PAINT CHIPPING AT FRONT ROCKER PANEL

SUBJECT: PAINT CHIPPING AT FRONT ROCKER PANEL AND LOWER QUARTER PANEL (REPAIR PAINT AND INSTALL PROTECTIVE FILM)

MODELS: 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM - BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINT XM708314

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT PAINT CHIPPING AT THE ROCKER PANEL AND LOWER QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) AREAS JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR WHEEL OPENING.

CAUSE:

THIS CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ANTI-CHIP PROTECTION IN THESE AREAS.

CORRECTION:

CORRECTION OF THIS CONDITION WILL REQUIRE THAT PRE-CUT PROTECTIVE URETHANE FILM PIECES BE INSTALLED AT THE DESIGNATED LOCATIONS ON THE ROCKER PANEL AND DOG-LEG. THE ROCKER PANEL PROTECTIVE FILM IS COMMON FOR LH AND RH COUPES AND SEDANS; IS RECTANGULAR AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY TRIMMING. THE QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) PROTECTIVE FILM REQUIRES A DIFFERENT P/N FOR LH VS RH AND COUPE VS SEDAN (2 P/N'S FOR COUPES; 2 P/N'S FOR SEDANS). THE SEDAN QUARTER PANEL PIECES MUST BE TRIMMED TO FIT, PER FIGURE 2.

ROCKER MOLDING APPLICATION:

1. MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 55 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 90 DEGRESS FAHRENHEIT (13 DEGREES CELSIUS AND 32 DEGREES CELSIUS).

2. REFINISH THE DAMAGED AREA(S) AS REQUIRED, USING PRODUCTS FOUND IN THE GM REFINISH MATERIALS BOOKLET #4901M-D-98.

3. MAKE SURE THE SURFACES TO WHICH THE PROTECTIVE FILM WILL BE APPLIED ARE CLEAN AND FREE OF WAX, DIRT AND OIL.

4. SEE FIGURE 1 FOR CORRECT LOCATION OF ROCKER MOLDING FILM.

5. CAREFULLY PEEL THE ROCKER MOLDING FILM FROM ITS PROTECTIVE BACKING TO EXPOSE THE ADHESIVE SURFACE.

IMPORTANT:

USE CARE WHEN HANDLING THE FILM. DO NOT STRETCH THE FILM. THE FILM MAY BE REMOVED AND REPOSITIONED, BUT MUST BE KEPT WET AND ALLOWED TO RELAX TO ORIGINAL SIZE AND SHAPE BEFORE RE-APPLYING. FINGERPRINTS AND/OR TRAPPED AIR BUBBLES ON THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE FILM WILL SHOW THROUGH, CREATING AN UNACCEPTABLE APPEARANCE.

6. SPRAY BOTH THE ROCKER MOLDING SURFACE AND THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE PROTECTIVE FILM WITH A SOLUTION OF 30% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL AND 70% WATER (NO SOAP IN THE SOLUTION).

7. POSITION THE FILM ON THE MOLDING AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1. THE REAR EDGE OF THE FILM SHOULD LINE UP WITH THE REAR EDGE OF THE ROCKER MOLDING SO THAT IT DOES NOT WRAP AROUND AND THE FILM SHOULD BE WRAPPED AROUND THE TOP CORNER AND PLACED AS CLOSE TO THE INNER EDGE OF THE MOLDING AS POSSIBLE (WITHIN 3MM). IF NECESSARY, USE A HEAT GUN TO CAREFULLY WARM THE SURFACE AND THE FILM TO ALLOW PROPER FITTING AND POSITIONING.

8. USING A SQUEEGEE, BONDO PADDLE, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SMOOTHING TOOL, PRESS THE FILM INTO PLACE, FORCING OUT AIR AND WETTING SOLUTION.

9. AFTER THE FILM HAS BEEN INSTALLED, REMOVE THE EXTERIOR PROTECTIVE COATING AND FINISH SMOOTHING AS REQUIRED.

10. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE.

LOWER QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) APPLICATION:

11. TRIM QUARTER PANEL PROTECTIVE FILM PIECES AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2.

12. DO NOT REMOVE THE QUARTER PANEL BODY SIDE MOLDING.

13. ON SEDAN VEHICLES, MAKE SURE THAT THE PIECES TO BE APPLIED TO THE LOWER QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) AREA ARE CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED AND TRIMMED. SEE FIGURE 2.

14. SEE FIGURE 3 FOR CORRECT LOCATION OF QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) FILM.

15. CAREFULLY PEEL THE QUARTER PANEL (DOG-LEG) FILM FROM ITS PROTECTIVE BACKING.

16. SPRAY BOTH THE LOWER QUARTER PANEL SURFACE AND THE ADHESIVE SIDE OF THE PROTECTIVE FILM WITH A SOLUTION OF 30% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL AND 70% WATER (NO SOAP IN THE SOLUTION).

17. POSITION THE FILM ON THE DOG-LEG AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 3. POSITION THE TOP EDGE OF THE FILM JUST UNDERNEATH THE BODY SIDE MOLDING AND CENTER THE BOTTOM OF THE FILM, WRAPPING AROUND THE EDGES OF THE DOG-LEG AS REQUIRED. IF NECESSARY, USE A HEAT GUN TO CAREFULLY WARM THE SURFACE AND THE FILM TO ALLOW PROPER FITTING AND POSITIONING.

18. USING A SQUEEGEE, BONDO PADDLE, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SMOOTHING TOOL, PRESS THE FILM INTO PLACE, FORCING OUT AIR AND WETTING SOLUTION. USE THE SQUEEGEE TO FOLD THE FILM AROUND THE RADIUS TO COVER THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR OPENING AND WHEEL HOUSE.

19. AFTER THE FILM HAS BEEN INSTALLED, REMOVE THE EXTERIOR PROTECTIVE COATING AND FINISH SMOOTHING AS REQUIRED.

20. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE.

PARTS INFORMATION:

QUANTITY PER P/N DESCRIPTION VEHICLE ============= ===================================== ============ 22616969 FILM-PROTECTIVE - ROCKER PANEL REAR 2 COUPE OR SEDAN

22616970 FILM-PROTECTIVE - QTR PANEL COUPE-RH 1

22616971 FILM-PROTECTIVE - QTR PANEL COUPE-LH 1

22616972 FILM-PROTECTIVE - QTR PANEL SEDAN-RH 1

22616973 FILM-PROTECTIVE - QTR PANEL SEDAN-LH 1

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION TIME ================= ============================ ==================

A1050 (RH) OR REPAIR CHIPPED PAINT 1.4 HRS A1051 (LH) MATERIAL ALLOWANCE GF

ADD: INSTALL PROTECTIVE FILM 0.6 HR

FIGURES: 03

ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 1 1. EDGE OF MOLDING 2. 0 - 3.0 MM 3. EDGE OF TAPE

FIGURE 2 - TRIMMING DIRECTIONS - DOG LEG PROTECTIVE FILM PIECES SEDAN ONLY (ACTUAL PART SIZE SHOWN - DO NOT PHOTOCOPY)

FIGURE 3 - SEDAN SHOWN - COUPE SIMILAR

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.

COPYRIGHT 1998 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.