This how-to is for how to fix the water leak described in TSB #01-08-57-003. The symptoms of this are a wet passenger floor after rain / car wash / etc.. and/or inoperable heater blower motor.
The fix in the TSB is to (re)install a foam deflector, part number 22680817. Cost me about $4 from the dealer.
Tools required:
13mm socket for removing wiper arm nuts
Trim tool for prying out wiper arms and also removing body fasteners for air inlet screen
Torque wrench
Adhesive cleaner to clean the surface where the new foam piece goes
Not pictured:
2 beers
Note: Frozen Margaritas may be substituted for beers in case of hot weather, as long as you refrain from any umbrellas
Parts required:
1 - GM p/n 22680817 foam thing
First order of business - mark off the location of your wipers. I did this with a piece of electrical tape lined up to each blade. This is important so you replace your wipers as they were.
Remove the plastic covers covering the wiper arm nuts, and remove the nuts w/ a 13mm socket. Then, my trim tool worked fine to pry the arm off the motor spindle. Take pressure off the pivot by lifting the wiper up and pry gently to get it to come off the spindle. Note: BE CAREFUL as you can put a tool through your windshield easy here.
Now that both wiper arms are off, we can take off the air inlet screen.. Using trim tool (or flathead if you suck at tools), remove the 5 clips, circled in red, then pull up and towards the front of the car to remove the entire piece. Note, it might be a little snug under the windshield weatherstripping.
Now, you'll see the blower inlet and where we're going to install the foam piece. Remove any old foam piece if it happens to be there, and clean the installation area good with some adhesive cleaner.
Install the foam piece as pictured.. Run your fingers along the piece many times to get any air bubbles out in the adhesive. You can see that what it does is just deflect water around the blower inlet. It's a bad pic but the piece goes around the curved part of the mounting surface..
That's it! To reinstall the air inlet cover, just reverse the directions. The weatherstripping on the bottom of the windshield may be stubborn. Also make sure you are inserting the piece between the new foam you installed and the weatherstripping, don't rip the foam on re-install.
For the wiper arms, they press back on the spindles and then just re-install the nuts. I believe the torque required for them is 22 ft-lbs.
Here with the piece off you can see the thin little area and drains that divert water
Test by pouring some water on the windshield. Hopefully it goes on the ground under the car and not all over your BCM and blower motor.
Chug any remaining beers (or hot day substitute beverage)
