Electrical help in Jacksonville FL

[GraciousFox]

Hey everyone,
I'm reaching out from Jacksonville, Florida, with a plea for some much-needed assistance. A couple of months back, I embarked on what I thought would be an exciting journey of converting a bus into a skoolie. However, my enthusiasm might have gotten the better of my judgment, and I find myself in a bit of a pickle.
In an attempt to customize the electrical system, I removed several wires, confident that I could manage the task at hand. Unfortunately, my actions were not as well-informed as they should have been. Despite dedicating 3-4 weeks of intermittent effort trying to rectify the situation, I'm sad to say that my bus hasn't roared to life in almost two months now. My attempts to troubleshoot and correct my mistakes have only led me deeper into confusion. I beat myself up every time I start something else in the bus and can't figure the wiring out.

I have a wiring diagram and I removed the following wires: speaker, lights, hazards, roof light, and emergency exits. I was doing a lot without ever researching and this is the first problem I have gotten myself into. I added several pictures to this Link. I can add more upon request.

This project means the world to me, and seeing it stalled like this is disheartening. I am turning to this community in hopes of finding someone with expertise in automotive or specifically skoolie electrical systems. If you are familiar with the intricacies of such systems, or know someone who is, your guidance would be invaluable to me. I am more than willing to learn and assist in any way I can, but I acknowledge that this problem has grown beyond what I can handle alone.
I am located in Jacksonville, Florida, and would be incredibly grateful for any form of assistance, be it advice, a willingness to take a look at the bus, or recommendations for professionals who might be able to help. I understand the value of your time and expertise, and I am open to discussing compensation for your help in getting my skoolie project back on track.

[GTSailor]

I'm in jax too. I am fairly good with wiring diagrams. I might can help.

If it gets into the ecm I'm done (LOL). I deleted tons of wiring on my bus. The key is getting proper wiring diagrams. It can be done a little without but much mich harder especially after the deletes.

[Kentucky Dreaming]

Originally Posted by GraciousFox

I have a wiring diagram and I removed the following wires: speaker, lights, hazards, roof light, and emergency exits. I was doing a lot without ever researching and this is the first problem I have gotten myself into.

I suspect the emergency exit switch wires are the culprits. Those circuits are there to keep the bus from running if an emergency exit is open. If you cut or removed the wires, the bus thinks a door, window, or hatch is open.

I took a quick look at the wiring diagram you posted. The 2 door switches are grounded to the bus body. Not sure why each switch has 2 pink wires coming to it on the positive side or what the rectangular symbol one of the pink wires goes to with a black wire on the other side. It seems to me that if you were to attach the pink wires to a clean body ground point, that would complete the circuit.

Smarter more experienced folks than I can say more....

Good luck.

[nikitis]

Originally Posted by Kentucky Dreaming

I suspect the emergency exit switch wires are the culprits. Those circuits are there to keep the bus from running if an emergency exit is open. If you cut or removed the wires, the bus thinks a door, window, or hatch is open.

I took a quick look at the wiring diagram you posted. The 2 door switches are grounded to the bus body. Not sure why each switch has 2 pink wires coming to it on the positive side or what the rectangular symbol one of the pink wires goes to with a black wire on the other side. It seems to me that if you were to attach the pink wires to a clean body ground point, that would complete the circuit.

Smarter more experienced folks than I can say more....

Good luck.

I second this notion.


Depending on the year of the bus, some are easier to bypass than others. On the 94-97 3box buses, there's a lockout solenoid. I had mine removed and directly hooked up so now it will start regardless of the hatches/backdoors being opened or closed.
2000 series buses just take a fuse wire into two ports to make it always on to defeat it. Look up vandaloc as thats the name of many bus lockout systems for your year bus.