FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER SWITCH TRIM PLATE DETACHES

REVISION: 08/06/98 DIVS INVL 4 7

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD THE 1998 MODEL YEAR, ADDITIONAL FIGURES, PART NUMBERS, REPAIR PROCEDURES AND LABOR TIMES. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 73-16-14 (SECTION 10 - BODY). ______________________________________________________________________

SUBJECT: FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER SWITCH TRIM PLATE DETACHES FROM SEAT AND/OR SEAT ROCKS (GLUE RETAINING CLIPS/INSTALL SERVICE KIT)

MODELS: 1997-98 BUICK PARK AVENUE, PARK AVENUE ULTRA

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER SWITCH TRIM PLATE HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SEAT AND/OR THE SEAT ROCKS.

CAUSE:

DETACHMENT OF THE SWITCH PLATE ASSEMBLY MAY BE CAUSED BY THE RETAINING CLIPS BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE SWITCH PLATE. IN SOME INSTANCES, EXISTING CLIPS MAY NOT SUFFICIENTLY RETAIN SWITCH PLATE.

THE ROCKING IN THE SEAT ADJUSTER MAY BE CAUSED BY LOOSENESS IN THE HORIZONTAL DRIVE PORTION OF THE SEAT ADJUSTER FRAME ASSEMBLY.

CORRECTION:

1. SWITCH PLATE SEPARATION GLUE THE RETAINING CLIPS, P/N 12457175, TO THE SWITCH PLATE TO CORRECT A LOOSE SWITCH PLATE CONDITION. THE PROCEDURE FOR GLUING THE CLIPS IS OUTLINED BELOW. IN SOME INSTANCES, EXISTING CLIPS MAY NOT SUFFICIENTLY RETAIN SWITCH PLATE. WHEN THIS CONDITION EXISTS, AN ADDITIONAL CLIP, P/N 12457174 (BARREL CLIP) WILL NEED TO BE ADDED. THE PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLING THE BARREL CLIP IS OUTLINED BELOW.

2. SEAT ADJUSTER ROCKING CONDITION TO CORRECT LOOSENESS IN A HORIZONTAL SEAT ADJUSTER, A HORIZONTAL DRIVE SERVICE KIT, P/N 25678843 (DRIVER MEMORY SEAT) OR P/N 25678844 (DRIVER NON-MEMORY AND PASSENGER) SHOULD BE INSTALLED FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS WHICH ARE OUTLINED BELOW.

LOOSE SWITCH PLATE REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. REMOVE THE SWITCH PLATE. REFER TO "SEAT CUSHION AND COVER REMOVAL" PROCEDURE ON PAGE 10-10-6 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.

2. IF THE SWITCH PLATE RETAINING CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE SWITCH PLATE, RETRIEVE THEM FROM THE HOLES IN THE SEAT PAN.

3. REINSTALL THE CLIPS TO THE SWITCH PLATE USING GOODWRENCH INSTANT GEL ADHESIVE, OR EQUIVALENT, TO RETAIN THE CLIPS.

4. REINSTALL THE SWITCH PLATE TO THE SEAT PAN. REFER TO "SEAT CUSHION AND COVER REMOVAL" PROCEDURE ON PAGE 10-10-6 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.

BARREL CLIP INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

(NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS IN THE STEPS BELOW, REFER TO CALLOUTS IN FIGURES 2, 3 AND 4)

NOTICE:

LOCATOR POSTS AND SWITCH-TO-PLATE RETAINING TABS BREAK EASILY.

1. REMOVE THE SWITCH PLATE. REFER TO "SEAT CUSHION AND COVER REPLACEMENT" PROCEDURE ON PAGE 10-10-6 OF THE 1997 SERVICE MANUAL.

2. REMOVE THE SWITCHES FROM THE SWITCH PLATE, USING A FLAT BLADED TOOL TO RELEASE THE RETAINING TABS.

3. USING A 5/16-24 DIE, THREAD THE UPPER REAR LOCATOR POST (2) ON THE SWITCH PLATE. THREAD THE UPPER REAR LOCATOR POST DOWN TO THE SWITCH RETAINING TAB OR "RIB". THE DIE MAY BE DRIVEN BY HAND OR WITH A SOCKET IF NECESSARY.

