1998 Orion Vi problems

What is wrong

Daimler bus is recalling certain model year 1995 through 2000 transit buses manufactured from january 1996 through december 2000. These buses are configured with a tapped fitting for the hydraulic wheelchair ramp. In the engine compartment connected to the hydraulic pump is a fitting with an adapter for the wheelchair ramp operation. The fitting can crack and cause hydraulic fluid to leak into the engine compartment.

Risk

Hydraulic fluids leaking into the engine compartment can be ignited by the hot turbocharger and cause an engine fire.

Remedy

Bus owners will be instructed on how to repair the buses free of charge. The safety recall began on 3, december 2010. Owners may contact daimler buses at 1‑800‑716‑7566.

Recall number 10V538000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain transit buses equipped with detroit diesel series 50 engines, the turbocharger can fail allowing lubricating oil to enter the exhaust system.

Risk

In the event the turbocharger fails, a fire may occur in the engine compartment resulting in property damage or injuries.

Remedy

Detroit diesel is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will repair the engine and install an exhaust temperature sensor to prevent the possibility of an exhaust or engine compartment fire. Owners may contact detroit diesel corporation at 313‑592‑5791 or orion at 905‑403‑7832.

Recall number 05V026000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain buses equipped with cummins electronic control modules on the l10g engines, the ECM does not have the ability to detect a throttle fail-safe engine shutdown command. This could result in an unanticipated, uncommanded open throttle condition without warning.

Risk

If this event occurs, the vehicle operator will not have control of the engine speed, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Cummins will notify the customers and replace the ECM. Owners should contact cummins at 1‑800‑343‑7357 or orion at 1‑800‑658‑2871.

Recall number 04V147000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain transit buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention and release." the handle pull force exceeds the 89n force to release the emergency window. Additional force is required to release the window.

Risk

In the event of a crash, an occupant may have difficulty opening the emergency exit window, increasing the risk of personal injury or death.

Remedy

Dealers will repair these windows. Owner notification began june 1, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact orion at 1‑800‑492‑2116.

Recall number 03V120000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with vanner 60 series battery equalizers. The equalizer could fail to operate properly and cause malfunction of the battery charging system.

Risk

Without fusing, the equalizer may melt, burn, or smoke, possibly resulting in a fire or a smoke filled bus, thus necessitating a passenger evacuation of the bus. The failure mode can cause operator distraction, and/or possible personal injury.

Remedy

Orion will notify owners to inspect their buses for certain equalizers by the date code. The affected equalizers will be replaced by vanner. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact vanner at 1‑800‑227‑6937.

Recall number 01V033005 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with wheel chair barriers. The wheel chair barriers are attached to the floor structure with a bolt threaded into the floor structure. In the case of a frontal crash, with the wheel chair position occupied, the bolt threads could strip allowing movement of the wheel chair barrier.

Risk

This condition could allow movement of the wheel chair which could cause personal injury, or death, to the wheel chair occupant.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the existing wheel chair barrier leg mounting bolts with new bolts, nuts and washers.

Recall number 98V210000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with sunsource/fauver tandem hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic piston pump is driven by the engine and a shaft out of the back of the pump providing power to the power steering pump. The shafts are connected together with a coupling. This coupling is fitted with two retainer clips which keeps it centered between the two pumps. These buses were shipped missing the coupling retainer clips.

Risk

Excessive movement of the coupling can disengage the two pump shafts, causing loss of power steering.

Remedy

Dealers are inspecting and retrofitting the couplings on these pumps.

Recall number 98V175000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: transit buses built with zf front axles equipped with lucas disc brakes. The brake lever connecting the brake chamber pushrod to the disc brake actuator can contact the air bag support gusset during application of the brakes and become jammed and will not release the brake when the driver removes their foot from the brake pedal.

Risk

Since this is a steering axle, unwanted application of the brake can cause the vehicle to turn in the direction of the locked wheel increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Dealers will rework the brake levers on the subject buses.

Recall number 98V166000 · Recall details

ODI became aware of a fire involving a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus.A WMATA contracted vehicle inspection identified the failure of a tapped hydraulic fitting to have caused the fire. Orion VI buses were built from 1994 to 2002.This investigation is specific to 1995, 1997-2000 production.Daimler Bus informed ODI that 1994 & 1996 model year buses were either prototypes or sold only in Canada; buses built after 2000 had a tee fitting in lieu of the tapped fitting in question.On October 20, 2010 Daimler Bus informed ODI that an internal meeting was planned to discuss the same concern as the one that prompted this investigation.ODI agreed to delay formally requesting information; an IR letter was to be mailed on November 9, 2010 if needed. On November 2, 2010 ODI received a 573 Defect Report (Recall 10V‑538) that addresses the concerns of this investigation.This investigation will be closed.There is no associated IR letter.A copy of the defect report is attached.

PE10041

ODI has received information alleging failure of the equalizer on the vehicles listed above.An equalizer provides a 12volt source from a 24 volt battery; in effect, two 12 volt batterier get equally charged in series from a 24 volt source, and equally discharged in parallel into a 12 volt load.The equalizing term refers to the distribution of charge and discharge energy between the two separte 12 volt batteries. When the failure occurs the equalizer smokes excessively, filling the bus with smoke.As these buses may be carrying 50 or more people, excessive smoking (with possibility of a fire) is a concern.A fire may also result.A preliminary evaluation is being opened to gauge the scope of the issue, the technical causes of the equalizer failures and to address the resulting public safety concerns.

PE99075