Interpretation ID: aiam4316
President
Canadian Automotive Radiator
Air Industrial Park
P. O. Box 189
Debert
Nova Scotia
BOM 1GO
CANADA;
Dear Mr. Barlett(sic): Thank you for your letter of May 5, 1987, concerning Standard No. 301 *Fuel System Integrity*. You asked the agency to confirm that the requirements set out in the standard apply only to fuel systems installed as items of original equipment in new vehicles and do not apply to aftermarket fuel systems. Several of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards apply both to original and aftermarket equipment. Standard No. 301, however, applies only to fuel systems installed as items of original equipment in new vehicles.; Although the agency does not have any standards that directly apply t aftermarket fuel systems, manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment, which includes aftermarket fuel systems, are subject to the requirements in section 151-159 of the Vehicle Safety Act concerning the recall and remedy of products with defects related to motor vehicle safety. I have enclosed an information sheet which briefly describes those responsibilities.; In addition, installation of your product can be affected by sectio 108(a)(2)(A) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. That section prohibits commercial businesses from knowingly rendering inoperative devices or elements of design installed in a vehicle in compliance with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Thus, a manufacturer, dealer, distributor or motor vehicle repair shop that installs replacement fuel tanks must ensure that it does not knowingly render inoperative the vehicle's compliance with Standard No. 301.; The prohibition of Section 108(a)(2)(A) does not apply to individua vehicle owner who alter their own vehicles. Thus, under Federal law, they may install or remove any items of motor vehicle equipment regardless of its effect on compliance with Federal motor vehicle safety standards. However, the agency encourages vehicle owners not to remove or otherwise tamper with vehicle safety equipment.; If you have any further questions , please let me know. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel