NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA88-009: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA88-009 on November 16, 1987 and closed it on January 9, 1990. NHTSA's investigations file lists 10 models from 3 makes for it and links recall 88V-132 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA88-009 (also written EA88009)
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
- Status
- Closed January 9, 1990
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturers
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC); AM GENERAL LLC
- Component
- Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 88V-132 (NHTSA record)
- Vehicles and equipment
- 10 models from 3 makes, including the American Motors Eagle and American Motors Spirit
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA88-009.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
ANALYSIS:MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER OR THE\TV GASKETING MATERIAL LOSES ITS STRUCTURAL AND/OR SEALING INTEGRITY DUE TOTHE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMC 258 ENGINE.TESTINGPERFORMED BY A LOCAL FLEET CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVINGCONDITIONS, MOTOR OIL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE #3 OR #4 CYLINDERS (OVERTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAN RESULT IN A FIRE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DESTROY AVEHICLE.AMC HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS TSB'S REGARDING THE PROPER/IMPROPER METHOD OF SEAL-ING THE VALVE COVER-HEAD INTERFACE.1981-84 AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES AREEQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER WHICH HAS 5 GUIDE PINS AND 2 FASTENERS.THE COVER USED IN LATER MODELS WAS RE-DESIGNED TO HAVE 5 ATTACHING POINTS,AND THIS NEW VALVE COVER CAN BE USED ON OLDER ENGINES BY MEANS OF AMODIFICATION KIT.AS EXPECTED, COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1985 MODELSDROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, INDICATING THAT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW VALVE COVERMAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.STATUS: IR TO THE MANUFACTURER SENT 12/1/87.
PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA88-009. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
American Motors
American Motors Concord
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
American Motors Eagle
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
American Motors Spirit
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Am General
Am General FJ8C
- 1984
Jeep
Jeep Cherokee
Jeep CJ5
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Jeep CJ7
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Jeep J10
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Jeep Scrambler
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Jeep Wagoneer
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for EA88-009
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.