For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: REDUNDANT RADIO CONTROL (STEERING WHEEL RADIO

#### SUBJECT: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN - REDUNDANT RADIO CONTROL (STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL) CIRCUIT NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED

#### MODELS AFFECTED: 1996 SKYLARK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH REDUNDANT RADIO CONTROL (RPO UK3)

General Motors has determined that certain 1996 Buick Skylark model vehicles were built with inadequate protection for the Redundant Radio Control circuit. If a certain wire in the steering column is damaged, the radio controls on the steering wheel may not work because of a short circuit. This could result in damage to the control circuit and possibly inadvertent deployment of the driver's side Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (air bag).

To correct this condition, dealers will install a fused jumper harness in the Redundant Radio Control circuit, and replace certain electrical components that may have been exposed to excessive electrical current loads.

#### VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1996 Buick Skylark model vehicles equipped with redundant radio control (RPO UK3) and built within the following VIN breakpoints.

YEAR MODEL PLANT PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- ----- ----- ---------- ---- -------

1996 Skylark Lansing South C TC400097 TC400354

Specific VINS of involved vehicles are:

TC400097 TC400133 TC400158 TC400166 TC400201 TC400288 TC400099 TC400137 TC400161 TC400185 TC400264 TC400354

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign.

These 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. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

#### CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Buick Motor Division (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

#### 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 of vehicles recently sold from your vehicle inventory with no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. Campaign 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 campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

#### PARTS INFORMATION

All parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to affected dealers the week of Feb. 5, 1996. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to the dealer's open parts account.

Additional parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO), except as noted below. To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "C.I.O." order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2). All Goodwrench Parts System test dealers should order on a "VIP" order.

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE

26036218 Coil-Redundant Radio Control/S.I.R. 1 16759642 Module-Inflator 1 12345493 Thread Lock Compound-Loctite 272 0.1 ml (10 ml) or equiv. thread locking compound NPN Harness Fused Jumper 1

#### NOTE: Harness-Fused Jumper - This part will be sent directly to assigned dealers by Buick and is not an available production part. Additional harness-fused jumper may be obtained by contacting TUAR Co. on 810-239-5552, extension 5.

#### SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Turn steering wheel so that vehicle's wheels are pointing straight ahead.

2. Apply parking brake.

3. Turn ignition switch to "Lock" position.

4. Remove Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (S.I.R.) fuse from I/P fuse block (Air bag fuse 10 amp).

5. Remove tilt steering wheel lever by gripping firmly and turning counterclockwise. See figure 1.

If necessary, use locking pliers with a piece of rubber, such as a spark plug boot, between the jaws to aid in preventing damage to the lever during removal.

6. On vehicles equipped with column shift, remove the column shift lever boot using following procedure. See figure 2.

a. Rotate ignition key to "RUN" position. b. Shift transaxle into b. Shift transaxle into "NEUTRAL". c. At 3 o'clock position of boot (see figure 2), gently slide the boot towards the shifter lever. d. Gently pull the boot assembly out of the covers and slide it upwards along the column shift lever. Shift transaxle to "PARK" position. e. Turn ignition key to "LOCK" position.

7. Remove upper steering column top cover by disengaging clips. See figure 3.

8. Remove upper steering column bottom cover (three screws, 7mm hex-head). See figure 3.

9. Remove LH sound insulator fasteners (one nut, two twist retainers). Disconnect courtesy lamp harness. Disengage S.I.R. harness edge clip from panel.

10. Remove LH sound insulator to gain access to S.I.R. lower connector (yellow) and redundant radio control (R.R.C.) lower connector.

11. Remove connector position assurance (CPA) pin from lower S.I.R. connector and disconnect S.I.R. harness.

12. Disconnect R.R.C. harness lower connector.

13. Unlock steering wheel and turn as necessary to gain access to air bag module attaching screws. Remove two screws from rear of steering wheel and disengage air bag module from steering wheel.

14. Return steering wheel to the centered, straight-ahead position and turn ignition switch to "LOCK" position.

15. Carefully pull air bag module away from steering wheel and disconnect horn lead ground (black) and the horn lead wire (red).

16. Remove CPA pin from S.I.R. connector (yellow) and disconnect S.I.R. lead.

17. Disconnect R.R.C. lead and remove air bag module from steering wheel.

18. Remove steering wheel nut (21 mm.).

19. Using steering wheel puller J 1859-03 or BT-61-9, remove steering wheel from steering shaft.

20. Using snap ring pliers, remove snap ring from steering shaft.

#### IMPORTANT: BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE REST OF THIS PROCEDURE, OBSERVE THE ROUTING OF THE S.I.R. AND R.R.C. DOWNLEADS TO ENSURE CORRECT ROUTING OF DOWNLEADS WHEN INSTALLING THE NEW S.I.R. COIL.

21. Disengage the S.I.R. and R.R.C. down lead from the steering column wire strap (white).

22. Disengage the S.I.R. and R.R.C. down lead from the steering column wire clip (black).

23. Remove the S.I.R. coil from the steering shaft.

24. Install new S.I.R. coil to steering shaft, aligning the column horn lead tower with the S.I.R. coil opening.

25. Secure the S.I.R. coil to the steering shaft by re-installing the snap ring to the steering shaft using a snap ring plier.

#### IMPORTANT: THE ORANGE ALIGNMENT CLIP ON THE S.I.R. COIL MUST REMAIN ON THE S.I.R. COIL UNTIL THE SNAP RING IS INSTALLED.

