Recall - Tie Rod Clamp Inspection

Number: 84C09

Section: 3B

Date: March, 1984
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 84C09 LOOSE TIE ROD CLAMP FASTENERS


Model and Year: 1984 "C30" CHEVROLET LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ASSEMBLED AT PONTIAC ONLY
TO: ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS

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 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 nearest Chevrolet Zone Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the agreed service date. If 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 some 1984 "C30" Chevrolet Light Duty Trucks. The toe-in may not have been set nor the tie rod clamp fasteners torqued.

Should this condition exist, one of the tie rods could separate. If this were to occur while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a loss of steering control and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to determine if the tie rod clamp fasteners have been torqued. If the clamps are loose, it will be necessary to set the toe-in and torque the tie rod clamp fasteners.
Number : 84C09
Section : 3B Page No.: 2
VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1984 "C30" Chevrolet Light Duty Model Trucks identified within the following vehicle breakpoints:

Plant From Through

Pontiac EV104690 EV105578

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 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 followup necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin was not shipped any involved vehicles.


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).


DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

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.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

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

FIGURE 1 - GREEN INSPECTION STICKER:

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Inspection

Determine if a square green inspection sticker is present on the front bumper, as shown in Figure 1. If this sticker is present, no further action is required.

Number : 84C09
Section : 3B Page No.: 3

SERVICE PROCEDURE (CONT'D)

FIGURE 2 - FASTENERS:

Inspection

If the sticker is not present on the bumper, the tie rod clamp fasteners shown in Figure 2 must be inspected. If the toe-in was not set, these fasteners will be finger-tight. Using a torque wrench, measure the amount of effort required to move the fastener in a clockwise direction (tighter). If the fasteners have been torqued to 16-22 N-m (12-16 ft.lbs.) on the "C30" (Figure 2) no further action is required.

If the tie rod clamp fasteners have not been torqued to the values specified above, the toe-in must be set and the fasteners tightened, according to the service procedure in this bulletin.

Adjustment Procedure

Adjust vehicle toe-in as specified in Section 3A, "Front Alignment" in the 1984 Light Duty Truck 10-30 Series Shop Manual, ST-330-84. Make sure the tie rod clamp fasteners have been positioned correctly and follow the torquing procedure specified in Section 3B6, "Steering Linkage".


CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Parts Failed Parts Failure Labor Labor *Other Net
Count Part No. Allowance Code Operation Hours Hours Amount

00 V2010 .2 .1

Description: Inspect vehicle for green sticker and/or tie rod clamp fastener torque. No further action required.

Parts Failed Parts Failure Labor Labor *Other Net
Count Part No. Allowance Code Operation Hours Hours Amount

00 V2011 .4 .1

Description: Inspect and set toe-in and torque tie rod clamp fasteners.


*Campaign Administrative Allowance

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

Refer to the Chevrolet Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim submission.
Number: 84C09
Section: 3B
Page No: 4
Number : 84C09
Section : 3B Page No.: 5

Campaign Identification Label:

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified 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 five digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint 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.

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


ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

REFER TO THE CURRENT CHEVROLET SERVICE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL AND CLAIMS PROCESSING MANUAL FOR CAMPAIGN HANDLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.
Dear Chevrolet 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 1984 "C30" Light Duty Chevrolet Trucks. The toe-in may not have been set nor the tie rod clamp fasteners torqued. Should this condition exist, one of the tie rods could separate. If this were to occur while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a loss of steering control and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.

To prevent this from occurring on your vehicle, your Chevrolet Dealer will inspect the tie rod clamp fasteners. If necessary, they will set the toe-in and tighten the tie rod clamp fasteners. This service will be performed at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this inspection and correction have been sent to your Chevrolet Dealer. Please contact your dealer to arrange a service date. The labor time necessary to perform this inspection is approximately 15 minutes. Toe-in setting, if required, will take about half an hour. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.

Your Chevrolet 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 they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five days, we recommend you contact the nearest Chevrolet Zone Office, either in person or by telephone. The zone office will assist you and the dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The locations and telephone numbers of the zone offices are listed in your Owner's Manual.

After contacting your dealer and the zone 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 Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, or call 800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 426-0123).

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this 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 continued satisfaction with our products.


Chevrolet Motor Division General Motors Corporation

Enclosure