WATER LEAK HOOD CENTER MOLDING REPLACE AND RESEAL NUTS

SOME 1981 PONTIAC, LEMANS AND GRAND PRIX VEHICLES MAY HAVE A WATER LEAK AT THE HOOD CENTER MOLDING DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SEALER ON THE RETAINING NUTS. EVIDENCE OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE A WET HOOD PAD, WATER ON TOP OF THE AIR CLEANER AND/OR OTHER AREAS OF THE ENGINE. SEVERE LEAKS COULD RESULT IN WATER ENTERING THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM WHICH MIGHT INHIBIT ENGINE START-UP ON EITHER GAS OR DIESEL ENGINE VEHICLES. THE LEAK CAN BE CORRECTED BY REMOVING THE MOLDING RETAINING NUTS, APPLYING A LIBERAL COAT OF BODY SEAM SEALER AND REINSTALLING THE NUTS. SOME DIESEL EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY HAVE A WATER LEAK AT THE HOOD CENTER MOLDING DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SEALER ON THE RETAINING NUTS. EVIDENCE OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE A WET HOOD PAD, WATER ON TOP OF THE AIR CLEANER, AND/OR WATER ON OTHER AREAS OF THE ENGINE. SEVERE LEAKS COULD RESULT IN WATER ENTERING THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM WHICH MIGHT INHIBIT ENGINE START-UP OR CAUSE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. CURRENTLY, THE HOOD MOLDING RETAINER USED IN PRODUCTION (PART NO. 22511825) IS A NUT/WASHER COMBINATION. TO PREVENT WATER FROM LEAKING THROUGH THE RETAINER HOLE, GMWDD HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A SEPARATE NUT AND WASHER HOOD MOLDING RETAINER FOR ALL CARS EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM HOODS AND DIESEL ENGINES. THESE NEW PIECES, NUT PART NUMBER 11501793 AND WASHER PART NUMBER 3771494, WILL BE PHASED INTO PRODUCTION.

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.