CAMPAIGN: POWER SEAT WIRING HARNESS - 6 WAY POWERSEAT. Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 1991

Subject: POWER SEAT WIRING HARNESS

Models/Years: CERTAIN 1990 AND 1991 CUTLASS CIERAS AND CUTLASS CRUISERS WITH SIX-WAY POWER SEATS AND/OR POWER SEAT RECLINERS (RPO AC3, AG1, A80, A81, A83)

CONDITION

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1990 and 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Cutlass Cruiser model vehicles with 6-way power seats or power seat recliners. The power seat or recliner wiring harness routing in these vehicles may cause the harness to become pinched or chafed on the seat frame or spring support rod causing possible intermittent short circuits. These short circuits may then cause the circuit breaker to weld closed and the unprotected short circuit could generate sufficient heat at the shorted location to produce smoke and/or ignite the seat cushion materials.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to inspect the wiring harness and, after repairing any abraded areas, reroute the harness using a wiring harness clip.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Certain 1990 and 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera sedans and coupes, and Cutlass Cruiser station wagon model vehicles equipped with Six-way Power Seats and/or Power Seat Recliners within the breakpoints listed below:

Assembly Beginning Through & Year Model Model Name Plant VIN Including

1990 A Cutlass Ciera Sedan Oklahoma City L6300001 L6381355 Cutlass Cruiser Wagon

1990 A Cutlass Ciera Coupe/Sedan Ste. Therese L2300021 L2381239 Cutlass Cruiser Wagon

1991 A Cutlass Ciera Sedan Oklahoma City M630000 M6350501 Cutlass Cruiser Wagon

1991 A Cutlass Ciera Coupe/Sedan Ste. Therese M2300014 M2350583 Cutlass Cruiser Wagon

It is estimated that 76% of the vehicles between the breakpoints were built with some combination of Six-way Power Seats and/or Power Seat Recliners. Applicable RPO codes are one or more of: AC3, AG1, A80, A81, and/or A83. These RPO Codes may be found on the vehicle Service Parts Identification label.

All vehicles listed on the dealer printout will require inspection and installation of the clip(s). Other suspect vehicles should be checked for campaign involvement by utilizing the Vehicle Information Service System (V.I.S.S.).]

DEALER ACTION

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession subject to this campaign MUST be held at the dealership and the campaign must be performed BEFORE owners take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used car inventory, or if it is in your dealership for service, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dealers are to contact owners of vehicles recently sold from your new or used vehicle inventory and arrange for the campaign correction to be performed.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

The wiring harness may be pinched between the seat cushion and the seat frame on Cutlass Ciera and Cutlass Cruiser vehicles with six-way and/or power recliner seats. The wiring harness can be re-routed to correct the condition, per the following procedure. Depending on the option content of an involved vehicle, one or both of the front seats may require inspection, re-routing of wiring harness and installation of a wiring clip.

1. Move the seat to full rearward position. On six-way power seats, also move the seat to the full up position.

2. Remove the front track covers and the adjuster to floor pan bolts. Move seat to the full forward position.

3. Remove the rear track covers and the adjuster to floor pan bolts. Tilt the seat completely back so that the entire area under the seat cushion is visible (See illustration on Page 3).

4. Cut and remove the strap attaching the wiring harness to the spring wire near the middle of the seat.

5. Inspect the wiring harness. Make repairs as necessary with electrical tape.

6. Install the wiring harness into clip P/N 101 12015. Reroute the wiring harness through the detent and insert the clip into the forward most hole in the seat cushion frame (See Illustration on Page 3).

NOTICE: THE HARNESS MUST NOT BE PINCHED BETWEEN THE CUSHION AND SPRING, OR CONTACT SHARP EDGES.

7. Tilt the seat back to its original position and align. Install adjuster to floor pan bolts and torque to 24 N.m (181b.ft.). Install the track covers.

8. Repeat for opposite front seat if applicable.

9. Install a Campaign identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each label provides space to print the campaign number, and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign. Insert this information with a typewriter or ball-point pen. When installing label, clean and dry the surface of the radiator support tie bar and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.

