EQUIPMENT
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
121,680 vehicles affected
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Remedy: INSTALL PROPER MOUNTING HARDWARE AND SEAT BELTS.
13,637 vehicles affected
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.
15,328 vehicles affected
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1979 CHEVROLET G-20. WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION ON, HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FIRE MARSHALL ADVISED THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO ETHANOL FUEL DISSOLVING THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 500,000. UPDATED 4/19/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. AS HE PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD THE ENGINE STOP AFTER A BACKFIRE THROUGH THE CARBURETOR. HE IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS INITIATED WHEN THE PLASTIC INLINE FUEL FILTER FAILED, DUE TO ETHANOL DISSOLVING THE FUEL IN THE FLOAT BOWLS. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVAL. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOT WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH THE MANDATORY ETHANOL FUEL WHICH HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FIRES . ACCORDING TO THE FIRE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL LEAK WHICH IN TURN LEAKED ONTO THE MANIFOLD. UPDATED 07/07/10*JB
Fire