Seat Belts - Outer Rear Difficult to Fasten
File In Section: 10 - BodyBulletin No.: 73-16-15A
Date: December, 1998
Subject:
Outer Rear Seal Belts Difficult to Fasten
(Install Rear Seat Belt Plastic Sleeve;
Install Rear Seal Belt Assembly - Retractor Side)
Models:
1997-99 Buick LeSabre
1997-99 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, LSS, Regency
1997-99 Pontiac Bonneville
This bulletin is being revised to add the 1998-99 model years, update part numbers, service procedure operations and labor operation codes. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 73-16-15 (Section 10 - Body)
Condition
Some customers may comment that the outer rear seat belts are difficult to fasten.
Cause
Refer to Cause # 1 for vehicles built (WITHOUT slotted seats) PRIOR to the following VIN Breakpoints:
Year/Model VIN Breakpoint
1997 Buick LeSabre VH601436
1997 Oldsmobile Eighty V4860599
Eight, LSS, Regency
V4200007 (Orion Plant)
1997 Pontiac Bonneville VH268450 (Buick City)
Refer to Cause # 2 for vehicles built (WITH slotted seats) AFTER the following VIN Breakpoints:
Year/Model VIN Breakpoint
1997 Buick LeSabre VH600929
1997 Oldsmobile Eight V4860590
Eight, LSS, Regency
1997 Pontiac Bonneville V4200006 (Orion Plant)
VH268170 (Buick City)
The VIN numbers of the above 1997 vehicles overlap because these vehicles were built with a combination of rear seats with and without slots.
Refer to Cause # 2 for the following vehicles:
Year/Model
1998-99 Buick LeSabre
1998-99 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, LSS, Regency
1998-99 Pontiac Bonneville
Cause # 1
This condition may be due to the buckle portion of the rear center seat belt slipping down between the seat back and the seat cushion.
Correction # 1
Install the rear seat belt plastic sleeve on the webbing of the rear seat center belt (buckle side).
Installation Procedure
1. Remove the rear seat cushion. Refer to the Seats and Carpet section of the Service Manual.
2. Remove the rear center seat belt (buckle side) nut from the mounting stud on the floor pan.
3. Remove the rear center seat belt (buckle side) tab from the mounting stud.
4. Attach the plastic sleeve, P/N 25675181 (2 per package), to the underside of the rear center seat belt (buckle side) webbing. See Figure 1. Ensure that the webbing is fully engaged in the slot by pulling on the webbing so that it covers the full width of the slot.
5. Install the rear center seat belt (buckle side) tab over the mounting stud on the floor pan.
6. Install the rear center seat belt (buckle side) nut on the mounting stud.
Tighten
Tighten the rear center seat belt (buckle side) nut to 40 N.m (30 lb ft).
7. Install the rear seat cushion. Refer to the Seats and Carpet section of the Service Manual.
8. If the condition still exists, go to Step 9.
9. Install the rear seat belt assembly (retractor side).
Use the replacement part numbers below for vehicles built WITHOUT slotted seats. Refer to the Seat Belts section of the Service Manual.
Parts Information
1997 1st Design Part Numbers
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
Cause # 2
This condition may be due to the length of the outer rear seat belt (retractor side) not being long enough.
Correction # 2
The length of the webbing in the outer rear seat belt assembly was increased 127 mm (5 in.) in order to allow for ease of latching.
Install the rear seat belt assembly (retractor side).
^ Use the replacement part numbers below for vehicles built WITH slotted seats.
^ Refer to the Seat Belts section of the Service Manual.
Parts Information
1997 2nd Design and 1998-1999 Part Numbers
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
Warranty information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the table.