Underhood Electrical Center - Intermittent Conditions
File In Section: 8 - Chassis/Body ElectricalBulletin No.: 43-81-48
Date: January, 1995
Subject:
Intermittent Electrical Conditions (Replace Stud Assembly)
Models:
1994-95 Buick Roadmaster
1994-95 Chevrolet Caprice without SEO Option
CONDITION
The customer may comment on one or more intermittent electrical conditions, such as flickering instruments or lights, or engine hesitation or stalling.
CAUSE
Under certain conditions, the battery cable connection at the underhood electrical center stud may overheat. This may cause melting of the battery cable plastic cover, the plastic stud housing, and/or the stud itself, resulting in intermittent loss of vehicle power. This condition is more likely to occur if extra electrical loads have been added to the vehicle.
CORRECTION
1. Disconnect negative battery cable from battery.
2. Remove "AUX BATT POS" cover from electrical center stud. The electrical center and stud are located on the top of the right hand wheelhouse, just ahead of the front of dash. See Figure 1.
3. Remove the stud nut (not to be reinstalled) and the positive battery cable from the stud (Figure 1).
4. Remove the two nuts holding the electrical center to the wheelhouse.
5. Remove the top cover from the electrical center.
6. Remove the electrical center from the plastic bracket. Use a small screwdriver to release the retaining tabs (Figure 2).
7. Remove the small shorting prevention cover from the lower portion of the stud assembly (Figure 3).
8. Remove the bolt securing the ring terminals to the bottom portion of the stud (Figure 2).
9. Remove the 4 large Maxi-fuses.
10. Remove the Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) closest to the stud (Figure 4).
11. Use a small flat blade screwdriver to release the tour terminals securing the two busbars in the electrical center (Figure 5). Pull the busbars out the bottom.
12. Release the retaining tab, then slide the stud assembly from the electrical center (Figure 6).
13. Install a new stud assembly, P/N 12161130, to the electrical center.
14. Reinstall the busbars. Make certain that the busbars are not damaged, and click them firmly into place. If the busbars are damaged, replacement parts are available, P/N's 12129481 and 12146182.
15. Reinstall the TPA.
16. Reinstall the Maxi-fuses. Refer to the inside of the cover for correct positions.
17. Route wires horizontally toward front of dash (at a 45° angle away from the electrical center). Secure ring terminals to the lower stud assembly. Torque nut to 8 Nm (70 lb.in.).
18. Reinstall the shorting prevention cover over the bottom of the stud assembly.
19. Reassemble the electrical center into the plastic bracket.
20. Reinstall the top cover.
21. Reinstall the bracket to the fender skirt. Tighten the nuts to 6.0 Nm (50 lb.in.).
22. Reconnect the positive battery cable to the stud, using a new nut, P/N 11516161. Torque to 14 Nm (10 lb.ft).
23. Reinstall the "AUX BATT POS" cover to the stud. If the cap was damaged, the replacement part number is 12146183.
24. Reconnect the negative battery cable.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor Operation Labor Time
N6270 0.5 hr