Bulletin No.: 15643
Date: April 2016

Service Bulletin
SPECIAL COVERAGE
SUBJECT:

Special Coverage Adjustment – Airbag Light On

MODELS:

2004-2009 Cadillac XLR
2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette

CONDITION
On some 2004-2009 model year Cadillac XLR and 2005-2013 model year Chevrolet Corvette
vehicles, equipped with power seats, the wire harness connector from the seat side airbag and
buckle tensioner to the body has a design interference between the vertical adjust crossbar and the
carpet. When the seat is moved forward or back, the connector may be dragged along the carpet,
pulling terminals loose or pulling the connector apart. This will cause a diagnostic trouble code to
be set and the service airbag light will be illuminated.
SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT
This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000
miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service,
regardless of ownership.
Dealers will replace the affected harness connection with a soldered connection. The repairs will
be made at no charge to the customer.
For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after
April 21, 2016, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor
operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to April 21, 2016, must
be submitted to the Service Contract provider.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
All involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Applicable Warranties
section in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel should always
check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or
repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because not all similar vehicles
may be involved regardless of description or option content.

Copyright 2016 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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Bulletin No.: 15643

PART INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care and
Aftersales (GMCCA). Please refer to your “involved vehicles listing” before ordering
parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency
situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.
Part Number
05297428
12355010
*1089482
(Preferred)

Description
CLIP, WRG HARN SPLICE (merch pk of 10)
TUBING, SHRINK (1/8" BLACK) (merch pk of 10)
WOVEN POLYESTER ELECTRICAL TAPE (PET)

*90235
(Preferred)

YELLOW ELECTRICAL TAPE

Locally
Sourced

WIRE TIE

Quantity/Vehicle
4 Per Seat
1 Per Seat
As Required,
(Submit as Net
Item)
As Required
(Submit as Net
Item)
1 Per Seat

* To obtain the PET and Yellow tape, contact Kent Automotive at 1-888-937-5368 (USA), 1-800563-1717 (Canada), or www.kent-automotive.com. Dealers that do not have a Kent Automotive
account or representative must advise the Customer Service Representative that the part(s) is
being used for this GM bulletin to obtain special bulletin pricing. Do not order these two items
from GMCCA.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Note: There is a diagnostic procedure and a repair procedure in this bulletin.
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE
Verify that one or more of the following DTCs are present: B0028, B0029, B0030, B0040, B0041,
B0045, B0057, B0058, B0059, B0064, B0065 and B0066.
 Use the DTC information to determine what seat(s) require repair.
 If the above listed DTCs are not present, no further action is required. Inform the customer that
any additional diagnosis and repairs are not covered under this special coverage.
REPAIR PROCEDURE
Use the following steps to remove the existing yellow SIR seat to vehicle connector and wire the
seat harness to the vehicle using splice clips, solder and heat shrink.
Warning: When performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring, the SIR
system must be disabled. Failure to observe the correct procedure could cause deployment of the
SIR components. Serious injury can occur. Failure to observe the correct procedure could also
result in unnecessary SIR system repairs.
1.

Remove the four seat mounting nuts from the effected seat. Do not remove the seat from the
vehicle. Refer to Driver or Passenger Seat Removal and Installation in SI. It is not necessary
to disconnect the seatbelt from the seat.

2.

Move the seat to the center position on the seat track.

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3.

April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

Disable the Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) system. Refer to SIR Disabling and
Enabling in SI.

Important: Use care to not damage the sill plate or interior trim. Cover the area with a heavy shop
cloth, masking tape or similar protective measures.

4495835

4.

Using wood blocks or similar material, tilt and support the seat in the vehicle as shown.

4495839

5.

Locate the yellow wire connector at the rear cross bar on the seat frame. Remove the connector
from the seat cross bar by releasing the metal clip.

Note: Before removing the yellow connector from the seat and body harness, note the wire colors
of the seat and body harness. Some wire pairs may be a slightly different color. Some wire pairs
may have different colors. Ensure the wires are matched BEFORE splicing the wires of the seat
and body harness together. Use the cutoff connector as a wire color template. BEFORE removing
the connector from the harness, mark or identify wire pairs of similar color using a pen and tape to
ensure the correct wires are spliced together.
6.

Make a list of how the wires relate from the body side harness to the seat harness. It critical
that the wire pairs are identified correctly to avoid splicing incorrect wire pairs . THE WIRE
COLORS ON THE BODY SIDE HARNESS AND THE SEAT SIDE HARNESS ARE NOT THE
SAME.

