CAMPAIGN: DEFORMATION OF FRONT AND REAR BUMPER BRACKETS. Buick Electra/Park Avenue 1984

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: DEFORMATION OF FRONT AND REAR BUMPER BRACKETS

#### MODELS AFFECTED: 1984 Electras, LeSabres, and Rivieras

General Motors has determined that the 1984 Electra, LeSabre, and Riviera front bumper brackets, and the 1984 LeSabre rear bumper brackets may deform when lifting and towing the vehicle. This results in bumper misalignment, unacceptable appearance, and possible damage to the grille or front-end panel on Electras.

To prevent this condition from occurring on these vehicles, dealers are to replace the bumper brackets with new reinforced brackets, as instructed in the Technical Procedures of this bulletin.

#### Vehicles Involved

Certain 1984 Electras, LeSabres, and Rivieras equipped with bumper brackets within the VIN breakpoints listed below:

Replace Only Front Brackets

To and Plant From Including ----- ---- ---------- Electra Coupes and Sedans Flint EX800001 EH865999 Electra Estate Wagons Fairfax EH400001 EX430028 Rivieras Linden EE400001 EE424581

Replace Front and Rear Brackets

LeSabres Fairfax EX400001 EX430028 LeSabres Flint EH800001 EH865999

SOME OF THE BUMPERS ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE BREAKPOINT WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FULL WIDTH REINFORCEMENTS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE THE CAMPAIGN CHANGE. Refer to Figure 1 and Parts Information section of this bulletin.

#### DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should 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:

List of all vehicles involved in this campaign shipped to your dealership.

One campaign identification label for each vehicle.

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number computer listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name, and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow up with owners involved in this campaign.

These 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.

#### TRANSFER OF VEHICLE

If a vehicle has been transferred or sold to another location, please forward vehicle information for this vehicle to your Buick Zone Office for handling with the proper dealer.

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners of vehicles involved in this campaign will be notified by Buick Motor Division (See copy of Owner Letters included with this bulletin).

#### CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION

Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (D.C.S.) 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 D.C.S., the need to send in an S-866 Form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the D.C.S. Manual under Section 9, page 9-J01A and B.

#### PARTS INFORMATION

The parts for this campaign are to be obtained from WDDGM. Since these brackets are used only for this campaign, order for your immediate needs. These brackets will not be used as service replacement parts. To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered on a C.I.O. order with no special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

A right and a left bracket are required for each bumper to be campaigned. To determine if a LeSabre requires both front and rear bumper brackets, refer to the vehicle printout furnished with this campaign.

If an "A" is listed to the right of the "Camp ID" number on the list, only the front bumper brackets are to be replaced.

If a "B" is listed, only the rear bumper brackets are to be replaced.

If a "C" is listed, both front and rear brackets are to be replaced.

Refer to chart to obtain correct bumper brackets for a vehicle.

#### MODEL BRACKET DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER ----- ------------------- ----------- Electras, Electra Estate Front - Right Side 25522500 Wagons, and LeSabres Front - Left Side 25522501

LeSabres Rear - Right Side 25522502 Rear - Left Side 25522503 Rivieras Front - Right Side 25522504 Front - Left Side 25522505

#### TECHNICAL PROCEDURE

If there is a question as to a vehicle being involved in this campaign, inspect the front bumper attachment on Electras, LeSabres, and Rivieras, and the rear bumper attachment on LeSabres. If the bumper has a full width reinforcement, as shown in Figure 1, it is not involved.

#### PART A

#### REPLACEMENT OF BUMPER BRACKETS

Refer to Parts Information Section or Figure 3 to obtain correct right and left brackets.

1. Hoist vehicle.

2. Mark location of bracket attaching studs on energy absorber prior to removing nuts. This will allow maintaining bumper height adjustment when bumper reinstalled. If shims are used between bracket and E.A., note position. Refer to Figure 2.

3. On LeSabre and Electra front bumpers, disconnect parking and turn signal lamp sockets. On Rivieras, disconnect grille return springs.

