CREAKING NOISE AT FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR (REINF. PILLAR)

REVISED: 05/05/95

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INFORM "GM OF CANADA" AND "NAES" DEALERS THAT THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

"GM OF CANADA" AND "NAES" DEALERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN.

SUBJECT: CREAKING NOISE AT FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR UPPER DOOR HINGE AREAS (REINFORCE HINGE PILLAR)

MODELS: 1992-1993 AND EARLY 1994 CADILLAC SEVILLES BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINT RU812585

CONDITION:

SOME VEHICLES MAY DEMONSTRATE A CREAKING NOISE IN THE AREA OF THE UPPER DOOR HINGE WHEN THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED AGAINST THE UPPER DOOR HINGE STOPS.

CAUSE:

THE CREAKING NOISE MAY BE CAUSED BY METAL INTERFERENCE AT THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT TO THE WINDSHIELD LOWER FRAME. REFER TO FIGURE 1 - LEFT SIDE SHOWN, RIGHT SIDE SIMILAR.

CORRECTION:

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION PERFORM THE FOLLOWING REPAIR PROCEDURE:

1. REMOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE. REFER TO SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL, SECTION 8C-11.

2. REMOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPPER TRIM. REFER TO SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL, SECTION 8C-6.

3. REMOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. REFER TO SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL, SECTION 8C-15.

4. REMOVE THE PARK BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. REFER TO SERVICE INFORMATION MANUAL, SECTION 5-19.

5. REMOVE THE BODY HINGE PILLAR TIE BAR WITH CENTER BRACE.

6. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE ACOUSTIC PATCH FROM THE ACCESS HOLE TO THE UPPER HINGE ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNERS.

7. WITH YOUR FINGERTIPS INSIDE THE ACCESS HOLE TO THE UPPER HINGE AREA, ROCK THE DOOR AGAINST THE HINGE STOP WHILE FEELING FOR MOVEMENT AT THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT. REFER TO FIGURE 1, SECTION A. THE FOLLOWING STEPS WILL LOCATE THE POINTS FOR PLUG WELDS TO ELIMINATE THE MOVEMENT OF THE HINGE REINFORCEMENT AGAINST THE LOWER WINDSHIELD FRAME.

8. REFER TO FIGURE 2. AT THE LEFT FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNER, MEASURE 30 MM (1-1/8") FORWARD FROM THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WELD STUD LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE UPPER HINGE ACCESS HOLE. MARK THIS LOCATION ON THE LOWER EDGE OF THE HINGE OPENING AS A REFERENCE POINT FOR STEP 9.

9. HOLDING A POCKET SCALE INSIDE THE UPPER HINGE ACCESS HOLE, MEASURE THE DISTANCE FROM THE REFERENCE POINT (FROM STEP 8) ON THE LOWER EDGE OF THE UPPER HINGE ACCESS HOLE TO THE HINGE REINFORCEMENT (DIMENSION A).

10. SUBTRACT 12.5 MM (1/2") FROM DIMENSION A TO DETERMINE THE UP AND DOWN LOCATION OF THE HINGE REINFORCEMENT RELATIVE TO THE LOWER EDGE OF THE ACCESS HOLE (DIMENSION B). REFER TO FIGURE 2A.

11. MEASURE DOWNWARD FROM THE REFERENCE POINT (STEP 8) MARKED ON THE LOWER EDGE OF THE HINGE ACCESS HOLE BY THE DISTANCE DETERMINED IN STEP 10 (DIMENSION B). MARK THIS SPOT FOR THE DRILLING OPERATION IN STEP 12.

12. DRILL A 1/2" HOLE (12.5 MM) THROUGH TWO THICKNESSES OF METAL (THE FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNER PANEL AND THE LOWER WINDSHIELD FRAME) BEING CAREFUL NOT TO DRILL THROUGH THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT.

NOTE: PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, SUNROOF DRAIN HOSES, AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR FROM DAMAGE BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING PLUG WELDING PROCEDURE.

13. WITH A MIG WELDER, PERFORM A PLUG WELD REPAIR THROUGH THE 1/2" HOLE, STARTING AT THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT BRIDGING THE GAP TO THE LOWER WINDSHIELD FRAME AND TO THE FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNER PANEL. REFER TO FIGURE 2B.

14. COAT THE WELDED AREA WITH A ZINC-RICH PRIMER.

15. AT THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNER, MEASURE 50 MM (2") AND 70 MM (2-3/4") FORWARD FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF THE 10 X 20 MM SLOT (LOCATED REARWARD OF THE UPPER HINGE ACCESS HOLE) AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 3. MARK THESE TWO POINTS AS REFERENCE POINTS ON THE LOWER EDGE OF THE HINGE ACCESS HOLE.

16. WITH A POCKET SCALE INSIDE THE UPPER HINGE ACCESS HOLE, MEASURE THE DISTANCE FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF THE ACCESS HOLE TO THE HINGE REINFORCEMENT (DIMENSION A).

17. SUBTRACT 12.5 MM (1/2") FROM DIMENSION A AND MEASURE THAT DISTANCE (DIMENSION B) DOWN FROM THE TWO REFERENCE POINTS ON THE LOWER EDGE OF THE HINGE ACCESS HOLE. MARK THESE TWO POINTS FOR STEP 18.

18. DRILL TWO 10 MM HOLES (3/8") AT THE TWO POINTS LOCATED IN STEP 17 (THROUGH TWO THICKNESSES OF METAL) BEING CAREFUL NOT TO DRILL THROUGH THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT. REFER TO FIGURE 3A.

19. PLUG WELD THESE TWO HOLES STARTING AT THE UPPER HINGE REINFORCEMENT AND BRIDGING THE GAP TO THE LOWER WINDSHIELD FRAME AND THE FRONT BODY HINGE PILLAR INNER. REFER TO FIGURE 3B.

20. COAT THE WELDED AREAS WITH A ZINC-RICH PRIMER.

21. REINSTALL REMOVED COMPONENTS (FROM STEPS 1-6).

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY USE LABOR OPERATION T6760 AT 5.3 HOURS.

FIGURES: 3

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 1993 CADILLAC MOTOR CAR DIVISION, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.