Date: March 12, 2008

Subject: Upcoming Safety Recall 07035
Potential Under hood Fire - 3.8 L Supercharged
Engine

Models: 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
With 3.8 L V6 Supercharged Engine (VIN1 –
RPO L67) LISTED BELOW

To: All Buick and Pontiac Dealers

Attention: Service Manager, Parts Manager, and
Warranty Administrator

Based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the media may report that General Motors will be announcing a safety recall involving certain 1997-2003 model year Buick Regal GS and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP vehicles equipped with a 3.8 L supercharged engine (VIN 1 – RPO L67).

These vehicles may experience an under hood fire. The fires may be caused by drops of engine oil being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame in and in some instances the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel. Most cases have occurred five to ten minutes after the vehicle has been turned off.

If a fire occurs, it may cascade through the engine compartment causing vehicle damage and in some cases, the fire may spread to structures where the vehicle was parked.

A total of 207,542 U.S. vehicles are involved. We are currently working with our suppliers to obtain parts required to launch a safety recall in the near future. However, in the interim, a customer advisory letter (see attached) is being sent to all customers of record to inform them of this situation. This letter will also provide three important precautions the customer should take: 1) Do not park the vehicle in a garage, car port or other structure. 2) If a burning odor is detected, the customer should take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. 3) Customers should use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) as recommended in their vehicle owner's manual. The customer letter will be mailed on March 13, 2008.

If a customer comes in with this letter or is otherwise concerned about this condition, please use Technical Service Bulletin 08-06-04-019 to service their vehicle. Please note that there are two T labor operations listed. Warranty claims should be submitted using the specific T labor operation depending on the source of the gasket (GM or aftermarket) you install in the vehicle. The use of the two T labor operations may allow GM different options when the recall is officially released. The Technical Service Bulletin 08-06-04-019 is available in SI on March 12, 2008 and is attached for your convenience.

After the repair is complete, the customer will be ableto park their car in their garage, car port or other structure.

A Frequently Asked Question and Answer document has been developed for your reference. This FAQ will help answer any customer concerns. Please see the attached Dealer FAQ's.

GMVIS information will not be available for this recall until the recall bulletin is released to dealers
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POTENTIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1: What vehicles are involved?
A1: All 1997-2003 model year Pontiac Grand Prix GTP and Buick Regal GS vehicles equipped with the 3.8-liter L67 supercharged engine. A total of 207,542 U.S. vehicles are involved.
Q2: What is the condition?
A2: These vehicles may experience an under hood fire. We believe the fire may be caused by drops of engine oil being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and in some instances the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel. Most cases have occurred five to 10 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off.
Q3: What are the consequences of this condition?
A3: Fire may cascade through the engine compartment causing vehicle damage. In some cases, the fire has spread to structures where the vehicles were parked.
Q4: How was this condition discovered?
A4: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary evaluation in January 2007 based on 21 customer complaints alleging engine compartment fires after their vehicles were turned off. GM began an extensive investigation.

Q5: Why didn’t GM know about this?
A5: The rate of occurrence was very low, about one in 1,000 vehicles.

Q6: Have there been any injuries or deaths resulting from this condition?
A6: We are aware of five minor injuries and one moderate injury. No fatalities.

Q7: How many fires have there been?
A7: We are aware of 267 fires to date.

Q8: What about property damage?
A8: We are aware of 17 fires involving structure damage.

Q9: What is GM doing to correct this condition?
A9: Due to parts availability, corrective action will occur in two stages. First, a "customer advisory letter" is being sent to each involved customer of record. This letter will explain the situation and provide precautionary measures that a customer can take until their vehicle is repaired. The letter will be mailed on March 13, 2008.
The second stage will be the release of Safety Recall Bulletin #07035 to all Pontiac and Buick dealers. This will occur once an adequate supply of recall parts is available. At that time, all involved customers of record will be notified via a second letter to bring their vehicle in for the required repair.


Q10: If I have one of these vehicles, is it safe to drive?
A10: Yes. Very few of the fires (about 20 percent of the reported cases) have occurred while the vehicle’s engine was running. The rate of occurrence is also very low, about one in 1,000 vehicles.

Q11: Is there anything I can do to prevent a fire after the vehicle is turned off?
A11: No.We believe the fires may be caused by drops of engine oil being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. For now we are urging customers to avoid parking their vehicles in a garage, car port or other structure and to use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in their vehicles, as recommended in their owner’s manual. If you smell any kind of burning odor, have the vehicle inspected by a dealership service department.

