Wiring removal???

[WanderBust]

We finally brought home our shorty. Got the seats and floor removed now moving on to the arm out front and the stop sign. So many wires omg. Anybody have any suggestions where to start. I plan to remove all the strobes and cover the holes is this legal??

[WanderBust]

I’m sorry if there is already a thread on the subject. If so and someone could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[musigenesis]

Not only is it legal to remove your flashers, in most states you're required to remove or disable them. Their use is only allowed for actual school buses. Same with the stop signs and kid-smacker on the bumper.

FWIW a lot of people seem to keep the flashers, stop signs and yellow paint, and I've never read about somebody being pulled over for it. I don't think pulling over school buses is a big priority for cops.

[WanderBust]

Thank you for the info. I know here in Illinois if it’s on the vehicle it’s supposed to work as far as marker lights are concerned maybe that doesn’t apply to the strobes. Either way I’d like to remove them completely and cover the holes. There is so much wiring I don’t know where to begin lol.

[BeNimble]

yes that wiring is heavy and also takes up space, both mental and physical. I'd remove all of it and start over myself.

[WanderBust]

Yeah the more I look at it all the less I feel like I need lights and speakers in the back. I intend to hook lights up to the house batteries so maybe I’ll do away with everything In the ceiling now.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by WanderBust

Yeah the more I look at it all the less I feel like I need lights and speakers in the back. I intend to hook lights up to the house batteries so maybe I’ll do away with everything In the ceiling now.

Just keep in mind that "how do I remove my wiring?" posts are often followed by "my bus won't start!" posts.

[WanderBust]

This is exactly what I’m afraid of.

[gs1949]

Well, I don't have a computer, so I have cut and removed a lot of wires and my bus still starts. With a computer it would make sense to limit the number of wires were disconnected, and then try to start the bus, maybe after only one or two wires were disconnected.

[JDSquared]

Trace the wire back from the flasher to the switch,then the relay. One at a time. Mine started to make sense after three or four of them. Same with speaker wire.

Once those were gone there was more room to trace each of the remaining wires and where they went.

Don't toss your wires out too quick. They can be used again for 12 fans and led lights and backup camera, etc

[WanderBust]

Slowly finding old threads on the topic. Glad I didn’t start tearing out wires.

[CoffeeGuy]

I have started removing wires from my 2000 All American, but only after I know where they are going. It's a tedious process, but absolutely worth it. Download the wiring diagrams for your bus on the Blue Bird Vantage portal.

Having the wiring diagrams for MY bus as opposed to the diagrams in the 200-2003 service manual has been eminently useful. I already tracked down one issue and identified a bad coil relay, and now I'm working on figuring out why the dash lights and lcd display aren't working.

I think once you get the hang of it, you'll know your bus as well as the people who designed it.

[Dirtdoctor]

The issue with wires, where to start. Lots of alarms and safety stuff on busses. So pull the fuse that runs a specific set of lights or buzzers. If the bus still runs without that fuse then - leave the fuse out. Some busses have dual systems and removing one system could affect one or two other systems. Start with the stop sign, disassemble it and secure the wires label what they are so when you have to strip everything out you will have a clue of where and what they are for. Be cautious.

[Unpluggedone]

Don’t start ripping out wires! Remove the stop, strobe and kid safety bars and seal off the wires, you can safely cap the school flashers or Rewire as standard 4 ways if you locate the flasher mechanism. The access area looks a tad messy and you can clean that up with tie wraps. You’d be amazed at how much wiring there is for tail, stop, clearance lights, fans, latches but compared to the hassle of recovering from an oops, better to clean than remove.

[FrugalFannie]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Not only is it legal to remove your flashers, in most states you're required to remove or disable them. Their use is only allowed for actual school buses. Same with the stop signs and kid-smacker on the bumper.

FWIW a lot of people seem to keep the flashers, stop signs and yellow paint, and I've never read about somebody being pulled over for it. I don't think pulling over school buses is a big priority for cops.

Kid-smacker

[FrugalFannie]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

yes that wiring is heavy and also takes up space, both mental and physical. I'd remove all of it and start over myself.

well, some of it goes to, you know, break lights and turn signals.

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by FrugalFannie

well, some of it goes to, you know, break lights and turn signals.

which ones...you'll know if you run new wires.

I agree to be careful particularly about engine wiring in modern engines.

[Treasurehunter]

What threads have you been reading? I want to read them allll

[Ginget]

where do you get these wire manuals for the buses? I dont have a blue bird. I have a GMC 2003 4 window school bus.