All Investigations » Investigation RQ99013

Defect Investigation of Cadillac Coolant Cooled Alternator Fires

Subject:	Cadillac coolant cooled alternator fires
Components covered:	Engine and engine cooling
Investigations Summary:	This investigation was opened on Jun. 10, 1999. It was closed on Feb. 22, 2002. Note: this investigation has resulted in a vehicle safety recall. On April 1, 1999, gm files a defect information report for approximately 1,500 1999 model year Cadillac seville cars cars equipped with collant cooled alternators and built during the month of February 1999. The alternator of these cars can develop an internal electrical short, even when the engine is off. The short can cause an engine compartment fire, which can expand to the rest of the vehicle and to the surrounding vehicles or structures. The cause was attributed to a production change in a torgue operation during final assembly of the alternator by the supplier, dm delphi electronics. Subsequently, on may 26, 1999, gm notified NHTSA that it was recalling an additional 28,141 seville cars manufactured from August 1998 through an undetermined date for apparently the same problem. Dealers will replace the alternators of the affected seville cars. Gm's recall number is 99013. The purpose of this rq is to investigate the scope, cause and nature of the defect, and the timeliness of gm's actions.
Vehicles Affected by this investigation:	1998 Cadillac Seville 1999 Cadillac Seville