Product Safety - Windshield Wiper Pivot Housing

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997 and 1998 Chevrolet Malibu and Oldsmobile Cutlass model vehicles. If a buildup of snow or ice restricts the movement of the passenger side wiper arm, the pivot housing can crack and the wipers will not operate. Reduced visibility in inclement weather could lead to a vehicle crash.

Dealers are to replace the passenger side pivot housing for vehicles in all Canadian provinces and in states with moderate to heavy annual snowfall.

Involved are certain 1997 and 1998 Chevrolet Malibu and Oldsmobile Cutlass model vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints and located in all Canadian provinces and in states with moderate to heavy snowfall:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Important: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.

Additional parts, if required, 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.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify that the windshield wipers are in the PARK position. After verifying, turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.

Important: The ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT windshield wiper transmissions have locators for properly positioning the wiper arms during assembly. The service replacement PASSENGER side transmission does NOT have the locator. Therefore, to assure correct positioning of the wiper arms during installation, you must mark the location of the passenger side wiper blade on the windshield before removal.

2. Using a marker or piece of masking tape, mark the location of the passenger side wiper blade on the windshield. It is NOT necessary to mark the location of the driver's side blade.
3. Disconnect the washer hose from both wiper blades.
4. Remove the wiper arm nut cover from both wiper arms.
5. Remove the wiper arm retaining nuts.
6. Remove the wiper arms.
7. Remove the air inlet screen push-in retainers.
8. Remove the washer hose from the air inlet screen.
9. Remove the air inlet screen.
10. Remove the bolts attaching the wiper module assembly. Reposition the module and disconnect the electrical connection.
11. Remove the wiper module assembly from the vehicle.
12. Using the J 39232, or the equivalent, remove the two drive links from the passenger side transmission arm.
13. Remove the two screws attaching the passenger side transmission to the wiper module frame.
14. Install the grommet included in the campaign kit on the transmission housing and install the plastic cap on the transmission shaft. Refer to the old wiper transmission for proper installation.

Important: Some vehicles may have a foam seal on the old passenger side wiper transmission assembly. If there is a foam seal on the old transmission, transfer it to the new transmission at this time. If no foam seal is found on the old transmission, it is NOT necessary to install one on the new transmission.

15. Install the new passenger side transmission to the wiper module frame using the new attaching screws included in the kit.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 8 N·m (71 lb in).

Important: Before connecting the drive links to the transmission in the next step, ensure that adequate lubricant (grease) is present on the ball studs and in the ball stud sockets on the end of the drive links. If additional lubricant is required, use P/N 1051344 (in Canada, use 993037) (grease) or the equivalent.

16. Using the J 39529, or the equivalent, install the two drive links on the passenger side transmission arm.
17. Clean the knurls on the driver's side wiper transmission with a wire brush.
18. Install the wiper module assembly in the vehicle and connect the electrical connector.
19. Install the bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 3 N·m (88 lb in).

20. Install the air inlet screen and the push-in retainers.
21. Install the washer hose to the air inlet screen.
22. Align the passenger side wiper arm blade with the mark or tape on the windshield and install on the wiper transmission. Using the locator on the driver's transmission, install the driver's wiper arm on the transmission.
23. Install the wiper arm retaining nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

24. Install the wiper arm nut covers.
25. Install the washer hoses on the wiper arms.
26. Remove mark or tape from the windshield and verify proper wiper system operation.
27. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

FOR US

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Material by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

FOR CANADA

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct a cracked passenger side wiper pivot housing are to be submitted by June 30, 2002 (this time limit may be longer depending upon the law in your state/province/country).

Consideration for reimbursement will be allowed only if genuine General Motors parts were used. The amount to be reimbursed will be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.

When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:

Claims for customer reimbursement on previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by WINS.

Important: Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 1.6.2, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement verification.

FOR US AND CANADA

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

FOR US

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty 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 customer 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

FOR ALL

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 who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. 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 accompanying 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 the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

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

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997 and 1998 Chevrolet Malibu and Oldsmobile Cutlass model vehicles. If a buildup of snow or ice restricts the movement of the passenger side wiper arm, the pivot housing can crack and the wipers will not operate. Reduced visibility in inclement weather could lead to a vehicle crash.

Your dealer will replace the passenger side windshield wiper pivot housing for vehicles in all Canadian provinces and in states with moderate to heavy annual snowfall:

This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 30 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

The attached 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 no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

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 Corporation

Enclosure