SOUTH BEND -- A Ford Motor Co. representative has begun inspecting 68 city police take-home squad cars that have been taken out of service because their frames are riddled with rust.

"I don't look at it to be very positive,'' Chief Larry Bennett said of the inspections that have idled dozens of squad cars and temporarily curtailed the city's take-home car policy that has been cited as a deterrent to crime.

Bennett said 125 of the department's cars have been inspected thus far, and more inspections are scheduled. In some cases, maintenance personnel were able to hammer a metal punch right through the weakened frames.

The chief said he expects the Ford representative to take up to two days to look at the cars.

Most of the affected cars are 1997 Ford Crown Victorias, the first batch of cars the city purchased when it began its take-home car policy.

"Clearly, we're not going to have our officers driving unsafe vehicles,'' Mayor Stephen J. Luecke said.

Some are questioning whether the city's use of a liquid anti-icing agent may have prompted the excessive rust. Luecke dismisses that claim as unlikely.

Luecke said crews used the anti-icing agent on only a couple occasions this past winter because conditions did not allow for it.

The city is researching whether any other departments across the country with 1997 Ford Crown Victorias are experiencing similar problems.

"We will work for a positive settlement,'' Luecke said. "Clearly they are a major investment, (and the problem) needs to be corrected.''

Todd Nissen, a Ford spokesman, said the auto manufacturer is aware of the complaints.

"We take these reports seriously,'' Nissen said. "We're working with the department and also doing our own investigation,'' which may include reviewing maintenance logs.

Nissen said Ford is committed to working with the department to make sure officers have the safest vehicles possible.

Nissen said it could take months -- maybe longer -- to determine the problem.

That problem has forced police to begin using spare cars and vehicles that had been used by civilian patrols, formerly Civil Defense. If necessary, Bennett said he would even consider offering his unmarked car for use.

The cars are being rotated between shifts to ensure that officers have enough vehicles to patrol city streets.

Help is on the way. The city has appropriated nearly $1 million to buy an additional 56 squad cars this year.

The new models are Dodge Intrepids.