SPECIAL POLICY: TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF POWER STRG.-COLD

MODEL: 1982-1984 CIMARRON AND 1985 DE VILLE, FLEETWOOD AND LIMOUSINE

General Motors has determined that some 1982 through 1994 Cadillac Cimarron and 1985 De Ville, Fleetwood and Limousine models equipped with power steering may exhibit a temporary reduction of power steering assist when the vehicle is started cold. After a short period of engine operation, full assist is restored.

SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT

This special policy covers the condition described above for a period of five (5) years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service. Correction of this condition will consist of installation of a seal service kit. This "Special Policy Adjustment Bulletin" should be filed in the three ring binder previously furnished to dealers by General Motors.

SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

This special policy will be announced to owners by a general press release (a representative copy of the press release is included with this bulletin).

VEHICLES INVOLVED

All 1982 through 1984 Cadillac Cimarron and all 1985 Cadillac De Ville, Fleetwood and Limousine models are eligible for this Special Policy Adjustment. However, owners of affected vehicles will not receive letters from Cadillac Motor Car Division.

PARTS INFORMATION

The parts required to complete this Special Policy Adjustment should be obtained from the Parts Distribution Centers of General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). A description is provided below:

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER QUANTITY/VEHICLE ----------- ----------- ----------------- Seal Service Kit 26010340 1

If there is difficulty obtaining these parts using normal ordering procedures, dealers may place a C.I.O. using advise Code "2" with no special instruction code. The parts may also be ordered on a V.I.P. order; however, unless prior zone approval is obtained, dealers will be required to absorb any surcharge involved under the V.I.P. system.

If any problems are encountered in obtaining these parts, please follow the three-step procedure as outlined in the GM Parts Policy & Procedure Manual, Section IV, pages 34 and 35, August 1986 Edition.

NOTE: A small quantity of Seal Service Kits will be pre-shipped along with a service procedure video tape and all necessary special tools on a no charge basis. Aditional Seal Service Kits, as required, are to be ordered through GMSPO in the normal manner. Special tools to be shipped to each dealer are as follows:

J-37090 Pinion and Valve Ring Protector J-29822 Pinion Seal Installer J-29810 Stub Shaft Seal Protector

SERVICE PROCEDURE

See the Instruction Sheet attached to this bulletin for installation of the Seal Service Kit.

NOTE: In the unlikely event the Seal Service Kit does not correct the condition, installation of a replacement gear assembly may be necessary. PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM YOUR ZONE OFFICE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT GEAR ASSEMBLY. Order parts from the appropriate Service Parts Catalog and follow the service procedure in the applicable Service Information Manual.

RETURN OF STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLIES

To assure proper payment for work performed when steering gear assemblies are replaced under this special policy program, the following MUST be supplied with the returned assemblies:

A copy of the repair order including the VIN and the Labor Operation performed.

The dealer code of the dealer performing the service.

Refer to General Motors Parts Information Bulletin IB No. 87-161 and IB No. 86-117 for further shipping instructions. Steering gear assemblies returned for reasons other than this special policy need not include the above information.

CREDIT

Credit will be issued upon receipt of a properly prepared warranty claim which includes information from one of the following Labor Operations:

Failure Part Parts Labor Labor Description Code Number Allowance Operation Hours ----------- ------- ------ --------- --------- ----- Install Seal Service Kit 95 26010340 ** T1292 3.1 (1982-1984 Cimarron)

Install Seal Service Kit 95 26010340 ** T1292 2.8 (1985 De Ville, Fleetwood and Limousine)

Replace Steering Gear 95 26008034 ** T1302* 2.1 Assembly (1982-1984 Cimarron)

Replace Steering Gear 95 26008034 ** T1302* 1.8 Assembly (1985 De Ville, Fleetwood and Limousine)

* This "T" Operation is only to be used if the Seal Service Kit does not correct the condition. PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM YOUR ZONE OFFICE WILL BE REQUIRED.

* *The parts allowance (including power steering fluid) should be the total of the current GMSPO Net plus 30% for the part(s) required for this repair.

