[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17757-17758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8791]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2002-12005, Notice 1]


International Truck and Engine Corporation, Receipt of 
Application for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    International Truck and Engine Corporation (International) of Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, has determined that certain model year 2002 trucks, 
series 4300, 4400, 7300, and 7400, do not meet the requirements of 
paragraph S4.2.2 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 
104 ``Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems.'' Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
30118(d) and 30120(h), International has petitioned for a decision that 
this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and has 
filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Reports.''
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    International relates that the noncompliant vehicles, 15,327 trucks 
in the U.S. (plus 1,216 trucks in Canada not covered by this petition,) 
were manufactured between October 24, 2000, and October 22, 2001, and 
were built with a washer bottle pump circuit that included a 5-amp 
fuse. When performing the washer system strength test which requires 
that the reservoir be filled with water and frozen, the 5-amp fuse blew 
250 milliseconds after the first actuation of the washer switch. 
International has determined that this is noncompliant with regard to 
washer system strength requirements in FMVSS No. 104, paragraph S4.2.2, 
which states, ``Each multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, and bus 
shall have a windshield washing system that meets the requirements of 
SAE Recommended Practice J942, November 1965, except that the reference 
to ``the effective wipe pattern defined in SAE J903, paragraph 3.1.2' 
in paragraph 3.1 of SAE Recommended Practice J942 shall be deleted and 
`the pattern designed by the manufacturer for the windshield wiping 
system on the exterior surface of the windshield glazing' shall be 
inserted in lieu thereof.''
    International does not believe that a blown fuse in the windshield 
washer circuit constitutes a risk to highway safety in the unique 
situation of frozen water in the washer reservoir. International's test 
results with the 5-amp fuse in the circuit indicated conformance to all 
system strength requirements of SAE J942, ``Passenger Car Windshield 
Washing Systems,'' including section 4.2.2(a) related to plugged 
nozzles, except for section 4.2.2(b), which International believes to 
be a very low risk of happening in an operational environment.
    According to International, when operating the vehicle with the 
specified washer fluid for this system, the system would have a very 
low possibility of being frozen (in the mixed state of 47 percent, it 
has a freeze point of-48 degrees C). Therefore, the probability of 
blowing a fuse because of frozen fluid is very low.
    International has had vehicles of various model types in operation 
for approximately 13 months before the date of the petition (December 
7, 2001) with no reported field problems. Also warranty records for the 
washer system as of that date show a ``very low incident rate'' for the 
washer system as a whole (16 claims) compared with total vehicle 
population build (19,880). None of these claims relate to the failed 
test condition of frozen water in the washer reservoir.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to 
the docket number and be submitted to : U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. It is requested that two copies be 
submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. After the 
Administrator has determined that the application will be granted or 
denied, a decision notice will be published in the Federal Register 
pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment closing date: May 
13, 2002.

(49 U.S.C. 301118, 301120;

[[Page 17758]]

delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8)

    Issued on: April 5, 2002.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator, for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 02-8791 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P