7.

Using side cutters, cut the four wires on the body and seat harness as close the connector as
possible.

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April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

4498159

8.

Strip off approximately 13 mm (1/2 in) of insulation from the wiring ends. Fold the wires.

4498165

9.

Add one approximate 38 mm (1.5 in) section of heat shrink tube to each of the four wires (1).

10. Join the four wires together. Use the wire color list created above to determine correct wire
position.
11. Crimp a splice clip over the joined wires using Special Tool J-38125-8, nest F. Verify the crimp
quality. Repeat this crimp process on all four wire connections (2).
Note: Keep the heat shrink tube below the splice when soldering the splice to ensure that the heat
shrink is not prematurely shrunk and closed down over the wire or splice area due to the heat
from the soldering iron.
Warning: DO NOT use soldering equipment that is battery or electric powered. These types of
soldering irons can induce voltage into the circuit, which may cause inflator module deployment
and/or damage to electrical components. Use only the J-38125-5A Ultra Torch or another butane
fueled soldering iron when working on SIR circuits.
12. Solder all four crimp and splice clips using the Ultratorch, part number J-38125-5, or another
butane fueled soldering iron.

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April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

4495843

13. Center the heat shrink tube over all four splices and shrink/seal the heat shrink tube securely
over the splice crimp and insulated wires.

4495852

14. Wrap woven polyester electrical tape (PET) or equivalent anti-abrasion tape around the spliced
section of both wires. Continue to wrap the harness as shown.

4495864

15. Wrap two sections of yellow electrical tape over the polyester electrical tape on both sides of
the splice.

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April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

Note: Ensure yellow tape is wrapped around the splice section of the seat wire harness to
properly identify supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) wiring. Failure to properly identify SIR
wiring could cause deployment of the SIR components, personal injury, or unnecessary SIR
system repairs.
16. Position the harness in the location where the metal connector clip was attached to the seat
cross bar.

4495877

17. Install a wire tie, securing the harness to the seat in the original location. Ensure the wire tie is
located on the body side of the wire splice.
Note: Ensure the seat harness is not trapped under the seat track when reinstalling the seat.
18. Reinstall the driver and/or passenger front seats. Refer to Driver or Passenger Seat Removal
and Installation in SI.
19. Enable the Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) system. Refer to SIR Disabling and
Enabling in SI.
20. Clear any sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) DTCs using a scan tool. Verify that the
airbag indicator is NOT displayed on the instrument panel cluster (IPC). If DTCs appear after
clearing the SDM, refer to the appropriate diagnostic information in SI.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For US
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the condition described
in this bulletin are to be submitted to the dealer by May 31, 2017, unless otherwise specified by
state law. If this is not convenient for the customer, the customer may mail the completed Customer
Reimbursement Request Form and all required documents to the GM Customer Assistance Center.
Repairs must have occurred within the 10 years of the date the vehicle was originally placed in
service, or 120,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin should
be considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed with your
GM representative prior to processing the request.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:


A completed Customer Reimbursement Request Form. This form is mailed to the customer
or can be obtained through GM GlobalConnect.



The name and address of the person who paid for the repair.

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

April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

Paid receipt confirming the amount of the repair expense, a description of the repair, and
the person or entity performing the repair.

IMPORTANT: GM requires dealers to approve or deny a reimbursement request within 30 days of
receipt. If a reimbursement request is approved, the dealer should immediately issue a check to
the customer and submit an appropriate warranty transaction for the incurred expense. If a
reimbursement request is denied, the dealer MUST provide the customer with a clear and concise
explanation, in writing, as to why the request was denied. The bottom portion of the Customer
Reimbursement Request Form may be used for this purpose. If the denial was due to missing
documents, the customer can resubmit the request when the missing documents are obtained, as
long as it is still within the allowed reimbursement period.
Warranty transactions for customer reimbursement of previously paid repairs are to be submitted
as required by GM Global Warranty Management. Additional information can also be found in
Warranty Administration Bulletin 11-00-89-004.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For Canada and Export
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the condition described
in this bulletin are to be submitted to the dealer prior to or by May 31, 2017. Repairs must have
occurred within the 10 years of the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, or 193,000
kilometers, whichever occurs first.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:
-

Proof of ownership at time of repair.

-

Original paid receipt confirming the amount of unreimbursed repair expense(s) (including
Service Contract deductibles), a description of the repair, and the person or entity performing
the repair.

All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin should be
considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed with your GM
representative prior to processing the request.
COURTESY TRANSPORTATION – For US and Canada
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.

