1993 Ford B700 recalls

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

IF ONE OF THE TWO RETURN SPRINGS FRACTURES WHILE THEVEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORTWOULD BE FELT. IF THE SECOND SPRING ALSO FRACTURES, THE THROTTLE WOULD NOTRETURN TO IDLE POSITION AND CAN RESULT IN INCREASED ENGINE SPEED AND THEPOSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

THE THROTTLE RETURN CONTROL SYSTEM WITH THE COIL TORSION SPRING DESIGN WILL BE REPLACED.

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.

ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, OR LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOST CAN OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE JUNCTION BOX, MAIN POWER TERMINAL THE STARTER OR STARTER RELAY AND TERMINALS AT THE EXISTING JUNCTION BLOCK. THE WIRING OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE CIRCUIT WILL ALSO BE MODIFIED BY BYPASSING THE JUNCTION BLOCK. THE NEW TERMINALS WILL BE MADE FROM AN ALLOY MATERIAL MORE RESISTANT TO SALT CORROSION.

USING THE WRONG SIZED CLAMPS TO ATTACH THE RIM AND TIREASSEMBLY TO THE WHEEL SPOKES COULD CAUSE THE STUDS THAT ATTACH THE CLAMPS TO THESPOKES TO BEND. IF THE STUDS ARE BENT, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF STUDFRACTURE THAT COULD RESULT IN THE RIM AND TIRE ASSEMBLY BREAKING FROM THEWHEEL.

REPLACE THE CLAMPS AND STUDS ON THE CAST SPOKE WHEELS.

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

THIS WEAR CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNOR JAMMING IN THEDAMAGED SWIVEL AND COULD PREVENT THE GOVERNOR LEVER FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED GOVERNOR LEVER WITH A STAINLESS STEEL SWIVEL. ALSO LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME VEHICLES BUT DO NOT HAVE A FORD INSTALLED HAND THROTTLE ADVISING THEM THAT THEY MAY REQUIRE SERVICE IF THEY HAVE HAD AN AFTER MARKET HAND THROTTLE INSTALLED.

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.

THE FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING RESULTS IN INCREASING DETERIORATION OF THE ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORTS OR A "CRUNCHY" FEELING AT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INADEQUATE O-RING SEAL CAUSES MOMENTARY REDUCTIONS IN POWER STEERING ASSIST AT LOW SPEED AND CERTAIN LEFT TURN MANEUVERS. BOTH CONDITIONS RESULT IN DECREASED STEERING ABILITY.

DEALERS WILL REBUILD THE STEERING GEAR. IF A BROKEN SNAP RING IS FOUND DURING REBUILDING, THE STEERING GEAR WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT.