11306A - Front Passenger Airbag Compliance - Reprogram Sensing And Diagnostic Module (11306A)

11306A - FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPLIANCE - REPROGRAM SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE

SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN

CONDITION

General Motors has decided that all 2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, Occupant Crash Protection. A 5th percentile female anthropomorphic test device (ATD) in a 30 mph frontal barrier test exceeded the Head Injury Criteria requirements of the Standard. With the front passenger seat positioned full forward, the seat position sensor will cause a 30 milliseconds deployment delay between the first and second stages of the dual-stage frontal passenger airbag. In the event of a crash severe enough to command deployment of the front passenger airbag, this delay may result in increased head injury to certain (5th percentile) front seat occupants.

CORRECTION

Dealers are to reprogram the Sensing and Diagnostic Module.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain  2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 vehicles.

For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided to dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

PARTS INFORMATION

No parts are required for this recall.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Do not attempt to order the calibration number from GM Customer Care and Aftersales. The calibration numbers required for this service procedure are programmed into control modules via a Multiple Diagnostic Interface (MDI) or Tech 2 with the calibration update. When using a MDI or Tech 2 for reprogramming, ensure that it is updated with the latest software version. Use TIS2WEB on or after 11/22/11   to obtain the calibration. If you cannot access the calibration, call the Techline Customer Support Center and it will be provided.

For step-by-step programming instructions, please refer to SI and the Techline Information System (TIS) terminal.

1. Verify that there is a battery charge of 12 to 15 volts. The battery must be able to maintain a charge during programming. Only use an approved Midtronics® PSC 550 Battery Maintainer (SPS Programming Support Tool EL-49642) or equivalent to maintain proper battery voltage during programming.
2. Reprogram the inflatable restraint and sensing diagnostic module (SDM). Refer to SI and Service Programming System (SPS) documentation for programming instructions, if required.
   1. Connect the MDI or Tech 2 to the vehicle.
   2. Select J2534 MDI or J2534 Tech 2 and Reprogram ECU from the Select Diagnostic Tool and Programming Process screen.
   3. Select SDM Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module  -- Programming   from the Supported Controllers screen.
   4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
   NOTE:

   The air bag indicator light may begin flashing or remain ON after the body control module (BCM), or inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) is reprogrammed or replaced, and during the programming procedure for the BCM or SDM until after the procedure is completed. When installing a new SDM, there may be several DTCs set prior to programming. Once programmed, these DTCs should be in history and can be cleared.

3. Using the scan tool, select the SDM Module Setup menu, then select Setup SDM Primary Key in BCM . Follow the scan tool on-screen instructions.
   NOTE:

   The airbag telltale will continue to flash until Step 4 is completed.

4. Ignition ON, using the scan tool, select the SDM Module Setup menu, then select Setup New SDM. Follow the scan tool on-screen instructions.
5. Clear all diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

COURTESY TRANSPORTATION

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.

WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION

Submit a transaction using the table below.

Labor Code	Description	Labor Time
V2513	Reprogram SDM	0.4

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall 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 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 remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this recall may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the recall correction, your facility may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.  

All unsold new vehicles in dealer's 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. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your facility 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.

OWNER LETTER

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 all 2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, Occupant Crash Protection. As a result, GM is conducting a recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we are concerned about your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Why is your vehicle being recalled?	With the front passenger seat positioned full forward, the seat position sensor will cause a 30 milliseconds deployment delay between the first and second stages of the dual-stage frontal passenger airbag. In the event of a crash severe enough to command deployment of the front passenger airbag, this delay may result in increased head injury to some smaller front seat occupants.
What will we do?	Your GM dealer will reprogram the Sensing and Diagnostic Module. This service will be performed for you at no charge  . Because of service scheduling requirements, it is likely that your dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual service correction time of approximately 25 minutes.
What should you do?	You should contact your GM dealer to arrange a service appointment as soon as possible.
Do you have questions?	If you have questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below.

Division	Number	Text Telephones (TTY)
Pontiac	1-800-620-7668	1-800-833-7668
Guam	1-671-648-8450
Puerto Rico - English	1-800-496-9992
Puerto Rico - Espa n ol	1-800-496-9993
Virgin Islands	1-800-496-9994

If after contacting your dealer 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 http://www.safercar.gov. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Campaign ID Number for this recall is 11V534.

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

Jim Moloney

General Director,

Customer and Relationship Services

GM Recall #11306