School Bus Electrical Information

We recently found the problem with the no ignition power on one of our pusher school buses. The details leading up to the solution were documented in a previous post. The circuit board has definitely failed because of a bad diode internally that is allowing battery voltage to ground out. This is a dead short… Continue reading School Bus Electrical Information

School Bus Short Circuit

In the video you heard the fuse that was popping off every few seconds. That is a short circuit or more commonly called a ‘dead short’ directly to ground. The fuse resets itself so it’s handy to have that plugged in so we can check wiring exposed around the printed circuit board where all this… Continue reading School Bus Short Circuit

MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine Overview

In 2012 we acquired seven Navistar school buses with Maxxforce 7 diesel engines. They have been fairly reliable since then with a few glitches here and there. I think it’s important to share some of our experiences with other Maxxforce 7 owners. 2012 was the last year that Navistar could sell their own diesel engines… Continue reading MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine Overview

School Bus Multiplexing

Since multiplexing is a main stay in highway trucks I want to go through it in more detail so if you’re a mechanic in the multiplexing world you will see more of the benefits that this new type of wiring communication system brings. The video was a quick view of what smart switches look like… Continue reading School Bus Multiplexing

Changing School Bus Programming

Changing the programming on one of our school buses from the end user side hasn’t happened until today with the help of the Freightliner dealer and Thomas Built Buses. For troubleshooting and service information we have the accessfreightliner website which is a remote website that can be logged on to using any one of our… Continue reading Changing School Bus Programming

School Bus Auto Chains

Automatic chains have proven themselves many times over in our fleet operation. With the flick of a switch they automatically apply themselves against the inner dual tire sidewall which rotates the chain wheel to throw the chains under the tire tread. The company that manufactures these auto chains is called ‘Onspot of North America’. They… Continue reading School Bus Auto Chains

School Bus Hendrickson Suspension

Twenty years ago the suspension on a school bus was solid leaf springs which worked well but since the introduction of air bag suspension the ride has greatly improved. The rear suspension on the bus in the video is manufactured by Hendrickson International who have been in the suspension business for many decades. I can… Continue reading School Bus Hendrickson Suspension

Diesel Engine Regen

The parked regeneration is a regular procedure for diesel engines that get to the point where passive regens are not keeping the DPF (diesel particulate filter) clean. The differential pressure sensors will signal the motor control module MCM to alert the driver with an amber light on the dash that a parked regen is required.… Continue reading Diesel Engine Regen

Mechanic Road Test and Service Call Tips

The road test is one of the most important steps to take when troubleshooting a mechanical problem on any vehicle. Thousands of mechanics will agree with this statement. When you listen to a complaint from the driver of the vehicle in question you may not get the whole story. I like to find out as… Continue reading Mechanic Road Test and Service Call Tips

School Bus Body Shop

I haven’t said anything about our onsite body shop so I think now is the time to tell you all about it. We have a journeyman body man who does everything related to school buses. He replaces and repairs body panels, repairs and replaces seat covers, replaces damaged and fogged glass and paints where required… Continue reading School Bus Body Shop