SPECIAL POLICY: POWER STEERING - GEAR AND FLUID LEAKS

SOME 1980 AND 1981 "X" SERIES MAY EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED COLD. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF ENGINE OPERATION, FULL ASSIST IS RESTORED. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE STEERING GEAR COULD DEVELOP POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS. LEAKAGE CAN RESULT FROM HOUSING POROSITY AND SEAL PROBLEMS. WHEN ONE OR BOTH OF THE ABOVE STATED CONDITIONS EXIST, GENERAL MOTORS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION SHORT GEAR ASSEMBLY, AT NO CHARGE FOR A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE. OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED BY LETTER OF THIS SPECIAL POLICY WHEN ADEQUATE PARTS INVENTORY IS AVAILABLE. DEALER ACTION WHEN CONTACTED BY AN OWNER OF ANY 1980 OR 1981 "X" SERIES WITH THE COMPLAINT OF NO POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS STARTED COLD OR EXCESSIVE FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE GEAR ASSEMBLY, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE SHORT GEAR ASSEMBLY AS OUTLINED IN OLDS TECHNICAL BULLETIN 81-T-14 WHICH WAS MAILED TO ALL DEALERS JULY 23, 1982. THIS SPECIAL POLICY BULLETIN SUPERSEDES INFORMATION GIVEN IN, RACK AND PINION POWER STEERING VALVE RINGS, ON PAGE 103 OF THE JULY, 1981 SERVICE GUILD. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM FITTINGS, HOSES, AND CONNECTORS PAST THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD ARE NOT BY THIS SPECIAL POLICY AND, THEREFORE, WOULD BE AN OWNER REPAIR EXPENSE ITEM. OWNER REIMBURSEMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE SATISFACTION WITH OUR PRODUCTS, GENERAL MOTORS WILL REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE INCURRED PRIOR POWER STEERING GEAR REPAIR EXPENSE, FOR THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED, WITHIN THE POLICY PERIOD. REIMBURSEMENT CONSIDERATION SHOULD INCLUDE ANY DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNTS PAID UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS. OWNERS ARE TO CONTACT THEIR DEALER PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1984 FOR REIMBURSEMENT CONSIDERATION. DEALERS ARE REQUESTED TO REIMBURSE THE OWNER, AND SUBMIT A WARRANTY CLAIM AS A SUBLET REPAIR TO THEIR DIVISION. SHOULD INSTANCES OCCUR WHERE OWNERS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DO NOT HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION OR MAY HAVE INCURRED ABNORMALLY HIGH REPAIR EXPENSE, DEALERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR ZONE OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE. WARRANTY INFORMATION CLAIMS FOR CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY PAID REPAIRS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED AS A SUBLET REPAIR ON A WARRANTY CLAIM AS FOLLOWS: LABOR OPERATION TROUBLE CODE STEERING GEAR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT T0097 95 THE FOLLOWING WARRANTY INFORMATION IS LISTED IN 81-T-14,AND SHOULD BE USED WHEN PERFORMING THIS REPAIR UNDER THE SPECIAL POLICY: OPERATION LABOR USAGE YEAR NUMBER TIME TC FAILED P/N MANUAL TRANSMISSION 1980-81 T0098 1.9 92 7842746 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1980 T0099 2.9 92 7842746 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1981 T0099 3.0 92 7842746 ADD .1 HR. TO ABOVE TIMES FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH LOCKING WHEEL COVERS. ZONE AUTHORIZATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR CLAIMS MEETING THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN. PARTS INFORMATION SO THAT PARTS MAY BE OBTAINED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THEY SHOULD BE ORDERED FROM WDDGM ON A CIO ORDER WITH NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTION CODE, BUT ORDER ON AN ADVISED CODE 2.

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.