Q12: The customer advisory letter mentions oil getting on the manifold during hard braking. Is there a problem with the brake system?
A12: No.

Q13: The customer advisory letter mentions premium fuel. Why is this important?
A13: Because the vehicle was designed to run on 91-octane fuel, using lower-octane fuel increases under hood temperatures during operation.

Q14: Are the 1997-2003 Pontiac Bonneville, Buick Park Avenue and Riviera, and Oldsmobile LSS involved or any vehicles with 3.8L engines without superchargers involved?
A14: No, they are not part of this field action.

Q15: Who will pay for the repairs?
A15: Repairs will be made free of charge to customers.
Q16: I heard that there were under hood fires in Chevrolet Tahoe’s. Is this the same issue?
A16: No. NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation in February based on two customer complaints of under hood fires in 2007 model year Tahoe’s. We are cooperating with the agency but we have found no trend suggesting a recurring problem. The Tahoes and GMC Yukons being investigated are of a different architecture and were produced much later than the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP and Buick Regal GS.
Q17: Until Safety Recall Bulletin #07035 is released, what can dealers do to satisfy customers who may express a concern, or request an immediate repair?
A17: Until GM parts are available for this recall and Safety Recall Bulletin #07035 is released, GM has provided dealers with Technical Service Bulletin #08-06-04- 019.The bulletin provides repair instructions for those customers who have an immediate concern with their 1997-2003 model year Pontiac Grand Prix or Buick Regal vehicle equipped with the 3.8-liter L67 supercharged engine.
Q18: When will the GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS) be loaded?
A18: Involved VINs can not be loaded to GMVIS until Safety Recall Bulletin #07035 is released.
Q19: After completing Technical Service Bulletin #08-06-04-019, is it safe for customers to utilize parking structures?
A19: Yes.
Q20: If the parts required to perform Technical Service Bulletin #08-06-04-019are in short supply, can aftermarket parts be used to complete the repair?
A20: GM approved parts are preferred, however, for the immediate repair outlined in Technical Service Bulletin #08-06-04-019, locally obtained aftermarket parts may be used. Dealers should be sure to submit a warranty claim with the correct "T" labor operation when using aftermarket gaskets. Specific details are provided in the technical service bulletin.
Q21: If a customer had the front engine rocker cover gasket recently replaced on their 1997-2003 model year Pontiac Grand Prix or Buick Regal vehicle equipped with the 3.8-liter L67 supercharged engine, should dealers replace the front rocker cover gasket again?
A21: If the front rocker cover gasket was replaced by a General Motors dealer using GM Part #24503937, then the gasket does not need to be replaced again. The technician should complete the technical service bulletin repair by removing the spark plug channel retainer and install the spark plug retainers as outlined in the procedure. If the customer paid for the gasket replacement, there will be reimbursement instructions provided when the recall is released.
Q22: Why does the procedure only call for the replacement of the front engine rocker cover gasket and not both?
A22: GM’s investigation has not shown a need to replace the rear gasket.
Q23: An owner of an involved vehicle has concerns and requested immediate assistance. Upon inspection it is noted during the replacement of the front rocker cover gasket that the rear engine rocker cover gasket shows signs of oil seepage - should the rear gasket be replaced as well?
A23: Replacement of the rear engine rocker cover gasket is not part of the service bulletin repair procedure. Customers may wish to have the rear cover gasket repaired as part of customer paid vehicle maintenance.
Q24: Why aren’t 1997-2003 model year Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Regal vehicles with the L36 non-supercharged engine involved in this safety recall?
A24: GM’s Investigation has shown that the supercharged engine has unique operating characteristics not present with the L36 non-supercharged engine. Specifically, the L67 supercharged engine has a significantly higher normal under hood operating temperature.
Q25: Why are two "T" labor operations listed in Technical Service Bulletin #08-06-04- 019?
A25: As detailed in the technical service bulletin, warranty claims should be submitted using the specific "T" labor operation depending on the source of the gasket used by the dealership. The use of the two "T" labor operations allows GM different options when Safety Recall Bulletin #07035 is released.

Well, I'm glad I'm going to get my valve cover gaskets changed for free, but they missed the real problem.

You might want to notice that it's only the front valve cover gasket. You would have to pay to have the rear replaced.

In addition, the spark plug channel is easily removed by pulling straight up on it in relation to the valve cover.

Personally, I would do the work myself to avoid the hassle of the dealer. The gaskets aren't all that expensive, especially when they're only going to replace the 'easy' one.

