Investigations
ALTERNATOR CABLE CHAFING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09042 - closed, opened 2009-09-01.
NHTSA investigation PE09042 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-09-01 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-12-08 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE09042 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BY MCI TO THE AGENCY. MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES (MCI) SUBMITTED A SERVICE BULLETIN/PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (#3016) IN THEIR 579.5 MONTHLY SUBMIS..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BY MCI TO THE AGENCY. MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES (MCI) SUBMITTED A SERVICE BULLETIN/PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (#3016) IN THEIR 579.5 MONTHLY SUBMISSION REGARDING AN ALTERNATOR CABLE CHAFING ISSUE ON "D" SERIES COACHES EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C13 ENGINE AND A 50DN DELCO ALTERNATOR. THE BULLETIN REPORTED "THE CABLE CAN CHAFE AGAINST AN ENGINE BRACKET OR AS A RESULT OF MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CABLE CLAMPS. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO INSTALL A NEW CABLE AND SUPPORT BRACKETS." ODI BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR A THERMAL EVENT RESULTING FROM ALTERNATOR CABLES CHAFING WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ODI PLACES INCREASED EMPHASIS ON PREVENTING POTENTIAL FIRES INVOLVING MOTOR COACHES AND OTHER VEHICLES WHICH CARRY LARGE NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS. IN NOVEMBER 2009, MCI FILED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-346) OUTLINING THEIR REMEDY PROGRAM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MCI WILL INSTALL A NEW CABLE WITH A HEAVY DUTY TERMINAL THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SPIRAL LOOM OVER THE CABLE PASSING THROUGH THE CABLE CLAMPS. ALSO, THE NEW CLAMP AND MOUNTING BRACKET WERE CHANGED TO BETTER ALIGN THE CABLE AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE CABLE CLAMP THUS PREVENTING A CHAFING CONDITION. THE ACTION TAKEN BY MCI RESOLVES THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.