TAILGATE LATCH RELEASES OVER ROUGH ROAD. GMC Truck GMC Suburban

REVISION: 05/11/95

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD 1994-95 MODEL YEARS, A NEW SERVICE PROCEDURE AND NEWLY RELEASED PARTS INFORMATION. PREVIOUS DIVISIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBERS WERE:

CHEVROLET 93-69-10 GMC TRUCK 93-10-35 GM CANADA 93-10-156 **********************************************************************

SUBJECT: TAILGATE LATCH RELEASES OVER ROUGH ROADS (INSTALL REVISED LATCH ASSEMBLY)

MODELS: 1992-95 CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK C/K PICKUPS

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE TAILGATE LATCH WILL RELEASE WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS. THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TAILGATE LATCHES INTO THE STRIKERS.

CORRECTION:

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, NEW TAILGATE LATCHES HAVE BEEN RELEASED. THESE NEW LATCHES INCORPORATE A REVISED SPRING THAT WILL INSURE PROPER ENGAGEMENT. INSTALL THE LATCH ASSEMBLIES AND CHECK FOR PROPER FIT AND TAILGATE MOVEMENT.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. INSTALL NEW LATCH ASSEMBLIES. REFER TO SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION 10A5-2 FOR DIRECTIONS (FIGURE 1, ITEM 1). 2. CHECK THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT LATCHES CONTACT THE STRIKERS AT THE SAME TIME WHEN CLOSING. PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT THE RIGHT AND LEFT LATCH BOLTS MUST MAKE CONTACT AT THE SAME TIME TO PROVIDE FOR SECURE TAILGATE CLOSURE. 3. CLOSE THE TAILGATE AND TRY TO MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH AT THE UPPER RIGHT HAND AND UPPER LEFT HAND CORNERS. 4. VERIFY THAT THE BODY LINES OF THE TAILGATE AND BED LINE UP PROPERLY. IF NOT, LOOSEN STRIKERS AND MOVE BOTH THE SAME AMOUNT TO ACHIEVE PROPER LINE UP. ENLARGE MOUNTING HOLES IN STRIKERS IF REQUIRED. 5. UPON FINAL INSPECTION, BOTH LATCHES SHOULD ENGAGE THE STRIKERS AT THE SAME TIME; AND THERE SHOULD BE NO MOVEMENT IN THE TAILGATE.

PARTS INFORMATION

P/N DESCRIPTION QUANTITY 12383451 LATCH ASSY, TAILGATE - L.H. 1 12383452 LATCH ASSY, TAILGATE - R.H. 1

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

LABOR OP. DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME B5880 TAILGATE LATCH REPLACE 0.2 HRS.

FIGURES: 1 CAPTIONS: FIGURE 1 - TAILGATE LATCH ASSY INSTALLATION

Object Number: 83168 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.