AMTRAN: RE: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:BLOWER
| NHTSA Campaign Number: | 01V241000 |
| Vehicle/Equipment Make: | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| Vehicle/Equipment Model: | RE |
| Model Year: | 2000 |
| Manufacturer Component Description: | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:BLOWER |
| Manufacturers Involved in Recall: | IC CORPORATION |
| Manufacturered: | 19990601 - 20000531 |
| Type of Report: | V (Vehicle, Equipment or Tire) |
| Potential Number of Units Affected: | 11944 |
| Date Owner Notified By Manufacturer: | 20011215 |
| Recall Initiated By: | MFR |
| Manufacturer Responsible For Recall: | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| Report Received Date: | 20011120 |
| Record Creation Date: | 20010731 |
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES WERE BUILT WITH A POOR QUALITY HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER SWITCH. IN SOME CASES THIS HAS CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE HEATER HARNESS CONNECTOR AT THE SWITCH TERMINALS OR THE HIGH-SPEED WIRE INSULATION AT THE CONNECTOR. ALSO, SOME OF THE UNITS HAD IMPROPER CIRCUIT PROTECTION SIZE INSTALLED IN THE HEATER DEFROSTER CIRCUIT.
Consequence Summary:
IF AN OPERATOR DETECTS SMOKE OR THE SMELL OF MELTING WIRE INSULATION FROM THE BLOWER CONTROL PANEL, THE OPERATION OF THE HEATER/DEFROSTER AT HIGH SPEED SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE.
Corrective Summary:
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND SWITCH HARNESS WITH A NEW SWITCH, SWITCH HARNESS, RELAY AND RELAY HARNESS. FOR THE RE UNITS BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1999, THE KIT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A 20-AMPERE MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 800-843-5615.
Notes:
ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION=S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).