CAMPAIGN: SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS

SUBJECT: SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS

MODELS AFFECTED: 1991 ROADMASTER ESTATE WAGONS, CERTAIN 1992 ROADMASTER SEDANS

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 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 their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Buick 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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all 1991 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon and certain 1992 Roadmaster Sedan model vehicles. These vehicles exhibit a condition in which the shoulder belt guide loop plastic covering may crack and expose the steel sub-plate. In the event of a vehicle crash, the exposed steel sub-plate could cut the safety belt webbing and result in an increased possibility and/or severity of injury to the affected seat occupant.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install new shoulder belt guide loops on involved vehicles.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are all 1991 and certain 1992 Buick Roadmaster model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- 1992 Roadmaster Arlington "R" NR100006 NR421428 Sedan

1991 Roadmaster Willow Run "W" MW400001 MW407466 Estate Wagon

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 involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished 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 this 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 Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).

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 owners take possession of these vehicles.

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.

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

In summary, 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, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Part Operations (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).

NOTICE:

TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL, A SEDAN OR WAGON REPLACEMENT GUIDE LOOP KIT AND A GUIDE LOOP COVER KIT MUST BE ORDERED.

SECOND SEAT GUIDE LOOPS IN WAGONS MUST BE REPLACED TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL ACTION. SEDAN REAR SEAT GUIDE LOOPS DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE SUBJECT CONDITION.

NOTE: To assist in ordering Guide Loop Cover Kits, the To-Be Done listing has an identifying color letter after the campaign number as follows:

B - Dark Blue C - Camel R - Dark Red G - Dark Gray

SEDANS ------ Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- --------- 10225856 Front Seat Replacement Guide Loop Kit 1

Contains: 2 Replacement Guide Loops 2 Replacement Bolt/Screws-35 mm Shoulder 1 Instruction Sheet

10225859 Front Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as -Dark Blue required

Contains: 2 Guide Loop Covers

10225861 Front Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Camel required

Contains: 2 Guide Loop Covers

10225863 Front Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Dark Red required

Contains: 2 Guide Loop Covers

10225866 Front Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Dark Gray required

Contains: 2 Guide Loop Covers

STATION WAGONS

Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- ------- 10225869 Front and Second Seat Guide Loop Kit 1

Contains: 4 Replacement Guide Loops 2 Replacement Front Bolt/Screws-35 mm Shoulder 2 Replacement Rear Bolt/Screws- 25 mm Shoulder 1 Instruction Sheet

10225870 Front and Second Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Blue required

Contains: 2 Front Seat Guide Loop Covers 2 Rear Seat Guide Loop Covers

10225872 Front and Second Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Camel required

Contains: 2 Front Seat Guide Loop Covers 2 Rear Seat Guide Loop Covers

10225874 Front and Second Seat Guide Loop Cover Kit 1/as - Dark Red required

Contains: 2 Front Seat Guide Loop Covers 2 Rear Seat Guide Loop Covers

GMSPO will provide information on return of non-conforming Safety Belt Part Numbers.

SPECIAL TOOLS

Each dealer will be shipped a Shoulder Belt Guide Loop Cutter J 39555 beginning July 9, 1992. This tool is being furnished to dealers at no charge. Each tool package will be identified with Buick Campaign Number 92-C-13. Additional tools, if required, may be ordered from Kent-Moore.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

PERFORM FOLLOWING PROCEDURES FOR FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS IN SEDANS AND FOR FRONT AND SECOND SEAT SHOULDER BELTS IN STATION WAGONS.

Belt Inspection Procedure

Inspect all applicable belt webbings for snags, cuts or excessive wear marks. If any of these conditions are present, replace affected retractor/belt assembly as described in section 10-11 of Roadmaster Service Manual.

For belts which do not exhibit snags, cuts or excessive wear marks, replace guide loops and guide loop covers following the "Guide Loop Replacement Procedure".

Guide Loop Replacement Procedure

1. Remove guide loop from body lock pillar and pull out enough belt webbing to have guide loop outside of vehicle.

2. While wearing safety glasses, place guide loop into special tool J-39555 (View "A") being certain to note proper orientation of guide loop into tool.

