For 1990-2009 cars

# SPECIAL POLICY:POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR

#### MODELS: Certain 1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra and certain 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight With Remote Keyless Entry System

POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR

TO ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS:

General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that certain 1991 Park Avenue and Ultra and 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight models with Remote Keyless Entry System may experience a power door lock actuator failure when using their powerdoor locks. If an actuator fails, the door with the failure cannot be electrically locked or unlocked. However, the remaining door locks will function as intended.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra and 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight model vehicles with Remote Keyless Entry System within the following VIN breakpoints: PLANT YEAR MODEL/NAME PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH

1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra Wentzville 1 M1600001 M1713362

1991 Olds Ninety Eight Touring Sedan Orion 4 M4300001 M4353316

1991 Olds Ninety Eight Regency Elite Orion 4 M4300003 M4354904

SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT

This special policy covers any FAILED power door lock actuator replacement for seven (7) years or 160,000 km (whichever occurs first) from the date the vehicle was originally placed into service regardless of ownership. In addition, if one power door lock actuator requires replacement within the first three (3) years or 80,000 km (whichever occurs first) then all four (4) actuators are to be replaced. Correction will be at no charge to the customer. This policy is limited to vehicles with the Remote Keyless Entry System as use of the remote cycles the power door locks actuator more often than on vehicles.with power door locks only.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this special policy on their vehicles by General Motors of Canada Limited (see copy of the owner letter included with this bulletin).

REIMBURSEMENT

Customer claims for reimbursement on previously paid repairs requiring power door lock actuator replacement are to be submitted by September 30, 1993, according to the instructions included with this bulletin. Owners (and/or prior owners) must submit ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION which reasonably confirms the amount of unreimbursed repair expense(s), a description of the repair, the date of the repair, and the person or entity performing the repair.

Claims for customer reimbursement of previously paid repairs are to be submitted as a Net Item Dollar Amount on a warranty claim.

Authorization (IM) is required on all claim submissions which fall into the Owner Reimbursement category. Labour Operation T5309 is to be used for owner reimbursement only.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operation (GMSPO).

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE

3635350 Actuator Kitt Max. of 2, as required Left Hand (Front or Rear)

3635351 Actuator Kit Max. of 2, as required Right Hand (Front or Rear)

#### IMPORTANT: Quantity is dependent on vehicle warranty and/or Special Policy coverage. See "Service Procedure" for quantity required to complete repair.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Refer to 1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra Service Manual, Section 6-4-3 for front actuator and 7-4-1 rear actuator replacement or refer to the 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency Elite and Touring Sedan Service Manual, Section 10-6-9.

#### IMPORTANT: On vehicies with less than three (3) years from in-service date or 80,000 km, whichever comes first, all four (4) actuators are to be replaced even if only one has failed. This action is being taken to reduce the likelihood of repeat failures on the same vehicle. On vehicles above these guidelines up to seven (7) years from in-service date or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, only the actual failed actuator is to be replaced.

BUICK - FRONT DOOR

1. With the ignition switch in the off position, remove front pull handle covers and handle.

2. Remove switch plate and disconnect connectors.

3. Remove inside handle and lock switch trim.

4. Remove arm rest and reflector/lamp assembly and disconnect connector.

5. Remove trim pad.

6. Carefully peel back water deflector.

7. Remove rear run channel.

8. Remove door glass and seal strip.

9. Disconnect lock rods from outside handle and lock.

10. Disconnect connector and remove lock assembly.

11. Install new door lock actuator.

12. Reverse steps 1 through 10 to reassemble, making sure to properly align door glass and linkages. Carefully reinstall the water deflector to the door. If necessary, use waterproof tape to properly secure the water deflector in position. Remove top trim pad retainer from the door and install to trim pad before reinstalling pad to door.

13. Check for proper operation of power window, door lock and power seat, if applicable.

OLDSMOBILE - FRONT DOOR

1. With the ignition switch in the off position, remove arm rest switch plate and disconnect connectors.

2. Remove door lock switch plate.

3. Remove trim pad.

4. Carefully peel back water deflector.

5. Remove rear run channel.

6. Remove door glass and seal strip.

7. Disconnect lock rods from outside handle and lock.

8. Disconnect connector and remove lock assembly.

9. Install new door lock actuator.

10. Reverse steps 1 through 8 to reassemble, making sure to properly align door glass and linkages. Carefully reinstall the water deflector to the door. If necessary, use waterproof tape to properly secure the water deflector in position.

