Interpretation ID: aiam1611
Staff
Safety
Nissan Motor Company
Ltd.
560 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs
New Jersey 07632;
Dear Mr. Kato: This is in reply to your letter of September 11, 1974 asking for a interpretation of paragraph S5.3.5 of Standard No. 105-75. You indicate that a prospective Nissan design uses a common indicator lamp to show both loss if fluid pressure and low brake fluid level. You ask if the indicator lamp lens may be labeled 'Brake Failure.'; The answer is no. If separate indicator lamps are used, Standard No 105-75 allows words in addition to 'Brake' to indicate the specific area where a problem may exist, *e.g.* an indicator lamp may be labelled 'Brake Fluid' to indicate a low level of fluid. However, if a lamp indicates more than one type of condition, paragraph S5.3.5 specifies that only a single word, 'Brake', may be used. This alerts a driver in a general way that a problem exists somewhere in the brake system. We think the restriction of S5.3.5 preferable for most circumstances. In the configuration you propose for example, the word 'Failure' would not accurately describe a low level of brake fluid.; We appreciate your continued interest in vehicle safety. Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Acting Chief Counsel