CAMPAIGN:STARTER MOTOR PINION STOP

SUBJECT: STARTER MOTOR PINION STOP

MODELS AFFECTED: CERTAIN 1994 SKYLARKS, CENTURYS, REGALS, LESABRES AND PARK AVENUES

IMPORTANT: THIS BULLETIN SUPPLEMENTS INFORMATION IN DCS 94-13, DATED DECEMBER 23, 1993.

General Motors has determined that certain 1994 Buick Skylark, Century, Regal, LeSabre and Park Avenue model vehicles may have improperly heat treated starter motor pinion stop collars. This condition may result in a part failure causing slow engine crank speeds or an engine no start condition.

To prevent these conditions from occurring, dealers are to inspect and repair certain starter motors on vehicles indicated in the vehicles involved section. Starter motors with date codes of N093, N103, N113, N123, N133, N153, and N163 are to be repaired by replacing the pinion stop collar and retaining ring. No repairs are necessary on motors that fall outside of these date codes.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are all 1994 Buick vehicles built within the following "VIN" breakpoints: Through Assembly Engine Plant and Year Plant VIN Code Code Model From Including ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1994 Lansing 3 C Skylark RC261851 RC264449 1994 Lansing M C Skylark RC260550 RC263400 1994 Oklahoma City 4 & M 6 Century R6424800 R6432163 1994 Oshawa M & L 1 Regal R1435735 R1444166 1994 Buick City L H LeSabre RH451921 RH458714 1994 Wentzville L & 1 1 Park Avenue R1627585 R1632784

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.

These listings may contain names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purposes is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to the campaign MUST be held and repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE owners take possession of these vehicles.

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.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory, with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required to complete the campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO). To ensure that these parts are obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2).

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER QUANTITY/VEHICLE ----------- ----------- ---------------- Pinion Stop Collar 1927849 1 as required Retaining Ring 1927848 1 as required

IMPORTANT: GMSPO HAS LIMITED QUANTITIES OF PARTS WHICH ARE IN MERCHANDISED PACKAGES OF 10 PIECES EACH. PLEASE DO NOT OVER ORDER SO THAT GMSPO WILL HAVE PARTS FOR ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

INSPECTION

1. All vehicles within the breakpoints should be inspected to determine the starter motor date codes. The date codes are imprinted on the upper half of a tag located on the motor end of the starter. The tag information is read upside down as viewed from the bottom (see illustration.

2. a. Most vehicles may be inspected by utilizing a mirror, flashlight, and/or use of a pliable material such as modeling clay or similar material to make an impression of the date code. After making an impression, read the code in a mirror.

b. Some vehicles such as 'A' & 'W' with L82 engines may require removal of an oil filter drip pan to gain access to read the date codes.

c. Some vehicles equipped with oil coolers will require starter motor removal to read the date codes per section 6D2 of the service manual or the Electrical Systems Manual.

3. Remove all starters with date codes of N093, N103, N113, N123, N133, N153, & N163 and perform service procedure to replace pinion stop collar. Starter removal instructions in the service manuals section 6D2 or the Electrical Systems Manual should be followed.

IMPORTANT: REMOVE NEGATIVE CABLE FROM BATTERY.

4. Reinstall starter motors per instructions in service manual, section 6D2 or the Electrical Systems Manual.

5. Install campaign identification label on all vehicles inspected and/or serviced.

SERVICE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE PINION STOP COLLAR:

1. With starter motor removed, remove field lead attaching screw, from solenoid terminal.

2. Loosen, but do not remove through bolts in the starter motor assembly. Do not separate the commutator end and frame.

3. Separate the frame with the armature inside from the housing.

4. Remove the thrust collar from the end of the shaft if it is not stuck to the housing.

5. Remove the pinion stop retaining ring first prying the pinion stop collar off the ring. Pry the pinion stop ring off the armature with a small screw driver. Bend ring enough to avoid scratching or damaging armature surface as ring is removed. Discard ring.

6. Remove pinion stop collar from armature shaft. Discard collar.

7. Install new pinion stop collar on armature shaft. Flat side goes towards pinion.

8. Install new retaining ring onto armature shaft and seat it in the shaft groove. Use care not to damage the armature shaft.

9. Install thrust collar onto armature shaft with small flange toward retaining ring. Use two pliers to move pinion stop collar and the thrust collar to snap pinion stop collar over retaining ring.

10. Assemble the frame, armature, and drive assembly into the housing. Ensure the shift lever is engaged with the drive assembly. Ensure the armature shaft is engaged with the housing bearing. Tighten the through bolts.

11. Install starter field lead to solenoid. Return to step 4 of Inspection.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL:

Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label." Each label provides a space to include the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in for periodic servicing by the owner.

Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION:

Use the one appropriate labor operation.

PART FAILED PART FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER OPER COUNT PART NO ALLOW CODE OP NO HRS HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inspect starter motor date code (no parts removed) --- --- --- 96 V8530 0.2 *0.1

Inspect starter where starter requires removal --- --- --- 96 V8531 0.7 *0.1

Inspect date code and replace pinion stop collar 2 1927849 ** 96 V8532 1.2 *0.1

* Campaign Administrative Allowance

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO dealer net price, plus 40%.

IMPORTANT: WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN MUST BE HELD AND SUBMITTED AFTER JANUARY 129 1994.

Dear Buick Owner:

We, at Buick Motor Division, are committed to improving the Buick customer ownership experience. We have discovered a condition that could develop on your vehicle and are writing to you today with our action to resolve this condition.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL FOR:

General Motors has determined that certain 1994 Buick Skylark, Century, Regal, LeSabre, and Park Avenue model vehicles may have improperly heat treated starter motor pinion stop collars. This condition may result in a part failure causing slow engine crank speeds or an engine no start condition.

ACTION:

------ To prevent these conditions from occurring, dealers will inspect and repair starter motors with suspect date codes. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

CONTACTING YOUR BUICK DEALER:

Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for performing this service have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

OWNER REPLY CARD:

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

Buick Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

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.