HEADLAMP DOOR WILL NOT OPEN REPLACE SWITCH COVER

NOTE: THIS BULLETIN SUPERCEDES BULLETIN NUMBER 82-T-37 IN RESPECT TO WARRANTY INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD BULLETIN NUMBER 82-T-37. CONDITION: THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE A HEADLAMP DOOR ON A 1982 FIREBIRD DID NOT OPEN AT ALL TIMES. IF THE CAR SYSTEM VOLTAGE IS HIGH (14 VOLTS OR HIGHER, SUCH AS WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING) WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF, THE DOOR MAY NOT OPEN THE NEXT TIME THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED BY TWISTING THE ACTUATOR KNOB SLIGHTLY TO START THE MOTOR SPINNING. WHEN THE ACTUATOR KNOB IS TWISTED, IT MAY START TO SPIN RAPIDLY. CAUSE: THE HIGHER VOLTAGE LEVEL WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING MAKES THE ACTUATOR OVERSPIN, WHICH MOVES THE SWITCH AND HOLDS IT IN THE CLOSED POSITION. A CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE IN PRODUCTION IN THE SWITCH COVER, AND VERY FEW CARS SHOULD BE AFFECTED (SEE FIGURE 1). CORRECTION: THE SWITCH COVER SHOULD BE REPLACED (ORDER PART NUMBER 22038889 FROM WDDGM). FIGURE 1 SHOWS THE OLD AND NEW COVER DESIGNS. PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ABOUT APRIL 30, 1982. BEFORE REPLACING THE COVER, PERFORM THE FOLLOWING STEPS: 1.OPEN THE HOOD AND INSPECT THE COVERS. IF THEY ARE THE OLD DESIGN (SEE FIGURE 1), THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AS OUTLINED BELOW. IF THEY ARE THE NEW DESIGN, CHECK THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION. FIGURE 2 SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE COVER ON THE ACTUATOR. 2.TURN IGNITION KEY OFF FIRST, THEN DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. USING THE ACTUATOR KNOB, MANUALLY RAISE THE HEADLAMP DOOR ABOUT HALF-WAY OPEN. THIS WILL REMOVE ANY LOAD FROM THE SWITCH WHEN THE COVER IS REPLACED. 3.THE COVER ON THE LEFT-HAND ACTUATOR CAN BE CHANGED ON THE CAR (SEE FIGURE 3 ON REVERSE SIDE). A.REMOVE PARKING LAMP BULB SOCKET AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. B.REMOVE TOP TWO (2) SCREWS ON THE COVER. C.FROM BENEATH THE CAR, REMOVE THE BOTTOM SCREW. D.INSTALL THE NEW COVER, MAKING SURE THE O-RING IS CORRECTLY POSITIONED. 4.THE RIGHT-HAND COVER CAN BE CHANGED BY REMOVING THE ACTUATOR. A.MANUALLY RAISE HEADLAMP TO FULL UP POSITION, THEN REMOVE HEADLAMP BEZEL ATTACHING SCREWS AND REMOVE BEZEL. B.PRY OFF LINK ASSEMBLY, THEN MANUALLY LOWER HEADLAMP DOWN ABOUT HALF-WAY. C.REMOVE PARKING LAMP BULB SOCKET AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. D.REMOVE TOP RELAY ATTACHING SCREW AND TOP ACTUATOR RETAINING BOLT. E.FROM BENEATH, REMOVE BOTTOM RELAY ATTACHING SCREW, THEN DISCONNECT ACTUATOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. PRESS IN THE SIDE TAB AND PULL OUT TO REMOVE THE RELAY CONNECTOR. F.REMOVE TWO (2) ACTUATOR RETAINING BOLTS, THEN TWIST ACTUATOR AND LINK TO REMOVE. G.REPLACE SWITCH COVER, MAKING SURE THE O-RING IS CORRECTLY POSITIONED. H.REINSTALL ACTUATOR BY REVERSING ABOVE PROCEDURE. 5.RECONNECT NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND CHECK HEADLAMP DOOR OPERATION.

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.