OWNER REIMBURSEMENTS FOR PREVIOUSLY INCURRED EXPENSES

Consideration should be given to owners of 1982 through 1984 Cimarron and 1985 De Ville, Fleetwood and Limousine models who previously paid for repairs covered by this Special Policy Adjustment. In the event an owner requests reimbursement, the dealer should obtain the owner's original paid receipts or invoices to verify the expense. Owners should be advised to retain copies of these documents for their personal records before surrendering the originals.

The dealer is to advise the owner that the invoices will be reviewed by a Cadillac Zone Representative and that the owner will be advised as quickly as possible of the amount that will be reimbursed. When a request is approved, the dealer is requested to issue the owner a reimbursement check.

Dealers will be credited for this reimbursement through the submittal of a Warranty Claim (to be submitted as one net amount with zone approval) as detailed below:

Failure Labor Labor Code Operation Hours SUB/MAT/TOW ---- --------- ----- ----------- 95 T1303 0 SXX.XX

PRESS RELEASE IMMEDIATELY, JANUARY 1988

DETROIT -- GENERAL MOTORS IS MAKING AVAILABLE A SPECIAL POLICY OF FIVE YEARS OR 50,000 MILES TO COVER A TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST ON SOME 4.6 MILLION GM FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE CARS PRODUCED BETWEEN 1982 AND 1985.

SOME OF THE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER STEERING ASSIST UPON FIRST STARTING THE CAR, PRIMARILY IN COLDWEATHER. ONCE THE SYSTEM WARM UP -- USUALLY IN ONE OR TWO MINUTES -- NORMAL POWER STEERING ASSIST IS RESTORED. THE PHENOMENON DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AFTER WARMUP.

GM DEALERS WILL REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE POWER STEERING SYSTEMS THAT EXHIBIT THE PROBLEM FOR FIVE YEARS OR 50,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. GM WILL REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO IN THE PAST PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED WITHIN THE TIME AND MILEAGE LIMITS OF THE SPECIAL POLICY, PROVIDED THEY PRESENT PROPER RECEIPTS TO THEIR DEALER.

SPECIFIC MODELS INCLUDED ARE AS FOLLOWS :

1982-1984 BUICK SKYHAWK, SKYLARK AND CENTURY; CADILLAC CIMARRON; CHEVROLET CAVALIER, CITATION AND CELEBRITY; OLDSMOBILE FIRENZA, OMEGA AND CUTLASS CIERA; AND PONTIAC SUNBIRD, PHOENIX AND 6000 MODELS.

1985 BUICK ELECTRA; CADILLAC DE VILLE, FLEETWOOD, LIMOUSINE AND OLDSMOBILE NINETY-EIGHT MODELS.

INSTRUCTION SHEET

FOR EFFECTIVE REPAIR, USE ALL PARTS IN KIT REGARDLESS OF ORIGINAL CONDITION.

SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLING "SPECIAL" VALVE BODY RINGS ON RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLIES WITH HARD STEERING ON INITIAL START-UP

READ INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETELY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING.

Some complaints about the power steering system on initial start up may be reported as:

Reduced power steering assist when parking. Increased steering effort.

For further information, refer to the "Steering Diagnosis" section in vehicle service manual.

Tools Required:

J 37090 Pinion and Valve Ring Protector J 29822 Pinion Seal Installer J 29810 Stub Shaft Seal Protector

A. Remove rack and pinion assembly from car.

B. Valve removal:

1. Remove adjuster plug lock nut from adjuster plug.

2. Remove adjuster plug from housing.

3. Remove adjuster spring, rack bearing and 0-ring if required.

4. Drain power steering fluid from gear. (Rotate stub shaft allowing rack to travel corner to corner for removal.)

5. Remove retaining ring from housing.

6. Remove dust cover from housing.

7. While holding the stub shaft, remove lock nut from pinion.

Important

If stub shaft is not held, damage to the pinion teeth will occur.

8. With gear centered, mark location of stub shaft flat or notch on housing and measure distance "A" indicated in Figure 3 for your specific vehicle; this will aid in proper reassembly.

Important

DO NOT hammer or pound on pinion and valve assembly, this could cause damage or loosen the drive pin.

9. Use an arbor press to press on threaded end of pinion until it is possible to remove the pinion and valve assembly from housing. Just before removal of pinion and valve assembly from housing, mark second location of stub shaft flat or notch on housing. The second mark is used to position flat or notch prior to reassembly.

