ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES WITH MECHANICAL THROTTLE

Sep 16, 2002 — Recall Campaign #02V248000

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES WITH MECHANICAL THROTTLE, THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AND BREAK NEAR THE END FITTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE LINKAGE.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 818 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

02V248000

Manufacturer:	FREIGHTLINER LLC
Recall date:	September 16, 2002
NHTSA Campaign #:	02V248000
Units affected:	818

Description:: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES WITH MECHANICAL THROTTLE, THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AND BREAK NEAR THE END FITTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE LINKAGE.
Consequeces:: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE WITH A NEW DESIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:: FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-398. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

1996-1998 FREIGHTLINER FS-65

1998 FREIGHTLINER FS-65 Complaints
NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS LOCATED IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY WAS IN ROUTE WITH SIX CHILDREN AND A DRIVER WHEN THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE BUS IN A SAFE AREA AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND SUCCESSFULLY UNLOADED THE CHILDREN TO A SAFE PLACE. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 MINUTES AFTER EVACUATION FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PROCEEDED TO SPREAD THROUGH OUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AREA AND THEN TO THE REAR OF THE BUS BODY. THE BUS WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED WITH PRELIMINARY INDICATION THAT FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE REAR OF ENGINE WHERE WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED AROUND METALLIC HEATER SHUTOFF VALVE. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHERE THE INTAKE HEATER WIRE CHAFFED THROUGH THE WIRE HOUSING AND CONVOLUTED TUBING FROM RUBBING THE HEATER VALVE CREATING A SHORT TO THE HEATER VALVE WHICH IS SPECULATED TO HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. THE FIRE THEN BREACHED THE FIRE WALL THROUGH THE ENGINE ACCESS COVER LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS SEEN BY THE DRIVER. MULTIPLE BUSES IN THE NORTH CAROLINA FLEET OF THE SAME YEAR RANGE HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND SIMILAR WIRE CHAFFING HAS BEEN DISCOVERED, HOWEVER AT THIS POINT NO ADDITIONAL FIRES HAVE OCCURRED. THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE FLEET IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL AGENCIES OPERATING THE BUSES TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT FURTHER CHAFFING UNTIL AN ACTUAL FIRE ORIGINATION IS CONFIRMED. UPDATED 02/27/12 *BF THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE RUBBING OF THE INTAKE HEATER WIRE AGAINST THE METALLIC HEATER SHUT OFF VALVE. OVERTIME, THE TUBING WAS DESTROYED AND THE WIRE COVERING WAS RUBBED THROUGH ITS CORE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. UPDATED 03/21/12 *TR;