Bizarre problem: pushing battery drawer inward acts like key turn

[jMyles]

This is one of the strangest things I've ever experienced.

International 3800, Thomas coachwork, T444E.

I removed and rewired my road batteries. With the work complete and looking nice, I first turned the key to make sure everything was cool. It is.

Then, I tightened everything down and pushed the battery drawer in. As I did, I heard the brake assist motor kick on. Pull the drawer out, brake assist turns off.

I also tried, with the drawer in (and the brake assist motor on), starting the bus. It started fine. However, when I turned the key to the left IT REFUSED TO SHUT OFF. Whoa. So, I went out and pulled the battery drawer out, and the bus shut right off.

Note, though, that the batteries are still connected with the drawer out. I can still start the bus. In other words: with the drawer pulled out, everything acts like it is supposed to.

I did some fiddling, and it seems very precise: there's a particular point of pushing the battery drawer that seems to activate the bizarre mode. Moving the batteries around (independent of the drawer) has no effect; only the position of the drawer itself seems to cause this.

I can't think of an even vaguely plausible explanation.

[cadillackid]

maybe rthere is a wire getting pinched under the bus behind the drawer> or perhaps an ignition switch wire goes through the door and partially bare.. and it touches the POS lead?
-Christopher

[milkmania]

Brake assist??? What is this you speak of?

I have two types of brake assist on my bus



Seriously though, I'd lean toward a pinched wire grounding out or a loose ground contact somewhere. I doubt there's any kind of limit switch for the battery tray.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by milkmania

Brake assist??? What is this you speak of?

I have two types of brake assist on my bus



Seriously though, I'd lean toward a pinched wire grounding out or a loose ground contact somewhere. I doubt there's any kind of limit switch for the battery tray.

gorilla foot + air brakes = gorilla squall of Locked tandems goin down the highway

-Christopher