Using Freightliner Parts Software

There are times I don’t want to phone a dealer partsman and wait for them to take a serial number and look up a part. Having the Accessfreightliner website at your finger tips is a huge advantage to finding part numbers and technical information for all freightliner chassis vehicles. In our case it’s the C2 school… Continue reading Using Freightliner Parts Software

EGR Valve Troubleshooting

We’re looking at an EGR valve on a Mercedes MBE 900 diesel engine. It isn’t working properly as shown in the video using the Mercedes DDDL 7 diagnostic software to check it out. By pulling it off of the intake it’s easy to see the valve open and close. Commanding the EGR with the software… Continue reading EGR Valve Troubleshooting

Mercedes Diesel Engine Exhaust Leak

This particular Mercedes diesel engine model is a 2008 and emission controlled. I can say for sure that any exhaust leaks on an emission controlled engine will create not only an engine code but also derated performance. Once the code shows it’s ugly icon on the dash nothing really feels different until over time it… Continue reading Mercedes Diesel Engine Exhaust Leak

20 Year Anniversary and Mechanic Memories

I thought now would be a good time to celebrate my 20th year as a school bus fleet mechanic. I first thought is “how times have changed” it’s a familiar statement but so true from my perspective. 20 years ago I was working on hard wired diesel engines and buses without any high tech troubleshooting… Continue reading 20 Year Anniversary and Mechanic Memories

School Bus Preventive Maintenance

School bus preventive maintenance let me count the ways. There are many approaches a mechanic can take to looking after the modern day school bus and the old models as well. Technology has changed and so has procedures involved with making sure unexpected failures are held to a minimum. PM steps are small to large… Continue reading School Bus Preventive Maintenance

School Bus Electrical Fault

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a problem like this on an HDX pusher school bus model. The Thomas HDX pusher bus has printed circuit boards that relay all of the supply power to run the lights, heater motors and operating circuits. There are 3 circuit boards in total and troubleshooting requires a… Continue reading School Bus Electrical Fault

The School Bus Mechanic Life

The video shows one of our mechanics grinding away at a rear suspension. This is one of the jobs you may be faced with when you become a commercial transport / school bus fleet mechanic. If you want an interesting job with lots of variety getting into this trade is the way to go. I… Continue reading The School Bus Mechanic Life

Cummins ISB Diesel Engine

The Cummins ISB diesel engine is a great piece of machinery and my first choice any day. It comes with the Allison 2500 series automatic transmission in our conventional buses and they work together extremely well. Those 2 components have given us minimal breakdowns. I shouldn’t say breakdowns more like minor inconveniences. The 250 horsepower… Continue reading Cummins ISB Diesel Engine

Ricon Wheel Chair Lift

The Ricon wheel chair lift featured in the video is a very well designed piece of equipment. They use hydraulics to operate the lift cylinders that stow and unstow, lift and lower the lift deck. Micro switches limit the amount of travel during each action. There are interlocks that don’t allow the lift to operate… Continue reading Ricon Wheel Chair Lift

Coolant Leak MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine

NOTE: So no one will think I was just dumping coolant on the floor and in to the city drain system and with respect to the EPA….The video showing the leak in question is draining water on to the floor. It’s not coolant since it was all lost (somewhere on a barren logging road) at… Continue reading Coolant Leak MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine