CRACKED SLIDING DOOR (INSTALL REINFORCEMENT)

SUBJECT: CRACKED SLIDING DOOR PANELS (INSTALL REINFORCEMENT PLATE)

MODELS: 1989-91 CHEVROLET AND GMC G VANS WITH AU3 SLIDING SIDE DOOR

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS, PRIMARILY THOSE OF VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED FREQUENT CYCLING OF THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR (I.E. DELIVERY VANS, FLEET VEHICLES, ETC.), MAY COMMENT OF CRACKS IN THE SLIDING DOOR PANEL. THESE CRACKS FORM ALONG THE REAR EDGE OF THE DOOR WHICH HOUSES THE LATCH MECHANISM.

CAUSE:

THE REASON FOR THE DOOR CRACKING MAY BE THAT THE DOOR HAS SEAL CONTACT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. AFTER REPEATED USAGE OF THE SLIDING DOOR, THE CURVATURE OF THE DOOR ALONG THE VERTICAL REAR EDGE FLATTENS OUT, CAUSING THE DOOR TO GAP AWAY FROM THE UPPER HEADER AND THE LOWER SILL. THE LOAD IS APPLIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR DUE TO THE STRIKER PRESSURE PUSHING THE DOOR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CRACKS APPEAR TO START AT THE DOOR SEAL MOUNTING HOLE, THEN GO INWARD HORIZONTALLY TO THE LATCH. ONCE THE BREAK ENLARGES, THE STRESS LOADS MOVE TOWARD THE OUTER PANEL.

CORRECTION:

TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION, A REINFORCEMENT PLATE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND MUST BE MIG WELDED OR RIVETED EXTERNALLY TO THE SLIDING DOOR VERTICAL REAR EDGE LATCH AREA.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. WELD THE EXISTING CRACKS. 2. GRIND THE ABOVE WELDS AS REQUIRED TO ENSURE A GOOD FIT. 3. ATTACH THE REINFORCEMENT TO THE DOOR USING THREE LOCK SCREWS. 4. HAND FIT THE REINFORCEMENT PANEL TO THE DOOR AS NEEDED. 5. WELD THE UPPER AND LOWER CORNERS OF THE REINFORCEMENT TO THE DOOR. 6. PUDDLE OR MIG WELD THE THRU HOLES IN REINFORCEMENT PLATE.

SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION

P/N DESCRIPTION QTY

15699842 REINFORCEMENT PANEL 1

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OP DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME A9840 PANEL, SLIDING USE PUBLISHED DOOR INNER-REPAIR LABOR OPERATION TIME

FIGURES: 1

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.

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