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My belts keep locking up which I feel is a serious safety issue. Reading on the forums I’ve seen multiple claims that there is a service bulletin and should be fixed under warranty. Two dealerships have told me this isn’t true-are they full of crap or am I wrong?
The dealers aren't actually GM, they're franchises. You should be able to call GM direct and inquire. I had contacted them in the past about an issue I was having with my Avalanche that the dealer wouldn't fix under warranty. The number should be in your owner's manual or available online.
If it had been performed previously for either side or both (maybe) the GM VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) would have removed the VIN from the system so they're maybe 'not full of crap'. I have a copy of I believe both side of the campaigns and actually all of production 1984 through end of 1991 was included in those 2 campaigns.
A Dealer if you give them a GM Document ID might be better able to answer your question. Document ID I have as 274182 & 274183 - I don't know that the system has or hasn't changed in the past 10 or so years but my information is likely 10+ years old. Those Campaigns I have Dated as Oct 1991.
I have seen mentioned here on the CF where people have bought the aftermarket offerings and have been reimbursed by GM if GM couldn't provide belts. I would imagine for that to work you'd need to first if your VIN could be documented give GM the opportunity to research availability and maybe after you presented a vehicle with them installed they might reimburse a portion of the part cost. If they can supply 'any color' that might likely be considered sufficient.
Good Luck with the conversation.
***On your belts there's very likely a label with information on it that might ID what's there now.
The seatbelts recall on my '90 hasn't yet been rectified either.
I had thought about just driving it over to the original dealership that received the car as it's only about 90 miles away. Plus it'd be a fun cruise over the Bay Bridge.
It'd be a total waste of a trip, most likely, aside from what would be a most excellent cruise. But they've won the GM dealership of the year a few times, so who knows. They've been around for a long time.
I have a feeling I'll be replacing the seatbelts myself, though.
They do still have the means to duplicate original ignition keys, because I talked to them about it a while back. I should have asked about the seatbelts, but it was just the parts counter guy, who even knows if they have anyone in there who knows how to work on these cars any more anyway.
I got my belts replaced under the recall over a decade ago. Though the dealer had to see the belts actually locking up before they'd process the recall claim. Luckily the belt locked up when I showed them as it wasn't something that happened all the time. And luckily they were able to find black belts as they had to do a lot of searching as even a decade ago, there weren't many new belts still available. Not sure if they were black, or if they dyed them black. As the driver belt over the years has taken on a slight bluish hue, and the passenger belt has taken on a slight reddish hue.
I don't know if GM changed something on the belts, but the new belts pretty much stopped the lockup problem 99% of the time. I doubt you'll be able to find new belts as the dealer had to do a lot of searching over a decade ago and made it seemed like my belts were one of the last available.
My belts keep locking up which I feel is a serious safety issue. Reading on the forums I’ve seen multiple claims that there is a service bulletin and should be fixed under warranty. Two dealerships have told me this isn’t true-are they full of crap or am I wrong?
There was a problem with the retractor mechanism / cinch feature where the tensioner would effectively stop working right. Had to do with the retractor mechanism itself, not the belt per se, and I remember it well because the recall affected my car. I do remember GM replacing mine. If you car has the issue, the belts tension erratically or lock and stop tensioning at all.
If it had been performed previously for either side or both (maybe) the GM VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) would have removed the VIN from the system so they're maybe 'not full of crap'. I have a copy of I believe both side of the campaigns and actually all of production 1984 through end of 1991 was included in those 2 campaigns.
A Dealer if you give them a GM Document ID might be better able to answer your question. Document ID I have as 274182 & 274183 - I don't know that the system has or hasn't changed in the past 10 or so years but my information is likely 10+ years old. Those Campaigns I have Dated as Oct 1991.
I have seen mentioned here on the CF where people have bought the aftermarket offerings and have been reimbursed by GM if GM couldn't provide belts. I would imagine for that to work you'd need to first if your VIN could be documented give GM the opportunity to research availability and maybe after you presented a vehicle with them installed they might reimburse a portion of the part cost. If they can supply 'any color' that might likely be considered sufficient.
Good Luck with the conversation.
***On your belts there's very likely a label with information on it that might ID what's there now.
I am one such example. My seat belts were locked up in my 1987. I had copies of the campaigns and took them (and my car) to my local dealer. The dealer checked their system and could find no info of any warranty parts replacements for my VIN. The service manager then contacted GM, who ultimately approved the replacement. There was a stumbling block through, it was that that there were no red belts in GM stock for my car. So to honor the campaign, the dealer agreed to pay for replacements of my choice, from a supplier of my choice, which they would pay for, and gave me the option of the dealer installing the belts at no charge, or my installing them myself. The whole process from start to finish took about 3 weeks.
If it had been performed previously for either side or both (maybe) the GM VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) would have removed the VIN from the system so they're maybe 'not full of crap'. I have a copy of I believe both side of the campaigns and actually all of production 1984 through end of 1991 was included in those 2 campaigns.
A Dealer if you give them a GM Document ID might be better able to answer your question. Document ID I have as 274182 & 274183 - I don't know that the system has or hasn't changed in the past 10 or so years but my information is likely 10+ years old. Those Campaigns I have Dated as Oct 1991.
I have seen mentioned here on the CF where people have bought the aftermarket offerings and have been reimbursed by GM if GM couldn't provide belts. I would imagine for that to work you'd need to first if your VIN could be documented give GM the opportunity to research availability and maybe after you presented a vehicle with them installed they might reimburse a portion of the part cost. If they can supply 'any color' that might likely be considered sufficient.
Good Luck with the conversation.
***On your belts there's very likely a label with information on it that might ID what's there now.
Do you happen to have the actual documents that I could print and take in? The IDs got me nowhere on the phone.
Thanks everyone for the advice and help. I'm tired of this and I don't want the car to be unsafe. I'm specifically having an issue where the belt either gets stuck and can't be pulled out, or has slack and gets stuck and won't retract. I know I could potentially replace them myself, but I'd really prefer the dealership do it both for safety and cost.
Whatever the lockup problem with the belts was, did GM ever actually fix that issue inside the mechanism? Or was it some tolerance issue that they tightened up later on. I know the replacement belts I got like a decade ago, the problem was mostly fixed. Except every once in a blue moon it would lock up and I'd then have to retract it all the way and try again.
Do you happen to have the actual documents that I could print and take in? The IDs got me nowhere on the phone.
Thanks everyone for the advice and help. I'm tired of this and I don't want the car to be unsafe. I'm specifically having an issue where the belt either gets stuck and can't be pulled out, or has slack and gets stuck and won't retract. I know I could potentially replace them myself, but I'd really prefer the dealership do it both for safety and cost.
As a matter of fact, I do. It's the original 60 page letter that GM sent to all of the dealers back in 1991. If you shoot me a PM with your email address I'll forward it to you. It's the exact document I used to get my belts replaced.
Yeah I don't want to have an attitude just have a document to show I'm notncrazy.
You got the information @Red86Z51 offered you? That and the document #(s) that I mentioned should get you everything you need. I have but you shouldn't need.
You got the information @Red86Z51 offered you? That and the document #(s) that I mentioned should get you everything you need. I have but you shouldn't need.
I don't have the docs yet but I JUST sent him my email 5 minutes ago. If you have and want to send that would also be great.
03-17-2022, 03:18 PM
C4 Seatbelt recall?
