PAINT CHIPS ON REAR COMPARTMENT LID

SUBJECT: PAINT CHIPS ON REAR COMPARTMENT LID (ADJUST REAR COMPARTMENT LID/INSTALL NEW OVERSLAM BUMPERS)

MODELS: 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON PAINT CHIPPING ON THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID AND ADJACENT QUARTER PANELS.

CAUSE:

GAPS BETWEEN REAR COMPARTMENT LID AND QUARTER PANELS MAY BE TOO TIGHT. MISALIGNMENT OF THE LATCH TO STRIKER MAY ALSO CAUSE PAINT CHIPS. THERE MAY ALSO BE NO CONTACT BETWEEN THE OVERSLAM BUMPERS AND THE BODY.

CORRECTION:

VERIFY AND ADJUST THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID USING THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:

FORE/AFT AND CROSS-CAR ADJUSTMENT -

1. WITH THE LID IN THE CLOSED POSITION, VERIFY THE FORE/AFT AND CROSS-CAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE CORNERS OF THE LID (SEE FIGURES 1 AND 2). IF AN ADJUSTMENT IS NECESSARY, LOOSEN THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID TO HINGE BOLTS AND ADJUST THE LID.

2. TIGHTEN THE HINGE TO DECKLID ATTACHMENT BOLTS TO 25 N.M (18 LB FT).

LID TO QUARTER GAPS AND UP-DOWN ADJUSTMENT -

1. CHECK THE LID FOR FLUSHNESS TO THE QUARTER PANELS AT THE REAR CORNERS AND THE DECKLID TO QUARTER PANEL GAPS AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 3. IF THE LID TO QUARTER PANEL GAPS ARE LESS THAN 3.5 MM (9/64 INCH) AT ANY POINT, RAISE THE DECKLID AS DESCRIBED UNTIL THE 3.5 MM (9/64 INCH) GAPS ARE ACHIEVED.

A. REMOVE THE TWO PUSH-IN FASTENERS BETWEEN THE LATCH AND REAR COMPARTMENT LID INNER PANEL.

B. LOOSEN THE TWO LATCH MOUNTING BOLTS.

C. WITH AN ASSISTANT IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT, GENTLY CLOSE THE LID UNTIL THE LATCH CONTACTS THE LATCH STRIKER. WHILE HOLDING THE LID DOWN, HAVE THE ASSISTANT TIGHTEN THE LATCH MOUNTING BOLTS TO 9 N.M (80 LB IN).

2. IF THE ABOVE PROCEDURE DOES NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT ADJUSTMENT, ADJUST THE LATCH STRIKER.

A. REMOVE THE REAR BUMPER FASCIA. REFER TO SECTION 10-4 IN THE SERVICE MANUAL.

B. LOOSEN THE THREE NUTS ON THE STRIKER.

C. BRING THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID FLUSH TO THE QUARTER PANELS AT THE REAR CORNERS.

D. WHILE HOLDING THE LID IN POSITION, HAVE AN ASSISTANT TIGHTEN THE TWO OUTER NUTS TO 9 N.M (80 LB IN).

E. OPEN THE LID AND TIGHTEN THE INNER NUT TO 9 N.M (80 LB IN).

F. INSTALL THE REAR BUMPER FASCIA.

DECKLID OVERSLAM BUMPER TO BODY GAPS -

1. AFTER ENSURING THAT THE REAR COMPARTMENT LID TO QUARTER PANEL GAPS ARE AT LEAST 3.5 MM (9/64 INCH), MEASURE THE DECKLID OVERSLAM BUMPER TO BODY GAPS, SEE FIGURE 4.

A. PLACE CLAY ON BODY SURFACE AT THE OVERSLAM BUMPER CONTACT POINT, SEE FIGURE 4, ITEM 2.

B. GENTLY CLOSE LID TO THE LATCHED POSITION.

C. OPEN THE LID AND, USING A SCALE, MEASURE THE LOWEST POINT ON THE IMPRESSION IN THE CLAY.

D. SELECT NEW OVERSLAM BUMPER THAT WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST 1 MM (3/64 INCH) OF INTERFERENCE TO THE BODY.

IMPORTANT:

AFTER THE DECKLID HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO INSTALL NEW OVERSLAM BUMPERS AT THE REAR CORNERS TO ELIMINATE GAPS. BUMPERS ARE AVAILABLE IN TWO LENGTHS, 26MM AND 28 MM.

PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION === ===========

25669100 26 MM BUMPER 25669101 28 MM BUMPER

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER: B5400 USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 04 ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 1: 1. QUARTER PANEL OUTER 2. REAR COMPARTMENT LID 3. FLUSH TO 1.5 MM (1/16 INCH) FORWARD; 0.5 MM (1/64 INCH REARWARD

FIGURE 2: 1. REAR COMPARTMENT LID FLUSH TO 1.5 MM (1/16 INCH) BELOW QUARTER PANEL 2. GAP TO 4.0 +/- 1.0 MM (5/32 INCH) 3. REAR COMPARTMENT LID 4. QUARTER PANEL

FIGURE 3: 1. CHECK GAPS AT THIS POINT

FIGURE 4: 1. OVERSLAM BUMPERS 2. OVERSLAM BUMPER CONTACT POINTS

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 1997 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.