For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN:TRANSAXLE DISTRESS DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF SPRO.

#### SUBJECT: TRANSAXLE DISTRESS DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE DRIVEN SPROCKET

#### Models: 1994 Oldsmobile Ciera and Achieva 1994 Pontiac Grand Am and Bonneville 1994 Buick Century and Skylark 1994 Cadillac DeVille With the 4T60-E Transaxle (RPO M13)

#### TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that certain 1994 Oldsmobile Ciera, Achieva, Pontiac Grand Am, Bonneville, Buick Century, Skylark and Cadillac DeVille model vehicles with the HYDRA-MATIC 4T60-E transaxle may contain a driven sprocket that will wear prematurely, resulting in a low mileage durability concern. This concern could cause the transaxle to become noisy and eventually become inoperative.

To prevent these conditions from occurring, dealers are to replace the suspect transaxle with a new transaxle.

#### VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are certain 1994 Oldsmobile Ciera, Achieva, Pontiac Grand Am, Bonneville, Buick Century, Skylark and Cadillac DeVille model vehicles built within the following 4T60-E transaxle models and Julian dates:

4T60-E Plant Year Model Model Plant Code Julian Date --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1994 Buick Century 4PAW Oklahoma 6 055,056,059,060 1994 Olds Ciera 4PAW Oklahoma 2 055,056,059,060 1994 Buick Skylark 4WSW Lansing M 055,056,059,060 1994 Olds Achieva 4WSW Lansing M 055,056,059,060 1994 Pontiac Grand Am 4WSW Lansing C 055,056,059,060 1994 Pontiac Bonneville 4KHW Orion 4 055,056,059,060

The following five (5) Cadillacs DeVille require a new transaxle (Part # 8686936):

#### VIN VIN

1G6KD52B5RU268513 1G6KD52B2RU269165 1G6KD52B7RU268707 1G6KD52B1RU269190 1G6KD52B2RU269117

#### NOTE: PLEASE CHECK DCS SCREEN 45 OR YOUR V.I.N. LISTING BEFORE PERFORMING CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. ONLY AFFECTED VIN'S WILL BE PAID.

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

#### DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

All unsold new vehicles in dealer's 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 perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometers traveled, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow- up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used 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.

#### CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

#### PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:

Transaxle Vehicle Part Number Description Model Model Quantity/Vehicle ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8686948 Transaxle Asm. 4PAW Century, Ciera 1 24200804 Transaxle Asm. 4WSW Achieva, Grand Am 1 Skylark 24200471 Transaxle Asm. 4KHW Bonneville 1 8686936 Transaxle Asm. 4ATW DeVille 1

#### PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- -------------- 1A Inspect Transaxle 0.3 ONLY 6A Olds, Buick 'A' Car Inspect/Replace Transaxle 5.7 Pontiac, Olds Buick 'N' Car Inspect/Replace Transaxle 5.9 Pontiac 'H' Car Inspect/Replace Transaxle 5.6 Cadillac 'K' Car Inspect/Replace Transaxle 6.4

Time allowance includes 0. 1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 40% to cover parts handling. Please include the amount for approximately 10 liters of transaxle fluid in repair code 6A.

SERVICE PROCEDURE: (Figure 1) ----------------- NOTICE: For Cadillacs go to step 2.

1. Raise vehicle on hoist and inspect transaxle identification nameplate.

- If the transaxle Julian Date information indicates 055, 056, 059 or 060, the transaxle must be replaced; go to step 2.

- If the transaxle Julian Date is other than listed above, do not replace the transaxle; go to step 4.

2. Replace the transaxle assembly. See the appropriate 1994 Service Manual, Section 7A, for transaxle replacement procedure.

3. The removed transaxle assembly must be crated in the original shipping container and returned in the usual manner with the appropriate information included.

4. Install the campaign identification label.

#### INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that certain 1994 Oldsmobile Ciera, Achieva, Pontiac Grand Am, Bonneville, Buick Century, Skylark and Cadillac DeVille model vehicles with the HYDRA-MATIC 4T60-E transaxle may contain a driven sprocket that will wear prematurely, resulting in a low mileage durability concern. This concern could cause the transaxle to become noisy and eventually become inoperative.

To prevent these conditions from occurring, dealers are to replace the suspect transaxle with a new transaxle.

This service will be provided for you at no charge.

Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

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

Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited

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.