that reads "Trico Products Made in England," DO NOT replace the motor. Proceed to Step 31 and reassembly the vehicle.

•

If the wiper motor has a white label (1) on it that reads "Passed Insp," along with a bar code, REPLACE the motor. Please be advised that ALL replacement wiper motors from GMSPO are good stock regardless of manufacturing location. THIS INCLUDES REPLACEMENT WIPER MOTORS WITH WHITE LABELS. Proceed to the next step.




14. Disconnect the vehicle wiring harness electrical connector from the wiper motor.
15. Remove the three bolts (1) that attach the wiper module to the vehicle.
16. Remove the wiper module from the vehicle.

Important: The location of the crank arm to the bracket must be marked in the next step to assure that the crank arm is installed correctly on the new motor. Not marking the crank arm position may result in the arm being installed out-of-position on the new motor. This condition may result in the wiper arm/blades parking incorrectly on the windshield when the wipers are turned off or traveling off the windshield when in use.

17. Mark the location of the crank arm on the bracket. This will be used for proper positioning of the crank arm on the new motor.
18. Remove the nut attaching the crank arm to the wiper motor and remove the arm.
19. Remove the three bolts attaching the wiper motor to the wiper module bracket.
20. Remove the wiper motor and do not reuse.

Important: The new wiper motor being installed is already in the PARK position. This position is required for properly installing the crank arm. Do not rotate or turn the motor shaft prior to installing the crank arm.

21. Position the wiper motor on the bracket and install the three attaching bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 12 N·m (106 lb in).

22. Align the crank arm with the mark on the bracket and install the arm on the motor shaft. Press down on the arm to engage it on the knurls on the motor shaft.
23. Install the nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

24. Install the wiper module to the vehicle and install the three attaching bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 9 N·m (80 lb in).

25. Connect the vehicle wiring harness electrical connector to the wiper motor.
26. Remove the masking tape from the wiper transmissions.

Important: Temporarily installing the wiper arms in the next step allows you to verify that the crank arm is positioned correctly on the motor before installing the air inlet grille panel.

27. Align the key on the wiper arm with the detent on the wiper transmission. With the locking tab in the open position, push the wiper arm onto the transmission.
28. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify proper wiper and washer operation. Turn the wiper switch to the OFF position.

•	If the crank arm has been installed correctly on the motor, the wiper arm/blades will PARK at the located noted at the beginning of this procedure. Proceed to the next step.

•	If the crank arm has NOT been installed correctly on the motor, the wiper arm/blades will NOT park at the location noted at the beginning of this procedure. It will be necessary to remove and reinstall the crank arm correctly before proceeding.

29. Remove the wiper arms from the transmissions.
30. Apply a new layer of masking tape over the knurls on the wiper transmissions.
31. Install four new retaining clips on the bottom side of the air inlet grille panel.
32. Position the air inlet grille panel to the vehicle and press downward to engage the four new retaining clips.
33. Install the two black push-in type fasteners at the front edge of the air inlet grille panel.

Notice: To avoid cracking the panel in the next step, finger-start the screw at each end of the panel. DO NOT tighten either screw until both have been finger started.

34. Finger-start the screw located at each end of the air inlet grille panel. After both screws are finger-started, tighten them.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

35. Position the air inlet grille end panels to the vehicle and press downward to engage the retaining clips.
36. Remove the masking tape from the wiper transmissions.
37. Align the key on the wiper arm with the detent on the wiper arm transmission. With the locking tab in the open position, push the wiper arm onto the transmission.
38. Verify that the wiper arm is fully seated on the transmission and then close the locking tab.
39. Install the GM Recall Identification Label.

Place a Program Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Program Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the program number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the program service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Program Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Program Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Program Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by either ordering on the web from DWD Store, gm-dealerworld.com, or calling 1-866-700-0001 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Request Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Program Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Recall Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall Claim Submission.

Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall 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 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. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

FOR ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. Recall 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 recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear HUMMER 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 2003 model year HUMMER H2 vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the windshield wiper motor may fail during use because of improper manufacture. If this were to occur in severe weather, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Your HUMMER dealer will inspect the wiper motor assembly and replace it, if necessary. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this inspection is approximately 25 minutes. If the wiper motor is replaced, another 20 minutes will be required. 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 to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your HUMMER 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 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 HUMMER Customer Assistance Center at 1-866-HUMMER 6 (1-866-486-6376).

If, after contacting the HUMMER 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 1-888-327-4236.

The attached 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 attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, your dealer will provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

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.

HUMMER

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure