END GATE LATCH RATTLE-INSTALL REVISED STRIKER ASSEMBLY. Chevrolet Blazer

SUBJECT: END GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER ASSEMBLY)

MODELS: 1983-94 CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK S/T UTILITY MODELS 1991-94 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA

*********************************************************** THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD THE 1993-94 MODEL YEARS AND TO MODIFY THE SERVICE PROCEDURE. PREVIOUS DIVISIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBERS WERE:

CHEVROLET 92- 153-10 GMC TRUCK 92- 2-216 GM OF CANADA 92- 10-68 OLDSMOBILE 92- T-77 ***********************************************************

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR END GATE LATCH RATTLES.

CAUSE:

ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION IS THE HEAD OF THE STRIKER CONTACTING THE SHEET METAL AT THE END GATE LATCH FLANGE. ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE IS THE END GATE LATCH FORK BOLTS MAKING METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT WITH THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSING A RATTLE.

CORRECTION:

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, IT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE SOME OF THE SHEET METAL FROM THE END GATE LATCH FLANGES. THIS WILL PREVENT THE HEAD OF THE STRIKER FROM CONTACTING THE SHEET METAL AND CREATE A LARGER POCKET WHEN THE END GATE IS CLOSED. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO INSTALL A NEW STRIKER ASSEMBLY THAT HAS A FULL URETHANE SLEEVE OVER THE STRIKER POST. THE URETHANE SLEEVE PREVENTS METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT AND MAY ELIMINATE THE RATTLE.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. OPEN THE END GATE TO THE HORIZONTAL POSITION. 2. REMOVE THE TRIM PANEL FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE IN SECTION 10A5 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL. 3. REMOVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MM (5/64 INCH) OF SHEET METAL FROM THE END GATE LATCH FLANGES (FIGURE 1, A). 4. REPAINT THE EXPOSED METAL ON THE FLANGE AREA TO PREVENT CORROSION. BODY-COLOR OR BLACK PAINT IS ACCEPTABLE. 5. USE A GREASE PENCIL TO MARK AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF EACH WASHER (FIGURE 2, A) LOCATED BEHIND THE STRIKERS. 6. UNSCREW AND REMOVE THE EXISTING STRIKER ASSEMBLIES FROM THE VEHICLE (FIGURE 2, B). 7. INSTALL ONE NEW STRIKER (P/N 15966638) AND ONE 1 MM THICK WASHER, POSITIONING THEM SO THAT THE END GATE LATCH RESTS COMPLETELY ON THE URETHANE STRIKER SLEEVE. THE END GATE SHOULD SEAL COMPLETELY WITH A MINIMUM OF CLOSING EFFORT.

IMPORTANT: IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ADD A SECOND 1 MM THICK WASHER TO THE STRIKER TO ENSURE THAT THE HEAD OF THE STRIKER DOES NOT CONTACT THE LATCH.

8. INSTALL THE OTHER NEW STRIKER IN THE SAME MANNER.

IMPORTANT: EACH STRIKER SHOULD BE MOVED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT. THE STRIKERS MUST EXHIBIT AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE SEAL.

9. INSPECT THE SLIDING WEDGES LOCATED IN THE END GATE OPENING TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THEIR TRAVEL DISTANCE WHEN THE END GATE IS CLOSED. 10. READJUST THE STRIKERS IF THE WEDGES ARE NOT LOCATED AS SPECIFIED OR IF THE END GATE IS NOT FLUSH. 11. TORQUE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLIES TO 63 N.M (47 LBS. FT.). 12. CHECK THE WINDOW LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR PROPER ADJUSTMENT BY REFERRING TO SECTION 10A5 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.

IMPORTANT: TO PREVENT FURTHER SQUEAKS AND RATTLES IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE LIFTGLASS FIRMLY COMPRESS THE WEATHERSTRIP.

13. REINSTALL THE TRIM PANEL BY REFERRING TO SECTION 10A5 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL. 14. CLOSE THE END GATE.

PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION QTY 15966638 STRIKER ASSEMBLY 2

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OP DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME B5700 TAILGATE/LIFTGATE ASSEMBLY-ALIGN 0.2 HRS B5820 STRIKER AND/OR SUPPORT-REPLACE (RH) 0.2 HRS B5821 STRIKER AND/OR SUPPORT-REPLACE (LH) 0.2 HRS

FIGURES: 2

CAPTIONS: FIGURE 1 - END GATE ASSEMBLY A) END GATE LATCH FLANGE

FIGURE 2 - END GATE STRIKER ASSEMBLY ITEM A: WASHER ITEM B: END GATE STRIKER

Object Number: 83221 Size: FS

Object Number: 81315 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.