Recall - Defective Left Front Lower Control Arm Welds
Number 83-C-03 Section Date 04/83
Subject: PRODUCT CAMPAIGN 83-C-03 1983 2000 - LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT ASSEMBLY WELD BREAKAGE
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 adequately repair within 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 a service date with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the nearest Pontiac zone office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed service date.. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1983 Pontiac 2000 models. These vehicles were assembled with left front suspension support assemblies which could have inadequate welds at the lower control arm attaching brackets. If these welds break, a loud "clunking" noise will be made by the control arm moving about inside the support assembly as the vehicle is being driven. Noise will be particularly noticeable during acceleration and when the brakes are applied.
If these warning noises are ignored, the control arm may eventually fall and a vehicle crash could occur.
To correct this condition, the left front suspension support assembly will be replaced on all involved vehicles.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are some 1983 Pontiac 2000 models assembled at Lordstown within the following vehicle parameters:
PLANT BEGINNING V.I.N. UP TO AND INCLUDING
Lordstown D7201819 D7202250
Some vehicles with V.I.N.'s within the above listed range of numbers were corrected at the assembly plant and will not appear on the V.I.N. printout.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Information Number computer listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the 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.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
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.
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, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners of vehicles involved in this campaign, whose names are on record at the time the data is prepared, will be notified by Pontiac Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Front Support Assembly Removal & Installation Procedure
1. Raise vehicle.
2. Remove left-hand wheel and tire.
3. Disconnect lower control arm ball joint from knuckle.
4. Remove left-hand stabilizer link bolt, washers and bushings.
5. Remove stabilizer shaft insulator bracket from left-hand suspension support assembly.
6. Remove left-hand lower control arm.
7. Remove left-hand front suspension support assembly.
VIEW 1:
8. Install lower control arm in new left-hand front suspension support assembly as shown in View 1 on the following page.
9. Attach new left-hand front suspension support/lower control arm assembly loosely to body.
10. Loosely install stabilizer shaft insulator bracket to left-hand support assembly.
11. Loosely install stabilizer link assembly to lower control arm.
VIEW 1:
VIEW 2:
VIEW 3:
12. Tighten front suspension support assembly, stabilizer insulator bracket and stabilizer link using torques shown in Views 1, 2 and 3 on the following page.
13. Install lower control arm ball joint to knuckle using 75 N-m (55 ft.lbs.) and a new cotter pin.
14. Install wheel and tire.
15. Set toe (0.13~ +/- 0.10~ per wheel).
16. Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined herein will require a Campaign Identification Label. Each label provides a space to include the Campaign Number, the five (5) digit Dealer Code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. When installing label, clean the surface of the fan guard and apply the Campaign Label.
PARTS INFORMATION
The parts required to complete this campaign are to be ordered from WDDGM.
PART NUMBER QUANTITY DESCRIPTION
14046383 1 Left-hand Front Support Assembly
To ensure this part will be obtained as soon as possible, it should be ordered from WDDGM on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but order on a advise code 2.
Parts removed from the involved vehicles are to be retained by the dealer for disposition by Pontiac zone personnel.
ENCLOSED WITH THE COPY OF THIS BULLETIN
A list of those vehicles involved, which our records indicate are in your geographical area, is attached for your follow-up. Advise the zone if vehicles appearing on the attached list are not in your area. (If a list of vehicles is not attached, our records indicate no affected vehicle(s) in your area.)
If a vehicle has been transferred or sold to another location, please forward the new name and address of the vehicle to your Pontiac zone office.
RECORDING COMPLETION
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 campaigned performed.
Additional campaign labels are available on stationery order as Form 7201-709.
DEALERS SHOULD STILL SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THEIR NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS:
(A completed warranty claim is to be kept as a permanent record of completion.)
WARRANTY CREDIT
A separate repair order must be used for each V.I.N.
FAILED *OTHER
PART FAILURE LABOR LABOR LABOR
DESCRIPTION NUMBER CODE OPERATION HOURS HOURS
Replace left front support assembly 14046383 96 V1610 1.4 Hr. .1 Hr.
according to the instructions outlined in
this bulletin.
*"In addition, dealerships will receive 0.1 hours credit for dealer administrative services associated with this campaign. The 0.1 hours allowance is to be entered in the "Other Labor Hours" field with each campaign repair listed for credit. This entry will not require zone authorization."
FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION.
Part required is to be listed on your warranty claim in the normal manner. Part will be credited at dealer net, plus 30 percent dealer handling allowance for part replaced.
(CREDITING)
Dealers will be credited via Warranty Document or Terminal Transmission, whichever is their normal method of submission for payment. Claims must contain all information required and should list the labor operation as outlined.
Repairs submitted for vehicles not involved in the campaign will not be paid.