PE09029 · PE
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Investigation
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED SIX FLEET COMPLAINTS (19 BUSES TOTAL) ALLEGING REPEATED ISSUES OF THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR GASKET FAILING.IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE DEGRADED GASKET FELL INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RESULTING IN AN INCREASEDSTEERING EFFORT.ODI IS AWARE OF TWO BUSES THAT, WITHOUT WARNING, LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING OPERATIONS. REPORTEDLY, THE POWER STEERING GASKETS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT MATERIAL SUBSTITUTED BY ONE OF THE GASKET MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. AFTER ANEVALUATION INTO THIS ISSUE, BLUE BIRD AUTHORIZED A SAFETY RECALL. THE ORIGINAL POWER STEERING LID GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW GASKET MATERIAL.THE ACTION TAKEN BY BLUE BIRD RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE09007 · PE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN Investigation
A BLUE BIRD CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN DATED DECEMBER 18, 2008, WARNS OWNERS THAT THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED USINGINCORRECTLY SIZED BOLTS AND SPACERS ONMODEL YEARS 2008 AND 2009 VISION SCHOOL BUSES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FAN BLADE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CLUTCH MOUNTING POSITION. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, ON MARCH 3, 2009, BLUE BIRD FILED A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL INVOLVED BUSES. BLUE BIRD WILL REPLACED THE EXISTING SPACERS AND BOLTS IF FOUND TO BE THE INCORRECT HARDWARE.THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE08038 · PE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS Investigation
IN APRIL, 2008, ODI RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL ALLEGING THAT THEIR FIELD INSPECTORSWEREFINDING HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES THAT WEREBEING CUT OR CRUSHED BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE BUS BODY AT THE FIREWALL.THEY ALSO SUPPLIED INFORMATION ON ONE BUS THAT EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO THE BRAKE HOSE BEING CUT. FURTHER FIELD WORK BY ODI INCREASED THENUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO A TOTAL OF SEVEN.AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI AND FURTHER REVIEW OF FIELD INCIDENTS, BLUE BIRD HAS DECIDED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT, REPLACE AND OR REPOSITION THE BRAKE HOSES OF CONCERN. THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.