11. Check for proper operation of power window, door lock and power seat, if applicable.

BUICK - REAR DOOR

1. With the ignition in the off position, remove rear pull handle covers and handle.

2. Remove switch plate and disconnect connectors.

3. Remove inside handle bezel.

4. Remove waming lamp and disconnect connector.

5. Remove trim panel.

6. Carefully peel back water deflector.

7. Disconnect linkage from outside handle lock.

8. Remove inside door handle linkage.

9. Remove lock assembly.

10. Install new door lock actuator.

11. Reverse steps 1 through 9 to reassemble. Carefully reinstall the water deflector to the door. If necessary, use waterproof tape to properly secure the water deflector in position.

12. Check for proper operation of power window and door lock.

OLDSMOBILE - REAR DOOR

1. With the ignition switch in the off position, remove switch plate and disconnect connectors.

2. Remove trim panel.

3. Carefully peel back water deflector.

4. Disconnect linkage from outside door handle, inside door handle and lock.

5. Remove lock assembly.

6. Install new door lock actuator.

7. Reverse steps 1 through 5 to reassemble. Carefully reinstall the water deflector to the door. If necessary, use waterproof tape to properly secure the water deflector in position.

8. Check for proper operation of power window and door lock.

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMAIION

When performing the repair as outlined in this special policy, the dealer is requested to submit a Warranty Claim for credit as follows:

LABOUR OPERATION PARTS TIME NUMBER DESCRIPTION ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE QUANTITY

T5306 Replace all four (4) power door * 2.5 (Buick) 4 lock actuators on vehicle within 1.8 (Olds) the 3/80,000 km guidelines

T5307 Replace one (1) front power * 0.8 (Buick) 1 door lock actuator on vehicle 0.6 (Olds) within 7/160,000 km guidelines

T5308 Replace one (1) rear power door * 0.6 (Buick) 1 lock actuator on vehicle within 0.5 (Olds) 7/160,000 km guidelines

T5309 Customer reimbursement for **0.2 See prior power door lock actuator instructions for replacement(s) reimbursement

*The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealers Net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.

**T5309 allows for a .2 hour dealer administrative allowance which is entered as labour hours in the Warranty Claim submission. The appropriate customer reimbursement is to be entered in the claim submission as a net dollar amount.

Dear General Motors Customer:

We at General Motors are very proud of the 1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra and the 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency Elite and the Ninety Eight Touring Sedan and sincerely hope that you are happy with your vehicle. We are also proud of the warranty coverage that we provide you. Sometimes, however, we need to make some special arrangements so that things which might happen to our customers are handled properly.

Some owners of 1991 Park Avenue and Ultra and 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight model vehicles with the keyless entiy option may experience a power door lock "actuator" failure when using their power door locks. The actuator is the unit inside each door that electrically locks or unlocks the door. If an actuator fails, the door with the failure cannot be electrically locked or unlocked. However, the remaining door locks will function as intended.

General Motors is therefore taking the following action for 1991 Buick Park Avenue and Ultra and 1991 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight owners with the keyless entry system.

We are providing owners with special coverage for this actuator condition. If a door lock actuator requires replacement, it will be installed at no charge to actuator requires replacement, it will be installed at no charge to you. This coverage will be in effect for seven (7) years from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, regardless of ownership. This is NOT a recall. Do not take your vehicle to your General Motors dealer as a result of this letter unless you believe you have a power door lock actuator failure.

If you have already paid for some or all of the costs to have an actuator replaced, prior to receipt of this letter, and you desire reimbursement we will be happy to reimburse you . Simply bring this letter and provide your original paid receipts or invoices verifying the repair, the amount charged, proof of your payment, and date of payment of those charges by September 30, 1993. If you can, please use the General Motors dealer who sold and/or regularly services your vehicle to handle the reimbursement claim, as they have records on your vehicle.

We suggest you keep this letter and place it in your instrument panel compartment, along with the Owner's Manual, Maintenance Schedule, and Warranty Booklet. This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you cuffently have this condition on your vehicle, we suggest you call your General Motors dealer service department first to find how long you need to allow for the repair and to schedule a convenient time.

We regret any inconvenience that may be caused by the above described condition. Your purchase of a General Motors vehicle is very important to us, and we want to keepyou as a loyal customer. That is why we are taking this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our product.

Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited

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.