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.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Some of these are taken from the other threads.
Is there a time limit on getting the recall done?
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.
What is the warranty on a recall repair?
The warranty on a recall repair part is the same as any other GM replacement part.
Which ever is longest, the balance of the original Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty (36 months/36,000 miles for 2006s)/Limited Powertrain Warranty (60 months/100,000 miles for 2007s)
or 12 months/12,000 miles.
This edited also from GM's Policies and Procedures Manual:
Quote:
Notice: In the event a part previously installed for a recall, the dealer is to determine if warranty coverage applies (i.e., new vehicle warranty or parts replacement warranty). If the new vehicle warranty or parts replacement warranty has expired, the customer is responsible for the cost of the replacement part and the corresponding labor.
Are there special tools required?
Yes, replacing the pinion seal requires the following special tools:
Special Tools
• J 34826 Hub Nut Socket (36 mm)
• J 45005 Seal Installer
• J 45012 Holding Fixture
• J 45019 Flange and Pinion Cage Remover
The most important of them is the Seal Installer. Owners should request that the dealership make sure that they have and use the Installer. Specific language has been added to the revised recall procedures pointing out the importance of using the tools. We are calling this the MomsSol rule #1.
For dealerships that have lost or broken any of the required tools, there is current a wait for replacements. Dealerships is some areas have had to borrow tools from near by dealerships.
Another special tool that should be used, is the J 43625 Lift Pad Adapter, or "pucks" as some on site refer to them. These attach to the underside of the Solstice at the rear lift points.
How long might the repair take?
The labor allowance for the Kappas is 2 hours base time, with an additional 1.6 hours for cars with the driveline support bracket (Manual Transmisison 2007 GXPs and many base 2007s).
Does the fluid have to be changed?
It is one of the areas of the recall and procedure that is unclear.
The recall, as has past service information, talks about the importance of keeping the pinion bore free of fluid. Fluid that could give the perception of a repeat failure.
It does not require, or list it, as one of the steps in performing the seal replacement. The parts information lists the required fluid and additive, but the payment section makes no additional reference to it.
But, it does go a one step beyond though and states "It may be necessary to drain some or all of the axle fluid...".
It would appear it is up to the dealership or their tech, on what to do.
With out further guidence from GM, or dealerships getting claims bounced for excessive parts allowances,
my recommendation would be to request that the procedure be done with a full drain and refill.
Also request that they read the latest service procedures in the electronic version of the service manual, use all the proper special service tools, lift it carefully, and use the additive if required.
UPDATE
Subsequent versions of the recall bulleting have dropped the fluid caution information.
This paragraph is no longer in the bulletin:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Original Recall Bulletin
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.
So it appears this is why dealerships are backing away from doing a complete fluid drain and refill during the recall procedure.
Still best to request it and see what your dealership says.
Does the recall need to be done on my new differential?
This needs to be checked out before the recall is done.
If a Solstice has had a replacement differential that is 2008 design, as several have posted over the last few months, it cannot use the the redesigned pinion seal in the recall kits. This is because of seal dimensional differences.
Revised recall procedures (February 15th) address this subject. Dealerships are to check a vehicle's warranty history to see if the differential has been replaced. If so, they are to check the part number of the differential used against a list of part numbers in the recall bulletin. If the replacement differential is on that list, the recall
will not need to be done.
Additional identification information can be found in the revised seal replacement TSB issued in early December (before the recall) to dealerships.
Does the recall need to be done on my new rear seal?
Little more difficult of a question to answer.
If a rear pinion seal was replaced with the seal kit, it would make sense that it did not need to be done again. This would require the use of the kit after it was released as a replacement for the seal in early December 2007.
Warranty history, as well as a visual inspection, should confirm the presence of the revised seal/kit.
Do I have to have the recall done?
There is no requirement that an owner have a Product Safety recall performed on their vehicle. As mentioned above there is a requirement that a dealership perform the recall on any car that comes into the dealership for service.
There have been posts on site from memebers urging that everyone get the recall done. They point to their situations be it rear differential failures or finding out there have been leaks without being noticed.
Each person must make the choice that is right for themselves.
It would be much different if this was an Product Emissions recall. Here is two sections from a owner notification letter on an
Emissions recall.
Quote:
Emission Law Information: In order to ensure your full protection under the emission warranty made applicable to your 2008 model year Pontiac Torrent by Federal Law, and your right to participate in future recalls, it is recommended that you have your 2008 model year Pontiac Torrent serviced as soon as possible. Failure to do so could legally be determined to be lack of proper maintenance of your vehicle. Also, your vehicle may fail a state or local emission inspection if this recall is not accomplished.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) requires vehicle emission recalls be completed prior to California registration renewal. Uncorrected emission recalls will result in the inability to renew your California vehicle registration.
At the time of emission recall completion, your California dealer will issue a "Proof of Correction Certificate". Keep this certificate and, if required, present it to the Department of Motor Vehicles when renewing your California registration as proof of recall completion.
Notice that important line "Failure to do so could legally be determined to be lack of proper maintenance of your vehicle.". A line that isn't in a
Safety recall notice.
Are the parts available?
This situation has changed after the first three weeks of the recall.
The GM system is showing the required seal kit as being out of stock. Orders will backorder.
Dealerships should place CSO orders for the parts required for customers. And follow up with GM TRACS or EPIC for information as to expected availablilty.
There has also been a shortage of the rear differential lubricant in the quart bottles, and Limited Slip additive, from time to time.
Best to check with your dealership that all parts are available before bring a car in for the recall, or perhaps any service.
Are there other parts required?
Two possible additional parts, depending on the procedures used and the configuration of the car.
First situation would be if the dealership drops the exhaust to perform the procedure. There have been reports from some of the early recalls that the studs from the catalytic converter to exhaust have required replacement. Currently both the 2006-2007 2.4L and 2007 2.0L show the same part number for these studs, 12562640. These are tricky ones. The parts book lists them as beign part of the converter. Dig around and will see that they are available seperately.
The second additional part is for cars that have a 4-bolt mounting bracket attached to the rear differential. These cars would include the 2007 Solstices with manual transmission and the driveline support bracket. This would be all GXPs and base Solstices built after the introduction of the support. The bolts required are #11515768. When you are making your appointment, make sure that these are in stock in your car requires them.
UPDATE: GM has issued 07-204D, or the fifth revision to the procedure. This version now recognizes the need for the 4 bracket bolts.
THIS THREAD CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PINION SEAL RECALL. ALSO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE RECALL.
Questions can be asked in the other threads. Answers will be imported to this thread for reference.
