Truck Tire Data Book – Michelin 2006

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If you require information for Michelin products not listed in this data book, please contact your
Michelin representative or your Michelin dealer.

Load and inflation industry standards are in a constant state of change. Michelin continually
updates its product information to reflect these changes. Therefore, printed material may not
reflect the current load and inflation information. Always refer to the tire sidewall markings for
maximum load and pressure information.

Never exceed the rim manufacturer’s maximum air pressure limitation.

Truck Tire Data Book

Ford Recall 05S28

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Reference: Ford Recall 05S28
(Speed Control System Modification)

As a result of several engine compartment fires Ford recalled multiple (3.8 million) vehicles under NHTSA/Ford Recall number 05S28 to replace a wiring harness.  The retrofit was to be completed in November of 2005.  All owners/users of these vehicles were to go to their local Ford dealer to register for the recall and have the cruise control circuit wiring disconnected until replacement parts could be installed.

Since that time, the following letter has been issued by Ford Service Engineering Operations Director Frank M. Ligon:

Dear XXXXX

In September 2005, you were mailed a letter announcing Safety Recall 05S28 (Speed Control System Modification). At that time, we anticipated that service parts would be available in November 2005.  However, the availability of service parts has been delayed until February 2006.  We urge you to contact your dealer in February to schedule an appointment to have the new parts installed.  Until these parts are available, you dealer is still authorized to perform a temporary repair, which includes disconecting the speed control system on your vehicle.

September 7,2005

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 7 – Ford Motor Company announced today that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall on 1994-2002 Ford F-150, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Bronco vehicles to correct a systems interaction that could cause the speed control deactivation switch to overheat and lead to an underhood fire. Ford estimates that there are approximately 3.8 million of these vehicles on the road today in the U.S.

The make and model years of affected vehicles include: 1994-2002 Ford F-150s, 1997-2002 Ford Expeditions, 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigators and 1994-1996 Ford Broncos equipped with factory-installed speed control.

Ford has worked closely with NHTSA to investigate this issue. Ford’s investigation found that brake fluid may leak through the speed control deactivation switch into the speed control system electrical components, potentially corroding them. In rare cases, the corrosion in the electrical components can lead to increasing resistance and higher electrical current flow through the system. Together, these conditions could lead to overheating and, possibly, a fire at the switch. This system interaction is the result of the close proximity and orientation of the speed control components in the recalled vehicles.

To address this issue, Ford will install a fused wiring harness between the speed control deactivation switch and the speed control mechanism of the affected vehicles. This will act as a circuit breaker, eliminating the electrical current to the switch in the rare event of increased current flow through the switch.

"Our customers can be confident that this action will prevent a speed control deactivation switch fire," said Ray Nevi, assistant director, Ford Automotive Safety Office. " Our investigation was complex because the root cause turned out to be a system interaction rather than a single component and we had very few confirmed incidents to analyze. Despite this complexity, our solution effectively addresses the cause."

Ford is in the process of acquiring sufficient fused wiring harnesses to repair customers’ vehicles. Until replacement parts are available, customers are instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership to have the speed control deactivated.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail immediately. Owners who have not already had their previously recalled 2000 model-year vehicles repaired should contact their dealers to make arrangements for the repair.

Customers may get further information at www.genuineservice.com or they may contact Ford’s Customer Relationship Center at 1 – 888-222-2751. For a videotape message about the recall, customers may visit www.ford.com under the "Vehicle and Services" heading and then either the "Safety" tab or the "Owners" tab.

Fire Apparatus Magazine – Interview with Kussmaul Electronics

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Fire Magazine Article

BY ED BALLAM WEST SAYVILLE, N.Y. – It might be an overstatement, but not by much, to say that nearly all fire apparatus and ambulances built today have some pieces made by Kussmaul Electronics Company Inc. on board. For nearly 40 years, Kussmaul has been quietly carving itself a niche in the fire service and emergency response market developing products to solve challenges and problems with vehicles – like dead and overworked batteries and inadequate pressure in air brake systems.

Ford E-350 and E-450 Front Ends

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Inspections Suggested for 1998-2005

Ford E-350 and E-450 Front Ends

May 2005, MERGINET—Emergency service organizations using the Ford E-350 and E-450 model vehicles from the years 1998 through 2005 should inspect the front end right and left spring tower flange for cracking, according to a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) issued by Ford Motor Company on January 5, 2005.

TSB 05-1-1, sent to all Ford service departments and other agencies servicing such vehicles, notes that “Some higher-mileage E-350 and E-450 cutaway vans may exhibit cracks in the left or right spring tower flange.”

Ford Motor Co. is currently assessing the problem for any safety risk, and the Office of Defects Investigation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively observing the status of Ford’s assessment. However, NHTSA has not initiated an official investigation since they have no reports of catastrophic failure, vehicle crashes or injuries potentially associated with this condition.

At this point, the E-350 and E-450 model vehicles should undergo inspection of the front right and left spring tower flanges, a NHTSA spokesperson suggested to Merginet. A visual inspection under the front wheel wells should identify any cracks (see photo). The TSB outlines repair procedures according to the size and location of any crack and the mileage and warranty status of the vehicle.

While it appears that such cracks develop over a longer duration of time, no hard data is available on just how quickly any cracks may grow. Vehicles displaying such spring tower cracks should undergo repair sooner rather than later to avoid any extension of a crack.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20590, encourages feedback from owners of Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicle models. Contact Robert Squire by phone at 202-493-0212, via e-mail or access the Web site for the Office of Defects Investigation.