EA88015 · EA
SEATS Investigation
SUMMARY: RESULTS OF ETF TESTING SHOW THAT A FAILED SEAT TRACK CAUSES THETHE SEAT ASSEMBLY TO RECLINE UNTIL THE SEAT BACK CONTACTS THE REAR SEATCUSHION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ANALYSIS: THE ROCKER RECLINER SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESSEPARATES FROM THE TRACK ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF METAL FATIGUE.AMC HAS MOD-IFIED THE SEAT TRACK DESIGN AND APPARENTLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM.RECOMMENDATION: TEST ADDITIONAL FAILED SEATS AND SEND A RECALL REQUESTLETTER.===
EA85043 · EA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES Investigation
SUMMARY: MANUFACTURER CLAIMS MOST REPORTS ARE A SHIFT-FLARE CONDITION OFHIGHER ENGINE SPEEDS DURING THE NO-LOAD SHIFTING TIME INTERVAL.THIS CLAIMDOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE REPORTS.REPORTS DO NOT FOLLOWTHE TYPICAL SCENARIO OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURING WHEN THE VEHICLE ISPLACED INTO A DRIVING MODE.MANY REPORTS OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING INTO ANY GEARAT ANY SPEED.ALSO SOME REPORTS OF SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE.ANALYSIS: ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SPEED CONTROLLOOP, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS OCCUR AT SPEEDS WHICH ALLOW TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGEMENT.IN ADDITION, THIS TENDS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT TYPE OF FAILUREWHICH IS HARD TO TRACE TO A SINGLE SOURCE/CAUSE/COMPONENT, ALTHOUGH THE ISAMOTOR HAS BEEN CITED BY SEVERAL OF THE CONSUMERS AND FIELD REPRESENTATIVES.STATUS: C-MEMO DRAFT FORWARDED TO (H) 6/16/87.===