Installation of Rear Seat Anchor Reinforcement Plate (Canada Only)
MODELS:2002-2004 SATURN L-SERIES WAGON VEHICLES
Attention:
General Motors of Canada Ltd. Saturn Retailers
Condition
Saturn has decided that 2002-2004 Saturn L-Series wagon vehicles were built with a centre and passenger side rear seat belt anchor that fails to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." The seat belt anchor may separate from the floor of the vehicle before holding the required test load for the required time. If a separation occurred in a crash, the right and centre rear seat occupants may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Correction
To correct this condition, Saturn retailers will install a rear seat centre belt anchor reinforcement plate to the floor pan of the vehicle. This service will be performed at no cost to the owner.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2002-2004 model year Saturn L-Series Wagon vehicles built within the VIN breakpoints shown.
Important:
Retailers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) before beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]
For retailers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to GMinfoNet Recall Reports. Retailers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
The Campaign Initiation Detail Report may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report 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.
Service Procedure Overview
In order to install the rear seat centre belt anchor reinforcement plate to the floor pan of the vehicle, removal of the following interior parts is required: rear seat cushion, passenger side rear folding seat back, two 8 mm (0.315 in) child seat anchor plate assembly bolts, one 11.11 mm (7/16 in) seat belt anchor bolt, and a fiber retainer (if applicable) and buckle/latch assembly. No special tools are required to perform the service procedures in this bulletin.
Refer to the illustration shown to view the floor pan, child seat anchor plate, and rear seat centre belt anchor reinforcement plate.
Service Procedure
Important:
There are two rear seat cushion retainer straps, which are located on the bottom of the driver's and passenger's side of the rear seat cushion. If they are not exposed, insert a finger between the bottom of the rear seat cushion and the floor to locate them
1. Remove rear seat cushion.
A. Pull on rear seat cushion retainer strap while pulling up on cushion to disengage rear seat cushion forward attachment. Perform the same operation for the other side of the seat cushion.
B. Push rear seat cushion rearward to disengage rear attachment.
C. Route seat belts through rear seat cushion opening and lift rear seat cushion out of vehicle.
2. Remove passenger's side rear folding seat back.
^ Push up on seat back foam with your hand to expose seat bracket outer retainer.
A. Unlatch rear seat back. Leave seat in upward position.
Notice:
Rear seat back attachments have an "Easyload" outer bracket that allows the rear seat back to snap into position upon installation. It is necessary to pry on the bottom of the bracket (where the large pivot pin goes into the seat bracket) to disengage the rear seat back attachment.
B. Gently pry on the bottom of the bracket (1) while pulling upward on the seat back to disengage outer bracket from pivot pin (2).
C. Tilt seat back down to align inner pivot tabs then pull seat back outward to remove seat back.
3. Remove buckle/latch assembly, fibre retainer, seat belt bolt, child seat anchor plate assembly bolts, and install the rear seat centre belt anchor reinforcement plate (P/N 15796153 [included in kit, P/N 15810645]).
^ Remove 11.11 mm (7/16 in) seat belt bolt and fibre retainer (if applicable) from the buckle/latch assembly. Save this bolt for reassembly.
A. Remove the two 8 mm (0.315 in) bolts from the child seat anchor plate assembly. Save these bolts for reassembly.
B. Slide the rear seat centre belt anchor reinforcement plate (P/N 15796153 [included in kit, P/N 15810645]) under the child seat anchor plate assembly.
Caution:
APPLY LOCTITE 242 THREADLOCKER(R) (OR EQUIVALENT) ON 8 MM (0.315 in) BOLTS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
C. Install the two 8 mm (0.315 in) child seat anchor plate assembly bolts at the pivot bracket. Use the two 8 mm (0.315 in) bolts removed in step 3.B.
Tighten
Tighten child seat anchor plate assembly bolts to 25 +/- 5 Nm (18 lb-ft +/- [44 in-lbs]).
Notice:
Ensure the belt is not twisted by buckling the center and outboard seating positions afier the seat back assembly and seat cushion have been installed. Push and pull on the seat belt system to ensure it is secure.
Important:
DO NOT use Threadlocker [horbar] Loctite 242(R) on 11.11 mm (7/16 in) seat belt bolt.
4. Install buckle/latch assembly and the 11.11 mm (7/16 in) seat belt bolt removed in step 3.A.
Tighten
Tighten seat belt bolt to 42 +/- 6 Nm (31 lb-ft +/- [53 in-lbs]).
5. Install passenger's side rear folding seat back. Guide seat back assembly onto center pivot pin.
A. Align outer pivot pin with the lead in ramp on the "Easyload" bracket.
B. Push downward on the seat back to engage "Easyload" bracket.
C. Raise seat back and secure seat back latch.
6. Install rear seat cushion.
^ Position rear seat cushion over rear seat floor area.
A. Route rear seat belts through cushion openings.
B. Slide rear seat cushion frame into rear attachment brackets.
C. Push downward on rear seat cushion forward retainers to lock rear seat cushion to floor brackets.
D. Check seat belt for proper routing through cushion.
Claim Information
Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information shown.
Customer Notification
Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
Retailer Recall Responsibility
All unsold new vehicles in Retailers' 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.
Retailers 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 Retailer listing, are to be contacted by the Retailer. 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 retail facility for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.