STEERING COLUMN SQUEAK WHEN TURNING

SUBJECT: STEERING COLUMN SQUEAK WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL DURING HIGH AMBIENT INTERIOR TEMPERATURES (LUBRICATE LOWER STEERING COLUMN BUSHING)

MODELS: 1996-97 GEO PRIZM

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AMBIENT INTERIOR TEMPERATURE IS VERY WARM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, A SQUEAK MAY BE HEARD ORIGINATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

CAUSE:

CONTAMINATED GREASE FROM A SUPPLIER MAY CAUSE THE BUSHING TO SQUEAK AT ELEVATED VEHICLE INTERIOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.

CORRECTION:

1. MOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TO THE FULL REARWARD POSITION.

2. REMOVE THE LEFT HAND KICK PAD TO GAIN ACCESS TO A KNEE BOLSTER RETAINING SCREW.

3. REMOVE THE HOOD LATCH RELEASE LEVER.

4. REMOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KNEE BOLSTER UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AS DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE MANUAL.

5. REMOVE THE LEFT SIDE LOWER VENTILATION DUCT AS SPECIFIED IN THE SERVICE MANUAL.

6. THIS REPAIR REQUIRES A NEEDLE POINT GREASE APPLICATOR TIP ON THE END OF A FLEXIBLE HOSE PUMP TYPE GREASE GUN. A GENERAL PURPOSE AUTOMOTIVE CHASSIS GREASE OR MOLYBDENUM DISULFIDE GREASE SUCH AS GM P/N 12377985, OR EQUIVALENT, SHOULD BE USED FOR THIS REPAIR.

7. CAREFULLY BEGIN TO GREASE THE BUSHING IN THE AREA SHOWN IN FIGURES 1 AND 2. THE NEEDLE POINT SHOULD BE INSERTED INTO THE END OF THE RUBBER BUSHING 1 - 2 MM.

IMPORTANT:

DO NOT INSERT THE NEEDLE POINT FURTHER THAN 2 MM SINCE THIS MAY DISLODGE THE INSERT INSIDE THE RUBBER BUSHING.

INJECT A SMALL AMOUNT OF GREASE, APPROXIMATELY 1/16 TO 1/8 OUNCE, INTO THE BUSHING AND REMOVE THE NEEDLE POINT APPLICATOR.

8. PLACE THE NEEDLE POINT TIP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT, 180 DEGREES FROM THE FIRST POSITION, AND REPEAT STEP 7.

9. REMOVE ALL EXCESS GREASE.

10. START THE VEHICLE AND ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL TO VERIFY THE SQUEAK HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.

11. REPLACE THE LOWER VENTILATION DUCT.

12. REPLACE THE KNEE BOLSTER.

13. REPLACE THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER.

14. REPLACE THE LEFT HAND KICK PAD.

PARTS INFORMATION:

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY USE:

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME =============== =========== ==========

E7700 SHAFT - STEERING 0.2 HR

ADD: TO LUBRICATE BUSHING 0.2 HR

FIGURES: 02 ATTACHMENTS: 00

FIGURE 1: 1. APPLY GREASE HERE

FIGURE 2: 1. APPLY GREASE HERE 2. STEERING COLUMN 3. STEERING SHAFT

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 1997 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.