CAMPAIGN: ENGINE OIL LEVEL INDICATOR DESIGN CHANGE
MODELS AFFECTED: 1982 Centurys Equipped With 3.0L, V-6 Engine (LK9)
General Motors has determined that some 1982 Centurys equipped with 3.0L, V-6 Engines were assembled with engine oil level indicators (dipsticks) which may give inaccurate oil level readings. When the indicator is withdrawn from its tube, oil smears along the shaft. This prevents an accurate reading and may result in the engine being run with less oil than it needs.
To prevent this possibility, an indicator has been designed which prevents the oil from being smeared. Refer to the illustration to compare the new and old designs.
Since an indicator can be installed very easily, and because we do not want to cause owners unnecessary inconvenience, the new indicators have been furnished directly to affected owners of record. Owners may install them personally or they may request dealer assistance for installation.
Since all of the 1982 Century owners are not known at this time, you are being furnished a list of vehicles shipped to your dealership for which owner information is not available. It is your responsibility to see that the indicators are changed on these vehicles.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
1982 Centurys equipped with 3.0L, V-6 Buick engines (LK9) assembled from CD400001 (start of production) up to and including serial number CD427096.
DEALER ACTION AND MATERIAL
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this Campaign, you will receive a VIN listing of vehicles, and an oil level indicator for each vehicle for which there is no owner of record. If a vehicle has been recently delivered, and the owner's name is not on your VIN listing, please contact owner to have the indicator changed.
The old design indicators are to be-changed in vehicles involved. The replaced indicators are to be properly tagged with the vehicle information and retained for scrapping by Buick contact personnel. If a vehicle on your listing has been transferred or sold to another location, please send vehicle information and the new design indicator to your Zone Office for forwarding to proper dealer.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
As stated previously, owners of record are being notified of this Campaign and sent the replacement indicator. A copy of the owner letter is included with this bulletin.
SHIPMENT OF PARTS
The correct quantity of engine oil level indicators are being shipped to each dealer on a "no charge" basis. They will not be billed on dealer parts account. Dealers should not order from General Motors Parts. If transfers make additional parts necessary, contact your Zone Office.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Dealers are to submit each campaigned vehicle as a separate case on the one-line warranty document, Form S-764. Dealers submitted warranty claims by teletype terminal are to transmit completions as a separate case.
SUBLET PART FAILED PARTS FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPERATION COUNT PART NO. ALLOW. CODE OP. NO. HOURS HOURS MTL TWG
Install New design engine oil level * ** indicator 96 V1170 .2 hr. .1 hr $.33
*.1 Hr. for Administration
**$.33 is for 30% of dealer price of furnished indicator.
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, other than Campaigns, may be listed on the same warranty document.
Warranty documents on this Campaign are not to be sent to the Zone Office. Send directly to Buick, Flint, as is done with normal submissions of warranty documents.
Zone authorization is not required.
Dear Buick Owner:
General Motors has determined that some 1982 Centurys equipped with 3.0L, V-6 engines were assembled with engine oil level indicators (dipsticks) which may give inaccurate oil level readings. When the indicator is withdrawn from its tube, oil smears along the shaft. This prevents an accurate reading and may result in the engine being run with less oil than it needs.
To prevent this possibility, an indicator has been designed which prevents the oil from being smeared. The Illustration on the reverse side of this letter compares the new and old designs.
A new indicator is enclosed for your convenience. Rather than asking you to return to your Buick Dealer, it is believed you might wish to install the new indicator yourself. Just withdraw the old one, put it in the trash, and install the new one in its place. Naturally, if you wish to return your vehicle to your dealer for this change, they will be pleased to assist, at no charge to you.
If you install the new indicator, rather than asking your dealer, or if you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the enclosed postage paid owner reply card and returning it to us. This will assist us in assuring that all affected vehicles have been corrected and will eliminate the need to bother you with follow-up notifications.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products. We appreciate your assistance.
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.