10. Remove stub shaft dust seal, stub shaft seal, stub shaft bearing annulus assembly, pinion and valve assembly, with spool shaft retaining ring, and valve body rings attached.

11. Remove valve body rings from pinion and valve assembly.

Important

Use care when removing rings from valve assembly to prevent damage to valve assembly.

12. Thoroughly clean valve assembly ring grooves.

Inspect

Inspect pinion and valve assembly for nicks or loose drive pin. If a loose drive pin is found, replace the gear assembly.

C. Install new split rings onto the valve assembly as follows:

Important

Valve assemblies and housings are NOT interchangeable. The same valve assembly MUST be reinstalled or rack and pinion assembly must be replaced.

Important

Apply a liberal quantity of grease supplied in kit, in each ring groove and to new valve body rings wben installed to hold rings in position. (See Figure 7.)

1. Install new valve body rings to pinion and valve assembly. (Care must be taken not to cut rings at installation.)

2. Place pinion and valve assembly into clear pinion and valve assembly ring protector J 37090. (Be sure to use only the clear protector.) Allow to set for approximately three minutes while continuing installation preparation. This allows the valve rings to be properly sized.

3. Position valve assembly i nprotector so that valve body is flush with bottom of clear protector. (See Figure 8.)

Inspect

Inspect valve body rings for cuts, nicks or other damage, proper seating of rings in grooves and engagement of split tabs.

4. Rack must be centered in housing (See Figure 3 on page 2.)

5. Wipe housing bore clean of any foreign material.

Important

Apply a liberal quantity of grease to the valve housing bore. Be sure to fill grooves with grease. This will ease reassembly of valve into housing.

Inspect

Inspect stub shaft bearing annulus for flatness and damage. Clean before reassembly.

6. Align stub shaft flat or notch with second mark on housing made during disassembly. (See step 9 on page 2.) Install pinion and valve assembly with spool shaft retaining ring, and valve body rings included, into housing using J 37090 to prevent damage to valve rings during assembly.

Important

Set pinion and valve assembly onto housing using J 37090. Use J 29822 pinion seal installer to push assembly into housing bore. DO NOT hammer or use excessive force. If pinion and valve assembly does not fully seat in housing, check to be sure valve body rings are not binding in housing bore. Check rings for cuts or damage. Repeat installation steps 1 through 5. If pinion and valve assembly will not align properly in housing bore, replace rack and pinion assembly.

Inspect

When pinion and valve assembly is fully seated, flat or notch in stub shaft and first mark on housing must line up while the rack is centered in the housing. Refer to measurement "A" to verify proper rack position. (See Figure 3.)

7. While holding the stub shaft, thread lock nut onto pinion and torque to 35 N-m (26 Lbs. Ft.).

Important

If the stub is not held, damage to the pinion teeth will occur.

8. Install dust cover to housing.

9. Install stub shaft bearing annulus onto stub shaft.

10. Place seal protector J29810 onto stub shaft.

11. Install stub shaft seal and stub shaft dust seal over protector and into housing. (Apply a small quantity of grease between seals and on top of dust seal.)

12. Install retaining ring into groove in housing.

13. Coat rack bearing, adjuster spring and adjuster plug with lithium base grease and install in housing. (See Figure 14.)

Adjust

With rack centered in the housing, turn adjuster plug clockwise until it bottoms in the housing, then back off 50 DEG to 70 DEG (approx. one flat). Check torque on pinion. Maximum pinion preload torque is 1.8 N.m (16 Lbs. In.).

14. Install adjuster plug lock nut to adjuster plug. Tighten firmly against housing while holding adjuster plug stationary.

15. Install rack and pinion assembly into car. (Use appropriate service manual.)

Important

Flush power steering system (hoses, reservoir and cooler lines) with power steering fluid - GM Part #1050017 (or equivalent meeting GM Specification #"85010). Disconnect return line at pump reservoir. (Refer to bleeding procedure in vehicle service manual.) Be sure pump reservoir fluid level is maintained during the flush procedure.

16. Reconnect return line at pump reservoir.

17. Fill with power steering fluid.

18. Bleed air from system.

Inspect

Inspect for leaks.

19. Check toe angle and reset if necessary.

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.