Attachment III - Technical Information
OVERVIEW
This program involves inspecting the DOT codes on Continental and General tires installed as original equipment on the affected vehicles. Tires found to have DOT codes matching those listed in the chart must be replaced.
^ On affected F-150 vehicles, all four (4) ground tires and the spare tire must be inspected.
^ Affected F-250 and F-350 vehicles were produced with either 17- or 18-inch Continental or 20-inch non-Continental ground tires.
- If the vehicle is equipped with 17-or 18-inch ground tires, all tires on the vehicle, including the spare, must be inspected.
- If the vehicle is equipped with 20-inch non-Continental brand ground tires, then only the spare tire must be inspected.
INSPECTION
1. The DOT Code Location Chart provides the location of the DOT codes which must be inspected on the tires. Please note that a similar DOT code is present on the opposite side of the tire but does not contain the date of manufacture code (the last four [4] digits), which is essential to this inspection. All DOT codes are stamped or molded into the tire sidewall near the tire bead.
2. NOTE: Steps 2, 4 and 5 apply only to vehicles that require the spare tires to be lowered in order to view the complete DOT code.
Retrieve the jack handle and lug wrench from their stowage compartment and lower the spare tire to view the DOT code. See the chart to locate the tools.
3. NOTE: The spare tire DOT code on all affected vehicles must be recorded on the repair order for entry later into ACES II whether or not that code is listed in the Suspect Tire Identification Chart.
Recording the location of each inspected tire on the repair order, with its corresponding DOT code, will assist in quickly identifying which tire or tires must be replaced when the vehicle returns to have the new tires installed.
Record the spare tire DOT code on the repair order. Identify this code as belonging to the spare tire. See Figure 1.
4. CAUTION: Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result in failure of the cable or loss of the spare tire.
Raise the spare tire back up into the stowed position. The effort to turn the jack handle increases significantly and the spare tire carrier ratchets or slips when the tire is raised to the maximum tightness.
5. Return the jack handle and lug wrench to their stowage compartment.
6. Raise the vehicle on a hoist and inspect the DOT code on all ground tires.
7. NOTE: The ground tire DOT codes on all inspected tires must be recorded for entry later into ACES II whether or not that code is listed in the Suspect Tire Identification Chart.
Recording the location of each inspected tire on the repair order, with its corresponding DOT code, will assist in quickly identifying which tire or tires must be replaced when the vehicle returns to have the new tires installed.
Record the ground tire DOT codes on the repair order. Identify the location of each tire and its corresponding DOT code. See Figure 1.
8. Lower the vehicle.
9. Compare the list of DOT codes from the vehicle tires against those specified in the Suspect Tire Identification Chart.
^ Tires that have DOT codes specified in the chart must be replaced. Replacement tires must be ordered. Release the vehicle until new tires arrive.
TIRE REPLACEMENT
1. Refer to the original repair order to help quickly identify which tires on the vehicle need replacement. Verify the tires that are being replaced have DOT codes matching those specified in the Suspect Tire Identification Chart.
2. Mount and balance the new tire on the original wheel.
3. Record the DOT codes of the newtires on the repair order for entry later into ACES II.
4. Reinstall the wheel/tire assembly on the vehicle.
5. Tighten the wheel nuts to specification.
TIRE DISABLING AND TIRE RETURN
Tires removed from vehicles must immediately be made unusable by either cutting the bead with bolt cutters or drilling a one-inch diameter hole through the sidewall. DO NOT DRILL OR CUT THROUGH THE DOT CODE. The DOT code must be readable after disabling the tire.
Special Tire Handling Information
^ Mutilating the DOT code will subject that tire to be charged back to the dealer.
^ DO NOT dispose of tires replaced underthis program.
^ The parts manager will receive special 700 tags for each tire replaced.
^ Tires replaced underthis program are not to be sent to the Warranty and Parts Analysis Center. They will be picked up and returned to the manufacturer.
^ Store these tires separately from those not involved in this program to eliminate the possibility of mixing the tires.
^ Tires returned that do not meet the criteria for replacement will be charged back to the dealer.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR POST REPAIR RETIGHTEN PROCEDURE
WARNING:
FAILURE TO RETIGHTEN THE WHEEL NUTS AT THE MILEAGE SPECIFIED COULD ALLOW THE WHEELS TO COME OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
The Owner Guide and workshop repair manual specify that each wheel removed and reinstalled must have the wheel nuts retightened at 160 km (100 miles) for F-350 DRW and at 800 km (500 miles) for all vehicles, including F-350 DRW, after service. This is required to permit the wheel clamping system to seat correctly so that the wheel nuts will hold a uniform clamp load and remain fully tightened. To claim this operation, you must file a related damage claim using the respective labor operation. These labor operations include time to check the torque on all the wheel nuts.