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Preliminary Information

FILE IN SECTION: 10 - Body

BULLETIN NO.: 23-10-54

DATE: June, 1995

SUBJECT:
Service Procedures for the Repair of Paint Colorcoat Delamination from ELPO Primer (Repair Surfaces Above the Body Side Moldings)

MODELS:
1988-91 Buick Century (Plant Code 6)
1988-92 Buick LeSabre (Plant Code H), Skylark
1988-90 Chevrolet Celebrity
1988-92 Chevrolet Beretta, Corsica, Camaro
1988-90 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
1988-91 Oldsmobile Calais, Ciera (Plant Code 6)
1988-92 Oldsmobile Achieva, Eighty Eight (Plant Code H)
1988-90 Pontiac Grand Prix
1988-91 Pontiac 6000 (Plant Code 6)
1988-92 Pontiac Firebird, Grand Am, Tempest

1988-92 Chevrolet and GMC Truck C/K, R/V, S/T, M/L, G Models
1991-92 Oldsmobile Bravada

This bulletin is being revised to provide a process change for the repair of paint delamination from ELPO primer. Please discard previous divisional publications:

Buick 92-10-57
Chevrolet 92-300A-10
GM of Canada 93-10-100
GMC Truck 92-10-134A
Oldsmobile 93-T-05
Pontiac 92-10-59

EFFECTIVE DATE:
THE REVISED REPAIR PROCEDURES, NEW LABOR OPERATION NUMBERS, AND REVISED TIME AND MATERIAL ALLOWANCES CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN ARE EFFECTIVE WITH REPAIR ORDERS WRITTEN ON OR AFTER JUNE 20,1995.

CONDITION

This bulletin is being issued to assure that the correct procedure is followed to repair a condition known as delamination. Some of the listed passenger cars, light duty trucks, and vans may have DELAMINATION (peeling) of the paint colorcoat from the ELPO primer depending upon variable factors including prolonged exposure to sunlight and humidity.

Blues, Grays, Silvers and Black Metallics are the colors that have the highest potential for this condition. On rare occasions, other colors may be involved.

Important:
Delamination is different than other paint conditions and/or damage. A proper problem identification is necessary, and the service procedure that follows is specific to the proper repair of Delamination and must be followed. The information in this bulletin covers Paint Delamination of the colorcoat from the ELPO primer ONLY. It does not address any other paint conditions. Procedures for the repair of other paint conditions (stone chips, scratches, environmental damage, clearcoat peeling, runs, dirt, fading, etc.) will not effectively repair delamination and customer dissatisfaction will result.

CAUSE

This condition may occur on vehicles produced in plants where the paint process did not call for application of a primer surfacer. Under certain conditions, ultraviolet light can penetrate the colorcoat, sometimes causing a reaction and separation of portions of the colorcoat from the ELPO (electrocoat) primer.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION:
On a clean surface, at or above room temperature, firmly apply a 2" wide piece of masking tape and pull upward quickly. DO NOT USE duct tape, cloth backed tape or other aggressive tapes. If the colorcoat flakes or peels away from the ELPO (leaving the ELPO intact) the colorcoat is delaminating and the vehicle should be repaired using the "Paint Repair Procedure" contained in this bulletin. This test SHOULD ONLY BE APPLIED TO A VEHICLE SHOWING THE CONDITION, (peeling/delamination) and NOT in areas of stone chipping or other obvious damage. These "other" conditions should be repaired following standard paint repair procedures.

CORRECTION

REFINISH ALL HORIZONTAL SURFACES AND THE TOP SURFACES OF THE FENDERS, DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS UNTIL CONTACTING GOOD BONDING PAINT (APPROXIMATELY 76 mm (3") INTO THE VERTICAL SURFACES). USE LABOR OPERATION A6100.

THE REMAINING VERTICAL SURFACES DOWN TO THE BODY SIDE MOLDINGS SHOULD BE FEATHEREDGED, SCUFF SANDED, SEALED AND COLORCOATED.

Important:
SHOULD SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE REMAINING VERTICAL SURFACES EXHIBIT DELAMINATION, OR IF THE SCUFF SANDING PROCESS PRODUCES AREAS OF DELAMINATION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REFINISH THOSE DELAMINATION AREAS AS WELL. USE LABOR OPERATION A6200, IF NECESSARY.

Important:
Many vehicles have some type of plastic exterior body panels (cowl vent grilles, fascias, front end panels, rear fenders, etc.) These panels are not subject to delamination and therefore, do not require refinishing. If painting of these panels is required for color uniformity, scuff sand and colorcoat only (and clearcoat if basecoat/clearcoat system is used).

Important:
Two-tone lines, feature lines or body side molding treatments near mid-door height are appropriate break lines. If no such convenient break lines are present, the entire panel above the next lower break line should be scuff sanded and the portion of the panel below that break line should be COLORCOATED ONLY (and clearcoated if basecoat/clearcoat system is used) for color uniformity of the repair.

Important:
Pickup boxes which are covered by caps, bed liners or covers do not receive direct exposure to sunlight, and normally would not be repaired under this procedure. However, if the inside of the box has been uncovered and experienced delamination, use the appropriate "Add" condition.

Important:
For trucks only; certain two-tone applications on trucks using the high potential colors (Blues, Grays and Silvers) may require that only portions of the vehicle surface be refinished. Examples would be:

Example 1. Blues, Grays and Silvers as "insert colors" on vertical surfaces with other, non-high potential colors above the insert (or break line).

Action:
Refinish the "insert color" only, between the break line and body side molding (or to the lower feature line on certain vehicles).

Example 2. Blues, Grays and Silvers on surfaces above the break line with other, non-high potential colors as "insert colors".

Action:
Refinish the surfaces above the "insert color" or break line only.

Example 3. Blues, Grays and Silvers used as both the primary and "insert colors".

Action:
REFINISH ALL HORIZONTAL SURFACES AND THE TOP SURFACES OF THE FENDERS, DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS UNTIL CONTACTING GOOD BONDING PAINT (APPROXIMATELY 76 mm (3") INTO THE VERTICAL SURFACES). THE REMAINING VERTICAL SURFACES DOWN TO THE BODY SIDE MOLDINGS SHOULD BE FEATHEREDGED, SCUFF SANDED, SEALED AND COLORCOATED.

Important:
SHOULD SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE REMAINING VERTICAL SURFACES EXHIBIT DELAMINATION, OR IF THE SCUFF SANDING PROCESS PRODUCES AREAS OF DELAMINATION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REFINISH THOSE DELAMINATION AREAS AS WELL.

Vehicles should be repaired with the same type materials they were manufactured with; repair basecoat/clearcoat with basecoat/clearcoat materials and monocoat with monocoat.