26. After the snap ring is re-installed, remove (break off) the orange aligmnent clip.

27. Position S.I.R./R.R.C. down-lead into black routing clip under column housing and into the white wire strap.

28. Connect S.I.R. down-lead connector (yellow) to I/P harness. Install CPA pin.

29. Install new fused jumper harness between R.R.C. down-lead connector and I/P harness. See figure 4.

30. While positioning the steering wheel to the steering shaft, feed the S.I.R. and R.R.C. up-lead through the steering wheel opening.

31. Carefully position the steering wheel assembly to the splined steering shaft and line-up the alignment mark on the steering wheel (12 o'clock position) to the alignment mark on the steering shaft. See figure 5.

32. Push steering wheel onto steering shaft to engage splines.

33. Finger start the steering wheel nut onto the steering shaft. Tighten nut to 41 N.m (30 lbs.ft.).

34. Unlock steering columns and rotate 1/2 turn (180*) to facilitate installation of air bag module.

35. Position new air bag module to steering wheel and connect leads as follows:

a. Connect S.I.R. up-lead to inflator module connector. Install CPA pin.

b. Connect R.R.C. up-lead to R.R.C. connector

c. Connect the horn lead (red).

#### NOTICE: IN NEW AIR BAG MODULES, HORN GROUND TERMINAL IS GROUNDED IN THE S.I.R. MODULE. THERE IS NO HORN-LEAD GROUND TO CONNECT TO STEERING WHEEL.

36. Position S.I.R. and R.R.C. up leads into steering wheel routing clips as shown in fig. 6.

#### IMPORTANT: THESE LEADS MUST BE ROUTED CORRECTLY. IMPROPER ROUTING OF THESE LEADS CAN RESULT IN PINCHED WIRES AND SHORTED CIRCUITS.

37. Position S.I.R. module onto steering wheel.

38. Unlock steering column and rotate as required to install two S.I.R. module attaching screws (10 mm hex) from back of steering wheel. Tighten screws to 9 N.m (6.6 lbs. ft.).

39. Re-connect courtesy lamp harness to courtesy lamp on sound insulator. Replace S.I.R. harness edge clip to edge of panel. Re-install LH sound insulator (one nut, two twist retainers).

#### IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE THAT ALL WIRING HARNESSES ARE PROPERLY ROUTED AND NOT PINCHED AT ANY LOCATION.

40. Re-install upper steering column bottom cover with three screws. Tighten to 4 N.m (2.9 lbs. ft.) following sequence shown in figure 3.

41. Re-install upper steering column top cover (snap-in). See figure 3.

42. On column-shift vehicles, re-install shift lever boot using the following procedure. See figure 2.

a. Rotate ignition key to "RUN" position.

b. Shift transaxle into "NEUTRAL" position.

c. Slide column shift lever boot down on shaft of column shift lever until the boot contacts the the boot contacts the steering column cover.

d. At the 3 o'clock position, move boot inward and then forward.

e. At the 6 o'clock position, move the boot downward.

f. At the 9 o'clock position, push the boot inward to fully engage two attachment fingers.

g. At the 12 o'clock position, push the boot inward to fully engage one attachment finger.

h. Shift transaxle to "PARK" position.

i. Rotate ignition key to "LOCK" position.

43. Apply Loctite #272 (p/n 12345493) or equivalent to tilt steering wheel lever threads. Re-install tilt steering wheel lever by gripping firmly and turning clockwise. See figure 1.

44. Re-install Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (S.I.R.) fuse (air-bag fuse).

45. Check S.I.R. system, R.R.C. system and horn for proper function.

46. Install Campaign Identification Label.

#### 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 for periodic servicing by the owner. Be sure to apply the clear protective plastic cover over the label.

Additional GM Campaign Identification labels (Item Number S-1015) are available at no cost from Vispac, Inc., 35000 Industrial Road, Livonia, MI 48150,1-800-269-5100 (Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Est.).

Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

#### CLAIM INFORMATION

REPAIR PERFORMED PC FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LABOR NET PART NO. ALLOW 0P HRS. AMT.

Inst jumper harness, 2 26036218 ** MA-96 V9841 *0.7 ***$5.70 UK3/SIR coil, inflator module

*ADD: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".

**The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net Price plus 40% of all parts required for the repair.

***The 40% allowance for the NPN jumper harness is $5.60 and should be applied for in the Net Amount along with the $.10 allowance for Loctite #272 (GM PN 12345493).

BUICK

Buick Motor Division General Motors Corporation Flint. Michigan, 48550

Dear Buick Customer:

We, at Buick Motor Division, are committed to improving the Buick customer ownership experience. We have discovered a condition that could develop on your vehicle and are writing to you today with our action.

#### CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL FOR:

General Motors has determined that certain 1996 Buick Skylark model vehicles were built with inadequate protection for the Redundant Radio Control circuit. If a certain wire in the steering column is damaged, the radio controls on the steering wheel may not work because of a short circuit. This could result in damage to the control circuit and possibly inadvertent deployment of the driver's side Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (air bag).

#### ACTION:

------

To correct this condition, dealer will install a fused jumper harness in the Redundant Radio Control Circuit, and replace certain electrical components that may have been exposed to excessive electrical current loads.

This service will be performed for you at no charge.

#### CONTACTING YOUR BUICK DEALER

Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. We suggest you contact the dealer where you took delivery of your car to have the work performed, we have already supplied parts for your car to that dealer. Instructions for performing this service have been sent to Buick dealers and parts are available. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

#### CUSTOMER REPLY CARD:

The enclosed customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Buick Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

Enclosure

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those 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 equipment, tools, 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 a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.