Quarter Panel - Body Creaks
NO.: TSB-97-42B-001DATE: October, 1997
MODEL: 1996-98 Eclipse Spyder
SUBJECT:
BODY CREAKS
PURPOSE
This bulletin contains information for correcting body creaks coming from the quarter panel area of the 1996-98 Eclipse Spyder.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This bulletin addresses body creaks which can originate in any of the following four areas on either or both sides of the vehicle:
^ Lower-front area of the quarter-panel - This creak may be caused by poor fit of the body panels behind the door switch on the lower B-pillar.
^ Rear portion of the door sill- This condition may be caused by improper spot-welding of the door sill body panels.
^ Center of the quarter-panel - (Vehicles built before November, 1996) This noise may come from improper sealing between the inside of the quarter-panel and the drain-trough (quarter-panel support) bracket.
^ Behind rear quarter-panel speaker (just behind the B-pillar) - In this case, the creak may come from the need to place sealer or, in severe cases, additional spot welds between the inner and outer seat belt reinforcement brackets.
AFFECTED VEHICLES
1996-98 Eclipse Spyder
PROCEDURE
^ Lower-front area of the quarter-panel (Door Switch Hole Repair)
1. Open the door and remove the door switch screw, unplug the connector and remove the switch.
2. With a center-punch, make punch marks around the door switch hole as shown. This will crimp the body panels behind the switch together more securely.
NOTE:
Make the punch marks close enough to the hole so the switch cover will hide the marks.
3. Reinstall the switch.
4. Test drive the vehicle to verify repair.
^ Rear portion of the door sill (Door Sill Repair)
NOTE:
If your dealership does not have welding capability, you may choose to sublet this repair to a body shop. If this is the case, give a copy of this bulletin to the sublet repair facility. Follow standard sublet warranty claim procedures for reimbursement.
1. Remove the door sill scuff plate making sure you do not damage the tabs.
2. Measure back 15 mm from the side sill - quarter-panel joint. In the center of the horizontal surface, drill an 8 mm hole through the first layer of the quarter-panel.
NOTE:
The hole will be under the scuff plate and will not be visible after the scuff plate is installed.
3. Through the drilled 8 mm hole, apply a plug weld to fuse the quarter-panel to the side sill.
4. Paint over the surface of the weld.
5. Install the scuff plate.
6. Test drive the vehicle to verity repair.
^ Center of the quarter-panel (Sealing of Drain Trough)
1. Open top to fully open.
2. Reach into the quarter-panel from the top and locate by feel, the drain trough (quarter-panel support) bracket that is attached to the outer quarter-panel.
3. Apply sealer (RTV) along the top edge of the bracket so that it is sealed against the inside of the quarter-panel.
NOTE:
Make sure to let the RTV sealant cure for the time specified by the RTV manufacturer's instructions before test driving the vehicle.
4. Test drive the vehicle to verity repair.
^ Behind rear quarter-panel speaker [just behind the B-pillar] (Seat Belt Reinforcement Bracket Repair)
NOTE:
If welding is required and your dealership does not have welding capability, you may choose to sublet this repair to a body shop. If this is the case, give a copy of this bulletin to the sublet repair facility. Follow standard sublet warranty claim procedures for reimbursement.
1. To access the seat belt reinforcement bracket, remove the speaker cover, speaker, and speaker mounting bracket.
2. Inspect the seat belt reinforcement bracket as a possible source of suspected creaking noise.
3. If you determine the creak is coming from this area, apply sealer between the inner and outer seat belt reinforcement brackets, and if necessary, add a few spot welds to secure these two bracket pieces together.
4. Reinstall the speaker mounting bracket, speaker, and speaker cover.
5. Test drive the vehicle to verify repair.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Door Switch Hole Repair (one side)
Nature Code: 99D Cause Code: 990
Labor Operation No. 42604090 Time Allowance: 0.3 hr.
Door Sill Repair (drilling and welding - one side)
Nature Code: 99D Cause Code: 990
Labor Operation No. 42604190 Time Allowance: 0.5 hr.
Sealing of Drain Trough Bracket (one side)
Nature Code: 99D Cause Code: 990
Labor Operation No. 42604290 Time Allowance: 0.5 hr.
Seat Belt Reinforcement Bracket Repair (sealing and/or welding - one side)
Nature Code: 99D Cause Code: 990
Labor Operation No. 42604390 Time Allowance: 1.5 hr.
Warranty Coverage: 36 months/36,000 miles.
Special Warranty Information: Normal warranty procedures apply.