The problem
On certain 1998-2002 35' and 40' buses and 1999-2002 29' buses, the installation of the air conditioner unit uses bolts along the edge of the housing for attachment. One specific bolt can be too close to the main power cable attachment. Positional tolerance or the use of too long a bolt could cause an electrical short.
The risk
An electrical short could lead to component failure or potentially a vehicle fire.
The fix
Customers have been notified to cut the excess length of the air conditioner unit mounting bolt. Owner notification began october 28, 2002. 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 gillig 1-800-735-1500.
Contacts
Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Gillig dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 03V055000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.