Campaign - Owners/Operators Guide Error
83ford1Number: B46
Date: November, 1983
To: Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Dealers
Subject: Owner Notification Program B46 - Refill Capacities Charts in the Owner Guides and Operating Guides of 1983-Model Thunderbird, and Certain 1984-Model Thunderbird and Cougar XR-7 Vehicles Equipped With 2.3L Turbocharged Engines
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of Owner Notification Program B46 and to provide technical and administrative instructions (Attachment I) and a copy of the letter being sent by the Company to owners (Attachment II).
We have found that the Owner Guides and Operating Guides placed in some of the subject vehicles contain incorrect engine oil fill instructions. Specifically, there is the potential for the engine oil level of these vehicles to be overfilled by about one-half quart (or liter) if the capacities shown in the guides are followed. The overfill condition could cause excessive oil in the engine intake system. This could lower the fuel octane and cause excessive spark retardation. Under these conditions, owners will notice that their vehicles exhibit poor performance and/or lack of power. New refill capacities charts have been prepared for insertion in the appropriate Owner Guides and Operating Guides and are included with this letter.
The enclosed listing identifies vehicles involved in this program which, according to our records, were delivered to your dealership. The letter sent to owners whose names and addresses appear on the listing will include the new refill capacities charts and instructions for owner installation of the charts to the Owner Guides and Operating Guides of their vehicles.
We ask that you contact owners of recently delivered vehicles whose names and addresses do not appear on the listing. Arrange with those owners to correct the Owner Guides and Operating Guides of their vehicles as promptly as possible. Guides for all stock vehicles involved in this program must be corrected prior to delivery to purchasers. Enclosed is a quantity of refill capacities charts sufficient to correct your stock vehicles. These charts are provided to you at no charge.
Please assure that your sales and service personnel are familiar with the details of this program so that they may repond to owner inquiries. In addition, this package, including the enclosed charts, should be provided to your appropriate service personnel for retention until required.
Your cooperation in the administration of Owner Notification Program B46 is appreciated. We believe that it will help maintain owners' satisfaction with their new Thunderbird or Cougar XR-7 turbocharged vehicles.
Attachment I Page 1 of 2
OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM B46 TECHNlCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE CIRCULATE THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR PARTS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUR SERVICE ZONE MANAGER.
VEHICLES INVOLVED Production Dates
Car Line Model Year From Through Assembly Plant
Thunderbird 1983 Job #1 8-19-83 Lorain
Turbo Coupe (Turbo Coupe) 8-26-83 Atlanta
Thunderbird and 1984 8-22-83 10-10-83 Lorain
Cougar Turbo 8-29-83 10-10-83 Atlanta
Coupe
The Owner Guides and Operating Guides placed in some of these vehicles may contain incorrect engine oil fill instructions. Specifically, there is the potential for the engine oil level of these vehicles to be overfilled by about one-half quart (or liter) if the capacities shown in the guides are followed. To correct this error, the refill capacities charts shown in the Owner Guides and Operating Guides for the involved vehicles have been revised.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS
The enclosed listing identifies vehicles involved in this program which, according to our records, were delivered to your dealership. The letter sent to owners whose names and addresses appear on the listing will include corrected refill capacities charts and instructions for owner installation of the charts in the Owner Guides and Operating Guides of their vehicles. We ask that you contact owners of recently delivered vehicles whose names and addresses do not appear on the listing. Arrange with those owners to correct their vehicles' guides as promptly as possible. Guides for all stock vehicles involved in this program must be corrected prior to delivery to purchasers. Enclosed is a quantity of charts sufficient to correct your stock vehicles.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
The charts are to be affixed where shown below in the Owner Guides and Operating Guides of involved vehicles:
Where To Affix Charts
Vehicle Model Year Owner Guide Operating Guide
Thunderbird 1983 Page 131 a/ Back cover labeled
"GENERAL INFORMATION" a/
Thunderbird 1984 Page 134 Back cover labeled
and Cougar "GENERAL INFORMATION"
a/ AFFIX CHART WITH "1983" SHOWN AT LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER.
Attachment I Page 2 of 2
PARTS ORDERING INFORMATION
Other than the refill capacities charts which are being provided directly to you at no charge, there are no parts required for this program. Please contact your Ford Parts and Service Division District Office if you require additional copies of the charts.
LABOR OPERATIONS
Scheduled Labor
Time Operation
Affix Refill Capacities Charts
in Owner Guide and Operating Guide . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 Hr. SPONPB46
CLAIM PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS (A copy of these instructions should be filed. in Subject 13.0 of your Warranty and Policy Manual).
Service performed under Owner Notification Program B46 may be submitted on warranty claim Form 1863, which is to include the information shown below. Enter Program Number B46 in the Program Code box in the upper left of the form. Claims should be submitted through the Direct Warranty Entry (DWE) System.
Causal Basic Part Number - MISC Condition Code - 82 Labor Operation - SPONPB46 Scheduled Time - 0.2 Hr. Program Code - B46
PROGRAM EXPIRATION
Claims for service you perform under the provisions of this program must be submitted by February 1, 1984.
NOTIFICATION
Vehicle owners are being advised of Owner Notification Program B46 by separate letter (Attachment II).
IF AN INVOLVED VEHICLE HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO AN OWNER AND THE OWNER'S NAME AND ADDRESS DOES NOT APPEAR ON YOUR LISTINGS, PLEASE PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH A COPY OF THE OWNER LETTER AND THE CORRECTED REFILL CAPACITIES CHARTS FOR INSERTION IN THE OWNER GUIDE AND OPERATING GUIDE OF HIS VEHICLE.
PLEASE PROVIDE THIS PACKAGE (INCLUDING REFILL CAPACITIES CHARTS) TO YOUR APPROPRIATE SERVICE PERSONNEL FOR RETENTION UNTIL REQUIRED.
ATTACHMENT II - November, 1983
Dear Thunderbird or Cougar XR-7 Turbo Coupe Owner, The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the engine oil fill instructions shown in your vehicle's Owner Guide and Operating Guide may be incorrect. Vehicles involved in this matter are 1983-model Thunderbird, and 1984-model Thunderbird and Cougar XR-7 turbo coupe vehicles equipped with 2.3 liter turbocharged engines, and built before October 11, 1983. Our records indicate that you own a vehicle eligible for the program which bears the serial number shown on the envelope that contained this letter.
This is not a recall or campaign that requires you to return your vehicle to a dealership. Instead, it is a program designed to provide you with correct engine oil fill instructions for your vehicle. The enclosed charts provide this information, and may be easily affixed to your Owner Guide and Operating Guide in the locations shown further in this letter.
Reason for the program:
In the Owner Guides and Operating Guides placed in some of these vehicles, the engine oil capacities shown for "2.3L Turbo With Filter Change" are overstated by about one-half quart (or liter). 2.3 liter turbocharged engines operated with an overfilled engine oil level could experience excessive oil in the engine intake system. This could lower the fuel octane and cause excessive spark retardation which could adversely affect the performance of your vehicle.
Description of Ford's Program:
So that the appropriate engine oil fill capacities are readily available for your reference, please moisten the reverse side of the enclosed charts and affix them over the existing refill capacities charts shown in your Owner Guide (page 131 for 1983-model Thunderbird; page 134 for 1984-model Thunderbird and Cougar XR-7), and to the back cover of your Operating Guide.
Ford Motor Company is voluntarily taking this initiative as part of its ongoing effort to maintain owner confidence in its products. We appreciate your purchase of a new turbocharged Thunderbird or Cougar and look forward to your continued patronage.