Question......I'm the second person that has had the car....will the free charge still work for me? 99 gtp?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say maybe the fuel Orings weren't the problem the whole time. We only assumed.

As long as your car falls under the catagory of the recal, yes.

Agreed, I can also put my front VC overlay on at the same time too.

yea gtpjesse you should get it, i just had my rack and pinion swapped for free and i'm the third owner

I dont understand why it would only be the L67 guys... its not like they are that different.

Rack and pinion was a recal??!?! Mine blew open and had to buy and install my own

why/ hows that??

thanks for the heads up Mike! I called the Dealer, and they don't know of any recall. So I'm just gonna have to wait, and call maybe on Monday.

there was a recall on that part so when i had my car scaned for the abs they pulled up info on the car and saw there was an open recall, asked if i wanted them to check it, in which case they had to replace it almost 1200 i think they would've charged me.

I think only the 97/98's got the rack and pinion recall. I am also interested in why the L36 was left out of the recall, as there has been a few L36 fires on the ClubGP in the past.

so even though im like the 3rd owner i can get the recall taken care of for free???

The recall is on the car, not the owner.

thanks Austin that simplifies it haha

Herc thanks for the heads-up! How did you get informed about this recall? ...so is there going to be a data-base set-up with your VIN # if you have one of the "suspect" vehicles???

probably they will want to inspect it first to see if it qualifies

didnt mean to make you guys repeat yourselfs, i just wanted to make sure before i went

You know, I had been meaning to ask you guys about a slight burning smell I'd been having lately...along with some minor white smoke after the engine goes off. It's nothing plainly visible, it has to float in front of the headlights or something. Although I did see it come out of my hood scoops one day recently. Should I be worried about my car catching fire?

Probably sounds like a stupid question, but from what I saw, it just didn't strike me as incredibly urgent, so...and since I've had my car for a year with no problems...

ummmm, I would tend to be concerned. Time to get a Purple K extingusher and stand in front of the open hood after shut-down for about 5-10 minutes. I tend to try and use my dry, sarcastic humor (since thats the only humor I tend to be good at), but not now. get an extingusher and hope that you arent in a rush for the next few months while GM finds the parts and techs to deal with the inevitable rush. Stay safe.

Maybe I should just get it checked out and pay for it, rather than possibly have to pay for way more damage while GM gets off their slow lazy butts?

Yeah I have noticed that same burning smell for a while coming from my car, and I have seen smoke from the hood a couple of times too. But it doesn't seem like its anything urgent cuz it's been there for a while, but it will be nice to get it fixed.

Yea, they're working quickly to solve this problem :rolleyes:

so the problem is with the front valve cover gasket, right? if i just changed my valve cover gaskets, i shouldn't have to worry about it, right?

Im not intending to seem condescending here, Im really not: how much experience have you got with the Federal Government of this great Republic of ours? Im surprised the NHTSA worked THIS quick. Only a year and change for an investigation? No wonder they didnt find anything with the injector o-rings.

Ace: I can have the front one off and on in less than 30min.

If it's the same recall that I had on my '98, I didn't get a new rack & pinion setup. They only replaced a pin that was apparently prone to breakage, and could cause a loss of steering.

Maybe I should check into this. I had a local Buick dealer do the work. I know this is off topic from the original thread, but does anyone have the recall details for the rack & pinion?

I'll find out tomorrow morning how long it takes me to do mine.

They just had a Tv spot about the recall on the news!

It said that letters will be mailed out to onwers when parts are ready for GM dealers to install.

Too late, IMHO. Way too many burned up vehicles. And as forms like this around, the word has gotten around to many about this. I am not having some fool touch my engine bay. I'll take free gaskets or whatever parts there is. I'll do the labor.

Hmm...lol

Where can I get a new one? Maybe change that and the o-rings out at the same time, make SURE nothing goes wrong.

I have 206000 miles on my 99 GTP. I have already replaced the Gasket twice due to leaks and the last time I replaced the Valve cover because I couldn't get it to stop leaking. I felt that the cover itself may have been the problem (Warped??) Since then It has stayed perfectly dry. Wonder if they would consider helping me out with my past expense. I still have all the receipts.

wouldnt hurt to try, thats for sure. Not sure you'd get a full refund/reimbursement, but some thing's better than for naught.

yeah my grandma heard about this on the news and i came here to check it out. i already have an oil leak and they were gonna charge me 1000 dollars for it. think this could be the same thing? it would be nice to have that fixed for free

La de da, just got a notice in the mail.

