For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: REAR BUMPER DURAB. AND APPEARANCE AND NOISE

#### SUBJECT: REAR BUMPER SYSTEM DURABILITY AND APPEARANCE

#### MODELS AFFECTED: 1991 REATTA CONVERTIBLE SOME 1990 REATTA CONVERTIBLES

THIS IS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR A HIGH MILEAGE APPEARANCE AND NOISE CONDITION.

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT 1991 REATTA CONVERTIBLES BUILT WITH MASS DAMPERS ATTACHED BETWEEN THE REAR FRAME RAILS AND ENERGY ABSORBERS AT THE REAR BUMPER MAY DEVELOP A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RELATED DEFECT AT HIGH MILEAGE. THE RESULTING DAMPER LOADS MAY CAUSE STRESS CRACKING OF THE REAR FRAME RAILS, AND FASTENER FATIGUE AT HIGH MILEAGE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE MASS DAMPER(S) MAY CONTACT THE UNDERBODY RESULTING IN A NOISE COMPLAINT, ALSO THE REAR BUMPER MAY SAG ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES.

A FEW 1990 REATTA CONVERTIBLES HAD MASS DAMPERS INSTALLED AND ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

DEALER ACTION

TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING, DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE MASS DAMPER PER THE SERVICE PROCEDURE SECTION OF THIS BULLETIN.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED ARE 1991 REATTA CONVERTIBLES WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:

PLANT FROM INCLUDING

REATTA CRAFT CENTRE MB900014 MB900622

ALSO INVOLVED IS A SMALL QUANTITY OF 1990 REATTA CONVERTIBLES THAT HAVE HAD LABOR OPERATION T6544 PERFORMED ON THEM. SUSPECT VEHICLES SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR CAMPAIGN INVOLVEMENT BY UTILIZING THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM (V.I.S.S.) .

THE 1990 REATTA CONVERTIBLES INVOLVED ARE:

LB903840 LB904846 LB905792 LB906424 LB907326 LB908006 LB904104 LB905056 LB906076 LB906632 LB907512 LB908230 LB904314 LB905374 LB906180 LB907000 LB907516 LB908352 LB904341 LB905715 LB906264 LB907148 LB907912 LB904361 LB905784 LB906380 LB907190 LB907978

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP. WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED CAR INVENTORY, DEALERS ARE TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE RESELLING OR RELEASING THE VEHICLE.

OWNERS OF VEHICLES RECENTLY SOLD FROM YOUR NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY ARE TO BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALER AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO MAKE THE REQUIRED MODIFICATION ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN.

DEALER MATERIAL

IF YOUR DEALERSHIP HAS VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

- LISTING OF ALL VEHICLES INVOLOVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOUR DEALERSHIP.

- ONE (1) CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL PER VEHICLE INVOLVED.

INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. COMPUTER LISTINGS CONTAIN THE COMPLETE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA, AND ARE FURNISHED TO THE INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THESE COMPUTER LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN OWNER NAMES AND ADDRESSES OBTAINED FROM STATE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORDS. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE IS A VIOLATION OF LAW IN SEVERAL STATES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE URGED TO LIMIT THE USE OF THIS LISTING TO THE FOLLOW-UP NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE NOTIFIED BY BUICK MOTOR DIV ISION (SEE COPY OF OWNER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN).

CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION

DEALERS ARE TO USE THE DEALER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (DCS) TO PROVIDE BUICK MOTOR DIVISION WITH SUBSEQUENT BUICK OWNER INFORMATION. BY REPORTING A CHANGE OF OWNER NAME OR ADDRESS OF A VEHICLE IN CAMPAIGN STATUS OVER THE DCS, THE NEED TO SEND A CVAR FORM FOR THAT VEHICLE IS ELIMINATED. TERMINAL INPUT INSTRUCTIONS ARE COVERED IN THE DCS MANUAL UNDER SECTION 9, PAGE 9-J01A AND B.

PARTS INFORMATION

NO PARTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. RAISE VEHICLE ON HOIST. REFER TO SECTION 0A OF SERVICE MANUAL FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

2. REMOVE THE TWO (2) OUTBOARD LOWER REAR FASCIA ATTACHING NUTS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE (SEE FIGURE 1, VIEW B).

3. REMOVE THE OUTBOARD ATTACHING SCREW ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE (SEE FIGURE 1 , VIEW A).

#### NOTE: REMOVING THE ATTACHING NUTS AND SCREWS ALLOWS BETTER ACCESS TO THE MASS DAMPER ASSEMBLIES.

4. REMOVE THE THREE (3) DAMPER SECURING BOLTS AND NUTS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE AND REMOVE THE MASS DAMPERS (SEE FIGURE 2).

