INFO.-INCOMPATIBILITY OF TAPE CLEANER & CASSETTE CD ADAPTERS. Geo Prizm 1993

SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON SCRUBBING-TYPE TAPE CLEANER AND CASSETTE CD ADAPTERS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SOME CASSETTE DECKS

MODELS: 1993-94 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM, ELDORADO AND SEVILLE WITH COMBINATION CD/CASSETTE RADIOS 1994 CADILLAC CONCOURS AND DEVILLE WITH COMBINATION CD/CASSETTE RADIOS 1993 CHEVROLET GEO STORM 1993-94 CHEVROLET GEO METRO, PRIZM AND TRACKER 1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, FIREBIRD AND GRAND PRIX 1994 OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT AND NINETY EIGHT

A SCRUBBING ACTION, NON-ABRASIVE CLEANING CASSETTE IS CALLED OUT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ALL GM VEHICLES. THIS IS A WET-TYPE CLEANING SYSTEM THAT USES A CLEANING CASSETTE WITH PADS WHICH SCRUB THE TAPE HEAD AS THE HUBS OF THE CLEANER CASSETTE TURN. THIS TYPE OF CLEANING CASSETTE IS AVAILABLE AS DELCO P/N 12344600. THIS TYPE OF CLEANER WILL WORK NORMALLY IN ALL GM VEHICLES WITH CASSETTE PLAYERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. IN THESE VEHICLES, THE CASSETTE PLAYER WILL EJECT THE CLEANER AFTER ABOUT FIVE SECONDS.

CASSETTE ADAPTER KITS FOR PORTABLE CD PLAYERS WILL ALSO NOT WORK IN THESE RADIOS. AFTER ABOUT FIVE SECONDS, THE ADAPTER CASSETTE WILL BE EJECTED.

THE TAPE PLAYERS IN THE VEHICLES LISTED HAVE A FEATURE WHICH DETECTS BROKEN CASSETTE TAPES. WHEN THE TAPE PLAYER DETECTS A BROKEN TAPE, IT TRIES TO PLAY BOTH SIDES AND THEN EJECTS THE TAPE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TAPE OR TAPE PLAYER. BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE, SOME CLEANING CASSETTES AND CASSETTE ADAPTERS FOR PORTABLE CD PLAYERS WILL BE EJECTED AFTER ABOUT FIVE SECONDS.

USING THE SCRUBBING ACTION, NON-ABRASIVE CLEANING CASSETTE IN THE RADIO DOES CLEAN THE TAPE PLAYER. HOWEVER, FOR A THOROUGH CLEANING, THE CLEANER MUST BE INSERTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. A NON-SCRUBBING ACTION, WET-TYPE CLEANER MAY BE USED IN PLACE OF THE SCRUBBING-TYPE CLEANER. THIS TYPE OF CLEANER USES A CASSETTE WITH A FABRIC BELT WHICH CLEANS THE TAPE HEAD. THIS TYPE OF CLEANING CASSETTE WILL NOT BE EJECTED, BUT IT MAY NOT CLEAN THE TAPE PLAYER AS THOROUGHLY AS THE SCRUBBING-TYPE CLEANER. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF CLEANING CASSETTE IS THE RADIO SHACK 44-1162.*

*WE BELIEVE THIS SOURCE AND THEIR EQUIPMENT TO BE RELIABLE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURERS OF SUCH EQUIPMENT. GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT ENDORSE, INDICATE ANY PREFERENCE FOR OR ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT FROM THIS FIRM OR FOR ANY SUCH ITEMS WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM OTHER SOURCES.

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GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE 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 EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, 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 A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.