Investigations
STARTER CABLE CHAFING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09043 - closed, opened 2009-09-09.
NHTSA investigation PE09043 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-09-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2010-01-13 - 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 PE09043 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: "IN AUGUST 2009, MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES (MCI) SUBMITTED A SERVICE BULLETIN/PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT NOTICE DISCUSSING D-SERIES COACHES WITH "PRE-2007" DETROIT S60 ENGINES IN WHICH THE STARTER CABLE MAY CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE BRA..." 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
IN AUGUST 2009, MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES (MCI) SUBMITTED A SERVICE BULLETIN/PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT NOTICE DISCUSSING D-SERIES COACHES WITH "PRE-2007" DETROIT S60 ENGINES IN WHICH THE STARTER CABLE MAY CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE BRACKETS AND/OR MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CABLE CLAMPS. THE STIPULATED CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE CABLE AND INSTALL ADDITIONAL CLAMPS. ODI PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON POTENTIAL THERMAL EVENTS FOR ANY REASON IN MOTOR COACHES. THEREFORE, AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED. WITH THE ADVENT OF THE "EPA 2007 ENGINE DESIGN," MCI IMPROVED THE STARTER CABLE ASSEMBLY. MCI CHANGED TO A HIGHER LOAD FLEX CABLE TO REDUCE THE LOADING BOTH INTO THE STARTER CABLE TERMINAL AND THE CLAMPING. FOR COACHES WITH "2006" (PRE-2007 DETROIT S60) AND EARLIER ENGINE COMBINATIONS, MCI BECAME AWARE OF A FEW REPORTS INVOLVING CABLE CHAFING FROM FLEETS USING AFTERMARKET CLAMPS. MCI SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDED TO RELEASE A NEW INSTALLATION DESIGN FOR AFTER MARKET SERVICE ON THE PRE-2007 ENGINE. IN LIGHT OF OUR CONCERNS, MCI HAS DECIDED TO SEND OUT A NEW SERVICE BULLETIN MAKING OWNERS AWARE THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC CLAMPS FOR USE ON THE STARTER CABLES AND INCORRECT AFTERMARKET CLAMPS SHOULD NOT BE USED. A COPY OF THE TSB WILL BE ATTACHED TO THIS RESUME UPON RECEIPT. BASED ON MCI'S DATA, ODI FIELD INSPECTIONS AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THIS ISSUE, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES ARE NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.
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.