CAMPAIGN: STEERING WHEEL FRACT (INSTALL REINFORCEMENT PLATE). Geo Storm 1991

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: STEERING WHEEL FRACT (INSTALL REINFORCEMENT PLATE)

#### Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 92C20 - STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE

#### Model and Year: 1990-92 GEO STORM

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 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 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 an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. I f 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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all 1990, 1991 and certain 1992 Geo Storm model vehicles. These vehicles exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel center hub may fracture during certain types of frontal and near frontal vehicle crashes. This would reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle to possibly avoid any second collision and could reduce the crash protection of the steering system and driver-side air bag.

To correct this condition, dealers are to install a reinforcement plate to the steering wheel hub.

#### VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are all 1990, 1991 and certain 1992 Geo Storm model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- ----- -------- ----- -------- --------- 1990 R-Car Fujisawa 11711 L7500165 L7583091

1991 R-Car Fujisawa 11711 M7500054 M7595301

1992 R-Car Fujisawa 11711 N7500073 N7550735

Involved vehicles will be identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and will be furnished to involved dealers at a later July, 1992 date (approximately one week). 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. Dealers who do not have involved vehicles will not receive a computer listing.

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Chevrolet Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).

Due to parts availability, owner letter mailings will be phased out over a three week period.

#### 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 owners take possession of these vehicles.

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.

owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

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.

#### PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). 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).

Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ---------- ------------------------------------ --------- 10227352 Steering Wheel Hub Reinforcement Kit 1 Contains: 1 Reinforcement Plate 1 Revised Steering Wheel Nut 1 Instruction Sheet

SERVICE PROCEDURE

FIGURES REFERENCED ARE LOCATED ON PAGES 5 AND 6 OF THIS BULLETIN.

#### Notice:

Failure to follow proper SIR module precautionary procedures could result in possible air bag deployment, personal injury and/or unneeded SIR system repairs. See section 9J of the service manual for additional and more detailed precautions than those noted in this service procedure.

1. Disconnect and tape negative battery cable terminal before servicing supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

#### Notice: THE SIR MODULE IS EQUIPPED WITH A DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE (DERM) WHICH ASSURES SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO DEPLOY THE SIR SHOULD IGNITION VOLTAGE BE LOST. THE DERM CAN MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TO CAUSE DEPLOYMENT FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES AFTER THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. FOR THIS REASON, WAIT AT LEAST TEN MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING TO STEP 2 TO ALLOW SIR TO DE-ENERGIZE.

2. Turn steering wheel 90 degrees from neutral position and, from lower side of steering wheel, remove two bolts securing SIR module to steering wheel (see Figure 1).

3. Turn steering wheel 90 degrees to opposite side of neutral position and remove remaining two bolts (see Figure 1).

4. Carefully remove SIR module and, while supporting the module (Figure 2), carefully unhook lead wire from back side of SIR module (see Figure 3).

5. Unlock SIR connector by lifting connector lock (see Figure 3) and then disconnect SIR connector.

6. Set aside SIR module with face side up.

#### Notice: When carrying a live SIR module, make sure bag and interior trim cover are pointed away from you. Never carry SIR module by wires or connector on underside of module. Also, when placing a live (undeployed) SIR module on a bench or other surface, always face bag and trim cover up, away from surface. These precautions are necessary so in the unlikely event of an accidental deployment, the bag will deploy with a minimal chance of injury.

7. Remove two steering wheel center plate screws and the horn harness connector bracket screw from steering wheel center plate (save all three screws).

8. Remove horn harness connector bracket (see Figure 4).

9. Remove ignition key and lock steering wheel.

10. Remove steering wheel nut. Nut will not be reused.

11. Position reinforcement plate from kit to steering wheel center plate. Figure 4 shows proper positioning of reinforcement plate.

12. Set horn harness connector bracket on plate. Be certain L-portion of horn harness connector bracket is positioned properly on reinforcement plate as shown in Figure 4.

13. Install three screws removed in step 7 to reinforcement plate. Torque to 2.5 Nm (22 lb. in.).

14. Install new steering wheel nut (included in kit) and tighten to 34 Nm (25 lb. ft.) . Insure horn wiring harness is in place as shown in Figure 4 so that wiring harness is not pinched.

#### Notice: A pinched wiring harness may cause horn to sound continuously.

15. While carefully supporting SIR module (Figure 2), reconnect SIR connector and lock SIR connector back into place with connector lock (Figure 3). Be certain locks of SIR connectors are secured.

16. Rehook lead wire to back side of SIR module.

17. Turn steering wheel 90 degrees from neutral position and, from lower side of steering wheel, install two bolts removed in step 3. Torque to 5 Nm (44.3 lb. in.) . Turn steering wheel 90 degrees to opposite side of neutral and repeat for two bolts removed in step 2.

18. Reconnect negative battery cable terminal.

19. Set ignition switch to "ON" while watching SIR warning light. Light should flash 6 to 9 times and then go off. If lamp does not operate correctly, refer to section 9J, Chart C of appropriate model year service manual.

20. 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. Additional "Campaign Identification Labels" can be obtained from DAC.

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

#### CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below: * FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS ------------------- -- ------- ----- ----- ----- --- --- Install Steering Wheel Reinforcement 1 10227352 ** SK-00 V7600 0.5 0.1 Kit

* campaign Administrative Allowance.

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.

Dealers will automatically receive the correct labor and material allowance based on the labor operation performed.

Refer to the Chevrolet/Geo Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear Geo Storm Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

REASON FOR THIS RECALL

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all 1990, 1991 and certain 1992 Geo Storm model vehicles. These vehicles exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel center hub may fracture during certain types of frontal and near frontal vehicle crashes. This would reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle to possibly avoid any second collision and could reduce the crash protection of the steering system and driverside air bag.

WHAT WE WILL DO

To correct this condition, your dealer will install a reinforcement plate to the steering wheel hub. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Chevrolet/Geo dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately one half hour. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-222-1020.

After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 366-0123).

The enclosed owner 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.

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.