Front Seat Belt Assembly Replacement

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 owner 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 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 remedies, 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 owner letter, the owners are being instructed to contact the Saturn Customer Assistance Center if their Retailer 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, owners are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Saturn has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 (two door Coupe) model vehicles. If the driver or front passenger safety belt is pulled out much faster than normal a number of times, the lock-up feature of the retractor may not work properly. In a rapid deceleration or crash, the occupant would then not be properly restrained and may receive additional or more severe injures.

To correct this condition, Retailers are to replace the driver and front passenger seat belt assemblies.

All 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 models in the following VIN range will require this campaign.

VZ100009 through VZ231424

It is important to note that campaign claims will only be paid on involved vehicles.

Owners of 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 models involved will be notified of this campaign by Saturn. (Refer to the owner letter included in this bulletin.)

A list of vehicles assigned to you (Facility VIN Listing ), which our records indicate were sold by or shipped to you, (or are located in close proximity to your facility) is enclosed.

This listing contains:

The Facility VIN Listing (with owner information) is furnished to involved Retailers with the Product Campaign Bulletin. Although these vehicles are assigned to your facility, it is important to note that owners may elect to have their vehicle serviced at the Saturn Retail Facility of their choice.

Those Retailers not involved initially in this campaign will receive a message at the top of a blank Facility VIN Listing that states: NO VEHICLES ASSIGNED AT THIS TIME FOR CAMPAIGN 97C03.

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 the law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow up necessary to complete this campaign. Those records updated with California DMV registration information will have the following message printed adjacent to the appropriate VIN: "OWNER INFORMATION UPDATED BY CALIFORNIA DMV; PUBLICATION PROHIBITED."

In order to minimize customer inconvenience and ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction, owners who live in a remote location from an open Saturn Retail Facility may be contacted by Saturn to arrange to have their vehicles serviced in a manner convenient to them. Therefore, you may notice that not all vehicles which were sold by you are on your Facility VIN Listing .

All unsold vehicles in Retailers’ possession and subject to this campaign must be held at the retail facility and repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin before owners take possession of these vehicles.

Retailers 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.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the Retailer and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the procedure contained in this bulletin.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your retail facility 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.

Saturn vehicles that have been sold by you, which may be closer in proximity to another Saturn Retailer, may still appear on your Facility VIN Listing. If either you or the vehicle owner determines that it is more desirable for a vehicle on your Facility VIN Listing to be serviced by another Saturn Retailer, campaign responsibility may be transferred by 1) submitting a Campaign Vehicle Action Report to your Customer Assistance Manager (CAM) at the Saturn Customer Assistance Center, 2) submitting an update in owner information to the Saturn Owner of Record system, via SERVICELINE XL, for Saturn Customer Assistance Center review and approval. A copy of the Campaign Vehicle Action Report can be found in Service Information Bulletin 96-I-15, or additional copies con be ordered from Saturn Publications (1-800-828-2112, prompt 3, Item # S03 97050 ). All changes to campaign responsibility will be reflected in your next Unfixed VIN Report.

All other changes in vehicle status (e.g., scrapped, stolen, etc.) are to be made in accordance with section 4.4.3 of the Retailer Service Reference Guide (Notifying Saturn of Vehicle Status Change).

1. A pre-shipment of driver and passenger seat belt assemblies required to perform this campaign has been automatically shipped to you from Saturn Service Parts Operations (SSPO). These initial shipments are to aid the Retailer in campaign preparation and ensure minimal customer inconvenience. Further shipments will automatically be sent at a later date to fulfill your forecasted needs.

2. Should you require additional parts, please contact your Parts Support Analyst (PSA) immediately and we will expedite the shipment. Withe the exception of Loctite® 242 Threadlocker (P/N 21485277), please do not enter any orders for any part numbers listed without contacting your PSA.

3. Required Parts:

NOTE: An appropriate amount of Loctite® 242 Threadlocker is required, as indicated in the service procedure and may be procured locally. However, if required, it may be ordered from Saturn Service Parts Operations as a direct-shipped part.

Loctite® 242 Threadlocker P/N 21485277

4. The following part is not likely to be required; however, SSPO will send one bolt for every 10 vehicles that a Retailer is responsible for, with a minimum of one bolt per Retailer.

Retailers will scrap all replaced parts in a manner that ensures that they cannot be reused, remanufactured, or otherwise entered into the stream of commerce in the future.

As you know, Saturn’s success hinges upon our ability to execute superior customer support throughout the ownership experience, especially when important corrective actions such as this are required.

