CAMPAIGN: COMPACT SPARE TIRE RIM. Pontiac Sunfire 1997

NOTE: GM OF CANADA CAMPAIGN 97029 IS LOCATED BELOW THE U.S. VERSION

FMVSS NON-COMPLIANCE CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT: 97029 - COMPACT SPARE TIRE RIM

MODELS: 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLES

The Highway 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 customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to 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 customer may be entitied 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has decided that certain 1997 'J' model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." The compact spare tire assemblies in these vehicles may have been assembled with rims that do not conform to dimensional and profile standards. If the spare tire is significantly underinflated, its bead can separate from the rim, causing rapid loss of air. The owner's manual explains how to control a car if there is a tire blowout, but that situation can be avoided by not using the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

Dealers are to replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly and scrap the original rim.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Lordstown "7" V7276111 V7277611 1997 Pontiac Sunfire Lordstown "7" V7583746 V7584497

NOTICE: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer 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

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" prior to ordering requirements. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. An emergency requirement should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle 9591887 Rim-compact spare 1 274288 Valve stem 1

Notice: Due to the small number of vehicles involved and due to limited initial parts availability, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock. Parts should only be ordered when a vehicle has been scheduled for replacement of the rim on the compact spare tire assembly.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of typical customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the appropriate divisional customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under 49 U.S.C. section 30112 of the Highway Safety Act as amended, 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 $1,100 for each such sale.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Remove spare tire cover.

2. Remove spare tire hold down.

3. Remove compact spare tire from trunk.

4. Dismount compact spare tire from rim using a tire changing machine.

Notice: Do not use hand tools or tire irons to dismount or mount tires as they may damage the tire bead.

Important: Before disposing of the old rim, the rim should be mutilated so that it cannot be re-used.

5. Install new valve stem to new rim.

6. Mount compact spare tire to new rim using a tire changing machine.

7. Inflate spare tire to 60 psi (414 kPa).

8. Place compact spare tire in trunk.

9. Install spare tire hold down and tighten until spare tire is secured in position.

10. Position spare tire cover and secure with retainer.

11. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle corrected 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 and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in by the customer for periodic servicing. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to install the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269- 5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

REPAIR PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC 0P HOURS

Replace Rim- 2 9591887 ** MA-96 V0045 0.3 Compact Spare Tire

* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 40% for the compact spare rim and valve stem needed to complete the repair.

Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

July, 1997

Dear <Division(s)> Customer:

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

Reason For This Recall, General Motors has decided that certain 1997 'J' model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." The compact spare tire assemblies in these vehicles may have been assembled with rims that do not conform to dimensional and profile standards. If the spare tire is significantly underinflated, its bead can separate from the rim, causing rapid loss of air. Your car's owner's manual explains how to control your car if there is a tire blowout, but you can avoid that situation by not using the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

What Will Be Done: To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your dealer will replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

How Long Will The Repair Take? The length of time required to replace the rim is approximately 20 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If your dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed.

Contacting Your Dealer: Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle. Your <Division> dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance/Relations Center at the listed number below:

Deaf, Hearing Impaired Division Number or Speech Impaired Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 1-800-833-2438 Pontiac 1-800-762-2737 1-800-833-7668

Utilizes Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Text Telephones (TDD/TTY) If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).

Courtesy Transportation: Your dealer will provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to our Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

Customer Reply Card: The enclosed customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid 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.

<Division(s)> GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

** CANADIAN VERSION **

CMVSS NON-COMPLIANCE CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT: CAMPAIGN 97029 - COMPACT SPARE TIRE RIM

MODELS: 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE VEHICLES

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that certain 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims". The compact spare tire assemblies in these vehicles may have been assembled with rims that do not conform to dimensional and profile standards. If the spare tire is significantly underinflated, its bead can separate from the rim, causing rapid loss of air. The owner's manual explains how to control a car if there is a tire blowout, but that situation can be avoided by not using the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

Dealers are to replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly and scrap the original rim.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Lordstown "7" V7276111 V7277611 1997 Pontiac Sunfire Lordstown "7" V7583746 V7584497

NOTE: PLEASE CHECK DCS SCREEN 445 OR YOUR V.I.N. LISTING BEFORE PERFORMING CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. ONLY AFFECTED VIN'S WILL BE PAID.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" prior to ordering requirements.

Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle

9591887 Rim-compact spare 1 274288 Valve stem 1

Notice: Due to the small number of vehicles involved and due to limited initial parts availability, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock. Parts should only be ordered when a vehicle has been scheduled for replacement of the rim on the compact spare tire assembly.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

All customers of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin). The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold new vehicles in dealer's possession and subject to this campaign must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Remove spare tire cover.

2. Remove spare tire hold down.

3. Remove compact spare tire from trunk.

4. Dismount compact spare tire from rim using a tire changing machine.

Notice: Do not use hand tools or tire irons to dismount or mount tires as they may damage the tire bead.

Important: Before disposing of the old rim, the rim should be mutilated so that it cannot be re-used.

5. Install new valve stem to new rim.

6. Mount compact spare tire to new rim using a tire changing machine.

7. Inflate spare tire to 60 psi (414 kPa).

8. Place compact spare tire in trunk.

9. Install spare tire hold down and tighten until spare tire is secured in position.

10. Position spare tire cover and secure with retainer.

11. Install Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle corrected 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 and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in by the customer for periodic servicing. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

* REPAIR PERFORMED PART FAILED PARTS LABOUR LABOUR COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC OP HOURS

Replace Rim- 2 9591887 ** MA-96 V0045 0.3 Compact Spare Tire

* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labour Hours".

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 40% for the compact spare rim and valve stem needed to complete the repair.

Refer to the General Motors Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

July 1997

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that certain 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire model vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVS S) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims". The compact spare tire assemblies in these vehicles may have been assembled with rims that do not conform to dimensional and profile standards. If the spare tire is significantly underinflated, its bead can separate from the rim, causing rapid loss of air. The owner's manual explains how to control a car if there is a tire blowout, but that situation can be avoided by not using the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your GM dealer will replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly.

This service will be provided for you at no charge.

Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited

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.