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'Runaway' Sonia prompts a recall

3rd December 1998
Page 6
Page 6, 3rd December 1998 — 'Runaway' Sonia prompts a recall
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Guy Sheppard • Scania (GB) is recalling more than 4,000 tractive units following an investigation into how one of its vehicles ran out of control on the M1 in May when the accelerator jammed.

Dealers are contacting all owners of the 4-Series which do not have electronic diesel control (EDC) so that the wiring on the speed limiter can be modified.

But Paul Fisher, Scania's general service manager, stresses that the fault was not responsible for the runaway truck incident. This was triggered by an interaction with a piece of non-Scania engine management kit, causing the throttle to stick open. "But when we found that the vehicle was being driven at 80mph or whatever, we needed to find out why the speed limiter did not keep the vehicle at 56mph," he adds.

Fisher says that only vehicles with a particular ABS unit manufactured by Bosch are affected by the recall. "Simply by turning the ignition key back, we found that dri 4-Series from 1996 to vers were able to power down the unit which governs the speed limiter itself," he reports. "The wiring modification is to prevent the limiter from being over-ridden. mid-1998 are recalled. It is incumbent upon us to resolve this issue; we are keen to ensure drivers are not breaking the law."

The recall is being undertaken in association with the Vehicle Inspectorate; it covers all 4-Series models built between 1996 and the middle of this year.

Fisher says such a major recall will be a big job, particularly as the run-up to Christmas is the busiest time of year for many operators. "It is not a mind-boggling piece of science but the basic wiring modification takes just over an hour," he adds.

Last month, Eastern Traffic Commissioner Geoffrey Simms called on truck manufacturers to investigate the ease with which speed limiters could be over-ridden. This followed a public inquiry involving 12 drivers employed by DC Ball Transport of Newmarket. Tachograph records showed 477 incidents of excessive speed over seven months. In all but one case, no special equipment was needed to disable the limiters on the Scania and Volvo trucks.

E In February, a survey by tachograph and limiter manufacturer Lucas Kienzle found that more than a quarter of trucks on UK roads had speed limiters that did not work.


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