It is imperative that every effort is made to accommodate the affected owners. Additionally, priority should be given to customer vehicles over retail inventory vehicles. If you have any questions, please coordinate with the Saturn Customer Assistance Center to help ensure customer satisfaction.

Caution: Use Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent on all restraint fasteners when installing them.




1. Remove rear seat console inserts.
2. Remove rear seat center console fasteners and remove console.
3. Disengage rear seat cushion by pushing rearward then upward at two front retaining locations to release the rear seat cushion from the retainers.
4. Slide the rear seat cushion assembly from under the seat back assemblies, guiding the seat belt buckles through the rear seat cushion.
5. Remove the rear seat cushion assembly.



6. For left side front seat belt assembly and presenter arm removal and installation, perform the following steps.

6.1.	Remove two TORX® fasteners that attach the seat belt slide bar and remove slide bar.





6.2.	Remove the seat belt retractor access door.

6.3.	Remove the TORX® fastener and the seat belt assembly.





6.4.	Unsnap the seat belt bolt cover.

6.5.	Loosen captured TORX® fastener and rotate presenter arm forward to disengage presenter arm guide notch from spaceframe.

6.6.	After presenter arm is disengaged form spaceframe, completely loosen captured TORX® fastener, and remove presenter arm assembly and seat belt assembly.

6.7.	Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to exposed threads on replacement restraint captured TORX® fastener.

6.8.	Position new presenter arm and the seat belt assembly to spaceframe. Tighten captured TORX® fastener.

Tighten
Tighten fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

6.9.	Snap seat belt bolt cover closed.





6.10.

Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to threads on seat belt assembly TORX® fastener.

6.11.

Install seat belt assembly and TORX® fastener.

Tighten
Tighten the fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

6.12.

Install the seat belt retractor access door.





Important: Make certain the cut and stitched side of the seat belt loop is facing outboard and the belt is straight as shown.

6.13.

Grasp the seat belt at the unattached end.

6.14.

Rotate the seat belt loop inboard to the center of the car 180 degrees clockwise, so that the cut and stitched side of the seat belt loop is now facing inboard.

6.15.

Place the seat belt loop over the slide bar as shown.

6.16.

Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to threads on seat belt slide bar TORX® fasteners.





6.17.

Install seat belt slide bar and two TORX® fasteners.

Tighten
Tighten the fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).




7. For right side front seat belt assembly and presenter arm removal and installation, perform the following steps.

7.1.	Remove two TORX® fasteners that attach the seat belt slide bar and remove slide bar.





7.2.	Remove the seat belt retractor access door.

7.3.	Remove the TORX® fastener and the seat belt assembly.





7.4.	Unsnap the seat belt bolt cover.

7.5.	Loosen captured TORX® fastener and rotate presenter arm forward to disengage presenter arm guide notch from spaceframe.

7.6.	After presenter arm is disengaged form spaceframe, completely loosen captured TORX® fastener, and remove presenter arm assembly and seat belt assembly.

7.7.	Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to exposed threads on replacement restraint captured TORX® fastener.

7.8.	Position new presenter arm and the seat belt assembly to spaceframe. Tighten captured TORX® fastener.

Tighten
Tighten fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

7.9.	Snap seat belt bolt cover closed.





7.10.

Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to threads on seat belt assembly TORX® fastener.

7.11.

Install seat belt assembly and TORX® fastener.

Tighten
Tighten the fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

7.12.

Install the seat belt retractor access door.





Important: Make certain the cut and stitched side of the seat belt loop is facing outboard and the belt is straight as shown.

7.13.

Grasp the seat belt at the unattached end.

7.14.

Rotate the seat belt loop inboard to the center of the car and 180 degrees counterclockwise, so that the cut and stitched side of the seat belt loop is now facing inboard.

7.15.

Place the seat belt loop over the slide bar as shown.

7.16.

Apply Loctite® 242 Threadlocker or equivalent to threads on seat belt slide bar TORX® fasteners.





7.17.

Install seat belt slide bar and two TORX® fasteners.

Tighten
Tighten the fastener to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).




8. Position rear seat cushion rear edge onto rear compartment ramps.
9. Route seat belt buckles through rear cushion opening, ensuring that the buckles are not twisted or stuck beneath the seat cushion.
10. Align the rear seat frame wire with the rear compartment lower retainers and push rearward while pushing downward to secure the rear seat frame wire into the lower retainers. Pull up on the cushion to verify that it is secure.
11. Install center console and fasteners.
12. Install center console inserts.
13. Verify operation of seat belts by pulling seat belts out of the retractors and allowing them to return to their original positions.
14. Affix Campaign Completion Label on a clean, dry surface of the radiator core support, in an area clearly visible when the hood is raised. Refer to "Campaign Completion Label" procedure in this bulletin.

