CAMPAIGN: REAR BRAKE HOSE MAY FAIL. Pontiac Firebird 1984

1984 Firebirds

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 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 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.

To avoid having to provide these burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each owner and to repair the vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the nearest Pontiac zone office if dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the agreed service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, the owners are instructed how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has detemined that some rear brake center flex hoses used on certain 1984 Firebird models fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 106-74 (brake hoses). These hoses were ground undersized at time of manufacture. As a result these hoses might separate from the end fittings when subjected to the pull force required by the FMVSS 106-74 tensile strength test.

Such a separation would result in a loss of brake fluid and a partial loss of braking action. Because these vehicles are equipped with a dual braking system, part of the system will remain functional allowing the vehicle to be stopped but over a greater distance. Should a partial loss of braking action occur while the vehicle is in motion at a time when minimum stopping distances are required, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.

DEALER ACTION

Dealers are to replace rear brake center flex hose on all involved vehicles, per instructions in this campaign bulletin.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

All 1984 Firebird models within the following vehicle identification numbers:

BEGINNING UP TO MODEL ASSEMBLY PLANT VIN AND INCLUDING ----- -------------- --- ------------- Firebirds Van Nuys (L) EL228441 EL234753 Firebirds Norwood (N) EN222697 EN225494

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, 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 it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Sections 108 and 114 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each such sale.

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 (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number computer listings. Computer listings contain the complete vehicle identification number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.

These computer 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.

PARTS INFORMATION

The brake hose required to complete this campaign should be ordered from WDDGM.

To ensure this part will be obtained as soon as possible, it should be ordered from WDDGM on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER ------------ ----------- Rear brake hose 17980325

SERVICE ROCEDURE

Part I - Replacement of Rear Brake Center Flex Hose

REMOVAL

1. Raise vehicle.

2. Remove right and left brake pipes from junction block and, with the use of a backup wrench, remove hose at the female fitting. Be careful not to bend bracket or pipes.

3. Remove "U" clip and take female fitting out of bracket.

4. Observe position at which the junction block is mounted to the axle. When installing new hose, be sure the junction block is in the same position.

5. Remove bolt attaching junction block to axle.

INSTALLATION

1. Connect thread of both rear axle pipes into junction block.

2. Connect bolt at junction block to axle:

Tighten Rear pipes to 24 N.m (17 lb.ft.) Bolt to 27 N.m (20 lb.ft.)

3. Pass female end of hose through frame bracket. Female fitting will fit bracket in only one position; without twisting hose, position female end in bracket.

4. Connect "U" clip.

5. Attach pipe to female fitting using a backup wrench on fitting. Tighten to 24 N.m (17 lb.ft.). Again be careful not to bend bracket or pipe. Check to see that hose installation did not loosen frame bracket. Retorque bracket if necessary.

6. Fill brake fluid reservoirs and bleed systems.

7. Add brake fluid if necessary.

8. Lower vehicle.

Part II - Installation of 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 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. Install the label on the radiator baffle where it is readily visible. (Additional campaign labels are available on stationery order as Form 7201-709).

ENCLOSED WITH COPY OF THIS BULLETIN

A list of those vehicles involved which our records indicate are in your geographical area is enclosed 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 vehicles in your area.)

If a vehicle has been transferred or sold to another location, please forward the new name and address of the vehicle owner to your Pontiac zone office.

RECORDING COMPLETION

Campaign completion will be recorded from "PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS." Owners are being asked to present the owner reply card for identification to their dealer at the time they bring in their vehicle to have the campaign performed.

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

(A complete warranty claim is to be kept as a permanent record of completion.)

WARRANTY CREDIT

A separate repair order must be used for each vehicle.

OTHER** FAILURE LABOR LABOR* LABOR DESCRIPTION CODE OPERATION HOURS HOURS ----------- ---- --------- ----- ----- Replace Rear 96 V2320 .5 .1 Brake Center Flex Hose

* Includes bleeding.

**In addition, dealerships will receive 0.1 hours credit for dealer administrative services associated with this campaign. The 0.2 hours allowance is to be entered in the "Other Labor Hours" field with each campaign repair listed for credit. This entry will not require zone authorization."

FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.

Part(s) required are to be listed on your warranty claim in the normal manner. Parts will be credited at dealer net plus 30% dealer handling allowance. One-half pint of brake fluid is required per involved vehicle at a $1.10 plus $.30 (30%) credit.

(CREDITING)

Dealers will be credited via Warranty Document or Terminal Transmission, whichever is their normal method of submission for payment. Claims must contain all information required and should list the labor operation as outlined.

Repairs submitted for vehicles not involved in the campaign will not be paid.

Dear Pontiac Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has determined that some rear brake hoses used on certain 1984 Firebird models fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 106-74 (brake hoses). These hoses were ground undersized at time of manufacture. As a result these hoses might separate from the end fittings when subjected to the pull force required by the FMVSS 106-74 tensile strength test.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on your vehicle, your Pontiac dealer will replace the rear brake hose on your vehicle. This service will be performed at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this replacement have been sent to your Pontiac dealer. It is estimated that parts will be available to your dealer on September 19, 1984. Please contact your dealer to arrange a service date. The labor time necessary to perform this hose replacement is approximately 25 minutes. Please ask your dealer how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.

Your Pontiac dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date and he does not remedy this condition on the date or within five days, we recommend you contact your nearest Pontiac zone office, either in person or by telephone. The zone office will assist you and your dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The locations and telephone numbers of the zone office are listed in your Owner's Manual.

After contacting your dealer and the zone office, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Adminiration 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C., residents use 426-0123).

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist him im making the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid, owner 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.

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.