GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REMAIN ON

SUBJECT: DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REMAIN "ON" EVEN WITH IGNITION SWITCH "OFF" AND/OR FOG LAMPS ARE INOPERATIVE

MODELS: 1996-97 BUICK SKYLARK (CANADA ONLY) 1996-97 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1996-97 PONTIAC GRAND AM

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) REMAIN "ON" EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION AND/OR THE FOG LAMPS ARE INOPERATIVE.

CAUSE:

WATER POOLS IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONDUIT AND WICKS INTO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS AND/OR FOG LAMPS RELAY THROUGH THE WIRE. WATER ENTERS THE WIRE AT THE SPLICE S115 OF CIRCUIT 150 AND TRAVELS BETWEEN THE INSULATION AND CORE.

CORRECTION:

CHECK THE FORWARD LAMP HARNESS PART NUMBER. THE PART NUMBER IS LOCATED ON A TAG TAPED TO THE HARNESS NEAR IN-LINE CONNECTOR C101. HARNESSES WITH PART NUMBERS 12187083, 12187085, 12187086 AND 12187089 WERE BUILT WITHOUT HEAT SHRINK OR TAPED SPLICES AND SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE PERFORMED:

1. DISCONNECT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) AND FOG LAMPS RELAY (IF EQUIPPED).

2. CHECK FOR MOISTURE IN CONNECTOR AND RELAY. IF NO MOISTURE IS PRESENT, REFER TO CELL 102 OF ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS.

3. IF MOISTURE IS PRESENT, REMOVE FORWARD LAMPS HARNESS AND REPLACE HARNESS WITH THE CORRECT PART NUMBER SHOWN BELOW. REFER TO SECTION 8B FOR WIRING HARNESS ROUTING VIEWS.

4. REPLACE ANY RELAYS AFFECTED BY WATER INTRUSION. OTHERWISE, REINSTALL ORIGINAL RELAYS ON NEW FORWARD LAMPS HARNESS (PART NUMBERS LISTED BELOW).

PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION === ===========

P/N 15301396 - FORWARD LAMP HARNESS (PONTIAC) P/N 15301398 - FORWARD LAMP HARNESS (OLDSMOBILE) P/N 15301400 - FORWARD LAMP HARNESS (BUICK - CANADA ONLY) P/N 12077864 - ISOLATION RELAY P/N 12077867 - FOG LAMP RELAY

IMPORTANT: ON OLDSMOBILE VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH FOG LAMPS, THE ISOLATION AND FOG LAMP RELAYS NEED TO BE INSTALLED ON THE UNUSED CONNECTORS TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION.

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1996.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME =============== =========== ==========

N6290 WIRING AND/OR CONNECTOR 0.2 HR REPAIR - HEADLAMP (FOR INSPECTION)

ADD: FOR REPLACEMENT OF FORWARD 0.9 HR LAMPS HARNESS (IF NECESSARY)

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

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.

COPYRIGHT 1996 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.