CAMPAIGN: REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTORS. Pontiac Sunbird 1980

THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, AS AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT EACH VEHICLE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO A 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 ALOWANCE FOR DEPRECIATION.

TO AVOID HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE BUDENSOME SOLUTIONS, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO PROMPTLY SCHEDULE A SERVICE DATE 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 NEAREST PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE IF THEIR 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.

CONDITION INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 1980 SUNBIRD AND 1981 FIREBIRD MODELS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION". THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AN IMPROPER SEAT BLET WOULD NOT RESTRAIN SMALLER SIZE PASSENGERS.

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE TO BE INSPECTED AS EXPLAINED IN THE SERVICE PROCEDURES SECTION OF THIS BULLETIN. SEAT BELTS WHICH DO NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY WHEN CHECKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO BE REPLACED.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED ARE ALL 1980 SUNBIRD MODELS AND 1981 FIREBIRD MODELS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTION BREAKPOINTS.

MODEL YEAR MODEL PLANT FROM UP TO

1980 SUNBIRD LORDSTOWN 2E07VA7630300 2E27VA7642335 1981 FIREBIRD VAN NUYS 1G2AS87A8BL100011 1G2AW87WOBL101380

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

OWNERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED CHECKING INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE OWNER LETTER. THEY WERE ALSO ADVISED THEY MAY ELECT TO HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THE INSEPCTION AT NO CHARGE. UPON OWNER REQUEST, 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 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.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOTICE TO YOU THAT SOME OF THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNDER SECTION 108 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 WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES 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 INVOVLED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN.

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

EACH VEHICLE INVOLVED MUST BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED, IF NECESSARY, AS FOLLOWS:

INSPECTION

TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITION OF A VEHICLE ARE OPERATING CORRECTLY, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING CHECK:

NOTE: TEMPLATE NO. 1 IS TO BE USED TO CHECK SUNBIRD MODELS. TEMPLATE NO. 2 IS TO BE USED TO CHECK FIREBIRD MODELS. REFER TO THE ILLUSTRATION ON PAGE 3 OF THIS BULLETIN.

1. REFER TO THE ILLUSTRATION BELOW TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE VEHICLE.

2. UNFOLD THE TEMPLATE TO ITS FULL LENGTH. INSERT THE NOTCHED END OF THE TEMPLATE (TEMPLATE NO. 1 FOR SUNBIRD MODELS OR TEMPLATE NO. 2 FOR FIRE- BIRD MODELS) INTO THE RIGHT OR LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COVER, NEXT TO THE CLOTH WEBBING AS SHOWN BELOW.

3. PULL THE SEAT BELT WEBBING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR SO THE METAL END (D-RING) EXTENDS ABOUT ONE FOOT PAST THE END OF THE TEMPLATE AS SHOWN OPPOSITE.

4. ALLOW THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO RETRACT SLIGHTLY INTO THE RETRACTOR, THEN YANK (PULL HARD) ON THE BELT. THE RETRACTOR SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AND PREVENT THE WEBBING FROM EXTENDING WHEN THE QUICK, HARD PULL IS APPLIED.

5. CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE WEBBING TO RETRACT INTO THE RETRACTOR, APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH AT A TIME, WHILE RECHECKING THE LOCKING FEATURE BY YANKING ON THE WEBBING. CONTINUE THIS CHECK UNTIL THE METAL AND (D RING) GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TIEMPLATE AS SHOWN ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE.

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK UNTIL THE METAL END GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TEMPLATE.

6. REPEAT THIS OPERATION SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS.

7. IN THE EVENT A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BEFORE THE METAL END (D RING) GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TEMPLATE, THE RETRACTOR MUST BE REPLACED.

8. REPLACEMENT

IF INSPECTION SHOWS THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF ONE OR BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS, REFER TO THE APPLICABLE MODEL YEAR FISHER BODY SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION IX FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT UNDER THE TITLE, "LAP AND SHOULDER BELT."

