Hello!
Well, here's the story... I was poking around behind the switch panel (above the driver's head), pulling out mouse chewings and various other debris. I had a metal tool in one of my hands. I should have known better... but even so, I managed to do the unthinkable: short the hot rail to ground. More specifically, my tool was touching the stud that connects to the main B+ wire.
I didn't notice until my tool was already becoming welded to the rail. It was at that point that I pulled it off, and (after a moment) checked to see just how hot the wire got. It wasn't hot at all, so I figured it was a semi-safe assumption that the bus wasn't about to go up in flames.
But then, the bad news: when I went to turn the dome light on (as a quick test), I got nothing. Same for the heater, etc. Then it got worse: I put the key in the ignition and turned it on... no buzzer, no accessories. I tried to start the bus, but again, nothing. In fact, all I *did* have was the parking lights and headlights.
So I began investigating, looking for a fuse or fuseable link in the B+ wire I shorted... but was having no luck following it back to the starter. I checked all my other fuses in the "regular" vehicle fuse box (just for good measure), and they were all fine.
By this time it was getting dark, and the bus had to be moved (I had parked it on the street, and around here you're not supposed to leave vehicles on the street overnight). I didn't have a VOM with me, so I decided to make a last-ditch effort to revive it by disconnecting and taping off the wire I had shorted, and making a temporary jumper from the battery to the hot rail. Once I did that, the accessories on the panel (clearance lights, heater fan, dome lights, etc) were working... but the ignition switch was still having no effect.
I ended up recruiting a buddy to drive my truck, and between the two of us we towed the bus off the street. But I've gotta get this figured out, and the sooner the better.
What am I missing here? I do have some auto repair skills, and know how to handle wiring (though who'd know it after this? ha ha), but I don't quite know this bus inside and out (yet).
I do have the Blue Bird body manual, and have looked at the wiring schematic. But it shows nothing between the battery and the hot rail other than that piece of wire.
Help!