CAMPAIGN: TIMING BELT FAILURE BELT MAY CONTACT BELT COVER

MODELS AFFECTED: 1982 AND 1983 SKYHAWKS EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L OHC ENGINES

General Motors has determined that some 1982-1983 Skyhawks equipped with 1.8L Electronic Fuel Injection/Overhead Cam 4-cylinder engine may have been produced with a cogged timing belt that was inadequately tensioned at time of assembly.

Low tension can allow the timing belt to contact the front cover with resultant noise and/or failure of the internal belt cogs. If several cogs in a row are lost, the engine may not start or run. To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the timing belt and tension the new belt to a higher specification.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are all 1982 Skyhawks equipped with 1.8L EFI/Overhead Cam 4-cylinder engine (Code LH8).

Also, involved are all 1983 Skyhawks equipped with 1.8L EFI/Overhead Cam 4-cylinder engine (Code LH8) built within the following breakpoints:

BEGINNING

PLANT V.I.N UP TO AND INCLUDING

1983 Leeds DK400001 DK429665

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

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.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

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

DEALER MATERIAL

If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following items:

List of all vehicles involved in this campaign in the area of your dealership.

One campaign identification label for each vehicle.

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 the 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 owner names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose 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.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners of vehicles involved in this campaign will be notified by Buick Motor Division (See copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin.).

TRANSFER OF VEHICLE

If a vehicle has been transferred or sold to another location, please forward vehicle information for this vehicle to your Buick Zone Office for handling with the proper dealer.

CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION

Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (D.C.S.) to provide Buick Motor Division with subsequent Buick owner information. By reporting a change of owner name or address of a vehicle in campaign status over the D.C.S., the need to send in an S-866 Form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the D.C.S. Manual under Section 9, Page 9-J01A and B.

PARTS INFORMATION

Timing belt, part number 90122429, is to be obtained from WDDGM.

To ensure this part will be obtained as soon as possible, it should be ordered from WDDGM on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

TECHNICAL PROCEDURE

PART I - BELT TENSION GAGE

Whenever a timing belt is replaced on the subject engine, it must be adjusted when the engine is hot only (thermostat open).

TENSION SPECIFICATIONS

Belt Tension With Engine Hot 150N

The timing belt tension gage, J-26486-A, was an essential tool which Buick dealers received approximately May 1982. Because of the importance of correct belt tensioning, it is imperative all dealers have a gage which is accurately calibrated.

PART II - TIMING BELT R&R PROCEDURE

REMOVAL

1. Loosen generator pivot bolts.

2. Remove power steering belt (if equipped).

3. Remove two (2) upper timing cover bolts.

4. Disconnect canister purge hose and swing aside.

5. Hoist vehicle.

6. Remove right front wheel.

7. Remove inner splash shield.

8. Remove two (2) lower timing cover bolts; leave cover on.

9. Remove air conditioning belt (if equipped).

10. Remove crankshaft pulley.

11. Lower vehicle to just above floor.

12. Remove lower timing cover.

13. Remove coolant reservoir.

14. Remove probe holder.

15. Align timing mark on camshaft gear with mark on camshaft carrier.

Important: Do not turn camshaft. Use only crankshaft nut to turn. Turning the nut on the camshaft directly can damage the camshaft bearings.

16. Loosen water pump bolts and remove timing belt (with timing marks aligned).

INSTALLATION

1. Install new timing belt.

2. Adjust timing belt to specifications using tool J-26486-A. Tool J-33039 is used to adjust the water pump. It can be modified as shown in Figure 1. With gage (tool J-26486-A) installed (Figure 2), tension to within band (between two arrows on perimeter of dial face); identified by 1.8 OHC (see Figure 3).

Adjusting the tension with the gage installed on the belt will ensure an initial over-tensioning with the new belt.

3. Plug the canister purge hose and run engine above idle for at least three (3) minutes to obtain normal engine operation temperature (upper radiator hose hot).

As the new belt takes its set position, a substantial tension loss will occur.

4. After engine has been run, recheck tension with gage on belt to within prescribed band on gage.

If reset of tension is required, it is imperative that gage be removed from belt before the readjustment is performed.

If gage is left on belt during the reset of tension, the reading will be incorrect. In other words, the gage must not be installed during tensioning due to a possible over-tensioning effect.

The timing mark on the camshaft gear and carrier must be aligned during the final tension recheck or reset.

5. Tighten water pump bolts to 24 N.m.

6. Install probe holder.

7. Install timing cover and two upper bolts (not tightened).

8. Raise vehicle.

9. Install crankshaft pulley.

10. Install air conditioning belt (if equipped). Set belt tension to 350N.

11. Install two (2) lower timing cover bolt and tighten.

12. Install inner splash shield.

13. Install right front wheel. Tighten lug nuts to 140 N-M.

14. Lower vehicle.

15. Position and connect canister purge hose.

16. Tighten the two (2) upper timing cover bolts.

17. Install power steering belt (if equipped). Set tension to 450N minimum.

18. Tighten generator pivot bolts to 33 N-m.

PART III

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined herein will require a campaign identification label. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number, the five (5) digit Dealer Code of the dealer performing the campaign service, and the date vehicle was campaigned. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen. When installing label, clean the surface of the fan shroud and apply the campaign label.

DISPOSITION OF REPLACED BELTS

Replaced belts must be held for disposition by Buick contact personnel. Each replaced belt must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which it was removed.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Dealers are to submit each campaigned vehicle as a separate case on the one-line Warranty Document Form S-764. Dealers submitting warranty claims by teletype terminal are to transmit campaign completions as a separate case also.

List the one applicable labor operation.

SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPER. COUNT PART NO. ALLOW. CODE OP. NO. HOURS HOURS MTL.TWG

Replace Timing Belt

Without A/C and P/S 1 90122429 96 V1890 1.0 hr .1 hr

With A/C or P/S 1 90122429 96 V1891 1.2 hr .1 hr

With A/C and P/S 1 90122429 96 V1892 1.4 hr .1 hr

* List current dealer price of belt plus 30%.

** .1 hour for administration.

To assure accurate records of all transactions on this Campaign, it is recommended that campaign repairs for each vehicle be listed on a separate repair order. Other repairs performed to the vehicle may be listed on the same repair order, and warranty cases other than campaigns may be listed on the same warranty document.

Zone authorization is not required.

Dear Buick Owner:

General Motors has determined that some 1982-1983 Skyhawks equipped with 1.8 liter Electronic Fuel Injection/Overhead Cam 4-cylinder engine may have been produced with a cogged timing belt that was inadequately tensioned at time of assembly.

Low tension can allow the timing belt to contact the front cover with resultant noise and/or failure of the internal belt cogs. If several cogs in a row are lost, the engine may not start or run.

To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the timing belt and tension the new belt to a higher specification. This service will be performed at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Buick dealer. Please contact your dealer to arrange a service date. The labor time necessary to perform this replacement is approximately one-and-one-half hours. Please allow additional time for the dealer to process your vehicle. The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid owner 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.

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.