Wasn't it injectors that caused this, not oil leaking?

The problem was cars going up in flames long after shut down. Usually in peoples garages. I think GM got tired of paying for new houses so they came out with the recall for the oil leak. Fuel fires would be more "spontaneous".

I think we all just assumed it was the fuel lines.

Ace,

You can get them at just about anywhere, but I'd actually hit up the dealer for 'em. They aren't that much.


*Waits for his letter*

Slick, since apparently the dealership will INSPECT it for free if it's got the burning smell, I think I'm gonna try and do that this week. Maybe I'll pick them up, and holler at you early next week...?

Whenever... I might be out of town for Easter, but I'm sure we can work something out.

Mine is constantly on fire with my flames! I wonder if they will even touch it?

I can see it now...some blonde GM mechanic opens the hood, sees the paint job, and slams the hood shut and calls the fire department...

I went to my dealer first thing this morning and spoke with the service manager (good friend, dealership manager, also good friend.I've known them for years.) My conversation and letter was the first they had heard of it. As of this morning they had recieved nothing from GM.

Relating to my earlier post, I will most likely recover my expenses already incurred fixing this problem before getting the notice.

my car has a wierd smell coming when i put new headlights in i noticed it had someone else come out and they did too this was last week the smell has got worse should i wait?

Can you describe the smell at all?

thought it was oil.but like 2 weeks ago i had to put oil in my car. the guy at auto zone said my car smell like something to but cat remember think pully or something.

Yea, so, I had my oil changed today, and needed to get the coolant flushed, so I just had someone else change the oil. Afterwards, I had some white smoke coming out of my hood scoops. It only happened for a few seconds, but a couple hours later, it was a little worse. When I got to my destination, I popped the hood to see if there was anything to see. There was some smoke coming from the area around the dipstick. It lasted for about 3-5 minutes (seemed like an eternity), and then went away.

I'm calling the dealership tomorrow to set an appointment for them to inspect my car and see if it's related to the gasket, or if the gasket's ok.

Do you think it's from an idiot tech dropping fluid on the engine, or is my car about to go up in flames?

Needless to say, I'm a little freaked out after today...I'm DEFINITELY keeping a close eye on that.

The idiots spilled oil on the exhaust manifold. Typical issue with a careless person changing the oil (and accidents happen).

So, while I should probably get my car checked out anyway to make sure the gasket isn't due for replacement, this is probably harmless? I was really worried when I popped that hood and saw the smoke, and I was thinking about taking my dad's truck to work tomorrow instead of my car. (When I don't want to drive my car, you KNOW I'm worried something is going to go wrong. )

Regardless, I'm changing my own oil from now on...I won't get lazy again.

Yeah... Last oil change I did I accidentally tipped the jug too fast and dumpped a fair amount of oil over the exhaust mani, a/c compressor and the front of the subframe.

Boy did I feel stupid after that... Cleaned it up and went for a nice ride with the smell of burning oil while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

you can say that again...look at our car's transmissions!

Transmissions don't have anything to do with igniting the fires under the hood of our cars.

I think he knows, but meant that the trannies are a real problem in themselves. lol

Ive spilled oil on the manifold before. It just smokes a lot, never seen any flames.

BTW, dont try pouring oil into the funnel while its real windy

I will say, though, that this was one of those places that does a lot of other checks if you get the oil changed, and they said the tranny fluid was pretty bad and needed to be replaced. After they did that, my car really is a little more responsive...don't seem to have the slightest tranny problem anymore, at least right now. So that was worth the money.

So is the recall a go at the dealerships now or are we still waiting on the parts to be made or come in or whatever?

I haven't heard squat from pontiac yet only the letter saying one is coming and don't park in the garage.

I'm taking mine in to the dealer tomorrow regardless, front valve cover gasket started leaking onto exhaust noticeably yesterday.

Well I took it in and they had it from 7:15 to 11:15. They were "waiting on a part" when I picked it up, after having told them I had an appointment at 11 I would need it for. No phone call. I have to take it back in and they want "3/4 of a day". Slowest... techs.... ever...

That's dealerships for you.

I got my recall notice today, but I already did the job a couple of weeks ago.

Yep just got the Safrty Recall Notice today telling me to make an appointment to get her fixed up.

Got my second notice today, so apparently GM has gathered enough of the required gasket, FYI.

Got my recall notice yesterday. Wife just told me this afternoon.