Eighty-Eight Royale FWD V6-3.8L VIN K (1996)
Technical Service Bulletin # 97-C-02
Date: 960601
Recall - Upper Intake Manifold Fractures
97-C-02
CAMPAIGN: UPPER INTAKE...
Issued: 06/61/96
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN
SUBJECT:
97-C-02-UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FRACTURE
MODELS:
1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
1996 OLDSMOBILE NINETY EIGHT, EIGHTY EIGHT
1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE, LESABRE, RIVIERA, REGAL; (C,H,G,W MODELS)
1997 BUICK LESABRE (H MODEL)
EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINE (RPO L36, VIN K)
The Highway 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 customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to 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 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 solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to
repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers
are being instructed to contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the
mutually agreed upon 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/Vehicles Involved
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1996 Pontiac Bonneville; Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and
Eighty Eight; Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Riviera, Regal; and 1997 Buick LeSabre model vehicles equipped with a 3.8L V6 engine (RPO L36, VIN
K). These vehicles may exhibit, under a certain set of complex conditions, a backfire during engine starting that can cause breakage of the upper intake
manifold. This can cause a no start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire. Also, if a person was in the immediate vicinity of the intake
manifold when the hood was open, and this backfire condition occurred, it could result in personal injury.
To correct this condition, dealers are to reflash the vehicle PCM with new programming software. Until the campaign repair is made, it is suggested that
the vehicle hood be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Involved are certain 1996 Pontiac Bonneville; Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Eighty Eight; Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Riviera and Regal and 1997
Buick LeSabre model vehicles equipped with a 3.8L engine (RPO L36, VIN K) and built within the VIN breakpoints as shown.
NOTICE:
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles
within the above breakpoints may be involved]
