Electrical issues caused from removing stop sign and other bus parts

[lwharma]

Hello! I am new here. I’m hoping you all can help me. We’ve just found a FREE international flat nose bus. The actual specs are being emailed to me tomorrow. The bus was bought and painted white. The electrical was fine. The owner took it to have the parts removed that make it a bus. The stop sign, swinging bar, when he got it back, there was electrical issues. The owner got the bus for a not for profit orginization so not a lot of cash. He took it to a bus service center around the corner from me. They put new tires on it and fixed a few other things to get it road ready. When they got to the electrical, the service center trouble shot the bus all over and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. He suggested changing the main computer component but with no guarantees it could be fixed. The previous owner couldn’t afford to put more money into it and abandoned it at the service center 18 months ago. We’ve passed by that bus for the past 18 months and are wondering if it’s fate. The service center is a mom and pop and just want it off their property. They also do not specialize in international busses so I’m wondering if an actual IC mechanic could figure this out much faster. I did call an IC bus specialist and they didn’t give me a clear answer. Just that there is a lot of wiring to a bus and they are $135 an hour to diagnose it. They don’t know how long it will take. Plus a $200 tow to get it over there
Ok, so my question is this. Would you all take a chance on this bus if the bus itself is FREE? Has anyone had these electrical issues after removing the required bus parts? Was it an expensive fix? Could it be an easy fix? Also, if a bus has sat for 18 months, are the new tires going to need replacing? Thanks for all your help!

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

To better help with troubleshooting advice especially electrical. We need to know the year model of bus.
If it a newer completely IC chassis and body or international chassis and Thomas or bluebird body type stuff.
The vandalock systems used on a lot of buses can be a pain to figure out if someone just started cutting the bus stuff wires associated. But it would take actually hands on time to know what was cut and what needs to be grounded where or tied together there.
It could be something simple if the wires were cut and left in place but an entire different situation if the wiring was completely removed.
An actual IC mechanic knows how to keep what is in the bus working as a bus including all the bus safety stuff. But might not know how to install jumpers or change wires to delete the bus safety stuff.
Personally if I had to pay 135$ an hour for a dealerships shop to troubleshoot somebody else's electrical delete work?
I would keep looking.
But if I had somewhere to have the tow truck park it that it could stay there why we help and you can give us pics we might be able to help get that 200$ tow bill bus running with time.
At 135$ an hour and premium price parts I think it would cost to much.
But with time to research and patience to figure it out it is doable.
Make,model,and a VIN number lookup will help you and us help you.
Good luck

[lwharma]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger bus 223

To better help with troubleshooting advice especially electrical. We need to know the year model of bus.
If it a newer completely IC chassis and body or international chassis and Thomas or bluebird body type stuff.
The vandalock systems used on a lot of buses can be a pain to figure out if someone just started cutting the bus stuff wires associated. But it would take actually hands on time to know what was cut and what needs to be grounded where or tied together there.
It could be something simple if the wires were cut and left in place but an entire different situation if the wiring was completely removed.
An actual IC mechanic knows how to keep what is in the bus working as a bus including all the bus safety stuff. But might not know how to install jumpers or change wires to delete the bus safety stuff.
Personally if I had to pay 135$ an hour for a dealerships shop to troubleshoot somebody else's electrical delete work?
I would keep looking.
But if I had somewhere to have the tow truck park it that it could stay there why we help and you can give us pics we might be able to help get that 200$ tow bill bus running with time.
At 135$ an hour and premium price parts I think it would cost to much.
But with time to research and patience to figure it out it is doable.
Make,model,and a VIN number lookup will help you and us help you.
Good luck

Thank you so much for your reply! I was able to get the information after looking at the bus. Down side is the roof leaks around the roof hatches, lots of water inside. I also noticed the rear engine was different as the engine access was on each of the sides of the rear and not around the very back. It also took up a ton of room inside the bus. I’ve never seen this type before. But I digress... The bus is a 2002 international rear engine bus. 211k Miles. We weren’t able to see the engine or transmission but based on the model number, Wikipedia says it’s likely a t444e engine and Allison 545 transmission or an Allison 3060 . (Is this engine powerful enough to handle cross country driving? Can it handle up and down mountain passes? ��)
Model GC39530
Serial#947702MD
Capacity 72
Date manufactured 05/17/02
This is all I have for now. I may get more info tomorrow. I also found that the previous owner abandoned a second identical bus and may be able to get the computer component out of that...maybe. Yes, we can easily tow it to our property and fix it slowly over time. We’d like to have it converted by next summer so we have some time. We would definitely love the help! Thanks again!

[Genghis]

Can you describe the "electrical issues"? Might help us armchair mechanics from afar.

Genghis sends.

z

[2martins]

Originally Posted by lwharma

Thank you so much for your reply! I was able to get the information after looking at the bus. Down side is the roof leaks around the roof hatches, lots of water inside. I also noticed the rear engine was different as the engine access was on each of the sides of the rear and not around the very back. It also took up a ton of room inside the bus. I’ve never seen this type before. But I digress... The bus is a 2002 international rear engine bus. 211k Miles. We weren’t able to see the engine or transmission but based on the model number, Wikipedia says it’s likely a t444e engine and Allison 545 transmission or an Allison 3060 . (Is this engine powerful enough to handle cross country driving? Can it handle up and down mountain passes? ��)
Model GC39530
Serial#947702MD
Capacity 72
Date manufactured 05/17/02
This is all I have for now. I may get more info tomorrow. I also found that the previous owner abandoned a second identical bus and may be able to get the computer component out of that...maybe. Yes, we can easily tow it to our property and fix it slowly over time. We’d like to have it converted by next summer so we have some time. We would definitely love the help! Thanks again!

You need the VIN number and with the last 8 numbers of the VIN you call the local International dealer and ask for your line set ticket. That will have all the info on your original build, including the transmission. I have that same kind of RE but 1997.

A T444e with an AT540 is not going to run happily all over the Rockies in the summer, but if you don't mind going slowly it will make it over them. Mine is a T444e with an AT643 and we went pretty slowly over the mountains out West under 9K elevation.

Lots of them leak around the hatches but mine only did a tiny bit. If you have really rusty *ribs* and floor, plus the electrical issues, then maybe not worth it but if it's surface rust on the ribs and one or two sections of floor rusted that you can replace, that's not such a big deal. You need to get underneath and use a mallet or hammer to hit the cross members under the area where the floor leak is the worst and make sure *those* aren't rusted beyond surface rust.

Will you be able to get clear title on it though? That is an issue.

Seems like you could always just run new electrical? I say this, but I know absolutely nothing about electrical. I have helped electricians run wire before, but never watched them CONNECT said wire! Are the wires color coded at least? I can imagine it would be a huge, painstaking project, but it wouldn't be terribly expensive if you do it yourself or find a friend to help or someone that knows electrical to barter with maybe. Being able to snag parts etc off the other bud would be great and then they could just scrap it.

But they would need a clear title to let you take parts and and then scrap it. In the case of abandonment I'm sure they can get, but the question is how long would it take and will the other people help with that? There may be public notice requirements or something and I would want to make sure to follow the law in a situation like that.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[lwharma]

Ok! I received information on the bus! Still not sure the transmission but I think I have everything else. Including a clear title &Vin: 4DRBJABP02A947702.
Model GC39530, serial number 947702MD (will the serial number help me figure out the transmission type?)
I’ve attached the invoice of work done along with comments on the electrical issues. I have also attached the VIN decoder. Thanks again for your help everyone!