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Bulletin No.: 15643

WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION
Submit a transaction using the table below. All transactions should be submitted as a ZREG
transaction type, unless noted otherwise.
Vehicles Still Covered Under Applicable New Vehicle Limited Warranties
Labor
Code
6459939
6480318

Description
Electronics/Airbags - Customer Concern Not Duplicated
Driver or Passenger Seat SIAB Connector Removal
ADD: For Second Seat

Labor
Time
0.1-0.3
0.7
0.6

Net
Item
N/A
*

Note: For reimbursements on vehicles covered under warranty, refer to the Policies and Procedures
Manual.
Vehicles No Longer Covered Under Applicable New Vehicle Limited Warranties
Labor
Code
9900321
9900322
9900323
9900324

Description
Electronics/Airbags - Customer Concern Not Duplicated
Driver or Passenger Seat SIAB Connector Removal
ADD: For Second Seat
Customer Reimbursement Approved
Customer Reimbursement Denied - For US dealers only

Labor
Time
0.1-0.3
0.7
0.6
0.2
0.1

Net
Item
N/A
*
**
N/A

Note: To avoid having to "H" route the customer reimbursement transaction for approval, it must
be submitted prior to the repair transaction.
*

The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the actual cost of the woven polyester
electrical tape (PET), wire tie and yellow tape needed to perform the required repairs, not to
exceed $0.85 USD, $1.18 CAD, plus applicable Mark-Up or Landed Cost (for Export).

**

The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the dollar amount reimbursed to the
customer.

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
General Motors will notify customers of this special coverage on their vehicles (see copy of typical
customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of
conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained
technicians have the tools, equipment, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO
NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your dealer/retailer for information on
whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

We Support
Voluntary Technician
Certification

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April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643
May 2016

This notice applies to your vehicle, VIN: _____________________________________
Dear General Motors Customer:
As the owner of a 2004-2009 model year Cadillac XLR or 2005-2013 model year Chevrolet
Corvette, your satisfaction with our product is very important to us.
This letter is intended to make you aware that some 2004-2009 model year Cadillac XLR and
2005-2013 model year Chevrolet Corvette vehicles, equipped with power seats, may have a
condition where, the wire harness connector from the seat side airbag and buckle tensioner to the
body has a design interference between the vertical adjust crossbar and the carpet. When the
seat is moved forward or back, the connector may be dragged along the carpet, pulling terminals
loose or pulling the connector apart. This will cause a diagnostic trouble code to be set and the
service airbag light will be illuminated.
Do not take your vehicle to your GM dealer as a result of this letter unless you believe that
your vehicle has the condition as described above.
What We Have Done: General Motors is providing owners with additional protection for the
condition described above. If this condition occurs on your 2004-2009 model year Cadillac XLR
or 2005-2013 model year Chevrolet Corvette within 10 years of the date your vehicle was
originally placed in service or 120,000 miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, the condition
will be repaired for you at no charge. Diagnosis or repair for conditions other than the condition
described above is not covered under this special coverage program.
What You Should Do: If you believe that your vehicle has the condition described above, repairs
and adjustments qualifying under this special coverage must be performed by a General Motors
dealer. You may want to contact your GM dealer to find out how long they will need to have your
vehicle so that you may schedule the appointment at a time that is convenient for you. This will
also allow your dealer to order parts if they are not already in stock. Keep this letter with your
other important glove box literature for future reference.
Reimbursement: If you have paid for repairs for the condition described in this letter, please
complete the enclosed reimbursement form and present it to your dealer with all required
documents. Working with your dealer will expedite your request, however, if this is not
convenient, you may mail the completed reimbursement form and all required documents to
Reimbursement Department, PO Box 33170, Detroit, MI 48232-5170. The completed form and
required documents must be presented to your dealer or received by the Reimbursement
Department by May 31, 2017, unless state law specifies a longer reimbursement period.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, just contact your dealer or the appropriate
Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below.
Division

Number

Cadillac
Chevrolet
Puerto Rico – English
Puerto Rico – Español
Virgin Islands

1-866-982-2339
1-800-630-2438
1-800-496-9992
1-800-496-9993
1-800-496-9994

Text Telephones
(TTY)
1-800-833-2622
1-800-833-2438

We are sorry for any inconvenience you may experience; however, we have taken this action in
the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

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April 2016

Bulletin No.: 15643

Terry M. Inch
Executive Director
Global Connected Customer Experience
Enclosure
15643