#### CAUTION:

DAMPERS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS EACH. CARE IS TO BE TAKEN WHEN REMOVING THE DAMPERS TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT CAUSE INJURY TO THE TECHNICIAN. A SECOND TECHNICIAN MAY BE HELPFUL WHEN PERFORMING THIS STEP.

5. REINSTALL THE REAR LOWER FASCIA OUTBOARD SCREWS AND NUTS REMOVED IN STEPS 1 AND 2.

6. LOWER VEHICLE.

#### NOTE: REMOVAL OF MASS DAMPERS MAY SLIGHTLY DEGRADE SMOOTH ROAD CONVERTIBLE SHAKE AND/OR JITTER AT 50-65 MPH. IF THE CUSTOMER COMMENTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION AFTER THE MASS DAMPERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER. MASS DAMPERS SHOULD NOT BE REINSTALLED.

7. INSTALL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

EACH LABEL PROVIDES A SPACE TO INCLUDE THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER, THE FIVE (5) DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE, AND THE DATE VEHICLE WAS CAMPAIGNED. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR BALLPOINT PEN. WHEN INSTALLING LABEL, CLEAN THE SURFACE OF THE RADIATOR SUPPORT TIE BAR AND APPLY THE CAMPAIGN LABEL WHERE IT IS READILY VISIBLE.

DISPOSITION OF PARTS

REPLACED PARTS MUST BE HELD FOR DISPOSITION BY BUICK ZONE OR BRANCH CONTACT PERSONNEL. PARTS MUST HAVE A CLAIM TAG ATTACHED SHOWING THE REPAIR ORDER AND THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHICH THEY ARE REMOVED.

DUE TO THE COLLECTOR STATUS OF THIS VEHICLE, SOME OWNERS MAY WANT TO RETAIN THE REMOVED PARTS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ZONE/BRANCH CONTACT PERSON TO OBTAIN AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE THESE PARTS TO THE CUSTOMER.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

FAILED OTHER SUBLET PART PART PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR LABOR DEALER COUNT NUMBER ALLOW CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TWG

O REMOVE MASS DAMPERS

-- -- -- 96 V7380 0.7 *0.1

* 0.1 HOUR ADMINISTRATION

COPYRIGHT 1992 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

#### TO: BUICK REATTA CONVERTIBLE OWNER:

WE, AT BUICK MOTOR DIVISION, ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE BUICK CUSTOMER OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE CONTINUED TESTING ON THE REATTA CONVERTIBLE EVEN AFTER PRODUCTION CEASED. THIS TESTING HAS INDICATED A POTENTIAL HIGH MILEAGE CONDITION. WE ARE WRITING TO YOU TODAY WITH OUR ACTION TO RESOLVE THIS CONDITION BEFORE IT MIGHT OCCUR ON YOUR VEHICLE.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL FOR

1991 REATTA CONVERTIBLES WERE BUILT WITH MASS DAMPERS ATTACHED BETWEEN THE REAR FRAME RAIL AND ENERGY ABSORBERS AT THE REAR BUMPER TO MINIMIZE A RARE VIBRATION CONDITION. THE RESULTING DAMPER LOADS MAY CAUSE STRESS CRACKING OF THE REAR FRAME RAILS AND FASTENER FATIGUE AT HIGH MILEAGE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE MASS DAMPER(S) MAY CONTACT THE UNDERBODY RESULTING IN A NOISE COMPLAINT, ALSO THE REAR BUMPER MAY SAG ON ONE OR BOTH ENDS.

A FEW 1990 REATTA CONVERTIBLES HAD MASS DAMPERS INSTALLED AND ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

WHAT WE WILL DO

TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING, BUICK DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MASS DAMPER WEIGHT AT NO CHARGE.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BUICK DEALER TO ARRANGE A SERVICE DATE. INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOUR DEALER. PLEASE ASK YOUR DEALER IF YOU WISH TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED TO SCHEDULE, PROCESS AND REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE.

THE ENCLOSED OWNER REPLY CARD IDENTIFIES YOUR VEHICLE. PRESENTATION OF THIS CARD TO YOUR DEALER WILL ASSIST IN MAKING THE NECESSARY INSPECTION/CORRECTION IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME. IF YOU HAVE SOLD OR TRADED YOUR VEHICLE, PLEASE LET US KNOW BY COMPLETING THE POSTAGE PAID REPLY CARD AND RETURNING IT TO US.

WE ARE SORRY TO CAUSE YOU THIS INCONVENIENCE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ACTION IN THE INTEREST OF OUR CONTINUED SATISFACTION WITH OUR PRODUCT AND IMPROVING YOUR BUICK OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.

BUICK MOTOR DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

91-C-6

ENCLOSURE

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.