Anyone messed with lighting on a school bus?

4x4dually

4x4dually

Moderator
Apparently I have a bus from the school headed to the house in a few days after some conversation last night at the spring program. There isn't a light one working on it. Stop/Turn/Tail, clearance, flashers, strobe, nothing. I'm not exactly sure which bus it is but my guess is it's a bluebird with a freightliner badge on the front.

I'll know more once I get it but wanted to ask if anyone has any ideas before I dive it. I'm gonna guess it is a mass fuse link or something of the sort. I've never touched a school bus except to pee in a gatoraid bottle on the way to football games back in the early '90's.

Anyone know where a guy gets info on these big yellow bastards?

Thanks in advance.
 
I'd start at the headlight switch.

We work on school buses all the time. 99% of that is emissions, but I do have access to chassis info. once you know what you're working on. Hit me up if you need anything.
 
Probably a bad ground.....

Couldn’t resist. I sent you a text. I can probably help you out. I work at the MNPS bus garage.

-Scott
 
Appreciate it, you two! Thanks. Once it shows up and I get a VIN and some diagnosis of what all doesn't work, I'll reach out.

It has to be one thing in common with all the lighting. Not all those systems should fail at the same time. I was thinking a mass connector between the body and the chassis might have came loose.
 
Most of the newer systems have computers where relay boxes used to be. Fixing a taillight out can be expensive. You're an electrician, so I'm sure you're not intimidated by the challenge.
 
If its a Freightliner chassis drive it back to them. JUNK.

I own an M2...it's for sale. Body control module eating POS
Chris
 
Snedge said:
Most of the newer systems have computers where relay boxes used to be. Fixing a taillight out can be expensive. You're an electrician, so I'm sure you're not intimidated by the challenge.
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That's why the school asked me to look at it. I'm not sure I can fix it, but I'm sure I can hot wire it....which I wouldn't do for the kids' safety...but.... LOL
 
4x4dually said:
That's why the school asked me to look at it. I'm not sure I can fix it, but I'm sure I can hot wire it....which I wouldn't do for the kids' safety...but.... LOL
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What, they dont do evacuation drills anymore?

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J-Pipes said:
What, they dont do evacuation drills anymore?

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Fukk no. Bus drivers can't even look at a kid sideways nowadays.

We used to have to help push the bus out of snow banks, and put on the tire chains.
My old bus driver would grab you the back of the neck if you looked at him sideways.
Ahhh the good old days.
Snow flakes melted before they got out of kindergarten.
 
Signature600 said:
If its a Freightliner chassis drive it back to them. JUNK.

I own an M2...it's for sale. Body control module eating POS
Chris
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Biggest problem we've had with C2/M2 chassis is people that think they are going to fix it like it's a 1978 Ford, or stack a circuit onto whatever lights a power probe.

If it's a freightliner chassis let me know. I'm a dealer.

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biggy238 said:
Biggest problem we've had with C2/M2 chassis is people that think they are going to fix it like it's a 1978 Ford, or stack a circuit onto whatever lights a power probe.

If it's a freightliner chassis let me know. I'm a dealer.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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Since you haven't had problems, how do I keep my ABS light off for more than 9 miles?

2007 M2 with Hydraulic brakes.

This POS costs me $5K a year to keep the lights, HVAC, and brakes working. Body control module every 18-20 months, blower motor and evaporator every 2 years, and ABS problems as soon as you drive it off the rack.

Chris
 
Meritor or wabco brake controls?
Fixed one a few years back with a failed pump. Something about the internal boost pressure.


Thats a big list you got. I'd probably sell it ?

Give me diagnostic codes, I'll give you everything I can find.

MID duty heaven (or hell) here today...
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Signature600 said:
2007 M2 with Hydraulic brakes.
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Educate me. What is a Thomas M2? Right now we have 359 active Thomas buses (280 BB's and IC's), MinoTours, MVP-EF's, EFX's, and C-2's. Never heard of an M-2.

Pics of our shop...

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Never mind......

I just realized you're talking about a FREIGHTLINER M2.

I was stuck on the yellow beasts...:doh:
 
BigPapa said:
Educate me. What is a Thomas M2? Right now we have 359 active Thomas buses (280 BB's and IC's), MinoTours, MVP-EF's, EFX's, and C-2's. Never heard of an M-2.



Pics of our shop...



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It thought you were going to chase me with a pitch fork for a second.

Yes. The Thomas C2 is a freightliner M2 chassis with the bus body installed. I should have been more specific.

I still need to make it down your way.

Fun fact: About half of the available RV chassis running around, and your bread trucks are the same 4uzabr VIN sold by FCCC. As a result, we also participate in recalls and warranty repairs on RV chassis and snap-on trucks

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Signature600 said:
359 School bus fleet? I do NOT want your job.

Chris
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That's just the THOMAS buses. We also have:
  1. 36 Blue Birds (6 with the 6.0L Ford, 2 with the propane Roush V10, and the rest with C7 ACERT's)
  2. 244 Cummins powered Internationals
  3. 355 "White Fleet" vehicles (anything that's NOT a school bus), from John Deere Gator to a 10.8L Cummins ISM powered Freightliner FL112 wrecker

Most of the Thomas buses are Cummins powered except for (26) GMC van cutaways with the 6.5L diesel, (9) E350 cutaways with the 6.0L, and (6) Freightliner chassis' with the MBE900 Mercedes.

I touch almost every part that comes in and goes out.
 
The MBE900 is the only thing I like about the truck, except the visibility out of the cab.

The rest of it, I hate....but we didn't think a Pete or Kenworth could have been worth the 25K difference when we bought it new. Now we know.

Chris
 
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