TO ALL OLDSMOBILE DEALERS:

Oldsmobile Division is releasing safety recall Product Campaign 91-C-10 involving certain 1990 and 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Cutlass Cruiser model vehicles with 6-way power seats or power seat recliners. The power seat or recliner wiring harness routing in these vehicles may cause the harness to become pinched or chafed on the seat frame or spring support rod causing possible intermittent short circuits. These short circuits may then cause the circuit breaker to weld dosed and the unprotected short circuit could generate sufficient heat at the shorted location to produce smoke and/or ignite the seat cushion materials.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to inspect the wiring harness and, after repairing any abraded areas, reroute the harness using a wiring harness clip, as directed in Product Campaip Bulletin 91-C-10.

Oldsmobile expects to preship 30% of the parts requirements (a minimum of one clip) to dealers with involved vehicles.

ATTENTION:

A 1991 amendment to Section 154 of the National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires dealers to HOLD unsold new vehicles which are subject to a recall for a safety defect or safety noncompliance and to perform the campaign BEFORE delivering the vehicles to owners.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides each vehicle subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair (Prima facie evidence of failure to repair is 60 days). Otherwise, 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 providing burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule and repair each owner's vehicle. The letter to owners (copy attached) suggests they contact Oldsmobile Customer Assistance if you do not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed service date. Owners are also told how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Enclosed with this letter are: One Product Campaign Bulletin 91-C-10 Copy of Owner Letter

Dealers with vehicles to correct will also receive one Printout of Vehicle Identification Numbers, owner names and addresses in VIN sequence (in California, VIN sequence only, no names or addresses). This data will enable you to follow-up with involved owners.

We urge you to limit the use of the printout to the follow-up needed for this campaign. Names and addresses from State Vehicle Registration files may be included; it is illegal in many states to use such data outside of campaigns.

Your cooperation in completing this campaign as soon as possible will be greatly appreciated.

Dear Oldsmobile Owner:

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

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL

WHAT WE WILL DO

To prevent this condition from occurring, your Oldsmobile dealer will inspect the wiring harness and, after repairing any abraded areas, reroute the harness using a wiring harness clip. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Oldsmobile dealer immediately 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. Please ask your dealer if you wish an estimate of the total time needed to schedule, process and retum your vehicle. Included in this time would be thirty (30) to fifty (50) minutes for a technician to perform the work required. You may have your vehicle serviced at the authorized Oldsmobile dealer of your choice.

Your Oldsmobile Dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to promptly correct your vehicle. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition then or within five days, we suggest you call Oldsmobile Customer Assistance (1-800-442-6537). Deaf, hearing impaired, or speech impaired persons with telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD/TTY) may contact Oldsmobile Customer Assistance at 1-800-TDD-OLDS (1-800-833-6537). They will assist you and the dealer in getting your vehicle corrected.

After contacting your dealer and Oldsmobile Customer Assistance, 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 write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents call 366-0123).

Please give the enclosed owner reply card to your dealer to identify your vehicle and the condition which needs to be corrected. If you no longer have this vehicle, please let us know by completing the card and mailing it back to us. The postage has been prepaid for you.

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

PARTS INFORMATION

On September 16, 1992, each dealer with involved vehicles will be preshipped a number of wiring clips equal to 30% of the number of vehicles to be repaired (minimum of one clip). The clips will be charged to the dealers open account.

To ensure that the parts your dealership may require are obtained as soon as possible, order them from GM Service Parts Operations (GMSPO) on a C.I.O. order, with NO special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2). Use the following part number:

Description Part Number Quantity Per Vehicle

Clip, Fuel Feed & Vapor Return 10112015 1 or 2 clips, as required (Used in this application as a wiring clip)

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

For each vehicle, submit only one of the labor times below:

REPAIR PERFORMED TOT-PTS FC LAB-P LHRS ST

Inspect, Repair Wiring As Required, 96 V7620 0.5 0.1* Reroute Wiring, And Install One Clip For One Power Seat Recliner and One Standard Seat

Inspect, Repair Wiring As Required, 96 V7620 0.5 0.1* Reroute Wiring, And Install One Clip For Drivers Six-way Power Seat and Passenger Standard Seat

Inspect, Repair Wiring As Required, 96 V7620 0.7 0.1* Reroute Wiring, And Install Two Clips For Two Power Seat Recliners and NO Six-way Power Seat

Inspect, Repair Wiring As Required, Reroute 96 V7620 0.8 0.1* Wiring, And Install Clip(s) For Driver's Six-way Power Seat and One or Two Power Seat Recliners

* Clerical administration may be applied for in the Straight Time (ST) column.

Parts Allowance: Current dealer price, plus 30% allowance for handling.

Object Number: 83174 Size: FS

Object Number: 85197 Size: FS

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.