Defect Investigation Detail

THOMAS / MVP ER / 1997

Components - Details
NHTSA Action Number: PE02023 Vehicale/Equipment Name: THOMAS
Vehicale/Equipment Model: MVP ER Vehicale/Equipment Year: 1997
Component Name: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Manufacturer's Name: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Date Opened: Feb, 12 2002 Date Closed: Mar, 25 2002
Subject: FAN DRIVE UPDATE Summary: In october 2001, thomas built buses sent out a vehicle owner notification (von) to bus owners outlining procedures for the proper alignment and replacement of the engine's fan drive components.directions in the communication require that the idler pulley, belt tensioner, and the fan belt will need to be replaced.presumably, this action was being recommended to eliminate fan belt separations while the buses are in service.a fan belt separation would result in the ngine overheating and ultimately stalling.as a result of this action, odi contacted two fleets and determined that they had suffered disabled buses on the shoulder of the road as a result of a fan belt failure.on february 12, 2001, odi opened thie preliminary evaluation to understand the extent of the failures and the rationale for conducting an owner notification program in lieu of a safety recall campaign.on march 15, 2002, thomas built filed a defect report outlining their plans to conduct a safety recall to notify the remaining owners and remedy the affected school buses.this investigation is closed.