Posted: 9/13/2006 9:21:24 PM EDT
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I need your help ASAP. I am my agency's union president. We've had a long standing problem with our patrol cars, that being that they get switched over to propane after about 20K miles. The big push, of course, is to save money. We recently went to a new fandangled system that the Canadians produce, and it is causing many of our cars to be accidents waiting to happen. The primary issues have been (and they've happened to me, too): --going 100+mph, lights/siren, and the car just shuts off....causing you to lose power steering, power brakes, and hope that you can put the car into Neutral and turn it over while you're still moving. --on initial acceleration or slowing down, the car will kill when in idle speed, which loses power steering and power brakes. This happens a LOT when rounding corners in normal and fast driving (slowing for corners, then getting on it will sometimes kill it, causing loss of power steering and brakes.) The system is like a growing plague now...they've invested in it with no homework and we're stuck with it. Enough people are thinking they're going to die in a fiery crash that they're bitching about it, and rightfully so. Just tonight, one deputy approached the sergeant in charge of the fleet with a bunch of complaints, and was told if they didn't like it to transfer back to the jail division. Obviously, this is where I come in. After dealing with many of these issues myself and talking with many others in my agency, there is obviously a problem.... a problem that none of admin has to live with, because they drive cars that operate on gasoline. My question to all of you, is this: Can you assist with any case law on unsafe Police vehicle equipment that would cover this? I have a meeting with my Captain tomorrow afternoon (09-14-06) and would like to have my ducks in a row. I'm just curious if OSHA would cover something like this, or if as an LE agency, we have no rights under OSHA. I'm not looking to stir up trouble, but when the folks start worrying about the cars they have to drive daily, we need to address it immediately. Thanks for all of your input, VJ |
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Is the propane conversion system available to the general public or is it .gov only? If it's available to the public then I suspect it has to meet EPA/state emissions, NTSB and Federal Motor Vehicle type requirements. Check the company's website for any type of certifications and testing protocol. Are the conversion systems installed by the manufacturer or some local garage - local garage may be screwing up. Other than that all I can say is document every instance of stalling/poor performance to try and help determine what the root cause might be. Good luck, Brian |
| contact ford or chevy, whoever is the manf of the cars and get their opinion and ask if they have any case law. Ask if the conversions kill the warranty and if it does, why? Also ask for in writing what the conversion entails and if there are in writing any drawbacks/consequences to the conversion. Remind the Administration of possible litigation stemming from possible injury to officers and the public. If all else fails, go to the press. |
I believe it is available to the public, as there are some cab companies using it in Canada. The conversion systems are installed by OUR mechanic, who went to Canada to learn how to install the systems. As for contacting Ford, there is no doubt in my mind that the warranty is quashed, since the warranty is null the minute that they install our push bumpers. VJ |