3. Tighten screw shaft of tool until guide loop breaks (View "B").

4. Carefully remove webbing.

5. Insert webbing into new style guide loop between ends of loop (View "C"), and attach new guide loop cover. For front seat guide loops only, insert cover between guide loop ends (View "D"). For station wagon second seat guide loops, install cover between guide loop and pillar (View "F"). Be certain new guide loop cover, when installed, is angled away from trim and that belt webbing is not twisted.

6. Insert new bolt (bolt supplied with kit - front bolt has 35 mm shoulder; rear bolt has 25 mm shoulder) through guide loop and cover, and then bolt to body pillar. Torque to 40 N.m (30 lb. ft.). Close guide loop cover over guide loop (for sedan and station wagon front seats: View "E". For station wagon second seats: View "F".

7. Check to be sure guide loop rotates freely and that webbing easily passes through loop and retracts properly.

8. Repeat this procedure for all applicable guide loops in vehicle (front seat guide loops in sedans; front and second seat guide loops in station wagons).

9. Install Campaign Identification Labels.

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 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 for periodic servicing by the owner.

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

DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS

Replaced parts must be held for disposition by Buick Zone/Branch Contact personnel. Parts must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which they were removed.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Use the one appropriate labor operation:

PARTS SUBLET COUNT FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LAB OTHER DLR. OPERATION PC PART NO. ALLOW CODE OP.NO. HRS. HRS. MTL.TWG. --------- ----- -------- ----- ------- ------ ---- ----- -------- -Sedan Replace Both 2 10225856 ** 96 V7548 0.3 *0.1 -- Guide Loops

-Sedan Replace One 3 " ** 96 V7549 0.6 *0.1 -- Seat Belt/ Retractor Asm. and One Guide Loop

-Sedan Replace Both 2 Use a ** 96 V7550 0.8 *0.1 -- Seat Belt/ Seat Belt/ Retractors Retractor Asm. Asm.P/N

-Station Wagon Replace Both 2 10225869 ** 96 V7551 0.5 *0.1 -- Front and Second Seat Guide Loops

-Station Wagon Replace One 3 " ** 96 V7552 0.7 *0.1 -- Front and Both Second Seat Guide Loops; Replace One Front Seat Belt/ Retractor Asm.

-Station Wagon Replace One 3 10225869 ** 96 V7553 1.0 *0.1 -- Second and Both Front Seat Guide Loops; Replace One Second Seat Belt/ Retractor Asm.

-Station Wagon Replace Both 4 " ** 96 V7554 1.2 *0.1 -- Front Guide Loops; Replace Both Second Seat Belt/ Retractors Asm.

-Station Wagon Replace Both 4 " ** 96 V7555 1.0 *0.1 -- Front Seat Belt/ Retractors Asm; Replace Both Second Seat Guide Loops

-Station Wagon Replace One 4 " ** 96 V7556 1.1 *0.1 -- Front And One Second Seat Guide Loop; Replace One Front And One Second Seat Belt/Retractor Asm.

-Station Wagon Replace One 5 10225869 ** 96 V7557 1.4 *0.1 -- Second And Both Front Seat Belt/ Retractor Asm; Replace One Second Seat Guide Loop

-Station Wagon Replace One 5 " ** 96 V7558 1.6 *0.1 -- Front and Both Second Seat Belt/ Retractor Asm; Replace One Front Seat Guide Loop

-Station Wagon Replace Both 4 Use a ** 96 V7559 1.7 *0.1 -- Front And Both Seat Belt Second Seat Retractor Belt/ Asm.P/N Retractors Asm.

* Campaign Administrative Allowance.

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30 percent of all parts required for the repair.

COPY OF LETTER TO OWNERS

Dear Buick Roadmaster Owner:

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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all 1991 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon and certain 1992 Roadmaster Sedan model vehicles. These vehicles exhibit a condition in which the shoulder belt guide loop plastic covering may crack and expose the steel sub-plate. In the event of a vehicle crash, the exposed steel sub-plate could cut the safety belt webbing and result in an increased possibility and/or severity of injury to the affected seat occupant.

WHAT WE WILL DO

To prevent this condition from occurring, your dealer will install new shoulder belt guide loops in your vehicle. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Please advise your dealer of your car's interior color to assist in ordering parts. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 15 to 90 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

Your Buick dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Buick Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300.

After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if 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 366-0123).

The enclosed owner 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 have sold or traded your 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.

Buick Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

Enclosure 92-C-13

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.