PRODUCT INFORMATION BULLETIN
November 1, 2017
SUBJECT:

Availability of Redesigned Mounting System for Code 3® Citadel
LED Lighting Systems Installed on Ford Police Interceptor Utilities
(PIUs)

PRODUCT:

Code 3® Citadel LED Lighting Series Product Numbers:
CITEXI-BA-CB
CITEXI-RABA-CB
CITEXI-RA-CB
CITEXI-RB-CB
CITADEL-EXI
CITADEL-EXI-CB
CITADEL-PIU

CITEXI-AA
CITEXI-BB
CITEXI-RB
CITEXI-RR
CIT-EXI-UPGKIT
CELS

Dear Code 3® Customer:
We want to communicate an important update regarding our Citadel LED Lighting Series.
You may be aware that there have been reports by law enforcement professionals of
exhaust containing carbon monoxide (CO) entering the cabin of some Ford Police
Interceptor Utility (PIU) vehicles. While our investigation indicates that the Code 3®
Citadel LED Lighting Series does not contribute to this issue if properly installed, we will
soon make available a new mounting system for use with the Citadel LED Lighting Series.
The new mounting kit is designed to mitigate the risk of elevated CO in the PIU cabin due
to improper installation of the Citadel LED Lighting Series.
Customer satisfaction is of critical importance to Code 3®, therefore (1) all Citadel LED
light kits we supply going forward will include the new mounting system and (2) the new
mounting system will be made available to you free of charge for each previously
purchased Citadel LED light kit.
What is the Reason for the Redesign?
Ford has indicated it believes that certain aftermarket upfit modifications located at the
rear of the vehicle (such as around the tail light or rear lift gate) may be contributing to
elevated CO levels in the cabin if certain seals are not properly repaired or re-sealed
during the installation. Ford described its concern in Ford Customer Satisfaction Program
17B25 as follows: “When an up-fitter installs customized emergency lighting, radios and
other equipment, they may damage vehicle sealing systems and/or drill holes into the
rear of the vehicle. This creates an opening where exhaust could enter the cabin if the
sealing system is not properly repaired and holes are not properly sealed.” As part of its
campaign, Ford dealers have been instructed to inspect the rear of PIU vehicles and

repair damage to body seals, grommets and liftgate spoiler sealing systems, seal the
liftgate interior trim panel, install new muffler tips, seal certain body plugs in the floor pan,
reprogram the Climate Control (HVAC) module, and check the Powertrain Control Module
(PCM) for diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0420 and/or P0430 following the technical
instructions.
Due to its concerns regarding damaged seals during the upfitter installation process, Ford
has also recommended the removal of aftermarket lighting and/or equipment mounted to
the spoiler. Because of Ford’s recommendation and our commitment to customer
satisfaction, Code 3® developed the new mounting system for the Citadel LED Lighting
Series so that it does not require removal of the spoiler and, therefore, addresses Ford’s
concern regarding damaged seals.
What Steps Should You Take?
Code 3® recommends that you promptly take the following steps:
•

Check Your Inventory. If you have any Code 3® Citadel LED light kits in your
inventory, please contact your Code 3® representative to order new mounting
system kits (see product numbers below) for use in connection with the installation
of those Citadel LED light kits in your inventory. We will provide these new kits
free of charge (one per Citadel LED light kit) through September 30, 2018, and
we ask that you do not install any further Citadel LED light kits until you have
received the new mounting system kits from us. All Citadel LED light kits should
be installed using the new mounting system in accordance with the installation
instructions accompanying the new kit.

•

Contact Known End-Users. We request that you transmit copies of the attached
End-User Letter to any known end-users (or alternatively, you may provide enduser contact information to us and we will notify them). It advises end-users to
have a Ford dealer perform Customer Satisfaction Campaign 17B25 to covered
PIU vehicles. Among other things, Ford dealers will remove end-user Citadel LED
Lighting Systems, repair damage to body seals, grommets and liftgate spoiler
sealing systems, and seal the liftgate interior trim panel. Ford will return the Citadel
LED Lighting System to the end-user upon completion, after which end-users
should bring their PIU vehicles and Citadel LED light kits to you for re-installation
using the new mounting system.

•

Order New Mounting System. Upon making arrangements with end-users to reinstall their Citadel LED light kits using the new mounting system, contact your
Code 3® representative to order the new mounting kits (see product numbers
below). Again, we will provide new kits free of charge (one per vehicle in which a
Citadel LED light kit was previously installed) through September 30, 2018.

•

Re-Installation for End-Users. Re-install the Citadel LED light kits using the new
mounting system in accordance with the installation instructions accompanying the
new kits.

•

The product numbers for the new mounting system kit are:

If the wire powering your Citadel looks like If the wire powering your Citadel looks like
this (indicating an independent flashing this (indicating a controller version – CEL
version):
or CB):

use product number CITRTF-IF

use product number CITRTF-CB

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 314-996-2800
*

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We appreciate your cooperation and prompt attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,

John Ducharme
President, Americas
Code 3, Inc.

Enclosure:
End-User Communication