SHORTENED PARK LAMP BULB LIFE CANADIAN VEHICLES W/DRL

SUBJECT: SHORTENED PARK LAMP BULB LIFE, CANADIAN VEHICLES WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) (REVISED PARTS, SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE)

MODELS: 1993 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1993 PONTIAC FIREBIRD **CANADIAN VEHICLES ONLY**

CONDITION:

CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE BULB LIFE OF THE FRONT PARKING LAMP BULBS IS VERY SHORT.

CAUSE:

THE PARKING LAMPS IN THE F-CAR ARE USED AS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) AND ARE ON ALL THE TIME. THE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE LAMP SOCKET LEADS TO SHORTENED BULB LIFE. THIS CONDITION WAS CORRECTED FOR 1994.

CORRECTION:

1. WITH IGNITION AND HEADLAMPS OFF, CUT OFF THE OLD PARKING AND TURN SIGNAL LAMP SOCKETS, AND REPLACE WITH NEW SOCKET ASSEMBLIES, P/N 12159662, AS SHOWN IN THE SERVICE MANUAL. THE CHEVROLET IS SHOWN IN FIGURE 7, ON PAGE 8B-9, AND THE PONTIAC IN FIGURE 8, ON PAGES 8B-9 AND 10. THE NEW SOCKET ASSEMBLY HAS THE TERMINALS AND WIRES INSTALLED. REMEMBER TO SOLDER ALL CONNECTIONS, AND USE HEAT SHRINK TUBING TO PROTECT THE WIRING FROM CORROSION.

2. USE NEW BULBS, P/N 9441839, WITH THE NEW SOCKETS.

3. ON CHEVROLET ONLY, REPLACE THE PARKING LAMP ASSEMBLIES. THESE NEW ASSEMBLIES ARE NEEDED TO MEET ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS WITH THE NEW BULBS. THE P/N'S ARE: 5977601 (RIGHT SIDE) AND 5977602 (LEFT SIDE).

SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE

THE DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUIT OPERATION IN THE 1993 AND 1994 SERVICE MANUALS, IN SECTION 8B, IS INCORRECT. THE DESCRIPTION SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS:

DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (CANADIAN ONLY)

ALL CANADIAN VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP SYSTEM INCLUDES A SOLID STATE MODULE AND A LIGHT SENSOR. THE SYSTEM LIGHTS THE PARK LAMPS WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE "RUN" POSITION DURING DAYLIGHT. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO LIGHT THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AT FULL INTENSITY, AND THE PARKING AND TAILLAMPS WHEN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT.

THE WIRING INFORMATION IN SECTION 8A IS CORRECT.

PART AVAILABILITY:

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO ON 1/03/94.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE: LABOR OPERATION: N6560 (TO REPLACE SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND BULBS.) LABOR OPERATION: N1520 AND N1521 (TO REPLACE LAMP ASSEMBLIES ON CHEVROLET) USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 0

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.

COPYRIGHT 1993 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.