DUTCH DOOR WATER LEAK AT CENTER WEATHER STRIP. Chevrolet Astro

SUBJECT: DUTCH DOOR WATER LEAK AT CENTER WEATHERSTRIP (INSTALL NEW GARNISH MOLDING AND SHIM)

MODELS: 1992-94 CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK M/L VANS WITH RPO E54

SHIMS AND REVISED GARNISH MOLDINGS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INSTALLED IN PRODUCTION VEHICLES. REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING CHART FOR SPECIFIC VIN BREAKPOINTS:

GMC CHEVROLET SHIM RB502146 RB105463 REVISED MOLDING RB541904 RB206312

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WATER LEAKS AT THE CENTER TOP OF THE REAR PRIMARY WEATHERSTRIP. FOR WATER LEAKS AT A LOCATION OTHER THAN THE CENTER OF THE WEATHERSTRIP, SEE BULLETIN NUMBER 361501.

CAUSE:

THE METAL FLANGE IN THIS AREA MAY NOT BE THICK ENOUGH TO PROPERLY ALLOW THE WEATHERSTRIP TO ADHERE TO IT, OR THE LIFTGATE INTERIOR GARNISH MOLDING MAY BE PUSHING THE WEATHERSTRIP DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF SEATING ON THE LIFTGATE FRAME.

CORRECTION:

TO REPAIR THIS CONDITION, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE INTERIOR GARNISH MOLDING AND ADD A SHIM NEAR THE CENTER TOP OF THE LIFTGATE FLANGE. THE SHIM WILL TAKE UP THE SLACK AT THE CENTERLINE OF THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING THE WEATHERSTRIP TO ADHERE PROPERLY. THE NEW GARNISH MOLDING HAS A REVISED TRIM LINE WHICH WILL ELIMINATE ANY INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOLDING AND THE WEATHERSTRIP. THE SERVICE PROCEDURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

TO ADD SHIM:

1. REMOVE THE UPPER D-RING MOLDING AND DISCONNECT THE TOP CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE OPENING WEATHERSTRIP USING 3M RELEASE AGENT (OR EQUIVALENT) TO BREAK THE BOND OF THE WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE. 2. ATTACH THE SHIM AT THE TOP CENTER OF THE METAL LIFTGATE OPENING FLANGE. THE SHIM SHOULD BE POSITIONED ON THE FORWARD SIDE OF THE FLANGE (FIGURE 1:A). THE SHIM SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 146MM X 12.7MM X 3MM, MADE FROM AN ABS MATERIAL OR EQUIVALENT, AND ADHERED WITH 3M WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE OR EQUIVALENT. 3. RECONNECT THE WEATHERSTRIP TO THE FLANGE USING 3M WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE OR EQUIVALENT. 4. REINSTALL THE UPPER D-RING MOLDING.

TO REPLACE GARNISH MOLDING:

1. AT THE LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING, REMOVE THE INTERIOR HANDLE SCREW COVERS (FIGURE 2:A). 2. REMOVE THE SCREWS WHICH SECURE THE LIFTGATE HANDLE (FIGURE 2:B). 3. REMOVE THE LIFTGATE HANDLE (FIGURE 2:C) AND ESCUTCHEON (FIGURE 2:D). 4. REMOVE THE SCREWS WHICH SECURE THE LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING (FIGURE 2:E) TO THE LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY (FIGURE 2:F), AND REMOVE THE MOLDING. 5. INSTALL THE NEW LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING, TIGHTENING THE GARNISH MOLDING SCREWS TO 1.4 N.M (12 LBS. IN.). 6. REINSTALL THE LIFTGATE HANDLE AND ESCUTCHEON. 7. REINSTALL THE SCREWS WHICH SECURE THE LIFTGATE HANDLE AND TIGHTEN TO 6 N.M (53 LBS. IN.). 8. REINSTALL THE INTERIOR HANDLE SCREW COVERS.

SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION QTY

15992460 LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING-GRAY (YC7 ONLY) 1 15992461 LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING-BEIGE (YC7 ONLY) 1 15992457 LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING-GRAY 1 (PAINT TO MATCH-W/O YC7) 12345097 3M WEATHERSTRIP ADHESIVE AS NEEDED (3M 051135-08008)

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO ON 9/5/94.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OP DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME C1337 LIFTGATE WEATHERSTRIP - ALIGN OR REPLACE USE PUBLISHED (TO BE USED WHEN ADDING SHIM) LABOR OPERATION C4870 MOLDING, LIFTGATE GARNISH (REPLACE) TIME

FIGURES: 2

CAPTIONS: FIGURE 1 - DUTCH DOOR LIFTGATE OPENING FIGURE 2 - INTERIOR LIFTGATE GARNISH MOLDING

Object Number: 82885 Size: FS

Object Number: 82884 Size: FS

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.