Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
- Component
- Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
- Manufacturer
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Vehicles affected
- 3,660
- Reported to NHTSA
- 1994-03-26
- Owners notified
- 1994-07-19
Defect description
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BATTERY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, TILT HOODS, 5.9L, 6.6L OR 7.6L DIESEL ENGINES OR 6.1L OR 7.0L GASOLINE ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA ,RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BATTERY POWER JUNCTION BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT FENDER APRON, WHICH SERVES AS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT FOR SEVERAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT SYSTEMS, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD SPLASH. THE TERMINALS AT THE JUNCTION BLOCK CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND CAN FRACTURE, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN.
Safety risk
ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, OR LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOST CAN OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE JUNCTION BOX, MAIN POWER TERMINAL THE STARTER OR STARTER RELAY AND TERMINALS AT THE EXISTING JUNCTION BLOCK. THE WIRING OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE CIRCUIT WILL ALSO BE MODIFIED BY BYPASSING THE JUNCTION BLOCK. THE NEW TERMINALS WILL BE MADE FROM AN ALLOY MATERIAL MORE RESISTANT TO SALT CORROSION.