Body 231
4. ENGINE BONNET
TO REMOVE, INSTAL AND ADJUST
Raise the engine bonnet and place covers on
both front mudguards. Mark the hinge mountings on
the bonnet with a soft lead pencil to aid assembly.
Place a quantity of soft rag folded several
times under each rear corner of the bonnet on the
scuttle panel. Disconnect the windscreen washer hose from
the bonnet at the tee piece. With the aid of an assistant supporting the
bonnet, remove the retaining bolts and lift the bonnet
from the vehicle. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
Holding the bonnet in the position previ-
ously marked, install the bonnet hinge bolts
and
tighten to just over finger tight.
Close the bonnet and by pushing with the
hand, position the bonnet evenly in its opening.
Open the bonnet carefully and tighten the
mounting bolts. Check for correct positioning and adjust
again if necessary. Check the adjustment of the bonnet catch.
When the bonnet is closed the bonnet should align
with the front panels. When the catch is released the
bonnet should pop up sufficiently to enable the safety
catch to be released. If adjustment is necessary, mark the base
position with a pencil, loosen the retaining bolts and
move the catch in the desired direction. Tighten the
bolts and recheck.
NOTE: When adjusting the bonnet catch
ensure that the bonnet striker plate is enter-
ing centrally into the catch. Adjust the catch
or the bonnet lunges if necessary.
(7) When adjustment is complete, adjust the
bump rubbers on the radiator support panel up or
down by turning them to support the outer edges of
the bonnet.
View of the bonnet hinge showing the retaining/adjust-
ing bolts.
5. TAILGATE AND LOCK - HATCHBACK
TAILGATE
To Remove
Raise the tailgate and place protective covers
over the surrounding paintwork.
Using a soft lead pencil, mark around the
tailgate hinges to aid assembly. Remove the sealing grommets from the tail-
gate and disconnect the rear window washer hose. Prise out the tailgate trim panel retaining
clips and maneuver the tailgate interior trim panel
from the tailgate.
Disconnect the wiring connectors) inside the
tailgate and tie a piece of st ring to the connector(s).
Pull the tailgate wiring from the tailgate,
Installed view of the bonnet catch. View showing the right hand side tailgate components.
232 Body
leaving the ends of the string protruding from the
tailgate. Untie the string.
NOTE: The string will be used to pull the
wiring through the tailgate on installation.
If the wiring is pulled from the tailgate
without the string attached, installation will
be very difficult.
With the aid of an assistant supporting the
tailgate, prise out the ball joint stud snap locks from
each upper strut ball joint using a small screwdriver.
Remove the bolts retaining the hinges to the
tailgate and carefully withdraw the tailgate from the
vehicle.
To Install and Adjust
With the aid of an assistant, install the
tailgate in position on the hinges according to the
marks made on removal and install the retaining bolts.
Install the tailgate support struts and retain
the ball joints with the snap locks. Pull the tailgate wiring through using the
piece of string. Connect the wiring and install
the
tailgate trim panel. Close the tailgate and check the vertical and
lateral alignment of the tailgate in relation to the
body. If adjustment is required, loosen the tailgate
hinge retaining bolts one hi nge at a time and adjust
the tailgate as required. If vertical adjustment is required, it will be
necessary to remove or install washers under the
tailgate hinges. If required, adjust the striker plate using the
procedure that follows.
STRIKER PLATE
To Remove, Install and Adjust
Using a flat bladed screwdriver, prise out the
trim plugs and remove the trim plate from above the
striker.
Using a soft lead pencil, scribe a line around
the striker plate.
Remove the striker plate retaining bolts and
partially remove the striker plate. Disconnect the remote tailgate release cable
from the striker plate and remove the striker plate
from the vehicle. Inspect the striker plate for wear and renew
it if necessary. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
Install the striker plate ensuring that it is in
the position marked on dismantling and that the
remote tailgate release cable is connected. Tighten the
retaining bolts. Close the tailgate ensuring that the striker
has actuated the locking mechanism. Check the alignment of the tailgate in its
opening and adjust the locking action by moving the
striker plate in the requir ed direction. Tighten the
retaining bolts securely.
LOCK AND LOCK CYLINDER
To Remove and Install
Prise out the tailgate trim panel retaining
clips and carefully maneuver the tailgate interior
trim panel from the tailgate.
Disconnect the actuati ng rod from the lock
cylinder assembly. Disconnect the interior lamp switch wiring
connector.
Installed view of the striker plate assembly. Hatchback
models. Dismantled view of the Hatchback lock and lock cylin-
der.
