Driver Seat Back Material Pulling Away From Side Impact Air Bag Module Bezel (Replace Side Impact Air Bag Bezel/Retainer)

This bulletin is being revised to add model years and to replace parts instead of replacing the seat back covers. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 01-08-50-014 (Section --08, Body & Accessories).

Some customers may comment that the material on the side of the driver's seat is pulling away from the frame (bezel) around the side impact air bag module.

The front edge of the side impact air bag module bezel may not be retaining the seat cover trim retainer tangs.

Important: Sewing is required in replacing the seat cover retainer on 2001 vehicles.

On the 2001 Monte Carlo, replace the side impact air bag module bezel and the seat cover retainer.

On the 2002 and 2003 Monte Carlo, replace the side impact air bag module bezel.

1. Disable the SIR system. Refer to SI documents #765664 (2001-02); #865230 (2003).
2. Remove the front seat head restraints. Refer to head restraint replacement in SI document ID  #305206.
3. Remove the seat back release lever bezel by placing a flat bladed screw driver on each side of the bezel. Rotate the screw driver out away from the seat back, then press in to free the bezel from its retainer.
4. Fold the seat back forward. Unfasten the J-hook at the bottom of the seat back.
5. Remove the two bolts that retain the seat to the floor and lift the seat to gain access to the heated seat connector and the air bag connector.



6. Pull the seat cover up to gain access to the air bag retainer nuts and remove the nuts. Refer to the illustration above.
7. Pull the seat cover down and remove the air bag from the seat.
8. Remove the seat cover by pulling it up, working both sides equally. From the front of the seat back, reach inside the seat back and unfasten the hook and loop retainers that secure the front seat back cover to the pad. Unfasten the seat back cover retainer from the side impact air bag bezel by pressing in and pulling back on the seat back cover. Then continue to remove the cover.



9. Remove the side impact air bag bezel and replace it with a new design bezel which is brown in color.





10. If the vehicle is a 2001, inspect the seat cover retainer. If the retainer has short tangs, approximately 10 mm (3/8 in) on both sides of it, replace the retainer. The new design retainer has longer tangs, approximately 20 mm (3/4 in) toward the front and shorter tangs, approximately 10 mm (3/8 in) in the rear. When installing the new retainer to the seat cover, align the marks on the material to the notch on the retainer. Refer to the arrows in the illustration above.
11. Install the cover over the pad. Work both sides equally and install the seat cover retainer to the side impact air bag bezel. Use firm hand pressure in order to fasten the hook and loop to the pad.
12. Install the side impact air bag into the seat.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 10 N·m(89 lb ft).

13. Install the heated seat harness and the air bag harness.
14. Pull the seat cover the rest of the way down and fasten the J-hook at the bottom.
15. Install the two bolts that retain the seat frame to the floor pan.

Tighten
Tighten to 42 N·m (31 lb ft).

16. Enable the SIR system. Refer to SI documents #765664 (2001-02); #865230 (2003).

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: