LEAK AT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD OR A-PILLAR BELOW INSTRUMENT

SUBJECT: LEAK AT DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD OR A-PILLAR BELOW INSTRUMENT PANEL (RESEAL ROOF TO B-PILLAR SURFACE)

MODELS: 1998 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K EXTENDED CAB PICKUP MODELS

BUILT PRIOR TO THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:

MAKE VIN CHEVROLET WR135088 GMC WR513708

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT WATER DRIPPING FROM THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD OR WATER LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE MOLDINGS AT THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA BELOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

CAUSE:

CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO A VOID IN THE SEALER ABOVE THE B-PILLAR. THIS MAY ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE QUARTER PANEL AT THE TOP. BECAUSE THE REAR OF THIS CHANNEL IS HIGHER THAN THE FRONT, THIS ALLOWS WATER TO CHANNEL FORWARD AND COME OUT AT THE ABOVE LOCATIONS.

CORRECTION:

RESEAL THE ROOF TO B-PILLAR SURFACE USING THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PROCEDURE.

SERVICE PROCEDURE -

FIGURES 1 AND 2 SHOW WHERE WATER MAY ENTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

1. REMOVE THE A-PILLAR MOLDING. YOU DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE MOLDING FROM THE IP (FIGURE 3).

2. RUN WATER OVER THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT THE FRONT OF THE DITCH MOLDING AREA. BECAUSE IT TAKES THE WATER ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES TO TRAVEL, CONTINUE TO RUN WATER IN THIS AREA FOR AT LEAST THAT AMOUNT OF TIME (FIGURE 2).

3. WITH ONE PERSON RUNNING THE WATER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, HAVE AN ASSISTANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAREFULLY PULL BACK THE CORNER OF THE HEADLINER AND WATCH FOR A WATER DRIP (FIGURE 4).

4. DRY THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. PLACE TAPE OVER THE DITCH MOLDING (FIGURE 6).

5. RUN WATER IN THE SAME MANNER AS STEP 2.

6. INSPECT FOR WATER IN THE SAME MANNER AS STEP 3. IF NO LEAK IS FOUND, THEN THIS IS THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK.

7. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE LEAK, APPLY 3M(R) FLEXICLEAR CLEAR BODY SEALER, OR EQUIVALENT, TO THE JOINT. APPLY THE SEALER INTO CRACKS OR VOIDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BESIDE AND UNDER THE MOLDING FOR AT LEAST 1 1/2 INCHES (38 MM) REARWARD. MAKE SURE THAT THE FRONT EDGE IS COMPLETELY SEALED. THIS OPERATION CAN BE DONE WITHOUT REMOVING THE MOLDING (FIGURE 7).

IMPORTANT: THIS SEALER TURNS WHITE WHEN CONTACTED WITH WATER OR HUMIDITY PRIOR TO COMPLETELY DRYING. IF THE SEALER TURNS WHITE, YOU MAY NEED TO APPLY SOME TOUCH-UP PAINT.

8. USING NAPTHA, CLEAN ANY EXCESS SEALER FROM THE BODY.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME

B7681 MOLDING, ROOF TO 0.3 HR BODY SIDE - REPLACE

ADD: PERFORM WATERLEAK 0.2 HR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR

ADD: COLORCOAT SILICONE 0.1 HR

FIGURES: 07 CAPTIONS: FIG 1 - WATER ENTRY POINT BETWEEN MOLDINGS AT INSTRUMENT PANEL FIG 2 - WATER ENTRY POINT BETWEEN MOLDINGS BELOW INSTRUMENT PANEL FIG 3 - REMOVING A PILLAR MOLDING FIG 4 - RUNNING WATER INTO CHANNEL FIG 5 - WATCHING FOR WATER DRIP AT HEADLINER FIG 6 - PLACING TAPE OVER DITCH JOINT AREA FIG 7 - APPLYING CLEAR SEALER TO DITCH JOINT AREA

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 1998 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.