Body 233
Remove the lock assembly retaining bolts
and withdraw the lock assembly, insulator and link
from the tailgate.
Using a suitable screwdriver, remove the
lock cylinder retaining clip and withdraw the lock
cylinder from the vehicle. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
Ensure that the positioning of the lock is
correct in relation to the striker plate.
Ensure that the interior lamp switch wiring
connector is connected.
6. LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID
AND LOCK — SEDAN
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID
To Remove
Raise the luggage compartment lid and place
protective covers over the surrounding paintwork.
Using a soft lead pencil, mark around the
luggage compartment lid hi nges to aid assembly.
With the aid of an assistant supporting the
lid, remove the hinge retaining bolts and withdraw the
luggage compartment lid from the vehicle.
To Install and Adjust
With the aid of an assistant, install the
luggage compartment lid in position on the hinges
according to the marks made on removal. Install the
retaining bolts. Close the lid and check the vertical and
lateral alignment of the l i d in relation to the body.
If adjustment is necessary, loosen the l i d
hinge retaining bolts on one hinge at a time and adjust
the lid as required.
If vertical adjustment is required, loosen the
lid hinge retaining bolts and increase or decrease the
number of washers under the bolts. If required, adjust the striker plate using the
procedure that follows.
STRIKER PLATE
To Remove, Install and Adjust
Fold back the trim material from inside the
luggage compartment.
Using a soft lead pencil, scribe a line around
the outside of each striker plate retaining bolt washer. Remove the striker plate bolts and washers
and the screw retaining the remote release cable
bracket.
Installed view of the luggage compartment lid striker
with the trim material folded back.
(4) Slide the striker assembly towards the right
hand side of the vehicle and disconnect the remote
release cable. Withdraw the striker plate from the
vehicle.
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
(1) Install the remote release cable to the striker
plate and install the striker plate retaining bolts and
washers to the lines made on dismantling.
Tighten the retaining bolts to just over finger
tight.
Close the lid ensuring that the striker has
actuated the locking mechanism. Check the alignment of the luggage compart-
ment lid in its opening an d adjust the locking action
by moving the striker plate. Tighten the retaining
bolts securely.
When the striker plate is adjusted correctly
pull the remote release ca ble towards the right hand
side of the vehicle until the cable end has 0.5-1.5 mm
clearance and tighten the re taining screws. Check the
operation of the remote release cable and readjust if
necessary.
Installed view of the luggage compartment lid hinge.
234 Body
LOCK ASSEMBLY
To Remove and Install
( 1 ) Remove the retaining bolts and withdraw the
lock assembly from the luggage compartment lid.
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
ensuring that the actuating arm on the lock is under
the lock cylinder pivot.
LOCK CYLINDER
Installed view of the lock and lock cylinder.
LOCK CYLINDER
To Remove and Install
Remove the bolt retaining the lock cylinder
pivot to the luggage compartment lid inner panel. Using a suitable screwdriver, remove the
lock cylinder retaining clip from under the lock. Withdraw the lock cylinder and pivot from
the vehicle. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure.
(2) When the clips have been released, pull the
grille forward and remove it from the vehicle ensuring
that care is taken not to damage the grille.
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
Remove the grille retaining clips from the
radiator support panel and install them to the
grille.
Renew any damaged clips. Install the grille to the vehicle being careful to
align the grille clips before pushing the grille inwards.
Post July 1989 Pulsar Models
Fabricate a tool to engage the radiator grille
clips from the inside; an old spanner of suitable
dimensions can be ground down if necessary.
Using the above tool, turn the lower radiator
clips slightly to allow removal of the grille.
7. RADIATOR GRILLE
TO REMOVE AND INSTAL
Astra Models and Pre July 1989 Pulsar Models
(1) Using a flat bladed screwdriver, turn the
grille clips slightly to allow removal of the grille.
Installed view of the radiator grille on pre July 1989
models showing the retaining clip locations. Installed view of the radiator grille on post July 1989
models showing the retaining clip locations and the
special tool required to release the lower clips.
Using a flat bladed screwdriver, turn the
upper grille clips slightly to allow removal of the grille. When all the clips have been released, pull
the grille forward and remove it from the vehicle
ensuring that care is taken not to damage the grille.
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
Remove the grille clips from the radiator
support panel and install them to the grille. Renew any
damaged clips.
Install the grille to the vehicle being careful to
align the grille clips before pushing the grille inwards.
