WHEN THIS PART FAILS IT SHORT CIRCUITS TO THE STARTER SOLONOID CAUSING THE STARTER TO TURN THE ENGINE. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERIES HOWEVER BY THAT TIME THE WIRING IS ON FIRE. ON MY VEHICLE, THE NEW FUEL CUT OFF PART FAILED ON THE SECOND OR THIRD START OF THE ENGINE, AGAIN BURNING OUT THE STARTER BUT NOT THE WIRING. IF THIS UNIT SHOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING, AS THE REPLACEMENT DID, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR BECAUSE THE ENGINE DIES LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY POWER FOR STEERING AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD BE ON FIRE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL. THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE TO FAIL IN A SAFEMODE RATHER THAN SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND VIA THE STARTER.
- NHTSA ID
- 729088
- Incident
- Aug 18, 2000