PRODUCT CAMPAIGN: 80 FIREBIRD DIPSTICK TUBE ASSEMBLY

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 1980 FIREBIRDS EQUIPPED WITH AIR CONDITIONING MAY HAVE INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE A/C EVAPORATOR CORE ALUMINUM INLET PIPE AND THE ENGINE OIL STEEL DIPSTICK TUBE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE ALUMINUM INLET PIPE MAY WEAR THROUGH AT THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE DIPSTICK TUBE ASSEMBLY.

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS ARE TO INSEPCT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPOSITION THE A/C EVAPORATOR PIPE. ALSO, REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR CORE AND INLET PIPE ASSEMBLY ON THOSE VEHICLES WHERE THE INTERFERENCE CONDITION HAS CAUSED A REFRIGERATION LEAK.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED ARE CERTAIN 1980 PONTIAC FIREBIRD CALIFORNIA MODELS EQUIPPED WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND 5.0 LITER (305 CID) 4-BBL. V-8 ENGINE WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE BREAKPOINTS.

PLANT BEGINNING VIN UP TO VAN NUYS SOP 2X87PAL144050

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO PERFORM THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER ON AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF TIME, MILEAGE, OR OWNERSHIP,AND ARE TO CORRECT ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES IN DEALER NEW AND USED CAR INVENTORY PRIOR TO THEIR SALE. WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED VEHICLE INVENTORY IN THE FUTURE, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE RESELLING THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS ARE TO PERFORM THE CAMPAIGN SERVICES ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN FOR ANY KIND OF SERVICE UNTIL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WHOSE ADDRESSES ARE KNOWN, WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION.

A SAMPLE OWNER LETTER IS INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. LOOSEN THE CLAMP HOLDING THE INLET PIPE TO THE SUPPORT BRACKET.

2. EXAMINE THE PIPE FOR SIGNS OF WEAR; IF WEAR IS EVIDENT CHECK FOR REFRIGERATION LEAK USING A RECOMMENDED LEAK DETECTOR. IF A LEAK IS FOUND, REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR CORE MAINTAINING THE MINIMUM CLEARANCE SPECIFIED ABOVE AND RECHARGE THE SYSTEM AS OUTLINED IN THE PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION 1B.

3. IF NO LEAK IS EVIDENT, REPOSITION THE EVAPORATOR INLET PIPE TO OBTAIN THE MINIMUM CLEARANCE SPECIFIED (SEE FIGURE 1). THE MINIMUM CLEARANCE MUST BE PRESENT WITH THE CLAMP LOOSE.

4. TIGHTEN THE CLAMP SECURING THE INLET PIPE TO THE SUPPORT BRACKET.

5. CELAN AND DRY THE SURFACE OF THE RADIATOR UPPER MOUNTING PANEL IN AN AREA NEAR THE EMISSION LABEL. APPLY THE ATTACHED "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICA- TION LABEL 80-C-15" IN THIS POSITION WHERE IT WILL BE VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN FOR PERIODIC SERVICING BY THE OWNER.

NOTICE: YOUR 6-DIGIT DEALER CODE IS TO BE TYPED OR WRITTEN WITH BALL POINT PEN ON THE CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

6. COMPLETE THE CAMPAIGN REPLY CARD AND MAIL IT TO PONTIAC.

ENCLOSED WITH YOUR COPY OF THIS BULLETIN ARE THE FOLLOWING:

A LIST OF THOSE VEHICLES INVOLVED, WHICH OUR RECORDS INDICATE ARE IN YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR FOLLOW UP. ADVISE THE ZONE IF VEHICLES APPEARING ON THE ATTACHED LIST ARE NOT IN YOUR AREA. (IF A LIST OF VEHICLES IS NOT ATTACHED, OUR RECORDS INDICATE NO AFFECTED VEHICLE IN YOUR AREA.)

A SPECIAL COMPUTER DATA CARD IS FURNISHED FOR EACH VEHICLE ON YOUR LIST FOR REPORTING COMPLETION. CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABELS 80-C 15 ARE FURNISHED FOR INSTALLATION ON THE RADIATOR UPPER MOUNTING PANEL TO IDENTIFY CARS COMPLETED.

IF A VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED OR SOLD TO ANOTHER LOCATION, PLEASE FORWARD THE VEHICLE DATA CARD AND DETAILS OF THE TRANSFER TO YOUR PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE.

PARTS INFORMATION

PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE MODIFICATION, WHEN REQUIRED, ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR GENERAL MOTORS PARTS DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE A/C EVAPORATOR CORE IS 3043508.

DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS

THE REMOVED PARTS FROM INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE TO BE RETAINED FOR DISPOSITION BY ZONE PERSONNEL.

RECORDING COMPLETION

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION WILL BE RECORDED FROM PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS AND DEALER COMPLETION OF SPECIAL COMPUTER DATA CARDS. OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO PRESENT THE REPLY CARD FOR IDENTIFICATION TO THEIR DEALER AT THE TIME THEY BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE TO HAVE THE CAMPAIGN PERFORMED.

THE COMPUTER DATA CARDS FOR THE VEHICLES SHOWN ON YOUR LIST ARE INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN. THIS CARD IS PREPRINTED WITH THE V.I. NUMBER, DEALER CODE AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIR, THE CARD SHOULD IMMEDIATLEY BE COMPLETED, INCLUDING REPAIR ORDER NUMBER, DATE OF REPAIR AND SIGNATURE OF PERSON VERIFYING THE REPAIRS AND FORWARDED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION, ONE PONTIAC PLAZA PONTIAC MICH. 48053.

ADDITIONAL CARDS AND CAMPAIGN LABELS ARE AVAILABLE FROM YOUR ZONE OFFICE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

DEALERS SHOULD STILL SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THEIR NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS:

(NOTICE: A COMPLETED WARRANTY CLAIM IS TO BE KEPT AS A PERMANENT RECORD OF COMPLETION.)

WARRANTY CREDIT

A SEPARATE REPAIR ORDER MUST BE USED FOR EACH VIN.

(LABOR)

THE NEW LABOR OPERATIONS LISTED BELOW ARE ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

LABOR TROUBLE DESCRIPTION OPERATION CODE TIME

INSPECT FOR CLEARANCE, V0400 96 0.2 HOUR REPOSITION AND LEAK TEST, IF NECESSARY.

REPLACE EVAPORATOR CORE V0402 96 2.7 HOUR V-8, INCLUDES CHARGING SYSTEM

DEALERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE 0.L HOURS CREDIT FOR DEALER ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN.

TROUBLE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.

(PARTS) PARTS REQUIRED ARE TO BE LISTED ON YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM IN THE NORMAL MANNER. PARTS WILL BE CREDITED AT DEALER NET PLUS 30 PERCENT DEALER HANDL-N ING ALLOWANCE FOR PARTS REPLACED.

(CREDITING)

DEALERS WILL BE CREDITED VIA WARRANTY DOCUMENT OR TERMINAL TRANSMISSION, WHICHEVER IS THEIR NORMAL METHOD OF SUBMISSION FOR PAYMENT. CLAIMS SHOULD BE CLAIM TYPE 01, CONTAINING ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR A REGULAR CLAIM, AND SHOULD LIST THE LABOR OPERATION AS OUTLINED.

REPAIRS SUBMITTED FOR VEHICLES NOT INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE PAID.

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.