BROKEN CYLINDER HEAD BOLT COOLANT LOSS (NEW BOLT/GASKET)
MODELS/YEARS 1985-87 CALAIS AND CUTLASS CIERA WITH 2.5L ENGINE (VIN CODE R, U)
Major Tools Required:
Reversible Electric drill J 24460 and J-23699 Coolant System Pressure Tester J36660 Torque-AngleWrench J38188 HeadBoItKit: J 38188-1 Cylinder Head Bolt Extractor J 38188-2 3/16" Drill Guide J 38188-3 3/16" Drill Bit J 38188-4 Center Drill Guide J 38188-5 Center Drill Bit
All dealers were recently shipped one (1) J 38188 Head Bolt Kit at no charge.
The following passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine may experience coolant loss due to broken cylinder head bolts:
1985-87 Cutlass Ciera with 2.5L engine (VIN Code R) 1985-87 Calais with 2.5L engine (VIN Code U)
The head bolts most susceptible to this condition are the center three located closest to the exhaust manifold, i.e. bolts #2, #3, and #6, see FIGURE 1. If one of these three bolts is broken, replace all 3 bolts with new ones per the Application Table included in this bulletin.
The portion of the unbroken bolt remaining in the cylinder block may be extracted without removing the cylinder head. The procedure for extracting any broken head bolt is as follows:
Procedure:
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1. Remove the top portion of the broken bolt from the engine.
2. Insert tool J-38188-4 into the open cylinder head bolt hole.
3. Insert tool J-38188-5 into a reversible electric drill.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE AN AIR-POWERED DRILL - THE SPEED IS TOO FAST AND WILL CAUSE PREMATURE DRILL BIT FAILURE.
4. Referring to FIGURE 2, use J38188-5 to start a hole in the bolt.
IMPORTANT: RECOMMENDED HOLE DEPTH IS .280 in. (7 mm) MINIMUM. THE DRILL BIT MAY BE MARKED WITH A WAX PENCIL TO GAUGE THE DEPTH OF THE DRILLED HOLE. BLOW OUT DEBRIS FROM THE HOLE.
5. Replace tool J-38188-4 with tool J-38188-2.
6. Insert tool J-38188-3 into electric drill.
IMPORTANT: TOOL J-38188-3 IS A LEFT-HAND TWIST DRILL - IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE ROTATION OF THE ELECTRIC DRILL BE REVERSED PRIOR TO USING THE DRILL. ROTATION OF THE DRILL SHOULD BE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.
7. Drill into the bolt approximately .60 - .70 in. (15-17 mm) deep, see FIGURE 3. The drill may be marked in a similar manner as above for gauging hole depth.
IMPORTANT: USE CUTTING OIL AS NECESSARY DURING DRILLING.
8. Remove tool J-38188-2 from the cylinder head.
9. Using a slender rod or screwdriver and a hammer, apply a sharp impact to the bolt to help jar it loose. Blow debris from the hole.
10. Using tool J-38188-1, carefully extract the bolt from the block, see FIGURE 4.
IMPORTANT: BLOW DEBRIS OUT OF BOLT HOLE FOLLOWING BOLT EXTRACTION.
11. Install a new bolt as selected from the "Application Table".
IMPORTANT: APPLY ENGINE OIL (e.g.5W-30) TO BOLTS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
12. Using tool J-36660, torque the bolt to 30 N-m (22 lbs. ft.), then rotate the bolt 60 degrees.
13. Replace the remaining two unbroken bolts (of bolts #2, #3, or #6) with new ones as selected from the "Application Table".
NOTICE: CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SHOULD BE REPLACED ONE A TIME. REMOVAL OF MORE THAN ONE HEAD BOLT AT A TIME CAN CAUSE UNWANTED INTERNAL AND/OR EXTERNAL COOLANT LOSS. INTERNAL COOLANT LOSS CAN CONTAMINATE OIL.
14. Repeat Step 12 when fastening the bolts.
15. If any other head bolt is broken or needs to be replaced, a new bolt should be installed as selected from the "Application Table".
16. Following head bolt replacement, the coolant system should be pressure tested per the Service Manual - Section 6B.
17. If no leakaae is evident, the condition has been corrected.
18. If leakaae is evident, the cylinder head gasket must be replaced. Install the appropriate gasket as shown below:
Head Gasket VIN Engine Code Part Number ---------------- ----------- Calais U 10101783 Cutlass Ciera R 10101784
19. Reinstall cylinder head and replaceal lhead bolts with new ones per the "Application Table".
20. Refer to the Service Manual - Section 6A1 for the fastening procedure and torque specifications when replacement of all head bolts is necessary.
APPLICATION TABLE
HEAD BOLT NEW BOLT MODEL MODEL YEAR POSITION PART NUMBER ----- ----------- -------- ------------
Cutlass Ciera 1985-87 1 -8 10044566 1985-87 9 10044568 1985-87 10 10044570
Calais 985-87 1-8 10044565 1985-87 9 10044567 1985-87 10 10044569
Part are currently available from GMSPO.
IMPORTANT: APPLY ENGINE OIL(e.g.5W-30) TO BOLTS BEFORE INSTALLATION.
WARRANTY INFORMATION:
Multiple Head Bolt Replacement: (Steps 1 through 17) Labor Operation Number: T1443 Labor Time: 0.8 Hrs. Trouble Code: 92
If head gasket replacement is necessary (Steps 18 through 20), add necessary hours, not to exceed 3.7 hours,to the above labor operation in the straight time field (other hours field).
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.
