Recall - Steering U-Joint Clamp Bolt Replacement
86saab02FILE IN S.I. Man VOL. II
SEC. RECALL PG. 1
Service Information
SUBJECT: RECALL 266, 900 STEERING ISSUE: 06/86-850 U-JOINT CLMP BOLT
Campaign p. 1
Recall STEERING U-JOINT CLAMP Modification Parts p. 2
Safety-related Repair Instructions p. 2
NHTSA No. 86V-057 Claim Procedure p. 3
266
Limited 1986 900 Sample Claim p. 4
Owner Letter p. 5
THE CAMPAIGN
The Defect
Saab-Scania has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a defect which may be safety-related exists in a quantity of 59 1986 model year Saab 900 vehicles imported recently to the U.S. market.
These cars will be recalled by Saab-Scania of America, Inc. to replace the bolt in the upper steering column U-joint clamp. There is a possibility of bolt breakage as a result of over-torquing. A broken bolt could cause a loss of steering if the steering shaft pulls out of its joint.
Vehicles Affected By This Recall:
1986 900 Models within this VIN Serial No. range (59 cars, total):
G2013730 - G2014050
NOTE: Vehicles within the range which have been checked at the Factory are not included in this recall.
Recall Schedule
This Service Informations signifies the start of the campaign. Owner notices will be mailed about the time the S.I. and parts (mailed together) reach your dealership.
If you do not receive a computer printout of affected cars or an initial supply of parts, your dealership did not sell any cars involved in the Recall. Nevertheless, if an owner does contact your dealership, please perform the modification given here without delay and submit the Recall Claim Form.
REPAIR PARTS
Parts Involved
Bolt P/N 79-67-789
Nut P/N 79-68-415
Necessary quantities are attached to this S.I. Order additional as needed.
If you do not receive an initial supply of parts, your dealership will most likely not be performing this repair. There are only 59 cars involved nationally in this campaign.
Initial orders are shipped free of charge in this particular recall.
REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS
1. Remove the Phillips screw that secures the lower heater duct on the far left side, inside the drivers compartment.
Bend the heater duct down and out of the way.
Turn the steering wheel as necessary to obtain easiest access to upper joint of steering column.
2. Remove the 8 mm bolt and nut from the upper joint for the steering column.
Replace with the new bolt (P/N 79-67-789) and nut (P/N 79-68-415).
Torque to 19-25 ft.lbs. (25-34 N-m).
3. Re-fit the heater duct.
CLAIM PROCEDURE
Claim Forms
Owner notification letters are being sent inside a pre-printed Saab recall claim form/mailer. The pre-printed Recall 266 form is to be submitted by the dealer to the Saab-Scania of America Warranty Department. This is necessary for the payment of labor and to complete our recall records and update our periodic recall reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These records are subject to Federal (NHTSA) audit.
If the owner has lost the claim or it is otherwise unavailable or unusable, contact your Saab Regional Service Manager's office and request a new Recall 266 claim form. Be prepared to supply the VIN Serial No.
When the supply of forms pre-printed for Recall 266 are exhausted a blank recall claim form will be sent. Fill this form out according to the sample pictured here. Recall repairs cannot be claimed on a regular warranty claim form.
Submitting Claims
The recall claim is a three part copy. Send the Factory copy (#1) to Saab-Scania of America. Keep the Parts copy (#2) with the parts and retain the Dealer copy (#3) for your records.
Send Factory copy to: Saab-Scania of America P.O. Box 697 Orange, CT. 06477
Attn: Warranty Dept.
Submit the claim within 30 days of the repair date.
Labor Allowance
0.4 hour to replace and torque bolt in upper steering column U-joint.
SAMPLE CLAIM
OWNER LETTER
June 20, 1986
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE - PLEASE READ
STEERING U-JOINT CLMP - 1986 900 Models Saab Recall No. 266 NHTSA No. 86V 057
Dear Saab Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Saab-Scania AB has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1986 Saab 900 vehicles. Our records indicate that you are the current owner of such a vehicle.
Saab-Scania has discovered that there is a possibility that a bolt in the upper steering column U-joint clamp may break due to overtorquing. A broken bolt could cause loss of steering, if as result of a broken bolt, the steering shaft were to pull out of the joint.
Saab-Scania of America, Inc. has made arrangements with its authorized Saab dealers to remedy this defect without charge commencing June 27, 1986. We urge you to make an appointment with your dealer as soon as possible. Your dealer will remove the old bolt and install a new bolt and nut and torque to the proper specification. This work should take about one-half hour to perform.
Bring this letter and the recall claim form enclosure to your dealer on the day of your appointment. When the work is completed, please be sure to sign the recall claim form in the space provided. This form must be submitted by your dealer to Saab-Scania of America, Inc. for our recall records and to update periodic safetyrelated recall reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
If you should experience difficulty in making arrangements for this recall work to be performed at no charge by your dealer, we urge you to call the Saab Regional Office nearest you (see letterhead). Our Consumer Relations Staff is available to assist you in resolving any such problem. You may submit a complaint to the Adminstrator, NHTSA Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424- 9393 (Washington, D.C. area residents may call 426-0123), if you believe that SaabScania of America, Inc. or an authorized Saab dealer has failed or is unable to remedy this defect without charge or has failed or is unable to do so within a reasonable time, which is not longer than 60 days after you first bring your vehicle to your dealer for repair.