SOFT TOP REAR BOW DIFFICULT TO LATCH-REVISED RED HANDLE HOOK

SUBJECT: SOFT TOP REAR BOW DIFFICULT TO LATCH IN UP POSITION AND/OR SOFT TOP MATERIAL TEARING IN SAIL PANEL AREA

MODELS AFFECTED: 1990-1991 ALLANTES WITH PHASE 11 TOPS (RPO V4J)

Some 1990-1991 Allantes with Phase 11 tops may experience a condition of the soft top rear bow being difficult to latch in the up position (prior to stowing top in boot well) and/or the soft top material tearing in the sail panel area. This condition may be caused by the red-handled rear bow latch hook being too short causing excessive top material tension over the quarter window. To repair this condition use the following service procedure:

Part 1:

1. Raise rear bow to the upright position but do not engage red-handled latch hook.

NOTE: Place a piece of masking tape over the drain hole in the bottom of the boot well to prevent loss of small parts that may be dropped.

2. Remove left soft top quarter glass by removing the two 7mm nuts at the top hinge and the outboard pin at the lower hinge.

3. Remove the old red-handled latch hook and spring by removing the 7mm head bolt at the latch hook pivot point. Refer to Figure 1.

4. Install revised red-handled latch hook, P/N 3530729, and spring by engaging spring over forward portion of hook and install hook with 7mm head bolt. Refer to Figure 2. Grasp loose end of spring with needle-nose pliers or a pull hook. Stretch spring rearward and upward gradually until end of spring can be engaged around linkage. Refer to Figure 3.

NOTE: Verify that spring is not pinched between hook and mounting surface and that hook rotates freely before engaging loose end of spring. Also, verify after spring is installed that the hook has counterclockwise tension on it at all times.

5. Install left quarter glass.

6. Replace upper back glass hinge rubber bumpers with revised bumpers, P/N's 3530780 RH and 3530781 IM. The revised bumpers will provide additional clearance to the boot well cover when stowing the top. Refer to Figure 4.

7. Remove the plastic caps on the upper back glass hinge adjustment bolts. Refer to Figure 4.

8. Latch rear of top down and check the back glass strap tension. Proper tension should raise the top of the back glass to meet the top material when the rear bow is latched down without excessive tension in the straps.

9. Raise rear bow and latch in upright position.

10. Release boot well cover and raise slowly to verify clearance between cover and back glass hinge bumpers.

11. Release header latches and lower top slowly into well to verify clearance between rear hook and pull-down unit.

12. Raise top out of well and latch front header. Close boot well slowly to verify clearance between boot well cover and back glass upper hinge bumpers. Proper clearance is a maximum of 10mm between the cover and bumper at their closest point. Adjust the upper back glass hinge adjustment bolts outward (counterclockwise to increase clearance to the cover, and adjust inward (clockwise) to reduce clearance to cover. Refer to Figure 4.

For warranty purposes use Labor Operation T6528 at 1.1 hours for Part I.

Part II:

Some vehicles may exhibit an interference condition between the rear soft top hook and Pull-down motor after the revised red-handled latch hook is installed. If interference is noted in step 9 above, use the following service procedure:

1. Remove pull-down unit.

2. Remove pull-down unit motor plastic cover by cutting tie strap. Install revised motor cover, P/N 3530779, using new tie strap.

3. Place a short piece of pipe or large socket over the uppermost pull-down unit mounting stud. Reform the mounting surface rearward approximately 3-4mm using a ball peen hammer on the pipe or socket. Do not hammer directly on the mounting stud! Refer to Figure 5.

4. Using the ball portion of the hammer, reform the upper mounting surface rearward approximately 3-4mm in the area shown in Figure 6.

5. Touch up paint on mounting surface as required.

6. Install pull-down unit using 7mm of shims on bottom-most stud and 2mm of shims on center stud. The bottom-most stud should already have 4mm of shims installed. Verify that total thickness of shims does not exceed 7mm on bottom stud.

7. Operate pull-down unit to its full up position and check for interference between the black metal shaft housing of the pull-down unit and the boot well opening weatherstrip. If interference is noted, remove a small (8mm x 12mm) section of the bottom flange of the boot well opening weatherstrip directly above the metal shaft housing to allow clearance.

8. Close boot well cover and lower rear bow until soft top rear hook is directly above the pull-down unit jaws. Using a 2.5mm Allen-head wrench, adjust soft top rear hook set screw outward until hook is centered in the pull-down unit jaws. A longer set screw, P/N 3530810, may be substituted if insufficient adjustment is available. Refer to Figure 7.

NOTICE: Be careful not to adjust the hook too far rearward so that when the rear bow is closed, the hook interferes with the rear of the pull-down jaw opening bezel in the boot well cover. Damage to the boot well cover or bezel may result.

9. Cycle top several times to verify proper operation and all clearances.

If the soft top material is torn, replace material using the procedure in Section 10-9 of the 1990 Allante Service Information Manual. A list of frequently needed parts for a material replacement is being provided for reference.

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

Parts frequently required for soft top material replacement:

Quantity Description P/N Required --------------------------------- ------- -------- Soft Top Material (Phase 11) 3520267 1 Escutcheons (triangular corner trim) 1644246 4 Soft Top Cables 3520545 4 Cable Retention Bushings 1645365 4 Cable Retention Set Screw 1645366 4 Front Header Weatherstrip 17997079 1

For warranty purposes use Labor Operation T6534 at 1.6 hours for Parts I and 11 combined.

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.