WHEEL CAP RETENTION (MODIFY CAP). Buick Park Avenue 1992

APPLICATION:

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1992-93 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH BASE ALUMINUM WHEELS

YEAR BEGINNING VIN ENDING VIN ==== ============= ==========

1992 N1650300 E.O.P. 1993 S.O.P. P1618700

CONDITION:

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SOME BUICK "C" VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE LISTED VIN'S MAY HAVE WHEEL CAPS WITH REDUCED RETENTION.

CAUSE:

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ON SOME WHEELS, THE CAP DOES NOT SEAT FAR ENOUGH INTO THE WHEEL (CAP CONTACTS THE WHEEL AT ITS OUTER EDGE) TO ALLOW THE CAP RETENTION FINGERS TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. THERE WAS A RUNNING CHANGE MADE TO THE WHEEL THAT ALLOWS THE STAMPED WHEEL CAP TO NEST DEEPER INTO THE WHEEL ALLOWING THE RETENTION FINGERS TO GRIP THE WHEEL PROPERLY. WHEEL DESIGNS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE ANGLE OF THE WHEEL CUT (SEE ILLUSTRATION) OR BY PLACING A NEW CAP IN THE WHEEL AND TRYING TO SLIP A PIECE OF PAPER AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE CAP. AN EARLY DESIGN WHEEL WITH A CAP RETENTION PROBLEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE PAPER TO SLIP BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE WHEEL.

CORRECTION:

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MODIFICATION OF THE CAP IS REQUIRED TO USE THE CAP ON AN EARLY DESIGN WHEEL. MODIFY ALL CAPS ON A VEHICLE TO ENSURE RETENTION IN CASE CAPS ARE INSTALLED ON A DIFFERENT WHEEL DURING WHEEL ROTATION OR OTHER SERVICE.

1. FLIP THE CAP SO THAT THE RETENTION FINGERS ARE POINTING UP.

2. USING A PAIR OF NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, RESHAPE EVERY OTHER RETENTION FINGER BY STRAIGHTENING THE FINGER AND THEN RESHAPING IT SO THAT THE BEND IS NEARER THE END OF THE FINGER (SEE ILLUSTRATION).

IMPORTANT: ENSURE THE MODIFIED BEND IN EACH RESHAPED RETENTION FINGER IS OUTBOARD AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE ORIGINAL BEND.

3. SNAP THE CAP ONTO THE WHEEL. IF CAP IS LOOSE IN WHEEL, REMOVE AND BEND THE MODIFIED FINGERS OUTBOARD FURTHER.

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER: T3340 LABOR TIME: .6 HOURS

Object Number: 81240 Size: FS

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.