Upon completion of the campaign, a Campaign Completion Label should be affixed on a clean, dry surface of the radiator core support in an area clearly visible when the hood is raised. Each label provides a space to print in ink (or type) the campaign number (97C03) and the five (5) digit facility code of the Retailer performing the campaign service.

As a reminder, additional labels may be ordered from Saturn publications (1-800-828-2112, prompt 3, Item # S03 00013A) .

1. To receive credit for replacing the front driver and passenger seat belt assemblies, submit a claim with the information below:

2. To receive credit for loaner/rental car costs or other goodwill expenses, submit a claim with the information below:

3. Retailers are empowered to use good judgement regarding loaner/rental cars or any other goodwill expenses deemed necessary. The Goodwill Worksheet (printed towards the back of this bulletin) must be used to document goodwill expenses. The completed Goodwill Worksheet must be attached to the hard copy of the CSO. Retailers are to make sufficient copies of the blank Goodwill Worksheet to document goodwill expenses.

4. Check your Saturn SERVICELINE. XL Claim Memorandum daily. Remember to code the claim as a WC sale type, and VC case type. Contact your field representative if you need assistance.

5. Refer to the Customer Service Order Preparation Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

* The parts allowance should be the sum total of the current SSPO Retailer net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.

** Material amount for Loctite® 242 Threadlocker

*** Campaign administrative allowance

**** Net Item amounts must be submitted as a miscellaneous sale. . .Loaner reimbursement not to exceed $30/day.

***** Enter number of days vehicle was rented. . .Not to exceed 1 day.

As stated in the "Credit" section of this bulletin, Retailers are empowered to use good judgement regarding loaner/rental cars or other goodwill expenses that might become necessary for customer satisfaction.

Complete this worksheet and attach it to the hard copy of the Customer Service Order (CSO) to document all campaign goodwill claims submitted to Saturn.

VIN #

Dear Saturn Owner:

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

Saturn has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 (two door Coupe) model vehicles. If the driver or front passenger safety belt is pulled out much faster than normal a number of times, the lock-up feature of the retractor may not work properly. In a rapid deceleration or crash, the occupant would then not be properly restrained and may receive additional or more severe injuries. To correct this condition, Retailers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt assemblies on these affected vehicles.

As you know we place the absolute highest priority on our owners' safety and satisfaction, and we sincerely regret any concern this situation may cause you. So, of course, we want to correct this condition as soon as possible. We will do our best to minimize any inconvenience to you and to provide you with the special care that all Saturn owners have come to expect.

Please contact your Saturn Retailer and arrange to have this service performed. The repair shouldn't take more than one hour to complete, although some additional time may be required for paperwork and processing.

We will replace the driver and passenger seat belt assemblies at no charge to you and with the least possible inconvenience.

Your Retailer is prepared to perform this service promptly and with minimal inconvenience to you. However, if your car is provided to the Retailer on the agreed service date and the condition is not remedied on that date, or within five days, please contact the Saturn Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-553-6000 prompt 3, or for the hearing impaired, 1-800-833-6000. We will assist you and the Retailer in getting your car serviced.

If, after contacting your Saturn Retailer and the Saturn Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

Again, we sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern this situation may cause you. Please accept the enclosed phone card, with 20 minutes of airtime, as a token of our thanks for your understanding. We also want you to know that we will do our best, throughout your ownership experience, to ensure that your Saturn provides you many miles of enjoyable driving.

Sincerely,

Saturn Corporation

97C03

Dear Saturn Owner:

You may have heard about a Saturn "recall" involving certain 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 (two-door Coupe) model vehicles. We are writing to let you know what this is about and especially to let you know that your vehicle is not involved.

Saturn has decided that some 1997 Saturn SC1 and SC2 (two door coupe) model vehicles may experience a concern with the driver and front passenger shoulder belt retractors. If the driver or front passenger safety belt is pulled out much faster than normal a number of times, the lock-up feature of the retractor may not work properly. In a rapid deceleration or crash, the occupant would then not be properly restrained and may receive additional or more severe injuries. To correct this condition, Saturn will be replacing the driver and front passenger seat belt assemblies on those affected vehicles.

As you know we place the absolute highest priority on our owners' safety and satisfaction. Owners of these vehicles have already been notified and are having this condition corrected at no charge to them. As always, we will ensure that these conditions are addressed promptly and with minimal inconvenience to affected owners.

We regret any concern this matter may have caused you and want to assure you that you are not affected by this current action. Also, we want you to know that we will always do our best to make sure you are completely satisfied with your Saturn.

Sincerely,

Saturn Corporation

97C03