Recall - Fuel Tank May Contact Body Sill: Overview
CAMPAIGN: FUEL TANK MAY CONTACT BODY SILL # 98044NOTE:
GM OF CANADA VERSION OF 98044 IS LOCATED BELOW THE US VERSION
PRODUCT CAMPAIGNS 98044 AUGUST, 1998
PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN
SUBJECT:
98044 - FUEL TANK MAY CONTACT BODY SILL
MODELS:
1995-1998 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K CREW CABS (FLINT ASSEMBLY ONLY)
THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT, AS AMENDED: PROVIDES THAT EACH VEHICLE WHICH SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN 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 (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 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. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE DIVISIONAL LETTER THAT IS BEING SENT TO CUSTOMERS, THE CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE 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 HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1995-98 C/K CREW CAB PICKUPS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK MAY CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE BODY SILL AND FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE; HOWEVER, OVER TIME, IT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT THE POINT OF CONTACT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR, AND EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
INVOLVED ARE 1995-98 CREW CAB PICKUPS BUILT AT FLINT ASSEMBLY PLANT AND WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:
YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH
1995 CHEVROLET C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1996 CHEVROLET C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1997 CHEVROLET C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1998 CHEVROLET C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP WF015254
1995 GMC C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1996 GMC C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1997 GMC C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP EOP
1998 GMC C/K CREW CAB FLINT "F" SOP WF015244
IMPORTANT:
DEALERS SHOULD CONFIRM VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY THROUGH VISS (VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM) OR SERVICENET (GMC ONLY) PRIOR TO BEGINNING CAMPAIGN REPAIRS. NOT ALL VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE BREAKPOINTS MAY BE INVOLVED.
INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 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 CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. THE CUSTOMER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA FURNISHED WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH CUSTOMERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. ANY DEALER NOT RECEIVING A COMPUTER LISTING WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN HAS NO INVOLVED VEHICLES CURRENTLY ASSIGNED.
THESE DEALER LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN CUSTOMER 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.
PARTS INFORMATION
AN INITIAL SUPPLY OF FUEL TANK SPACERS, EQUIVALENT TO 20% OF INVOLVED VEHICLES REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE PRE-SHIPPED TO INVOLVED DEALERS OF RECORD. THIS PRE-SHIPMENT WILL OCCUR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 10, 1998. PRE-SHIPPED PARTS WILL BE CHARGED TO DEALER'S OPEN PARTS ACCOUNT.
ADDITIONAL PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE PARTS OPERATIONS (GMSPO). PLEASE REFER TO YOUR "INVOLVED VEHICLES LISTING" PRIOR TO ORDERING REQUIREMENTS. NORMAL ORDERS SHOULD BE PLACED ON A DRO = DAILY REPLENISHMENT ORDER. AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE ORDERED ON A CSO = CUSTOMER SPECIAL ORDER.
PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE
15031940 FUEL TANK SPACER 1 (IF REQ'D)
15017939 FUEL TANK (GAS) 1 (IF REQ 'D)
15017934 FUEL TANK (DIESEL) 1 (IF REQ'D)
N/A *FLEXIBLE TUBING WITH OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF 5 MM 305 MM (1 FT)
*IMPORTANT:
THE FLEXIBLE TUBING IS USED FOR INSPECTION AND THE SAME PIECE CAN BE USED FOR ALL VEHICLES.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY GENERAL MOTORS (SEE COPY OF TYPICAL CUSTOMER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN - ACTUAL DIVISIONAL LETTER MAY VARY SLIGHTLY).
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 CUSTOMERS TAKE POSSESSION OF THESE VEHICLES.
DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN 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 APPROPRIATE DIVISIONAL. CUSTOMER LETTER ACCOMPANYING THIS BULLETIN. CAMPAIGN FOLLOW-UP CAR'S 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 CAMPAIGN ENTERS YOUR VEHICLE INVENTORY, OR 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.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
EACH VEHICLE CORRECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN WILL REQUIRE A "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL". EACH LABEL PROVIDES A SPACE TO INCLUDE THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER AND THE FIVE (5) DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR A BALL POINT PEN.
EACH "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL" IS TO BE LOCATED ON THE RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT IN AN AREA WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN BY THE CUSTOMER FOR PERIODIC SERVICING. WHEN INSTALLING THE CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL, BE SURE TO PULL THE TAB TO ALLOW ADHESION OF THE CLEAR PROTECTIVE COVERING. ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABELS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM VISPAC INCORPORATED BY CALLING 1-800-269-510 (MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. EST). ASK FOR ITEM NUMBER S-1015 WHEN ORDERING.
APPLY THE "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL" ONLY ON A CLEAN, DRY SURFACE.
CLAIM INFORMATION
SUBMIT A PRODUCT CAMPAIGN CLAIM.
GM BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THESE 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 TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, 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 YOUR DEALER/RETAILER FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION