EA86026 · EA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Investigation
SUMMARY:MASERATI BELIEVES THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES TO BE OWNER MIS-USEOF THE MANUAL CHOKE.ANALYSIS:IF THE MANUAL CHOKE IS LEFT ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, THEEXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS, PARTICULARLY DURING IDLING ORURBAN DRIVING.THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF THE SURROUNDING WIRINGHOSES, INSULATION, ETC. CAN RESULT IN SMOKE, FUMES, AND FIRE.STATUS:MASERATI RECALL RETROFITTING DUMP VALVE FOR SECONDARY AIRTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THIS PREVENTS CATALYST OVERHEATING.ALL 1984 AND 1985 BITURBOS WERE RECALLED PER 87V-151.CLOSED 11/18/87.===
PE86055 · PE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES Investigation
ANALYSIS:THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY FORWARDED ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT.THE OWNER REPORTED THE OCCURRENCE OF TWO FIRES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OFUNDETERMINED ORIGIN IN THE REAR OF THE CAR.THE LATEST FIRE RESULTED INFUME INHALATION BY HIS SIX-YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH SUBSEQUENT MEDICALTREATMENT.BECAUSE OF THE SMALL VEHICLE POPULATION AND THE COMPLAINANT'SALLEGATION THAT HE HAS BEEN TOLD, THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION,RE THE MASERATI BITURBO MODEL, FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION AND SEND AN INFORMATIONREQUEST.