Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Recall - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Malfunction: Overview

Product Safety - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor # 03038A - (03/17/2004)

03038A -- Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor

2002-2003 Cadillac DeVille, Seville
Equipped with V8 (4.6L) Engine (LD8/L37)

2002-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
Equipped with V8 (4.0L) Engine (L47)

2002-2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

This bulletin is being revised to remove the parts restriction on the fuel tank and eliminate the need for the recall identification label. Please discard bulletin 03035, issued October 2003.

Condition

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002-2003 model year Cadillac DeVille and Seville vehicles equipped with a V8 (4.6L) engine (LD8/L37), Oldsmobile Aurora vehicles equipped with a V8 (4.0L) engine (L47), and Pontiac Bonneville SSEi vehicles. The fuel tank pressure sensors in these vehicles are unusually susceptible to malfunctions. If the sensor malfunctions, excessive vacuum can be applied to the fuel tank during self-diagnostic testing. Fuel system components can be damaged and fuel can leak from the vehicle when it is refueled. Possible symptoms of this condition are fuel odor from the fuel tank area, inaccurate fuel gauge readings, and poor driveability. If there is an ignition source present, a fire could occur.

Correction

Dealers are to replace the fuel tank pressure sensor, and if required, the fuel tank assembly and evaporative emission canister.

Vehicles Involved





Involved are certain 2002-2003 model year Cadillac DeVille and Seville vehicles equipped with a V8 (4.6L) engine (LD8/L37), Oldsmobile Aurora vehicles equipped with a V8 (4.0L) engine (L47), and Pontiac Bonneville SSEi vehicles built within the VIN breakpoints shown.

Important
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC only) before beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.





Parts Information

Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Courtesy Transportation

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.

Claim Information





Submit a Product Recall claim with the information shown.

Refer to the General Motors WINS claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall claim Submission.

Customer Notification - For US and Canada

Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).

Customer Notification - For IPC

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the sample letter shown.

Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US and IPC (US States Territories and Possessions)

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty 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 customer 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

Dealer Recall Responsibility - ALL

all unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter shown in this bulletin. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.





Disclaimer