CAMPAIGN: FRONT SEAT ANCHOR BOLT BROKEN - INSTALL BRACKET

MODELS AFFECTED: 1983 & 1984 J2000 SUNBIRD MODELS WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SEAT

To: All Pontiac Dealers

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 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 reasonable 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 their 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 Pontiac Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, owners are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

CONDITION INVOLVED

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1983 and 1984 Pontiac J2000 Sunbird models equipped with a manually adjustable driver's seat. The floor pan anchor bar could fatigue and break around the left front outer seat adjuster stud of the driver's seat. This could allow the stud to separate from the floor pan anchor bar. Although the seat assemblly would still be attached to the floor at three other locations, separation of the left front outer seat adjuster stud from the floor pan anchor bar could cause the driver's seat to tip rearward unexpectedly. This could cause a loss of vehicle control which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

DEALER ACTION

To prevent the possibility of this occuring on vehicles involved, dealers are to install a reinforcement bracket on the floor pan anchor bar at the left front outer seat adjuster position of the driver's seat in accordance with the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure section of this bulletin.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are all 1983 and 1984 Pontiac J2000 Sunbird models equipped with a manually adjustable driver's seat within the following vehicle identification numbers:

Model Up To And Year Assembly Plant Beginning Including ---- -------------- --------- ----------- 1983 Lordstown (7) D7200001 D7278340 1984 Lordstown (7) E7200003 E7369290

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 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 such listing to the follow up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin).

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.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this correction are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order with NO special instruction code but on an advise code (2). It is estimated that parts will be available on June 29, 1987.

Description Part Number Quantity ----------- ----------- -------- Reinforcement Bracket Kit * 20717579 1

* Reinforcement Bracket Kit Contains: 1-Floor Pan Anchor Bar Reinforcement Bracket 10-3/16" x 112" Button Head Aluminum Rivets

SERVICE PROCEDURE (Refer to Figure 1)

A. Left Front Seat Removal

1. Remove seat adjuster trim cover retaining screws and remove trim covers.

2. Remove four (4) seat adjuster-to-floor pan anchor bar nuts and remove seat assembly from car.

3. Remove carpet retainer trim from bottom of door opening.

4. Remove front kick panel.

5. Remove seat belt (shoulder belt) anchor bolt.

6. Lift and roll carpet back to expose the left front outboard floor pan anchor bar stud.

7. Examine floor pan anchor bar at stud location and determine condition of stud to anchor bar attachment.

- If stud is loose, i.e. can be rotated in anchor bar or if stud is beginning to tear or has torn away from anchor bar, proceed to Part B, Step 1 of this service procedure.

- If stud attachment to anchor bar is secure, proceed to Part C, Step 1 of this service procedure. (Small cracks in anchor bar sheet metal at stud location are acceptable if stud will not rotate when seat adjuster-to-floor pan anchor bar nut is tightened.)

B. Anchor Bar Stud Loose

1. Remove stud from floor pan anchor bar. Stud removal can be accomplished by using a 1/4" drill bit and drilling through any anchor bar sheet metal still attached to stud head. To prevent drilling into the stud head, drill through anchor bar sheet metal approximately 1/2" from stud center. Care must be taken not to damage threads on stud.

2. Using a bench grinder, grind off jagged edges of sheet metal on stud head. It is not necessary to remove the sheet metal remaining on the inside (thread side) of stud head.

3. From underside of reinforcement bracket, place stud through hole and tack weld stud to bracket. (Purpose of weld is to keep stud from rotating when seat adjuster-to-floor pan anchor bar nut is tightened.

4. Position reinforcement bracket (sloped end inboard) on top of floor pan anchor bar. Head on the stud should be positioned into the hole left in anchor bar where stud was removed. Be sure underside of reinforcement bracket evenly contacts top surface of anchor bar.

5. With reinforcement bracket correctly positioned on top of anchor bar, drill four (4) 3/16" holes in top of anchor bar using the pre-drilled holes in reinforcement bracket as a guide.

6. Proceed to Part C, Step 3 of this service procedure.

C. Anchor Bar Stud Secure

1. Place reinforcement bracket (sloped end inboard) over anchor bar stud and allow bracket to self-locate on top of anchor bar. Be sure under-side of reinforcement bracket evenly contacts top surface of anchor bar.

2. With reinforcement bracket correctly positioned on top of anchor bar, drill four (4) 3/16" holes in top of anchor bar using the pre-drilled holes in reinforcement bracket as a guide.

3. To secure reinforcement bracket to anchor bar, install and fasten four (4) 3/16" x 1/2" rivets in drilled holes.

4. Repeat drilling and rivet installation procedure for the remaining six (6) holes (3 each side) in the reinforcement bracket. Using a magnet, remove and dispose of metal shavings left from drilling operation.

5. To reassemble, reverse Steps 1 through 5 in Part A of this procedure. Tighten seat adjuster to floor pan anchor bar nuts to 24 Nm (18 lbs.ft.). When reinstalling seat belt anchor bolt, be sure belt is not twisted. Tighten seat belt anchor bolt to 42 Nm (31 lbs. ft.).

6. Check seat adjuster for proper operation.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin 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 the vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ball point pen. Install the label only on a clean, dry surface of the radiator baffle where it is readily visible. (Additional campaign labels are available on stationary order as Form 7901-709).

CLAIM INFORMATION

A separate repair order must be used for each vehicle. A completed warranty claim is to be kept as a permanent record of completion.

DEALERS SHOULD SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THEIR NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS: * Other Failure Labor Labor Labor Operation Code Operation Hours Hours --------- ------- --------- ----- ----- Install floor pan anchor bar reinforcement bracket 96 V3980 .6 .1 (If stud is secure)

Install floor pan anchor bar reinforcement bracket 96 V3981 .7 .1 (If stud is loose refer to Service Procedure "B")

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

FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.

Parts required are to be listed in your warranty claim in the normal manner. Parts will be credited at dealer net plus 30% dealer handling allowance.

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

RECORDING COMPLETION

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

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.

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 a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1983 and 1984 Pontiac J2000 Sunbird models equipped with a manually adjustable driver's seat. The metal floor pan anchor bar could fatigue and break around the left front outer seat adjuster stud of the driver's seat. This could allow the stud to separate from the floor pan anchor bar. Although the seat assembly would still be attached to the floor at three other locations, separation of the left front outer seat adjuster stud from the floor pan anchor bar could cause the driver's seat to tip rearward unexpectedly. This could cause a loss of vehicle control which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

To prevent this from occuring on your vehicle, please contact your Pontiac dealer to arrange a service date. The dealer will install a reinforcement bracket on the floor pan anchor bar at the left front outer seat adjuster position of the driver's seat. This service will be completed for you at no charge.

Instructions have been sent to your Pontiac dealer. It is estimated that parts will be available on or about. The labor time to install the floor pan anchor bar reinforcement bracket is approximately 35 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be required 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 that date, or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Customer Assistance Department, Pontiac Home Office, by calling: 800-762-2737.

After contacting your dealer and the Pontiac Home 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 Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington DC residents use 426-0123).

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the inspection/modification 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.