ECC HEAD BLANK/INOP., DELAYED TURN ON OF TWILIGHT SENTINEL. Cadillac Catera 1998

SUBJECT: ECC HEAD BLANK/INOPERATIVE, DELAYED TURN ON OF TWILIGHT SENTINEL (REPLACE ECC HEAD)

MODELS: 1997-98 CADILLAC CATERA

MODEL YEAR VIN BREAKPOINT ---------- -------------- 1997 BUILT AFTER VR138045 1998 BUILT PRIOR TO WR233088

CONDITION:

SOME OF THE ABOVE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION OF THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL (ECC) HEAD BECOMING BLANK AND INOPERATIVE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THERE MAY ALSO BE AN 8-10 SECOND DELAY FOR THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS.

CAUSE:

THE BLANKING OF THE HEAD MAY BE CAUSED BY AN INTERNAL PROCESSOR RESET IN THE ECC HEAD. THE DELAYED TURN ON OF THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL IS A RESULT OF A SOFTWARE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE WHEN THE ECC HEAD WAS CHANGED DURING THE 1997 MODEL YEAR.

CORRECTION:

A NEW ECC CONTROL HEAD WENT INTO PRODUCTION AT 1998 VIN WR233088 TO REPAIR THESE TWO CONDITIONS. REPLACE THE ECC HEAD WITH THIS NEW PART, P/N 9138299. THIS NEW PART ALSO HAS REVISED SOFTWARE TO KEEP THE HOT WATER VALVE CLOSED WHEN THE ECC SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF TO PREVENT WARM AIR FROM ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

THIS NEW ECC HEAD HAS A DIFFERENT TECH2 COMMUNICATIONS ADDRESS. SINCE THE TECH2 SOFTWARE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED WITH THIS NEW ADDRESS, PROBLEMS MAY BE ENCOUNTERED WHEN TRYING TO ACCESS DIAGNOSTIC DATA FROM THE NEW ECC HEAD WITH A TECH2 WITH A CD BEFORE DISC 19. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO ACCESS DIAGNOSTICS, CONTACT THE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER AT 1-800-828-6860 (1-800-503-3222 FRENCH LANGUAGE) FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

PARTS INFORMATION:

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER ----------- -----------

CONTROL, HTR + A/C 9138299

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION LABOR OPERATION NUMBER TIME --------------- ---------------

D0362 USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

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.