THIS THREAD CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PINION SEAL RECALL. ALSO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE RECALL.
Any discussion can be carried out in the other threads:
GM Announces Solstice Recall [merged] - Pinion Seal Recall
Safety Recall 07204
No additive after recall?
Dealer wants to replace pinion seal on new differential?
Recall
Questions can be asked in these other threads. Answers will be imported to this thread for reference.
DEALERSHIP BULLETIN INFORMATION
The previous announced upcoming recall to replace the rear differential pinion seal was issued today, February 1 2008. The actual dealership bulletin doesn't really contain any information that wasn't already available.
This is basically letter that will be received by the certain vehicles involved. The one you receive will be single vehicle (Solstice) specific.
The mailings are scheduled to begin February 8th. Site members have already reported receiving them as early as February 11th.
Customer Notification Letter
Quote:
February 2008
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 that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005-2007 model year Cadillac CTS, CTS-V, SRX, STS; 2006-2007 model year Cadillac STS V; 2007 model year Daewoo G2X and Opel GT; 2006-2007 model year Pontiac Solstice; and 2007 model year Saturn SKY vehicles. As a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we are concerned about your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.
Important:
• Your vehicle is involved in safety recall 07204.
• Schedule an appointment with your GM dealer/retailer.
• This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Why is your vehicle being recalled?
The drive axle differential seal (two on all-wheel drive vehicles) may leak because it does not meet GM's specifications. If a seal is leaking, there will be fluid on the ground where the vehicle is parked. If enough fluid leaks, the differential will become noisier because of reduced lubrication. After about two-thirds of the differential fluid is lost, the bearings may no longer be lubricated and may start to overheat. Damage to the bearings and other differential components could then occur. Damaged bearings will create noise that may be heard by the vehicle occupants. If the vehicle is not repaired and damage progresses, three conditions can occur: (1) When the vehicle is stopped and shifted to reverse, the differential may jam and prevent vehicle movement; (2) the damage can cause drag that will feel like the brake is applied; or (3) the differential could jam and lock the drive wheels while the vehicle is in motion. If (3) occurs, the driver may not be able to control the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
What will we do?
Your GM dealer/retailer will install a new drive axle differential seal (two on all-wheel drive vehicles). This service will be performed for you at no charge. Because of service scheduling requirements, it is likely that your dealer/retailer will need your vehicle longer than the actual service correction time of approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to 2 hours and 50 minutes.
If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty your dealer/retailer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership/facility for this repair. Please refer to your Owner’s Manual and your dealer/retailer for details on courtesy transportation.
What should you do?
You should contact your GM dealer/retailer to arrange a service appointment as soon as possible. Bring the enclosed customer reply form with you when you visit your dealer/retailer. The form identifies the repairs required. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the form and mailing it back to us.
Did you already pay for this repair?
The enclosed form explains what reimbursement is available and how to request reimbursement if you have paid for repairs for the recall condition.
Do you have questions?
If you have questions or concerns that your dealer/retailer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. More information about this recall can be found at the Owner Center at MyGMLink, http://www.gm.com/recall
If after contacting your dealer/retailer and the Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied 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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to Safercar.gov.
Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.
Customer Reimbursement
Much confussion was caused by the reimbursement information in the DOT/NHTSA filings by GM. As the process doesn't involve dealerships, no information about it is included in the recall bulletin issued to dealerships. Once on is received by a site member, if they post it, it will be incorporated into this thread.
Vehicles Involved
Quote:
Involved are certain 2005-2007 model year Cadillac CTS, CTS-V, SRX, STS; 2006-2007 model year Cadillac STS-V; 2007 model year Daewoo G2X and Opel GT; 2006-2007 model year Pontiac Solstice; and 2007 model year Saturn SKY vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:
2006 Pontiac Solstice 6Y000001-6Y120195
2007 Pontiac Solstice 7Y103375-7Y142882
Important: Dealers/retailers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using the system(s) below. Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.
The VINS can be checked by dealerships effective February 1st, in GMVIS.
There was speculation about what "certain" would mean when the recall first came to light in December. Have checked VINs for base 2007 Solstices with both transmissions and with/without LSD. Found all four VINs were included.
Part of December's speculation was that the announce recall totals appeared "light" when comapred to productions totals, as shown by achieftain's post. Well now that the recall is officially announced the effected vehicle population is 311,071. Higher than December's 275,936. So that should answer that question.
As site members have their cars checked out for service, maybe a pattern will develop.
The system would be capable of excluding vehicles that may have already had the seal kit installed, or a 2008 spec rear differential.
So "certain" probably means the previously repaired cars and cars that may not be eligible due to having been totalled or such, are the excluded ones..
Parts Information
The part(s) required to complete the recall, turns out to be the seal kit that replaced the previous seal in early December of 2007. This kit included a revised seal, a pinion yoke and pinion nut. These kits are subject to availability in the GM system. Many dealerships may have already ordered them, or will with the release of the recall bulletin. Saturn Retailers are being receiving a pre-shipment of seal kits.
Service Procedure
Not any detail in the recall bulletin as to the procedure. It refers dealershisp to the appropriate procedures in the service manuals.
Quote:
Important: When replacing the pinion seal, make sure that the pinion bore is free of excess fluid that could get trapped before the yoke is installed. Install the new seal and yoke promptly, before excess fluid seeps into the area. It may be necessary to drain some or all of the axle fluid to assure that the pinion bore remains free of fluid during seal installation. This should prevent the lube from being trapped behind the dust shield.
Important: DO NOT reuse the flange and nut as instructed in the service procedure in SI. Use the new flange and nut provided in the kit.
1. Remove the pinion seal. Refer to the appropriate pinion replacement procedure in SI.
2. Replace the pinion seal. Refer to the appropriate pinion seal replacement procedure in SI.
February 15th revisions to the recall procedures have added new opening steps. Dealerships are to check a vehicles warranty service hsitory to see if the rear differential has been replaced, If so they are to record the part number used in the replacement. They then compare this number to a list of rear differentials that will
not need the recall done. These are more recent differentials built most likely built with the 2008 spec seal in place.
Dealer Recall Responsibility
This came up for discussion also back in December. While an owner is not required to have the recall done, dealerships are required to do it. Here is the wording (I have added the bold for the last paragraph.
Quote:
All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers.
In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE IN ANOTHER POST
Questions can be asked in the other threads. Answers will be imported to this thread for reference.