CAMPAIGN: DOOR PILLAR CRACKS INSTALL INNER/OUTER PLATES

MODELS/YEARS: ALL 1985 AND CERTAIN 1986 CALAIS TWO DOOR MODELS

CONDITION

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1985 and 1986 Oldsmobile Calais two-door models. Small cracks may develop in the body pillar around the door striker bolt hole. If left uncorrected, the cracks would eventually encircle the door striker bolt hole leading to difficulty in closing the door and might allow the door to come open during a vehicle crash which could increase the likelihood of injury to vehicle occupants.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are all 1985 and certain 1986 Oldsmobile Calais two door models within the following VIN breakpoints.

Year Plant Beginning Up to And Including ---- ----- --------- ------------------- 1985 Lansing (M) Start of Production End of Production 1985 Lansing (C) Start of Production End of Production 1986 Lansing (M) Start of Production GM301666 1986 Lansing (C) Start of Production GC801230

DEALER ACTION

To correct this condition, dealers are to install an inner and outer reinforcement plate on both left and right body pillars as described in the service procedure of this bulletin.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

The following service procedure is to be performed on both left and right body pillars.

1. Using a number 50 Torx(R) Bit Socket remove the door striker bolt from body pillar.

2. Remove screw from pressure relief valve and remove valve from body pillar. See Figure 1.

3. Reach through hole exposed by removal of pressure relief valve and remove striker bolt attachment plate by grasping plate and rotating bottom of plate inboard (toward vehicle).

Refer to Figure 1.

IF ATTACHMENT PLATE CAN NOT BE REMOVED BY HAND, POSITION A SMALL FLAT PUNCH THROUGH STRIKER BOLT HOLE IN BODY PILLAR SO END OF PUNCH CONTACTS THE INBOARD THREADED AREA OF PLATE. USING A HAMMER, TAP THE PUNCH TO ROTATE THE BOTTOM OF THE ATTACHMENT PLATE INBOARD.

4. Examine body pillar for cracks in area of striker bolt hole. Clean area and apply touch up paint over any exposed cracks.

5. Apply a small bead of a medium body sealer, such as 3M 08648 or equivalent, to outside edges of the outer reinforcement plate contained in body pillar reinforcement kit, part number 20716329, and position outer reinforcement plate to body pillar as shown in Figure 2.

6. Position and hold new inner reinforcement plate in place with flat side against the inside of body pillar with arrowhead shaped hole pointing inboard as shown in Figure 3.

INNER REINFORCEMENT PLATES ARE STAMPED LH (FOR LEFT HAND USE) AND RH (FOR RIGHT HAND USE). BE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT PLATE WHEN INSTALLING. DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR IS LEFT HAND.

7. Insert striker bolt. Thread lock nut contained in body pillar kit onto striker bolt. Hold nut with 17 mm wrench or socket and tighten striker bolt to 53 N - m (40 lbs. ft.).

8. Check striker bolt for proper fore/aft adjustment as follows,

a. Press body caulking, such as 3M 08568, into door striker bolt opening as shown in Figure 4.

b. Close door only as far as necessary for striker bolt to form an impression in the caulking. (Complete door closing will make caulking removal difficult.)

c. Striker impression should be centered fore and aft. The minimum allowable measurement for dimension X (Fig. 4) is 2 mm (3/32"). The maximum allowable measurement for dimension X is 4 mm (5132").

A 2 mm (3/32") spacer, part no. 4469196 or equivalent, can be used to achieve the desired alignment. Refer to Figure 5.

d. Remove all body caulking from door striker bolt opening.

e. If adjustment is necemary remove striker bolt and add or subtract spacers as required. Reinstall striker bolt and torque to 53 N - m (40 lbs. ft.). Refer to Figure 5.

9. Position new pressure relief valve in opening of body pillar. Hold valve upward so top of valve fully contacts top of opening. Using hole at bottom of relief valve, mark and drill a 1/8 inch hole in body pillar for relief valve retaining screw and install screw. Refer to Figure 6.

10. Clean up any excess body sealer around edges of outer reinforcement.

11. Install campaign identification label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL INSTALLATION

Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this procedure will require a Campaign Identification Label. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number, the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date the vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. When installing label, clean the surface of the radiator upper mounting support and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts for this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO) to ensure that parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a C.I.O. arder with NO special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

Description Part Number Quantity Per Vehicle ----------- ----------- --------------------

Body Pillar 20716329 1 Reinforcement Kit (Contains Parts for Both Left and Right Body Pillars)

2.0 mm Spacer - Door 4469196 As Required Striker

CLAIM INFORMATION

Parts Failure Labor Labor Other Description Allowance Code Operation Hours Hours

Install Body Pillar Inner $7.65** 96 V4100 .4 .1* and Outer Reinforcement Left and Right Sides. Check Striker Bolt Fore/Aft Adjustment and Adjust if Necessary Both Left and Right Sides.

*Allowance for clerical administration. **Add $ .24 per spacer as required. Add 30% to parts allowance.

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.