4. Remove bumper assembly from energy absorbers, and lay face down on a clean protected surface.

5. Replace right and left bumper brackets:

a. Remove E. A. mounting plate and retainers from old brackets and install in new brackets. Refer to Figure 4, View A.

b. A T-45 Torx head drive is required to remove screws that retain brackets to lower edge of bumper.

c. Flanged edge on brackets go towards outboard side of bumper.

d. Torque specification for all bracket attaching nuts is 30 NM (22 lb. ft.).

6. Reinstall Bumper Assembly

a. Install any removed shims in original location between brackets and EA.

b. Position mounting plate studs in original position in EA's vertical slots, center bumper on vehicle and tighten attaching nuts to 30 NM (22 lb. st.).

c. On LeSabre and Electra front bumpers, plug in lamp sockets.

d. On Rivieras, attach grille return springs to their brackets.

e. Lower vehicle and install Campaign identification label.

#### PART B - CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label." Each label provide's a space to include the five-digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint pen.

Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located near the Emission (tune-up) label in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in for periodic servicing by the owner.

Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

#### DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS

Replaced parts must be held for disposition by Buick contact personnel. Each replaced part must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which it was removed.

#### WARRANTY INFORMATION

Dealers are to submit each campaigned vehicle as a separate case on the one-line warranty document form S-764. Dealers submitting warranty claims by teletype terminal are to transmit campaign completions as a separate case also.

LIST THE ONE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATION. SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR *OTHER DEALER OPER. COUNT PART NO. ALLOW. CODE OP.NO HOURS HOURS MTL.TWG ----- ----- -------- ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ------- Replace front bumper brackets only.

Electras, Electra Wagons, and LeSabres 2 ** *** 96 V2020 .9 hr. .1 hr.

Rivieras 2 ** *** 96 V2021 .8 hr. .1 hr.

Replace Rear Bumper Brackets only.

LeSabres 2 ** *** 96 V2022 .8 hr. .1 hr.

Replace Both Front and Rear Bumper Brackets.

LeSabres 4 ** *** 96 V2023 1.5 hr. .1 hr.

* .1 hours for administration.

** List part number of replaced parts.

*** List current dealer price plus 30% of replaced parts.

To assure accurate records of all transactions on this campaign, it is recommended that campaign repairs for each vehicle be listed on a separate repair order. Other repairs performed to the vehicle may be listed on the same repair order, and warranty cases other than campaigns may be listed on the same warranty document.

Zone authorization is not required.

Dear Buick Owner:

General Motors has detemined that some 1984 Electra front bumper brackets may deform when the bumper is used to lift and tow the vehicle. This results in bumper misalignment and unacceptable appearance. Damage may occur to the grille or front-end panel.

To prevent this condition from occurring, your Buick Dealer will replace the front bumper brackets on your vehicle with new reinforced brackets. This service will be done at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Buick Dealer. Parts will be available approximately April 18, 1984. Please contact your dealer after this date to arrange a service date to have your vehicle corrected. The labor time to install the new front bumper brackets is approximately 50 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.

The enclosed owner replay card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid owner replay card and returning it to us.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with your products.

Dear Buick Owner:

General Motors has determined that Some 1984 LeSabre front and rear bumper brackets may deform when the bumper is used to lift and tow the vehicle. This results in bumper misalignment and unacceptable appearance.

To prevent this condition from occurring, your Buick Dealer will replace the bumper brackets on your vehicle as required with new reinforced brackets. This service will be done at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Buick Dealer. Parts will be available approximately April 18, 1984. Please contact your dealer after this date to arrange a service date to have your vehicle corrected. The labor time to install the front or rear bumper brackets is approximately 50 minutes. If both front and rear bumper brackets require replacement, the labor time is approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid owner 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 your continued satisfaction with our products.

Dear Buick Owner:

General Motors has determined that some 1984 Riviera front bumper brackets may deform when the bumper is used to lift and tow the vehicle. This results in bumper misalignment and unacceptable appearance.

To prevent this condition from occurring, your Buick Dealer will replace the front bumper brackets on your vehicle with new reinforced brackets. This service will be done at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Buick Dealer. Parts will be available approximately April 18, 1984. Please contact your dealer after this date to arrange a service date to have your vehicle corrected. The labor time to install the new front bumper brackets is approximately 50 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be necessary to process your vehicle.

The enclosed owner replay card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage-paid owner 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 your continued satisfaction with our products.

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.