Indy Pontiac Campaign Sticker (Page 1/1)
steinke_phil MAY 21, 12:41 PM
Has anybody ever seen a Pontiac Campaign sticker like this? This is on the rear decklid of an Indy. The date looks to be 9-26-88

I am wondering if the car was owned for an extended period of time by Pontiac before being sold to a private owner in 1989. The first carfax owner that pops up is in 1989 with an oddly even mileage of 27,000 miles.
skywurz MAY 21, 01:16 PM
that looks like a Technical Service Bulletin sticker 84-C-15B, issued in February of 1988, which addressed items in the engine compartment that could contribute to a fire. This recall only affected the 1984 Fieros.
Toddster MAY 21, 01:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by skywurz:

that looks like a Technical Service Bulletin sticker 84-C-15B, issued in February of 1988, which addressed items in the engine compartment that could contribute to a fire. This recall only affected the 1984 Fieros.



Actually, the recall affected all year models. The engine fires were related to both 4 and 6 cylinder engines due to poor exhaust manifold design.

However, this might be one of the original Indy Pace Promotion Cars. Several Indy's were used for the 1984 Indy 500 parade, shows, tours, etc. This might be one of those.
theogre MAY 21, 01:46 PM
Yes, That is a Recall ID label.
Now often very hard or impossible to read if even was used at Recall Work Time because fades or destroyed by pressure washer etc.
Or maybe in front somewhere and people just don't look for them.
See my Cave, Do You Recall?
Note: "New" GM canceled most Recalls during GM Bankruptcy and Obama "Bailout" scam. So that page is even more of an archive.

Read 2nd L4 recall for more things to watch.

⚠️ Note: 84 L4 Engine may have been replaced under Recall Work and have "better" internal parts hidden unless you need replacement push rods or rebuild the engine.
Also, even not replaced, Indy may have better roller lifter/cam set the same as 86 and maybe 85 L4
See my Cave, Duke Quick Ref

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

theogre MAY 21, 01:57 PM

quote
Originally posted by Toddster:
Actually, the recall affected all year models. The engine fires were related to both 4 and 6 cylinder engines due to poor exhaust manifold design.

However, this might be one of the original Indy Pace Promotion Cars. Several Indy's were used for the 1984 Indy 500 parade, shows, tours, etc. This might be one of those.

No... For Recall ID put on that label has 3 versions of Fire Recall and 1 for Handbrake Brakes Problem w/ Manual Transmission.
Above is GM # 84-C-15B & only applies to All 84.
Latter version for L4 supersede this & covers 84-88 L4. GM # 88-C-23A
Then V6 had own ID code. GM # 88-C-24

See my Cave, Do You Recall?

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 05-21-2021).]

steinke_phil MAY 21, 04:04 PM
Thanks Guys!
hyperv6 MAY 21, 07:46 PM
GM used these stickers in this era.

Some cars got them many never did. As stated done washed off but many were taken off.

Not really any big deal.

Yes Carfax may not be complete as there was not much documented back then since the web was just starting and Carfax was not even a dream.

My car had the recall in the 90’s but never had a sticker as they were no longer used.

Many joked back then calling them resale killers if you had more than one.
Toddster MAY 22, 07:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

No... For Recall ID put on that label has 3 versions of Fire Recall and 1 for Handbrake Brakes Problem w/ Manual Transmission.
Above is GM # 84-C-15B & only applies to All 84.
Latter version for L4 supersede this & covers 84-88 L4. GM # 88-C-23A
Then V6 had own ID code. GM # 88-C-24

See my Cave, Do You Recall?




I see the recall number on the sticker now. Obviously a dealer option. Most dealers did not indicate a recall with a decal. I've owned over 30 Fieros, almost all had the recall done (only 2 did not) and I've never seen any decal indicating it.

As for the reasons for the recall, I know what GM SAID the recalls were for, but we all know the truth. It had nothing to do with connecting rods (although that was a design flaw which affected the sunbird and postal carriers using the Duke as well). Engine fires were a symptom of both the Duke and the 2.8 V-6. The reason was because they used a poorly designed and even worse manufactured set of stainless steel exhaust manifolds.

The fact is that the Fiero was a test bed for all things new at GM. Some ideas were brilliant and successful and some were abject flops. while other cars were still using good old cast iron exhaust manifolds on their Dukes and 2.8 V-6 engines and having no fires, the Fiero engineers failed to take into consideration the pressure and heat build up in the restricted stainless steel manifolds on the Fiero......that was right next to some insulation, dried leaves, and wiring. Ironically, the added heat shield on the V-6 proved to make the problem worse as it caught lots of debris in the very location th exhaust manifolds were going to crack. GM did figure this out and fix it on future cars (well some, the 1989/1990 Grand Prix Turbo has the same problem on the stainless steel crossover pipe despite designing relief bellows for it). But they would never admit it publicly because 1) Stainless was the dream child of the future for GM and they were not about to announce the problems with them and 2) the cost of the recall of 370K cars to replace exhaust manifolds would have been prohibitive. Typical GM, put a bandaid on it and run a deflection campaign.

The PCV re-route was a cluster **** as well. Although it improved air filter longevity, it meant oily goo was allowed to buildup in the upper and intermediate intakes, gumming up throttle bodies, restricting air flow, and once again, creating a potential fire problem.

I recommend thermal wrap on the exhaust and cross over pipes and de-recalling the majority of the heat shields. And ALWAYS port exhaust manifolds to eliminate the cracking problem.

No one talks about this in the media because it is just more fun to bash the car.

[This message has been edited by Toddster (edited 05-22-2021).]