Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

18-NA-263
February, 2023

WARRANTY ADMINISTRATION
Subject:
Brand:
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
GMC

Variable Diagnostic Time Allowances (U.S. Only)
Model:
GM
Passenger
Cars and
Trucks

Model Year:

VIN:

from

to

from

to

2010

2023

—

—

Involved Region or Country

Transmission:

—

—

United States

Labor operations that include diagnosis time
allowances will display, in most cases, one of the
following Add Times in the Labor Time Guide:
• 0.0 – 1.0 Diagnosis Time – Dealer may claim up to
the allowable labor hours depending on actual
time to perform diagnosis
• 0.3 Diagnosis Time – Dealer may claim up to the
allowable labor hours depending on actual time to
perform diagnosis

Policies for Transactions Including
Diagnosis Time
Eligibility:
• The labor operation must include a published
Diagnosis Add Time allowance to claim
diagnosis time.
• Diagnosis time submitted on an eligible
transaction must not exceed actual time spent by
the technician on diagnosing the condition,
supported by both separate on/off punch times
and technician comments. For example, if an
initial visual inspection identifies an immediate
diagnosis, no diagnosis time should be submitted
on the transaction.
• Technician inefficiency or lack of training is not
sufficient justification for diagnosis time.
• Phone time with Technical Assistance Center is
not considered Diagnosis Time or OLH.
• TAC cases can be referenced in support of
diagnostic actions but cannot be used to validate
diagnosis time claimed. Documented details on
the job card, along with specific on/off punch times
are the required items to support diagnosis time.

Copyright 2023 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Engine:

•

•

Normal road test to verify repairs are part of the
base labor operation and are not eligible for
Diagnosis Add Time or OLH unless an
extenuating circumstance is documented and
approved by service management.
Diagnosis Time allowances are not intended to
subsidize repair time covered under the Base
Labor Time allowance or substitute for a proper
customer problem analysis by the Service Advisor.

Claim Submission:
• Eligible diagnosis time must be submitted in the
Labor “Diagnosis Time” field.
• Technician “Cause” comments on the job card and
submitted transaction must provide details to
support the Diagnosis Time claimed.
• To avoid rejects, amount claimed must not exceed
published allowance for the Labor Operation used.
• Diagnosis time that extends beyond the published
allowance must be submitted in the Other Labor
Time (OLH) field.
Punch Times:
• Diagnosis time submitted must be supported by
individual and specific on/off punch times on the
technician’s time ticket.
• Diagnosis time can be the first punch time on the
time ticket in situations where the first job card line
that the technician is working on involves
immediate diagnosis time.
• When technician diagnosis time extends beyond
the published allowance, the technician must
punch OFF of diagnosis time and ON to OLH.

Page 2

February, 2023

Service Management Responsibility:
• Service Management authorization is not required
for amounts claimed within the published
allowance (less than or equal to the 0.3 or 1.0
published maximum allowance).
• Diagnosis time that extends beyond the published
allowance is to be claimed in the OLH field and
requires Service Management approval.
• Service management is responsible for assuring
complete technician documentation and the
reasonableness of diagnosis time claimed.

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-263

Technician has punch times and proper documentation
to support 0.6 hour diagnosis time. The Labor Time
Guide has a published add time allowance of up to 1.0
hours for Diagnosis Time for the applicable labor
operation. Time is submitted as shown above.
EXAMPLE #2:

Claim Submission Examples
EXAMPLE #1:

5135404

5135389

Technician punches in for diagnosis time and has
completed 1 hour of diagnosis, but has not yet
determined the necessary repair. Technician punches
out of diagnosis at 1.0 hour and punches in for OLH.
The technician completes diagnosis in an additional 0.4
hour and punches out of OLH. The Labor Time Guide
has a published add time allowance of up to 1.0 hours
for Diagnosis Time for the applicable labor operation.
The times are submitted as shown above. The OLH
time will require service management approval.

Version

3

Modified

Released August 24, 2018
Revised November 25, 2020 – Added the 2020-2021 Model Years, corrected the Involved
Region or Country section and made minor changes throughout the bulletin.
Revised February 17, 2023 – Added the 2022–2023 Model Years.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
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 your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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