Bulletin No.: 18-NA-263

Service Bulletin

Date: December, 2024

WARRANTY ADMINISTRATION
Subject:
Brand:

Warranty Administration – Variable Diagnostic Time Allowances (U.S. Only)
Model:

Model Year:

VIN:

from

to

from

to

2010

2025

—

—

Engine:

Transmission:

—

—

BrightDrop
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet

Passenger
Cars and
Trucks

GMC
Involved Region or Country

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
• 0.0 – 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.
• Normal road test to verify repairs are part of the base labor operation and are not eligible for Diagnosis 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.

Copyright 2024 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

December, 2024

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-263

• Diagnosis time that extends beyond the published allowance must be submitted as OLH in the Other labour
Time 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.
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 as OLH submitted in the Other
Labour Time field and requires Service Management approval.
• Service management is responsible for assuring complete technician documentation and the reasonableness of
diagnosis time claimed.

Claim Submission Examples
EXAMPLE #1:

5135389

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 in example 1 above.

Bulletin No.: 18-NA-263

December, 2024

Page 3

EXAMPLE #2:

5135404

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 in example 2 above. The OLH time will require service management approval.
Version

4

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.
Revised December 13, 2024 – Added BrightDrop, 2024-2025 Model Years and updated
the Subject and information throughout the bulletin.

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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