Bus Archives

Snap On Video Scope

Featured in this video is one of my favourite specialty tools. The Snap-On Video Scope is extremely handy and really helps out when you can’t see certain areas on an engine or inside a cab. This tool has several uses: -Internal engine diagnosis -under-dash, inside door panels -under-hood -behind engine block -inside transmission housings -any… Continue reading Snap On Video Scope

Parker Hydraulic Fan Drive School Bus Pusher

All of the school bus pusher buses have hydraulic drive engine fans. They have their advantages which includes cold start override which cuts down on the engine load and decreases warm up time. Fan Drive Fault – Staying on Constantly Right now we have a pusher bus that has an engine fan that stays on… Continue reading Parker Hydraulic Fan Drive School Bus Pusher

School Bus Shop Photos

These are photos I’ve been taking throughout the years at our school bus garage. As you may have noticed some of the technology is older. The Kysor Engine shutdown system was in our mid 1990 models. They served their purpose and was very basic with a coolant temperature sensor and oil pressure sensor hard wired… Continue reading School Bus Shop Photos

School Bus Module and Mercedes Diesel Engine Code Problem

Voltage Leakage with Interface Modules Another problem we are dealing with is the VIM vehicle interface modules especially on the HDX Thomas pusher buses. They are exposed to the elements and attract corrosion and since they have cooling vents to the atmosphere this causes voltage to creep over and energize other circuits. On one of… Continue reading School Bus Module and Mercedes Diesel Engine Code Problem

How The Vandalock Works On An International School Bus

In this video I go through the vandalock system in a conventional International school bus. The key switch is on the outside for a good reason. The operator can disable the bus from starting if he happens to either leave the bus with kids still on or has to park it over night or while… Continue reading How The Vandalock Works On An International School Bus

Thomas HDX Rear Emergency Window Switch Improvisation

If you have Thomas HDX school buses in your fleet you might have been experiencing problems with the rear window alarm coming on unexpectedly. If moisture gets into the seal area the exposed ground wire in the window frame grounds out and sets off the alarm. The main problem with the design is the ground… Continue reading Thomas HDX Rear Emergency Window Switch Improvisation

School Bus Block Heater Not So Easy….

Here is a project we were working on involving a block heater replacement on a Thomas C2 conventional school bus. In this video you will be able to see the tight spot that you need to get in to accessing the block heater element. This is an MBE 900 Mercedes diesel which is inset under… Continue reading School Bus Block Heater Not So Easy….

School Bus Maintenance In The Summer Is No Picnic

With school out we have the pick of the fleet for our maintenance and repair schedule. There’s just the shop crew working through July and August. Maintenance is our main focus year round but also major repairs have to be attended to. Summer is the busiest time for us because it’s the most convenient time… Continue reading School Bus Maintenance In The Summer Is No Picnic

Troubleshooting Rear Axle Noise

A few months ago our crew went out to the Mercedes dealer for some training and the instructor told us to bring out one of our buses with the MBE 900 diesel engine so we could use it as a test unit. One of the guys grabbed the keys for one of our Thomas HDX… Continue reading Troubleshooting Rear Axle Noise