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1999 THOMAS THOMAS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

fire · 362152 · 2002-07-12

Vehicle

Make
THOMAS
Model
THOMAS
Year
1999
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

WHILE TROUBLE SHOOTING A ENGINE FAILURE TO START PROBLEM,IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT INSIDE THE BATTERY BOX BEHIND THE BATTERIES THERE WERE SEVERAL PLASTIC FUSE HOLDERS INSTALLED,THESE HAD BEEN EATEN AWAY BY BATTERY ACID VAPORS.EXPOSING BARE HOT ELECTRICAL WIRES.THIS PROBLEM WAS STARTED BY THE MANUFACTUER INSTALLING AN ALTERNATOR DESIGNED FOR USE WITH MAINTANCE FREE BATTERIES IN A SYSTEM WITH WATER TO ADD BATTERIES,WHICH REQUIRE A HIGHER CHARGING RATE,THIS OVERCHARGES THE WATER TO ADD BATTERIES,CAUSING ACID VAPORS WHICH ARE EXPLOSIVE .THIS CONDITION IF NOT CORRECTED COULD CAUSE A FIRE.PLEASE INVESTAGATE THIS SITUTATION.INSTALLINGS

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
764155
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown