Ford B700

THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE CAN WEAR THE BRASS SWIVEL BLOCK ON THE GOVERNOR LEVER THROUGH WHICH IT PASSES.

A CONNECTOR IN THE WIRING WHERE THE TILT HOOD MOUNTED LAMPS ATTACH TO THE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS WAS BUILT WITHOUT SEALING PLUGS. MOISTURE, ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS CAN ENTER THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN CROSSED CIRCUITS, SHORTS OR CORROSION OF THE WIRING OF THE CONNECTOR.

THE STEERING GEARS HAVE AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SNAP RING GROOVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING WITH SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE RECIRCULATING BALL GUIDE TUBE. ALSO, THE O-RING SEAL IN VEHICLES BUILT AFTER FEBRUARY 1988 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND IS INADEQUATE, CAUSING INTERIOR LEAKAGE AROUND THE O-RING / GLIDE RING SEAL IN THE STEERING GEAR.

SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BATTERY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, TILT HOODS, 5.9L, 6.6L OR 7.6L DIESEL ENGINES OR 6.1L OR 7.0L GASOLINE ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA ,RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BATTERY POWER JUNCTION BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT FENDER APRON, WHICH SERVES AS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT FOR SEVERAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT SYSTEMS, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD SPLASH. THE TERMINALS AT THE JUNCTION BLOCK CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND CAN FRACTURE, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN.

AS A RESULT OF INHERENT VIBRATION IN THESE ENGINES, THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE.

BECAUSE OF A MACHINING INCONSISTENCY, THERE IS A HIGH PISTON-TO-BALL CONTACT ANGLE IN THE STEERING GEAR WORM DRIVE. THIS CONTACT CAUSES THE BALLS TO TRY TO ROTATE ON TWO DIFFERENT ROLLING RADII AT TWO DIFFERENT SPEEDS, CAUSING THE BALL TO DAMAGE THE CONTACT SURFACES OF THE PISTON AND SPINDLE DURING STATIC OR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INVOKING FULL OR NEAR FULL TURNS.

BUSES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT TYPE OF STEEL TUBING IN THE INTERMEDIATE REAR SERVICE BRAKE LINES WHICH MAY LEAK OR BREAK DURING APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF A BRAKE LINE LEAKED, REAR BRAKES COULD QUIT WORKING, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER SUPPLY HOSES THAT ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND MAY CHAFE AND DEVELOP HEAT DAMAGE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. CHAFING AND HEAT INDUCED DETERIORATION OF A HOSE DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MANIFOLD MAY CAUSE THE HOSE TO WEAR. A SUBSEQUENT RUPTURE WILL RESULT IN PUMP FLUID LOSS.

ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE WIRING ASSEMBLY TO THE FLOOR MOUNTED HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH MAY BE TOO TIGHT; SHOULD WIRES DISCONNECT, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE.

THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECT END CLAMP ON THE HAND THROTTLE ACTUATING CABLE. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, PERTAINING TO THE CLAMP-TO-THROTTLE CABLE ORIENTATION AND DISTANCES OF THE CABLE TO GOVERNOR SHAFT, THE THROTTLE CABLE END CLAMP MAY INTERFERE WITH THE OUTBOARD ACCELERATOR.

UNDER CERTAIN TOLERANCE CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR ROD MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR RETURN SPRING BRACKET, CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A MOMENTARY DELAY IN THE RETURN OF THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE TO THE IDLE POSITION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR AT 3/4 THROTTLE BECAUSE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR ROD AND BRACKET IS AT A MINIMUM AT THIS POINT.