SNAP/POP/NOISE HEARD IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. Oldsmobile Intrigue 1998

SUBJECT: SNAP/POP NOISE HEARD IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING/STEERING (REPLACE FRONT STRUTS)

MODELS: 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINT WF320576

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A SNAP/POP TYPE NOISE AUDIBLE IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE NOISE CONDITION IS MOST APPARENT AT SLOW SPEED OPERATION DURING A COMBINATION OF BRAKING/STEERING INPUTS AND TYPICALLY CAN BE DUPLICATED AS FOLLOWS:

O OPERATE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED AND APPLY A FIRM, STEADY BRAKING INPUT.

O AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, QUICKLY APPLY A TURNING INPUT WHILE THE STRUTS ARE STILL UNDER THE BRAKING FORCE (IN COMPRESSION).

O SNAP/POP NOISE SHOULD BE APPARENT AT TIME OF TURNING INPUT.

CAUSE:

A NUMBER OF FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE INNER STRUT TUBE MAY MOVE SLIGHTLY DURING LATERAL AND/OR FORE/AFT LOADING. THIS MOVEMENT MAY RESULT IN THE INNER TUBE CONTACTING THE OUTER STRUT TUBE INTERNALLY CAUSING THE SNAP/POP NOISE.

CORRECTION:

INSPECT BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES AND DETERMINE THE JULIAN BUILD DATE OF EACH STRUT.

IMPORTANT:

JULIAN BUILD DATE INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE SECOND LINE OF NUMBERS STAMPED ON THE LOWER INBOARD AREA OF THE STRUT OPPOSITE THE STRUT/KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT AND ARE UNDERLINED IN THE EXAMPLE BELOW.

EXAMPLE: XXXXXXXX XXX226XX ---

JULIAN DATE - (FORTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH CHARACTERS IN SECOND LINE)

THOSE STRUTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING BEEN BUILT BETWEEN JULIAN DATES 226 THROUGH 267 SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW STRUTS, P/N 22064748, FOLLOWING THE APPLICABLE PROCEDURE IN SECTION 3C, FRONT SUSPENSION, OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.

PARTS INFORMATION:

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE DECEMBER 1, 1997.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION NUMBER: E3850 (RIGHT) E3851 (LEFT) E3857 (BOTH) USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

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.