Service Procedure
Inspection ProcedureImportant
Head the following three steps completely before attempting the procedure.
Perform the following inspection procedure on the driver's and front passenger seat belts.
1. Open the driver's door and Buckle The Seat Belt.
2. Using your RIGHT hand, begin SLOWLY pulling the seat belt out of the seat back. When you have pulled out approximately 12 inches, firmly strike the inboard side of the head restraint with your LEFT hand while continuing to slowly pull out the seat belt.
^ If the seat belt locked up and stopped you from pulling the seat belt out in one continuous motion, the locking feature is working as designed and the seat belt does not need to be replaced. Repeat this inspection procedure on the passenger seat belt using your LEFT hand for pulling the seat belt and your RIGHT hand for striking the head restraint.
^ If the seat belt did not lock up and you were able to pull the seat belt out in one continuous motion, the seat belt retractor requires replacement. Repeat this inspection procedure on the passenger seat belt using your LEFT hand for pulling the seat belt and your RIGHT hand for striking the head restraint.
3. If both the driver and passenger front safety belts lock when performing the inspection, no further action is required. If any of the seat belts did not lock up, refer to the Seat Belt Retractor Replacement Procedure, and replace the applicable retractor.
Seat Belt Retractor Replacement
Important
The service procedure contained in this recall is different from the service procedure found in the appropriate service manual. As a result, the labor time allowance has been revised to correspond with this new service procedure. In the near future the service manual and labor time guide will be updated with this new information.
Important
For U.S. and Canada: All replaced seat belt retractors are to be held until a return request is received from the GM Warranty Parts Center (WPC).
Important
Do not remove the seat from the vehicle when performing the following procedure.
1. Remove the SIR fuse.
2. Disconnect the side impact air bag electrical connector located under the seat.
3. If equipped, remove the lumbar knob and/or seat back recliner screw and handle.
4. Remove the screws attaching the seat switch bezel and reposition the bezel.
5. Remove the outer trim panel attaching screws and remove the panel from the side of the seat cushion.
6. Remove the seat belt anchor nut.
7. Remove the screw that attaches the seat belt bezel to the seat back.
8. Remove the seat belt material from the bezel.
9. Release the J-strips (1, 4) across the bottom of the seat back cover.
10. Remove the push pins (3) securing the seat cover (2) to the seat frame.
11. Remove the head restraint.
12. Using a flat-bladed tool, carefully disengage the plastic strips or channels that retain the seat back cover to the side impact airbag module.
13. Carefully remove the seat back cover from behind the trim edge of side impact air bag module.
Important
When separating the seat cover hook and loop retaining strip in the next step, do not pull the adhesive-backed strip from the pad.
14. Using a side-to-side motion, carefully lift off the seat back cover, partially separating the seat back cover from the foam pad.
15. From the bottom of the seat back, place your hand up the front side of the seat back cover and release the hook and loop fasteners that attach the seat back cover to the foam pad.
16. Starting at the bottom of the seat back, remove the seat back cover by pulling the cover upwards. The bottom of the cover should be turning inside out as the cover rolls upwards.
Important
Do not remove the three hog rings that attach the cover to the foam pad.
17. Continue pulling the seat back cover upwards until the top of the seat belt retractor is accessible.
18. If equipped, disconnect the seat back heating element electrical connector.
19. Remove the two head restraint retainers from the top of the seat back.
20. Reposition the cover and pad as necessary.
21. Remove the four push-in fasteners that attach the seat back panel to the seat back frame.
22. Remove the seat belt from the upper retractor bracket by sliding it through the slot.
23. Remove the bolt (1) attaching the upper seat belt bracket to the seat frame.
24. Remove the push-in fastener (2) from the retractor.
25. Remove the lower retractor bolt from the retractor.
26. Remove the seat belt upper bracket and retractor assembly from the seat.
27. Install the new seat belt retractor and original bracket on the seat back frame.
28. Apply threadlocker to the upper retractor bolt and install.
Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 55 Nm (40 lb ft).
29. Install the push-in fastener to attach the retractor to the seat back frame.
30. Apply threadlocker to the lower retractor bolt and install.
Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 55 Nm (40 lb ft).
31. Install the seat belt webbing material into the slot in the upper bracket.
32. Install the seat back panel and four push-in fasteners.
33. Reposition the pad and cover.
34. If equipped, connect the seat back heating element electrical connector.
35. Position the seat back cover over the top of the seat back and begin pulling it down over the seat back.
36. Position and install the seat back cover around the side impact air bag module.
37. Install the head restraint retainers.
38. Install the head restraint.
39. Install the push pins that secure the bottom of the seat back cover to the seat back frame.
40. Connect the J-strip at the bottom of the seat cover.
41. Install the seat belt bezel to the seat belt material, position on the top of the seat back and install the attaching screw.
Tighten
Tighten the screw to 6 Nm (53 lb in).
42. Install the seat belt anchor and nut to the seat adjuster.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 52 Nm (38 lb ft).
43. Install the outer trim panel to the side of the seat cushion and install the screws.
Tighten
Tighten the screws to 3 Nm (26 lb in).
44. Reposition the seat switch bezel to the side of the seat cushion and install the screws.
Tighten
Tighten the screws to 3 Nm (26 lb in).
45. If equipped, install the lumbar support knob.
46. If equipped, install the recliner handle and screw.
Tighten
Tighten the screw to 3 Nm (26 lb in).
47. Connect the side impact air bag electrical connector under the seat.
48. Install the SIR fuse.
49. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify that the SIR light flashes seven times and goes out.
50. For U.S. and Canada: All replaced seat belt retractors are to be held until a return request is received from the GM Warranty Parts Center (WPC).