Under bonnet fires in TX4’s

12th September, 2008

Taxi manufacturer LTI has informed the Public Carriage Office of a number of engine fires in TX4s with a ‘56’ registration.  The manufacturer is recalling all London TX4s in this registration range to allow further investigation and a thorough safety check of the engine compartment components.  While there have been no injuries to date, measures are being put in place to minimise the risk to both passengers and drivers.

There is a need to inspect all ‘56’ registered TX4 taxis, with a priority to check very early production TX4 taxis (VIN range: 200000 to 200500).  LTI will be contacting owners to bring the latter group of vehicles in for immediate inspection before continuing using them for passenger service.

TfL/PCO will make facilities available at Penton Street for LTI to carry out some of these inspections and LTI will also make arrangements with its main dealers to use their facilities to carry out inspections and any necessary repairs.

Based upon LTI’s advice, the PCO requires all of the vehicles in-scope to have completed the LTI check and to be signed off by LTI, and for this to be noted by the PCO.  The early production vehicles (see VIN range above) must be signed off by LTI by Friday 19 September and the rest of the ‘56’ registrations by Friday 26 September.

Any vehicle not signed off by LTI may have its licence suspended by the Licensing Authority and will therefore be unfit for passenger service.

LTI further advises all taxi drivers that, in the event of smoke originating in the engine compartment of any cab, the driver stops the cab; removes him/herself and any passengers from the cab; does not lift the bonnet; and calls the fire brigade.