California "Service Engine Soon"

artt · February 28, 2003

Central Office

Chevrolet Motor Division

General Motors Corporation

100 Renaissance Center, P.O. Box 100, Detroit, Ml 48265-1000

C99066E

February, 2003

Dear Chevrolet Customer:

As the owner of a 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 or 2001 model year S-10,

Blazer, Astro, C/K Pickup, Tahoe, Suburban, Chevy Van/Express, 'P' or 'W4'

truck that is registered in California, equipped with a 4.3L V6, 5.0L V8 or

5.7L V8 engine, and California emissions, your satisfaction with our product

is very important to us. Your vehicle was provided with a new vehicle

warranty, which covers certain parts of your vehicle for a specified period.

These warranties are of considerable value to you if you should experience

problems with your vehicle.

This letter is intended to make you aware that some 1996, 1997, 1998,

1999, 2000 and 2001 model year S-10, Blazer, Astro, C/K Pickup, Tahoe,

Suburban, Chevy Van/Express, 'P' or 'W4' trucks that are registered in

California, equipped with a 4.3L V6, 5.0L V8 or 5.7L V8 engine, and

California emissions, may experience a "Service Engine Soon" light, misfire,

rough idle or hard start due to a deposit build-up on the Sequential Central

Port Fuel Injector (SCPI) poppet valve(s). The deposit build-up may cause

injector poppets to stick closed. Certain fuels have been found to interact

with the SCPI system to cause the deposits.

This is not a recall. Do not take your vehicle to your Chevrolet dealer as a

result of this letter unless you believe that your vehicle has the condition as

described above.

What We To address the above-mentioned condition, General

Have Done: Motors is providing special warranty coverage to owners

of applicable vehicles registered in California. If the SCPI

system failure condition occurs on your 1996, 1997, 1998,

1999, 2000 or 2001 model year S-10, Blazer, Astro, C/K

Pickup, Tahoe, Suburban, Chevy Van/Express, 'P' or 'W4'

truck within ten (10) years of the date your vehicle was

originally placed in service or 200,000 miles, whichever

occurs first, the condition will be repaired for you at no

charge. Other conditions that may cause similar or

different driveability complaints, or cause a Malfunction

Indicator Light illumination, that are not a result of SCPI

system failures are not covered by this special policy.

However, you will not be charged for performing a system

check when determining that the SCPI system is not the

cause. Any repairs that would be necessary due to other

conditions would be your responsibility, if you elect to

have your dealer provide the service.

What You Repairs and adjustments qualifying under this special

Should Do: coverage must be performed by a General Motors dealer.

You may want to call the service department at your

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 glovebox

literature for future reference.

Reimbursement: If you have already paid for some or all of the cost to have

the SCPI fuel system repaired or replaced, and you have

not received reimbursement under a Vehicle Service

Contract, and the in-service time and mileage was less

than 10 years and 200,000 miles, you should write to

Chevrolet Motor Division, P.O. Box 33170, Detroit,

Michigan, 48232-5170 to seek reimbursement. Please

provide your original paid receipts or invoices verifying the

repair, the amount charged, proof of payment, the date of

payment of those charges and proof of ownership of the

vehicle at the time of the repair. This information must be

provided within two (2) years after the date on which you

paid for the repair or within two (2) years of the date of

this Special Policy Bulletin, whichever is greater.

If the work was done by someone other than a GM

dealership, the amount of reimbursement will generally be

limited to the amount that the repair would have cost GM

to have it completed by a GM dealership.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, just contact your dealer

or please contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-

1020. The deaf, hearing impaired, or speech impaired should call 1-800-

833-2438 (Utilizes Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Text

Telephones, TDD/TTY).

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.

Chevrolet Motor Division

General Motors Corporation

Shaners · February 28, 2003

Interesting letter... Thanks for sharing it!!! :thumb:

polarbear · February 28, 2003

??? OK. Now this doesn't make sense.....Why would it only be vehicles that are "registered" in California. Did they, GM, seperate the ones that had problems from the factory and ship them to California only ??? Shouldn't this apply to all vehicles, that are listed, throughout the nation(Not Just the LEFT coast)