1985 Chevrolet P30

88V110000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jul 6, 1988

LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AND COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CONTROL ARM.

86V117000 · Seats

Aug 25, 1986

THREE BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE SILL THAT SUPPORTS THE BASE OF THE SEAT WERE OMITTED; THEREFORE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210 AND FMVSS 207. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FLOOR PLATE COULD BUCKLE ALONG THE INBOARD SIDE CAUSING THE SEAT PEDESTAL TO BE IMBALANCED, AND INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

86V114000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Aug 18, 1986

DURING A COMBINED CORNERING AND BRAKING MANEUVER, THE TIE ROD END COULD CONTACT THE TIRE WALL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS CONTACT CAN CAUSE GROOVING OF THE TIRE, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

85V156000 · Wheels:rim

Nov 26, 1985

THE WHEEL MAY DEVELOP CRACKS BETWEEN THE DISC AND RIM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AND IS NOT NOTICED, THE CRACK COULD INCREASE AROUND THE RIM, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE RIM FROM THE DISC, LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.

85V128000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Oct 15, 1985

THE FAN BLADE, WHEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK APART AT THE HUB WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE HOOD IS OPEN, A PERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR NEAR THE TRUCK COULD BE STRUCK BY A BLADE PART AND BE INJURED.

EA88043 · Fuel Expulsion

Opened Sep 20, 1988 · Closed Sep 26, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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PE88016 · Exhaust Manifold Leaks

Opened Jan 14, 1988 · Closed Mar 31, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY:SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION. MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME CHASSIS.GM STATES THAT A WARPEDOR CRACKED MANIFOLD WOULD PERMIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS LEAKAGEGENERALLY RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE NOISE AND FUMES.THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDSARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS OPERATING UNDER SEVEREENGINE/VEHICULAR LOAD CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES).THEMOTORHOME APPLICATION IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECTSINCE THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE.THEFEW NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FOR A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN 8 YEARS AGOSUGGESTS THAT THE DEFECT EITHER OCCURS INFREQUENTLY OR IS NOT PERCEIVED ASA SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO IDENTIFYTHE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REMEDY AGAINST REOCCURRENCE.===

EA88007 · Lower Control Arm

Opened Nov 6, 1987 · Closed Oct 24, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:MANUFACTURER IS IN RECEIPT OFONE COMPLAINT AND FIVE FIELD REPORTS.PRODUCT REPORT ANALYSIS STATES THELOWER CONTROL ARM FROM WAGGONER CORPORATION APPEARS TO HAVE A SMALL RADIUSAT THE TRANSITION OF THE SIDE WALL TO THE BALL STUD NOSE.CURRENT STAMPINGSOURCE, S.K.D., ALSO HAS A SMALL RADIUS IN THE SAME AREA.S.K.D. HASCHANGED THE TRIM TO INCREASE THE RADIUS TO 1 INCH AND PROVIDE ADDITIONALSTRENGTH IN THE BALL STUD AREA.ANALYSIS:FAILURE DATA INDICATES THE LEFT CONTROL ARM AND DIESEL ENGINEAPPLICATION ARE OVER REPRESENTED.ALL KNOWN FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT LOWSPEEDS, OR HAVE BEEN LOCATED AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OFMAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.BALL JOINT SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN COLLAPSE OFFRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ACTION: IR TO GM SENT 11/19/87 CONTACT FLEET OWNERS.===

PE87056 · Lower Control Arm Failure

Opened Sep 8, 1987 · Closed Nov 6, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:MANUFACTURER IS IN RECEIPT OFONE COMPLAINT AND FIVE FIELD REPORTS.PRODUCT REPORT ANALYSIS STATES THELOWER CONTROL ARM FROM WAGGONER CORPORATION APPEARS TO HAVE A SMALL RADIUSAT THE TRANSITION OF THE SIDE WALL TO THE BALL STUD NOSE.CURRENT STAMPINGSOURCE, S.K.D., ALSO HAS A SMALL RADIUS IN THE SAME AREA.S.K.D. HASCHANGED THE TRIM TO INCREASE THE RADIUS TO 1 INCH AND PROVIDE ADDITIONALSTRENGTH IN THE BALL STUD AREA.ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES 38 OF 40 FAILURES INVOLVE THE LEFT CONTROL ARM,39 OF THE VEHICLES ARE POWERED BY THE DIESEL ENGINE.ALL FAILURES HAVEOCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, OR HAVE BEEN LOCATED DURING INCREASED FREQUENCYMAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE CONTROLARM COULD CAUSE ONE SIDE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE,POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.===

