CAMPAIGN: STEEL WHEELS

Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 90-C-54 STEEL WHEELS

Models Affected: 1988-90 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

TO: ALL PONTIAC DEALERS

It has been determined that a number of vehicles previously inspected under the original product safety recall campaign 90-C-14 "Steel Wheels" issued April, 1994, and expanded by 90-C-14A issued March, 1995, will require REINSPECTION. A NEW safety campaign and NEW labor codes are being issued for administrative purposes. A second owner letter will be sent to the involved vehicle owners.

Vehicles previously inspected under 90-C-14 that had less than four wheels replaced are to be reinspected. If the wheel codes were noted on the dealer repair order and the codes are not included in this campaign, the owner could be contacted by telephone and advised that a trip to the dealer is not necessary. Dealers should submit a warranty claim to complete the campaign. For those customers who had less than all four wheels replaced and the codes were not noted on the dealer repair order, a return trip to the service department is required.

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 Pontiac 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 decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-90 Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles equipped with steel wheels (RPO's PB9 (14") and PG1 (15")). These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to reinspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel to determine if the wheels were produced during a suspect period. Whenever a wheel falls within the specified date code range, dealers are to replace that wheel assembly.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1988-90 Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Up To And Year Plant Beginning Including ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1988 Fairfax JF239513 JF286295 1989 Fairfax KF200121 KF249783 1990 Fairfax LF252305 LF262739

IMPORTANT: Only certain vehicles are involved. Please check your dealer campaign listing or the Vehicle Information Service System (VISS) for campaign involvement.

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.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts 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). All Goodwrench Parts System Test Dealers should order on a "V.I.P." order.

Part Quantity Description Number Per Vehicle -------------------------------------------------------- 14" Steel Wheel 9592409 1 to 4 As Required 15" Steel Wheel 9592147 1 to 4 As Required Valve Stems 9439866 1 to 4 As Required

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign by Pontiac 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 with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owners letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.

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.

Dealers may also wish to contact owners on their involved vehicle list to inform them that the disc date codes were written on the original repair order and a trip to the dealer is not necessary. Dealers should submit a warranty claim to complete the campaign.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Remove wheel cover, using care to avoid damage to cover and wheel surfaces.

2. Thoroughly clean outer surface of wheel using appropriate cleaning materials and tools.

NOTICE: Wheel must be cleaned to assure correct reading and interpretation of date code stamped on the center portion of wheel.

3. Read and record on the repair order, the date code data stamped on center portion of wheel in the following order (see figure).

A. Manufacturer, Plant and Year Codes

B. Disc Code

C. Day Code is not to be considered

If codes match any of the combinations listed in the chart or are unreadable/illegible, the wheel must be replaced.

4. Repeat above procedure for remaining three wheels on vehicle.

5. As required by inspection, replace necessary wheels & balance. Use torque stick J39544-15 and impact gun to tighten lug nuts to appropriate torque.

This should be done in two steps using the star pattern. First, snug the nuts down by hand. Then using the star pattern and a torque stick or torque wrench, tighten the wheel nuts to about half the final torque. Finally, tighten the wheel nuts to specification using the star pattern and the torque stick/wrench. Use the same amount of impact wrench operating time as would normally be used without a torque stick.

Manufacturer (M) Plant (P) Disc Year (Y) Code ------------------------------- M P Y ------------------------------- K 2 8 J K 2 8 K K 2 8 L K 2 8 M K 2 8 N K 2 8 O K 2 8 P K 2 8 Q K 2 8 R K 2 8 S K 2 9 T K 2 9 U K 2 8 V K 2 8 W K 2 9 A K 2 9 B K 2 9 C K 2 9 Y K 2 9 EE K 2 9 FF K 2 9 GG K 2 9 JJ K 2 9 KK K 2 9 LL K 2 0 A

6. Render all removed wheels unusable and scrap as required by GM Policy and Procedures.

7. Install Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each label provides space to print the campaign number and the five digit dealer code of the dealership performing the campaign. Insert this information with a typewriter or a ball point pen. When installing label, clean and dry the surface of the radiator support tie bar and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible when the hood is raised. Be sure to apply the clear protective plastic cover over the label.

Additional GM Campaign Identification Labels (Item Number S-1 01 5) are available at no cost from Vispac, Inc., 35000 Industrial Road, Livonia, MI 48150, 1-800-269-510 (Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Est.).

CLAIM INFORMATION

A separate repair order must be used for each vehicle. A completed warranty claim is to be kept as a permanent record of completion.

DEALERS SHOULD SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THEIR NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS:

Failure Labor Labor Net Operation Code Operation Hours Amount ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verified Wheel Codes on Prior Repair Order, No Replacement Necessary, Advise Customer - OR - Inspect All Wheels - No Wheels Replaced 96 V8625 *0.2 Inspect All Wheels - 1 Wheel Replaced 96 V8626 *0.5 ** Inspect All Wheels - 2 Wheels Replaced 96 V8627 *0.7 ** Inspect All Wheels - 3 Wheels Replaced 96 V8628 *0.9 ** Inspect All Wheels - 4 Wheels Replaced 96 V8629 *1.1 **

* ADD: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours". This entry will not require authorization.

** The "Net Amount" should represent the dealer cost, plus 30% for balance weights and valve stems.

FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.

Parts required are to be listed in your warranty claim in the normal manner. Parts will be credited at dealer net plus 30% dealer handling allowance.

Dealers will be credited via Warranty Document or Terminal Transmission, whichever is their normal method of submission for payment. Claim must contain all information required and should list the labor operation as outlined.

RECORDING COMPLETION

Repairs submitted for vehicles not involved in the campaign will not be paid.

Campaign completion will be recorded from "PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS." Owners are being asked to present the owner reply card for identification to their dealer at the time they bring in their vehicle to have the campaign performed.

Dear Pontiac Grand Prix 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

In April 1994, General Motors decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988- 90 Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles equipped with steel wheels. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

Since that time, an additional group of wheels has been identified as possibly exhibiting the same condition. A new campaign is being initiated to re-examine previously inspected vehicles and replace any suspect wheels from this additional population.

WHAT WE WILL DO

We apologize for causing you this additional inconvenience, but to prevent this condition from occurring, your dealer will reinspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of your vehicle to determine if the wheels were produced during a suspect period. Whenever a wheel falls within the specified date code range, your dealer will replace that wheel assembly. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Pontiac dealer as soon as possible to arrange an appointment.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service inspection/correction is approximately ten (10) minutes to one (1) hour depending on the repairs required. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

Your Pontiac 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 Pontiac Customer Assistance Center by calling: 1-800-762-2737.

After contacting your dealer and the Pontiac 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, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 366-0123).

The enclosed Campaign Owner Reply Card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary inspection/correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid Owner 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.

PONTIAC DIVISION General Motors Corporation

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.