Campaign - Steering Gear Replacement: Overview

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TO SELECTED FORD AND LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERS

SUBJECT: OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS M24 AND M25 - CERTAIN 1978 THROUGH 1983 MODEL FAIRMONT, MUSTANG, THUNDERBIRD, GRANADA, LTD, ZEPHYR, CAPRI, XR7 COUGAR MARQUIS AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FORD RACK AND PINION POWER STEERING

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MAILGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ADVANCE INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUBJECT OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL INITIATE FOR THE DESIGNATED VEHICLES.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL PROVIDE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO RESIDE IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, (NORTHERN SECTION ONLY), NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING WITH NO CHARGE REPAIR SERVICE IF THEIR VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN STARTED COLD AS A RESULT OF POWER STEERING GEAR HOUSING INTERNAL BORE WEAR, EXTERNAL FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM IS NOT A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION, REPAIRS TO CORRECT SUCH LEAKAGE ARE, THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THIS OFFER.

REPAIR COVERAGE WILL FEATURE REPLACEMENT OF THE PACK AND PINION POWER STEERING GEAR WITH A NEW DESIGN STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY UNDER PROGRAM M24, THE COVERAGE PERIOD WILL BE FIVE YEARS FROM THE VEHICLE ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE OR 50,000 MILES OF OPERATION, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. REIMBURSEMENT COVERAGE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED UNDER PROGRAM M25 FOR OWNER-PAID REPAIRS WITHIN THE FIVE

YEAR/50,000 MILE LIMITATION

A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF SERVICE PARTS IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE BY LATE SEPTEMBER, 1983 TO ALLOW FORD TO BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS. COMPLETE TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF THE OWNER MAILINGS, IN THE INTERIM, YOU SHOULD SERVICE ELIGIBLE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION BY REPLACING THE POWER STEEPING GEAR HOUSING AND CONTROL VALVE SLEEVE SEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE/MODEL YEAR SHOP MANUAL. YOU MAY ALSO USE COMPLETE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLIES AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR ORDER PROCESSING CENTER OR FAR.

OWNERS RESIDING IN THE PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED AREAS WHO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS PRIOR TO YOUR RECEIPT OF COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THEY WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE COMPANY BY LETTER WHEN DEALERSHIPS ARE PREPARED TO BEGIN PERFORMING THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS. PLEASE INFORM OWNERS THAT THE CONDITION IS PRIMARILY ONE OF INITIAL START-UP DELAY IN POWER ASSIST NOT OF SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.

YOUR COOPERATION IN RESPONDING TO OWNER INQUIRIES REGARDING THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE APPRECIATED.