8. CENTRE CONSOLE
TO REMOVE AND INSTAL
Remove the carpet square from the rear part
of the console and remove the screws underneath. Prise out the trim piece below the handbrake
Body 235
lever and remove the screws underneath. Withdraw
the rear console.
On manual transaxle models, unscrew the
gear lever knob and prise out the gear lever rubber
boot. On automatic transaxle models, prise out the
panel around the selector lever and maneuver the
panel over the lever. Remove the screws retaining the front of the
console to the floor panel and withdraw the console
from the vehicle. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure.
9, DASHBOARD
TO REMOVE AND INSTAL
Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
Remove the centre console as previously
described in this section. Remove the steering wheel as described in
the Steering section. Remove the upper and lower steering col-
umn shrouds and remove the combination switch.
Refer to the Electrical System section if necessary. Remove the retaining screws and withdraw
the lower trim panel from underneath the steering
column. Remove the screws from underneath the
bonnet lock handle and slide the bonnet lock handle
downwards out of the dashboard. Remove the screws retaining the centre fas-
cia panel, two upper and two lower, withdraw the
fascia panel slightly and disconnect the wiring to the
cigarette lighter.
Dismantled view of the centre console assembly. Au-
tomatic transaxle model.
Remove the radio/cassette bracket retaining
screws. Disconnect the aerial and the wiring and
withdraw the radio/cassette from the centre bracket. Remove the heater control knobs and re-
move the heater fascia panel screws. Carefully remove
the heater fascia panel leaving the heater controls in
place.
Loosen the bolt retaining the large wiring
connector at the lower right hand side of the dash-
board. As the bolt is loosened it will force the
connector apart. Using a screwdriver, carefully prise out the
demister ducts from th e top of the dashboard.
Using a suitable socket, remove the bolts
from underneath the demister ducts. Remove the bolts from the outer lower edges
and the lower part of th e centre bracket assembly.
NOTE: Refer to the illustration for the
location of the dashboard retaining bolts.
(14) With the aid of an assistant lift the dash-
board straight up at the door pillar brackets. Tilt the
View of the dashboard removed from the vehicle. The arrows indicate the location of the retaining bolts.
236 Body
top of the dashboard rearwards and maneuver the
dashboard through the front door opening.
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:
With the aid of an assistant, ensure that the
outer edges of the dashboard engage properly with the
door pillar brackets.
Hold the dashboard in position and loosely
install all retaining bolts. Align the dashboard
and
tighten all screws and bolts securely.
10. SEAT BELTS
The front and outer rear seats are equipped with
lap/sash inertia reel seat belts, which are designed to
lock with any sudden change in vehicle motion.
The centre rear seat is equipped with a manually
adjustable lap seat belt.
Child restraint anchorages are located on the
parcel shelf behind the rear seat on Sedan models and
at the rear of the lugg age compartment floor on
Hatchback models. These anchorages must be used if
a child's seat or capsule is installed to the vehicle. The
anchorages should not be used for adult scat bells or
harnesses.
The seat belts should be periodically inspected as
described below. Any seat belt assembly that is worn
or damaged, or has been subjected to abnormal
loadings in a collision, should be renewed as a
complete assembly.
Only mild soap and water should be used to clean
the webbing. Contamination wi th polish, oil, bleaches
and other chemicals should be avoided.
TO INSPECT
(1) Check the seat belt webbing for fraying, cuts,
burns or other damage. On inertia reel belts, slowly
pull the belt from the reel to allow the entire length to
be examined. If the webbing is damaged or worn,
renew the seat belt assembly.
Check the seat belt webbing for fraying, cuts, burns or
other damage.
Ensure that the belts are not twisted.
Check all retaining nuts and bolts for secu-
rity.
Inspect the belt buckles for correct and
secure engagement. If the buckles are damaged or do
not function correctly, renew the seat belt assembly. On inertia reel seat belts, check the retractor
mechanism as follows:
Pull the belt slowly from the reel and check
for smooth operation. Release the belt and ensure that
it retracts fully.
Pull the belt rapidly from the reel. The reel
should lock.
Drive the vehicle at walking pace and at-
tempt to withdraw the belt slowly while braking
sharply. The reel should lock. If the retractor mechanism does not function
correctly, renew the seat belt assembly.
11. SEATS
FRONT SEAT
To Remove and Install
Adjust the seat to the most forward position.
Remove the mounting bolts from the rear of
the seat.
Adjust the seat to allow access to the mount-
ing bolts at the front of the seat. Remove the mounting bolts and withdraw
the seat from the vehicle.
Installed view of the fron t seat belt with the door pillar
trim removed showing the mounting points.