4. INSTALL THE TUBULAR SPEED CLIP (1), P/N 12457174, ONTO THE THREADED LOCATOR POST (2) WITH THE BARBED END (3) OF THE CLIP FACING THE SWITCH PLATE. INSTALL THE TUBULAR SPEED CLIP (1) ONTO THE LOCATOR POST UNTIL THE CLIP BOTTOMS ON THE LOCATOR POST.

5. GLUE TUBULAR SPEED CLIP (1) ONTO LOCATOR POST USING GOODWRENCH INSTANT GEL ADHESIVE, OR EQUIVALENT.

CAUTION:

FRONT SEAT PAN CONTAINS FIBERGLASS. USE APPROPRIATE SERVICE PRECAUTIONS WHEN WORKING WITH FIBERGLASS (IE. GLOVES, SAFETY GLASSES).

6. USING A 3/8 INCH DRILL BIT, DRILL OUT THE UPPER REARWARD LOCATOR HOLE (4) IN THE SEAT PAN.

7. REINSTALL THE SEAT SWITCHES TO SWITCH PLATE.

8. REINSTALL THE SWITCH PLATE TO THE SEAT PAN. REFER TO "SEAT CUSHION AND COVER REPLACEMENT" PROCEDURE ON PAGE 10-10-6 OF THE 1997 SERVICE MANUAL.

HORIZONTAL SEAT DRIVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE

REMOVAL PROCEDURE:

(NUMBERS IN PARENTHESIS IN THE STEPS BELOW REFER TO CALLOUTS IN FIGURE 1)

1. CHECK FOR LOOSENESS OF SEAT-TO-FLOOR PAN ATTACHING BOLTS. IF LOOSENESS IS DETECTED, THE BOLTS SHOULD BE LOOSENED AND RETORQUED WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE SEAT WHILE THE BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED. CHECK TO ENSURE THAT THE FRONT ADJUSTER ATTACHMENT HOOKS ARE CORRECTLY ENGAGED TO THE FLOOR PAN. RE-CHECK THE SEAT FOR A ROCKING CONDITION. IF THE CONDITION IS CORRECTED, NO FURTHER REPAIR IS NECESSARY. IF THE CONDITION PERSISTS, PROCEED TO STEP 2.

2. REMOVE THE SEAT ASSEMBLY.

O REMOVE THE OUTBOARD SEAT ADJUSTER-TO-FLOOR PAN BOLT.

O REMOVE THE INBOARD SEAT ADJUSTER-TO-FLOOR PAN BOLT.

O POSITION THE INNER SEAT ADJUSTER RAIL EVEN WITH THE OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER RAIL. THIS POSITION IS APPROXIMATELY 20 MM (3/4 IN.) FORWARD OF FULL REAR SEAT TRAVEL.

O POSITION THE VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT FULLY UP.

O POSITION THE HEADREST FULLY DOWN.

O POSITION THE RECLINER WITHIN APPROXIMATELY FIVE DEGREES OF FULLY FORWARD.

O DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS BELOW THE SEAT.

O ROCK THE SEAT FORWARD.

O REMOVE THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE.

3. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEATS, REMOVE THE FRONT SCREWS FROM THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE BRACKET.

4. REMOVE THE HORIZONTAL NUT CAGE BOLTS (4); TWO PER CAGE, FOUR PER ADJUSTER.

5. REMOVE THE OUTER RAILS (3 AND 6). NOTE THAT THE RAILS ARE DIFFERENT FOR THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND CANNOT BE INTERCHANGED.

6. REMOVE THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE MOTOR AND POSITION SENSORS, IF EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEATS.

7. REMOVE THE HORIZONTAL GEAR BOX NUTS (2 AND 5).

8. SPREAD THE RAILS TO DISENGAGE THE HORIZONTAL MOTOR ASSEMBLY.

9. REMOVE THE DRIVE ASSEMBLY (7) BY PULLING OUT.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE:

1. LUBRICATE THE NYLON BUSHINGS ON THE "L" BRACKET WITH GREASE.

2. ENSURE THE NUT CAGES ARE BOTH BOTTOMED OUT ON THE HORIZONTAL DRIVE HOUSING AND INSERT THE DRIVE.

O IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEATS, SLIDE THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE BRACKET EARS INTO THE HORIZONTAL MOTOR BRACKET.

