CAMPAIGN: SECONDARY LATCH ASSY (UNEXPECTED HOOD OPENING)

Models: Certain 1991-92 Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster

Subject: SECONDARY HOOD LATCH CORROSION

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1991-92 Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assemblies in these vehicles can corrode causing a very high latch release effort and possibly preventing the hood from latching properly when it is closed.

If the secondary hood latch is not properly engaged and the primary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver, and a vehicle crash without prior warning could result.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install a new secondary hood latch assembly with improved corrosion resistance.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are certain 1991-92 Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- -------- ---------- ---- ----- -------- 1991 Caprice Willow Run W SOP EOP 1991 Caprice Arlington R SOP EOP 1991 Roadmaster Willow Run W SOP EOP 1991 Roadmaster Arlington R SOP EOP 1992 Caprice Willow Run W SOP NW101569 1992 Caprice Arlington R SOP NR101829 1992 Roadmaster Willow Run W SOP NW400256 1992 Roadmaster Arlington R SOP NR422997

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres traveled, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:

Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ------------------- ---------------- 10198163 Secondary Hood Latch Guide 1 10196200 Secondary Hood Latch Assembly 1

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------------------- -------------- 2A Install New Secondary Hood Latch and Guide .4

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. Raise hood.

2. Remove two (2) secondary hood latch to hood inner panel attaching bolts, rotate latch to disengage from rod and remove latch (see View A, page 4).

3. Install new secondary hood latch to rod, position to hood inner panel and install with two (2) attaching bolts. Torque to 10 N.m (78 lb. in.).

4. Remove three (3) secondary latch guide attaching bolts and remove guide from upper inflator support (see View B, page 4).

NOTICE: It is helpful to disconnect the wiring harness clip from the radiator support to improve access to the rear attaching bolts.

5. Position secondary latch guide to upper radiator support, install three (3) attaching bolts and torque to 10 N.m (89 lb. in.). Reconnect wiring clip (removed in step 4) to radiator support.

6. Apply coating of chassis grease (GM #1052497 or equivalent) to primary hood latch pawl and contact areas of hood striker (see Views C and D, page 4).

7. Lower hood to closed position several times to ensure proper operation.

8. Install Campaign Identification Label.

INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1991-92 Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assemblies in these vehicles can corrode causing a very high latch release effort and possibly preventing the hood from latching properly when it is closed.

If the secondary hood latch is not properly engaged and the primary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver, and a vehicle crash without prior warning could result.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install a new secondary hood latch assembly with improved corrosion resistance.

Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

Subsequent to contacting your dealer, further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English), or 1-800-263-7854 (French).

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

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.