PRODUCT CAMPAIGN:1980 FIREBIRD LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT

THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE 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 OWNER HAS TENDERED IT FOR REPAIR. A FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REPAIR WITHIN 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 OWNER 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.

IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE BURDENSOME SOLUTIONS, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO PROMPTLY SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH EACH OWNER AND TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER WHICH IS BEING SENT TO OWNERS, THE OWNER IS BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE NEAREST PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE IF HIS DEALER DOES NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT REMEDIED WITH A REASONABLE TIME, HE IS INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

DEFECT INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN SOME 1980 FIREBIRDS ASSEMBLED AT THE GMAD VAN NUYS ASSEMBLY PLANT. ON SOME VEHICLES THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHING NUT (TORQUE PREVAILING DESIGN) MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS. ON A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF THESE VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO BACK OFF RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE JOINT. IF SUCH JOINT SEPARATION WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT MAY AFFECT VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED IS A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF 1980 PONTIAC FIREBIRDS ASSEMBLED AT THE GMAD VAN NUYS ASSEMBLY PLANT BETWEEN START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH VIN 2S87WAL140669.

VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. THE LISTINGS WILL BE FURNISHED TO INVOVLED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULELTIN.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP FROM THIS TIME FORWARD.

WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED VEHICLE INVENTORY OR INTO YOUR DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE IN THE FUTURE, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECITON HAS BEEN MADE.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WHOSE NAMES ARE ON RECORD AT THE TIME THE CAMPAIGN LISTS WERE PREPARED, WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION.

INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. COMPUTER LISTING CONTAIN THE COMPLETE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATE, AND ARE FURNISHED TO THE INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA FURNISHED WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THESE LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN OWNER 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. ANY DEALER NOT RECEIVING A COMPUTER LISTING WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN WAS NOT SHIPPED ANY INVOLVED VEHICLES.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. ROTATE THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE EXTREME RIGHT STOP POSITION.

2. UTILIZING A CLICKER TYPER TORQUE WRENCH, SET AT 95 NM (70 FT. LBS.) AND GAINING ACCESS TO THE ATTACHMENT THROUGHT THE FORWARD AREA OF THE WHEEL WELL, TIGHTEN THE RIGHT LOWER BALL STUD NUT UNTIL THE WRENCH CLICKS.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLAMP OR SEAT THE BALL JOINT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE IN ORDER TO TIGHTEN THE NUT.

NOTE: IF THE NUT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFIED TORQUE, DUE TO THE LOWER BALL STUD SPINNING IN THE KNICKLE, CONTACT YOUR ZONE OFFICE FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

3. ROTATE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT STOP POSITION AND REPEAT STEP 2 FOR THE LEFT LOWER BALL STUD ATTACHMENT.

4. INSTALL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

EACH VEHICLE MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS SERVICE PROCEDURE WILL REQUIRE A CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL. EACH LABEL PROVIDES A SPACE TO INCLUDE THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER, THE FIVE (5) DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE, AND THE DATE VEHICLE WAS CAMPAIGNED. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR BALLPOINT PEN. WHEN INSTALLING LABEL, CLEAN THE SURFACE OF THE RADIATOR UPPER MOUNTING PANEL IN THE AREA OF EMISSION LABEL AND APPLY THE CAMPAIGN LABEL.

THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU UNDER SEPARATE COVER.

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 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.

RECORDING COMPLETION

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION WILL BE RECORDED FROM PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS, DEALER COMPLETION OF SPECIAL COMPUTER DATA CARDS, OR OWNER REPLY CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO OWNERS. 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 IN THE VI NUMBER, DEALER CODE AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIR, THE CARD SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE COMPLETED, INCLUDING SERVICING DEALER CODE, REPAIR ORDER NUMBER, DATE OF REPAIR AND SIGNATURE OF PERSON VERIFYING THE REPAIRS AND FORWARDED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION, ONE PONTICA PLAZA, PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 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 OPERATION LISTED BELOW IS ASSIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

LABOR TROUBLE DESCRIPTION OPERATION CODE TIME

INSPECT AND RETORQUE V0430 96 0.2 HOUR RIGHT AND LEFT BALL STUDS

IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE 0.1 HOURS CREDIT FOR DEALER ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN.

TROUBLE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.

(CREDITING)

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

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.