1997 Chevrolet Camaro

1997 THROUGH 2002 CAMARO'S EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS MAY EXPERIENCE FAILURES OF TURN SIGNALS. FAILURES INCLUDE FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS TO ILLUMINATE OR FAILURE TO BLINK. FAILURES MAY ALSO INCLUDE PREMATURE BULB FAILURE TO HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS (FRONT AND REAR), AND PARKING LIGHTS. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS BURNED/ SHORTED. THE TURN SIGNALS OPERATE THROUGH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE AND MODULE IS PRONE TO FAILURE/ OVERHEAT/ SHORTING CAUSING FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. WIRING TO DTRL MODULE IN DASH BEHIND RADIO IS OFTEN OVERHEATED OR BURNED CAUSING INTERMITTENT OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FUNCTION TO TURN SIGNALS. LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND WIRING SHORTS FROM OVERHEAT CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO IN DASH FIRES OR ISOLATED FIRES WITHIN EXTERIOR LAMPS.OVERHEATED IN DASH WIRING MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEMS OR COMPONENTS. *TR

THE CAMARO, FIREBIRD, CORVETTE, AND SOME GM MINIVANS USE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. WHEN ONE OF THESE FAILS, THE OTHER BULB IS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAN BE MISCONTRUED AS A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL. SUCH CONFUSION ON THE PART OF OTHER MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS CAN EASILY LEAD TO A CRASH. SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION: RECALL ALL SUCH 1997-2003 VEHICLES AND DISCONNECT DRLS OR REWIRE DRLS SUCH THAT A SINGLE BULB OUTAGE WILL EXTINGUISH BOTH LAMPS. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE GM FULL SIZE TRUCKS, BUT TO A LESSER EXTENT BECAUSE THEY USE DEDICATED FUNCTION WHITE LAMPS FOR DRLS INSTEAD OF THE AMBER TURN SIGNALS. DT

THIS IS A GENERAL OBSERVATION OF THE 1997 AND NEWER CAMARO AND FIREBIRD. IF A BULB BURNS OUT IN THE TURN SIGNAL DRL SYSTEM, THE REMAINING BULB CAN BE MISINTERPRETED AS A TURN SIGNAL INSTEAD OF A DRL. I SUGGEST RECALLING ALL SUCH VEHICLES AND DISCONNECTING THE DRLS OR REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO WIRE SUCH DRLS IN SERIES. I'VE FILED A SIMILAR COMMENT IN DOCKET 4124.

IN REGARD TO THIS VEHICLE, CHEVROLET HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND NOT MUCH IS BEING DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR CONSUMERS, AS THEY SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THEIR PRODUCTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE THEM. I AM NOY GETTING MUCH SUPPORT FROM EITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR CHEVROLET PERSONALLY. ANYTHING YOU CAN ASSIST IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE PROBLEMS MY VEHICLE HAS HAD, AS IT CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK