2005 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2

This investigation was opened after ODI was contacted by a fleet alleging that in certain situations, such as a light brake peal application during a low speed operation, the brake lamps fail to illuminate on the rear of the bus.ODI confirmed the problem with two fleets.On April 29, 2010, Daimler filed a defect report concerning this issue. The stop lamps may be intermittent during light brake applications.They are still evaluating the remedial program and will furnish this information to ODI when it is available. This safety recallresolves the issue raised by this investigation. Hence, this investigation is closed.

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTERA SCHOOL BUS DISTRICT INFORMED ODI THAT DURING A NEW BUSINSPECTION THE HANDRAILS WERE FOUND TO BE MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM STEP OF THE BUS AND FAILED THE DRAWSTRING TEST.(THE DRAWSTRING TEST WAS DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY 90'S TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN'S DRAWSTRINGS WOULD NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL WHILE EXITING THE BUS.)SEVERAL OTHER NEW BUSES WERE INSPECTED AND THEY ALSO FAILED THE TEST. DAIMLER TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE THE SCOPE. ODI HAS A PRIOR HISTORY WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND OPENED A PE TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE REPORT. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS THE SCOPE OF THE IMPROPER HANDRAIL INSTALLATIONS.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI VISITED SCHOOL BUS FLEETS ANDAREA DEALERS AND INSPECTED SUSPECT BUSES.ODI FOUND THAT THERE WERE INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE MOUNTING OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE HANDRAILS.THIS RESULTED IN INADEQUATE CLEARANCES BETWEEN THE LAST STEP AND THE BULKHEAD (WALL OF THE BUS), CREATING A PLACE FOR A DRAWSTRING TO BECOME ENTANGLED.THESE FINDINGS WERE RELAYED BACK TO DAIMLER/THOMAS BUILT BUSES.AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE FIELD INCIDENTS, DAIMLER DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL.THEY WILL ORDER THE INSPECTION OF SUSPECT BUSES AND REPAIRS, AS NECESSARY, TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE HANDRAILS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.THIS RECALL RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONAFTERBECOMING AWARE THAT FLEETS WERE HAVING HANDLE FAILURES ON THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR EXIT.THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING FROM THEDOOR LATCH MECHANISM.WHEN THE HANDLE FAILS, THE REAR EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE BUS.THE FAILURE RESULTS FROM CORROSION OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE.CONTINUED CORROSION WEAKENS THE HANDLE AND EVENTUALLY THE HANDLE MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EXIT DOOR.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT DURING AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE BUS WOULD BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR,POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION OF THE BUS.UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE ALUMINUM HANDLES WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE.THE RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON FOUR FLEETS CONTACTING ODI ALLEGING MULTIPLE EVENTS WHERE THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED WHILE LOADING AND DISCHARGING CHILDREN.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BUS WARNING LIGHTS (RED WARNING LAMPS AND STOP ARM LAMPS) ARE DE-ACTIVATED, SINCE THEY OPERATE OFF THE DOOR CONTROL.ODI ?S CONCERN WAS THAT CHILDREN MAY STILL BE CROSSING THE ROAD AND BE IN THE PATH OF TRAFFIC SHOULD THIS EVENT OCCUR.AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A SAFETY RECALL TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY 11,359 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2008 SAF-T-LINERS.THIS RECALL COVERS THE ENTIRE MODEL C2 POPULATION, INTRODUCED BY THOMAS IN 2005.ALL OWNERS (AND FLEETS) WILL BE NOTIFIED UPON THE FINAL VALIDATION OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION.FREIGHTLINER BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM INCORRECT ELECTRICAL SIGNALS BEING SENT TO THE DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE DOORS TO OPEN OR CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER.FREIGHTLINER ESTIMATES THAT THE DEALERS WILL BE NOTIFIED APPROXIMATELY JULY 16, 2007. THIS RESOLVES THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Service Solution for C2 Window Retrofi t (New StyleWindow in Old Style Bus)

Revised Thomas Built Buses Service Bulletin for Tie-Rod and Drag-Link Ball-Stud Cover Deterioration. Minor note: added an update of document previously submitted. The related VMRS codes are added

Revised Technical Service Letter for Series 60 and Series 50 Camshaft Timing Specifications. Camshaft timing, valve lash, injector height, and Jake Brake lash are all very important specifications that must be followed closely in order to optimize the performance and service life of any Detroit Diesel engine.

Thomas Built Buses Service Bulletin for Axle Flange Gasket Replaced with O-Ring. Daimler Trucks North America has released a new axle shaft to hub rubber O-ring (part number 11-30728-000) as a replacement for the paper gasket (part number 11-14418-000). The new O-ring will provide better sealing and is reusable. It is quicker and easier to use compared to the paper gasket, because using a paper gasket requires cleaning the hub when the axle shaft is removed.

Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on RH 3 POS Switch for Electric Operated Entrance Door

Thomas Built Bus Service Bulletin for When troubleshooting powernet issues, use the BCT-460DTNA PowerNet Assessment Tool. As of May 29, 2018, the AutoMeter® is the only Daimler-approved tool for troubleshooting vehicle powernet issues.