PE87043 · Exhaust System Heat

Opened Aug 7, 1987 · Closed Jan 14, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS OF THE 65 COMPLAINTSFORWARDED BY GM ON THIS ISSUE REVEALS THAT 15 OF THE COMPLAINTS MAY BESAFETY RELATED.COMPLAINTS IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AS A RED HOT EXHAUSTSYSTEM OR MUFFLER FAILURE WERE NOT COUNTED.GM ALSO INCLUDED NUMEROUSCOMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO FUEL EXPULSION IN THE MOTOR HOME CHASSIS.THEYWERE NOT COUNTED SINCE THAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION.CONCERNING BRUSH FIRES RESULTING FROM THE HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURES, GMSTATESOUR FIELD EXPERIENCE, AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTSPERTAINING TO THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE, INDICATES TO US THAT OUR CUSTOMERSARE OBSERVING THE PRECAUTIONS CONTAINED IN OUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND AREEXERCISING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.ANALYSIS:THE ALLEGED DEFECT ORIGINATES WITH THE GENERATION OF HEAT IN THEEXHAUST SYSTEM.HIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES ARE OCCURRING AS A RESULT OFSTRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) REQUIREMENTS WHICH WENTINTO EFFECT IN 1985 FOR VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS.THEHIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY TEMPERATURESWHICH MAY RESULT IN FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURIZATION AND A HIGHER POTENTIAL FORTHE EXPULSION OF LIQUID FUEL UPON REMOVAL OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAP.INADDITION, OTHER SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS SMOLDERING ITEMS IN PICK UP BEDS,BURNT TIRES AND MUDFLAPS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.SINCE SOME MODELS ARE ALREADYBEING INVESTIGATED, AND COMPLAINT DATA IS SPARSE ON OTHER MODELS, THE NEWEA SHOULD BE DIRECTED ONLY TO VEHICLE MODELS C AND K WHICH UTILIZE THEHEAVY DUTY (VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS) EMISSION SYSTEM.===

PE87006 · Fuel Spurting

Opened Nov 14, 1986 · Closed Apr 22, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:IT APPEARS THAT THE GASOLINE INTHE FUEL TANKS OF THE CHEVROLET P-30 CHASSIS VEHICLES VOLATIZE INCREASINGTHE PRESSURE WITHIN THE FUEL TANKS.THE FUEL RESERVOIR SYSTEM IS CLOSEDREQUIRING THE GASOLINE VAPOR TO BE REMOVED THROUGH THE CARBON CANISTER ATTHE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.THE CAPACITY OF THE CANISTER TO PROCESS THE GASVAPOR IS LIMITED BY AN ORIFICE IN THE CANISTER INLET LINE (THE ORIFICE ISDESIGNED TO RESTRICT LIQUID GASOLINE FROM ENTERING THE CANISTER).THEFUEL LINES ON THE RAILS PARALLEL TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.WHEN PRESSURE DOES BUILD UP WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM, THE FUEL CAP DESIGN DOES NOT APPEARTO ALLOW FOR CONTROLLED PRESSURE RELEASE ALLOWING GASOLINE TO SPEW FROMTHE INLET PIPE.ANALYSIS:WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN PARTICULARLY HOT DAYS (AND/ORHIGH ALTITUDES) THE GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANKS CAN VOLATIZE IN EXCESS OFTHE CARBON CANISTER CAPACITY ALLOWING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE FUEL TANKS.IF THE FUEL CAP IS NOT DESIGNED TO ALLOW CONTROLLED PRESSURE RELIEF DURINGREMOVAL, GASOLINE MAY SPURT OUT OF THE INLET PIPE RESULTING IN A POTENTIALFIRE.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PE ON GM AND OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSISINVOLVING VARIOUS MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS BUILDING ON THE GM P30 CHASSIS.===