Interpretation ID: nht78-4.8

DATE: 11/29/78

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; J. J. Levin, Jr.; NHTSA

TO: Chrysler Corporation

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT:

FMVSS INTERPRETATION Ms. Joan Claybrook Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 400 Seventh Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20590

RE: MVSS 101 - Controls and Displays Docket 1-18; Notice 13

By notice published in the Federal Register on June 26, 1978 (43 FR 27541) the NHTSA amended MVSS 101 - Controls and Displays to require the use of ISO symbols on specific controls, telltales and gauges and the use of specified word call-outs to identify certain other controls and displays. The amendment is effective September 1, 1980 and until that date vehicles may comply with either the current or the amended standard.

As amended the standard specifies symbols for separate oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges or telltales. It has been industry practice on some models to combine the monitroing of these two functions into a single telltale to indicate an "engine" malfunction. We believe that combining these two functions is appropriate because the response by the driver to either of these engine malfunctions is the same, safely pull to the side of the road and turn off the engine. We see nothing in the standard to prohibit the continued use of an engine function telltale. Therefore, Chrysler Corporation interprets the requirements of the standard to mean that a telltale which monitors engine function may be identified by the word "Engine".

Therefore, we request the Administrator's concurrence with our interpretation that a telltale which monitors both engine oil pressure and coolant temperature may use the identifying word "Engine". If, however, our interpretation is not correct, this letter should be considered as a petition for reconsideration requesting that S5.2.3 and Table 2 be amended to allow the use of the word "Engine" to identify a telltale which monitors both engine oil pressure and coolant temperature.

Sincerely,