9. AFTER INSEPCTION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACEMENT OF ONE OR BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS, OPEN HOOD AND 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 REAIDATOR UPPER MOUNTING PANEL IN THE AREA OF EMISSION LABEL AND APPLY THE CAMPAIGN LABEL.

10. CLOSE HOOD.

ENCLOSED WITH YOUR COPY OF THIS BULLETIN ARE THE FOLLOWING:

A LISTING OF INVOLVED VEHICLES, 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 VEHICLES IN YOUR AREA.)

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 NEW NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE VHEICLE TO YOUR PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE.

PARTS INFORMATION

WHEN PARTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN, DEALERS ARE REQUESTED TO ORDER FROM THE GENERAL MOTORS WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION DIVISION (GMWDD) THE REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTOR MAY BE ORDERED ACCORDING TO THE COLOR AND PART NUMBER SPECIFIED IN THE GMWDD PARTS CATALOGUE.

DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS

REPLACED REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTORS MUST BE TAGGED WITH A PROPERLY COMPLETED TAG (FORM 728) AND SHOULD BEAR THE NOTATION 81-C-10 AND BE HELD FOR ZONE DISPOSITION.

RECORDING COMPLETION

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION WILL THEN BE RECORDED FROM PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS OR OWNER REPLY CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO OWNERS. 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.

ADDITIONAL 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.

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

LABOR FAILURE LABOR *OTHER PARTS OPERATION CODE HOURS HOURS COUNT

I V0800 96 0.2 HR. 0.1 HR. 0 DESCRIPTION: INSPECT REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTORS FOR PROPER OPERATION. II V0801 96 0.4 HR. 0.1 HR. 1 DESCRIPTION: INSPECT REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTORS AND REPLACE ONE. III V0802 96 0.5 HR. 0.1 HR 2 DESCRIPTION: INSPECT REAR SEAT OUTER BELT RETRACTORS AND REPLACE TWO.

* IN ADDITION, DEALERSHIPS WILL RECEIVE 0.1 HOURS CREDIT FOR DEALER ADMININSTRATIVE 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 ZONE AUTHORIZATION.

FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THIS 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 HANDLING ALLOWANCE FOR PARTS REPLACED. DEALERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE THE CORRECT PARTS AND LABOR ALLOWANCE BASED ON LABOR OPERATION PERFORMED. (CREDITING)

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

REPAIRS SUBMITTED FOR VEHICLES NOT INVOLVED INT HE CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE PAID.

TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITION OF YOUR VEHICLE ARE OPERATING CORRECTLY, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING CHECK:

1. REFER TO THE ILLUSTRATION BELOW TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN YOUR VEHICLE.

2. UNFOLD THE TEMPLATE TO ITS FULL LENGTH. INSERT THE NOTCHED END OF THE TEMPLATE INTO THE RIGHT OR LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COVER, NEXT TO THE CLOTH WEBBING AS SHOWN OPPOSITE.

3. PULL THE SEAT BELT WEBBING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR SO THE METAL END (D RING) EXTENDS ABOUT ONE FOOT PAST THE END OF THE TEIMPLATE AS SHOWN OPPOSITE.

5. CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE WEBBING TO RETRACT INTO THE RETRACTOR, APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH AT A TIME, WHILE RECHECKING THE LOCKING FEATURE BY YANKING ON THE WEBBING. CONTINUE THIS CHECK UNTIL THE METAL END (D RING) GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TEMPLATE AS SHOWN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK UNTIL THE METAL END GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TEMPLATE.

6. REPEAT THIS OPERATION SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS.

7. IN THE EVENT A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BEFORE THE METAL END ( D RING) GOES BELOW THE END OF THE TEMPLATE, THE RETRACTOR MUST BE REPLACED. CONTACT YOUR DEALER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS LETTER

8. IF YOU DETERMINE BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OPERATE CORRECTYLY, PLEASE FILL OUT AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID REPLY CARD. BE SURE TO PLACE A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE BOX.

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.