CAMPAIGN: HEADLIGHT SWITCH W/O TWILIGHT SENTINAL OPTION
MODELS AFFECTED: 1986 LESABRE ESTATE WAGONS AND ELECTRA ESTATE WAGONS WITHOUT TWILIGHT SENTINEL HEADLAMP CONTROL OPTION
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 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 which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Buick Home Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the agreed service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, the owners are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
CONDITION
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1986 LeSabre Estate Wagons, and Electra Estate Wagons. The push-pull headlight switch might have been manufactured with electrical contacts which could potentially result in an intermittent headlight circuit. An intermittent circuit could cause the headlights to flicker or suddenly go out. Sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility, which might result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
DEALER ACTION
To prevent this condition, dealers are required to inspect, and if necessary, replace push-pull headlight switches on suspect vehicles per the Vehicles Involved and Technical Procedure sections of this bulletin.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Certain 1986 LeSabre Estate Wagons and Electra Estate Wagons with VIN's from GX412115 through and including GX412990 without Twilight Sentinel Headlamp Control (Option T-82).
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles involved in this campaign, at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into used car inventory, dealers are to take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling the vehicle.
In addition, dealers are to perform the campaign on all affected vehicles as they are brought in for any kind of service.
DEALER MATERIAL
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following items:
o List of all vehicles involved in this campaign shipped to your dealership. o One (1) Campaign Identification Label per vehicle involved.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification 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 will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These computer listings may contain owner names and addressed 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.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners of vehicles involved in this campaign will be notified by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION
Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (DCS) to provide Buick Motor Division with subsequent Buick owner information. By reporting a change of owner name or address of a vehicle in campaign status over the DCS, the need to send in a CVAR form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the DCS Manual under Section 9, Page 9-J01A and B.
PARTS INFORMATION
The following push-pull headlight switch will be required, if inspection indicates replacement is necessary. It is available from the Parts Distribution Centers of the General Motors Warehousing and Distribution Division (GMWDD).
Description Part Number ----------- ----------- Push-pull Headlamp Switch For Vehicle Without Twilight 1995226 Sentinel Headlamp Control
If there is difficulty obtaining this part, using normal ordering procedures, dealers may place a C.I.O. usifig advise Code "2", with no special instruction code. The part may also be ordered on a V.I.P. order; however, unless prior zone approval is obtained, dealers will be required to absorb any surcharge involved under the V.I.P. system.
TECHNICAL PROCEDURE
NOTE: EACH SUSPECT PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MUST BE INSPECTED. IF THE ALPHABETICALLY MARKED HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAVITY HAS EITHER A "D" OR "M" IDENTIFIED, THE SWITCH MUST BE REPLACED. REFER TO ILLUSTRATION. (THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAVITY IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SWITCH FROM THE DATE CODE).
1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. Remove the Headlight Switch. Refer to Page 8C2-4 of the 1986 Buick Chassis Service Manual.
3. After removing the headlight switch from the Instrument Panel (I.P.), refer to the illustration to locate and identify the cavity code.
a. If the cavity code is a "D" or "M", replace the switch using the correct part number, per the Parts Information section.
b. If the switch does not have the suspect alphabetical cavity codes, reconnect the existing switch. Proceed to Step 4.
4. Reassemble the headlight switch per the Chassis Service Manual instructions.
5. Install 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 radiator support tie bar. When installing label, clean the surface of the radiator upper mounting panel and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.
DISPOSITION OF PARTS
Replaced parts must be held for disposition by Buick contact personnel. Parts must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which they were removed.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
LABOR AND PARTS CREDIT
LIST THE ONE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATION
SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPER. COUNT PART NO ALLOW CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TWG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Headlight - - - 96 V3630 .3 *.1 - Switch - Inspect only o Headlight 1 1995226 ++ 96 V3631 .3 *.1 - Switch - Inspect & Replace
* .1 hour for administration. ++ List current dealer price, plus 30% of replaced switch.
Dear Buick Owner:
This notice is Sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some LeSabre Estate Wagons and Electra Estate Wagons. The push-pull headlight switch might have been manufactured with electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit. An intermittent circuit could cause the headlights to flicker or suddenly go out. Sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Until you have had an opportunity to have your Buick corrected, you should be alert for signs of an intermittent headlight circuit. For example, you might experience flickering headlights or temporary delay when you pull the headlight switch "ON."
To prevent this condition from occurring, please contact your Buick dealer on or after the date shown below to arrange a service date to bave your Buick inspected. Your dealer will check the headlight switch. If necessary, the switch will be replaced. This service will be completed at no charge to you.
Instructions have been sent to your Buick dealer. It is estimated that the parts will be available October 1, 1986. The labor time to check the headlight switch and replace it, if necessary, is about 20 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.
Your Buick dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and he does not remedy this condition on that date, or within five days, we recommend you contact the Customer Assistance Department, Flint Home Office, by call 800-521-7300.
After contacting your dealer and the Buick Home Office, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge, within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 426-0123).
The enclosed Owner Reply Card identifies your vehicle. Presentataion of the card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid owner 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 continuing satisfaction with our products.
BUICK MOTOR DIVISICN General Motors Corporation
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.