O INSERT THE LEAD SCREW END INTO THE NYLON BUSHING.

3. BOLT THE HORIZONTAL DRIVE HOUSING TO THE INNER RAIL. TORQUE BOLTS (2) TO 11-18 N.M (8-13 LB FT).

4. SLIDE THE OUTER RAILS (3 AND 6) OVER THE INNER RAILS (1). LINE UP THE HORIZONTAL NUT CAGES WITH THE NUT BRACKETS ON THE OUTER RAILS.

5. INSTALL THE NUT CAGE BOLTS (4). TORQUE TO 11-18 N.M (8-13 LB FT).

6. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEATS, INSTALL THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE BRACKET SCREWS.

7. LUBRICATE THE LEAD SCREW WITH GREASE.

8. DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FROM THE HORIZONTAL DRIVE MOTOR. THIS CONNECTOR HAS A GREEN WIRE AND A BEIGE WIRE. NOTE WHICH WIRE CORRESPONDS TO WHICH CONNECTOR PIN IN THE MOTOR CONNECTOR BODY.

9. POWER THE ADJUSTER FULLY FORWARD BY USING FUSED JUMPERS TO APPLY BATTERY POSITIVE VOLTAGE AT THE BEIGE WIRE PIN OF THE HORIZONTAL DRIVE MOTOR CONNECTOR BODY AND BATTERY GROUND TO THE GREEN WIRE PIN. MAKE SURE THE ADJUSTER BOTTOMS ON THE HOUSING.

10. LOOSEN NUT CAGE BOLTS AND RETORQUE TO 11-18 N.M (8-13 LB FT).

11. POWER THE ADJUSTER BACK TO FULL REARWARD POSITION BY REVERSING THE FUSED JUMPER CONNECTIONS MADE IN STEP 9. ENSURE FRONT END OF INNER RAIL IS EVEN WITH THE FRONT END OF THE OUTER RAIL.

12. INSTALL THE SEAT INTO THE VEHICLE.

O INSTALL THE OUTBOARD RAIL FIRST TO AVOID UNPARALLEL RAILS.

O MAKE SURE THE INBOARD RAIL BOLT HAS A WASHER PRESENT.

13. INSTALL THE ADJUSTER-TO-FLOOR PAN BOLTS. TORQUE ADJUSTER-TO-FLOOR PAN BOLTS TO 42 N.M (31 LB FT).

14. TEST THE OPERATION OF THE POWER SEAT ADJUSTER.

PARTS INFORMATION:

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

12457174 SPEED CLIP

12457175 CLIP FASTENER

25678843 ACTUATOR, DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER, W/MEMORY

25678844 ACTUATOR, ALL PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER, W/O MEMORY

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

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

C6040 SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY USE PUBLISHED REPAIR LH (BUCKET SEATS) LABOR OPERATION TIME

C6041 SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY USE PUBLISHED REPAIR RH (BUCKET SEATS) LABOR OPERATION TIME

ADD: FOR BOTH SIDES 0.2 HR

C6050 SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY USE PUBLISHED REPAIR LH (SPLIT SEATS) LABOR OPERATION TIME

C6051 SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY USE PUBLISHED REPAIR RH (SPLIT SEATS) LABOR OPERATION TIME

ADD: FOR BOTH SIDES 0.2 HR

C6488 RIGHT SIDE SWITCH PLATE - 0.3 HR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

C6489 LEFT SIDE SWITCH PLATE - 0.3 HR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

ADD: TO MODIFY SWITCH PLATE AND 0.1 HR INSTALL BARREL CLIP - EACH SIDE

FIGURES: 04 ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 2 1. BARREL CLIP 3. BARB

FIGURE 3 1. BARREL CLIP 2. LOCATOR POST

FIGURE 4 4. UPPER REARWARD LOCATOR HOLE

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.