No back lights? 97 International 3800

[Iheartbus]

I purchased a used school bus from a school who said it was running when I purchased it. Well, it runs, but they cut out the box at the top left and now it seems the brake lights, the turn signals, and the running night lights don't work in the back. I'm sort of stranded since they don't work, does anyone have any thoughts on what wiring goes back there to get those lights to turn on? The front lights, dash lights and cluster panel near the drivers seat works.

iheartbus

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Iheartbus

I purchased a used school bus from a school who said it was running when I purchased it. Well, it runs, but they cut out the box at the top left and now it seems the brake lights, the turn signals, and the running night lights don't work in the back. I'm sort of stranded since they don't work, does anyone have any thoughts on what wiring goes back there to get those lights to turn on? The front lights, dash lights and cluster panel near the drivers seat works.

iheartbus

That box must have been the light center.
What bus body? Year?
Maybe someone has the same one and can snap some pics for you.
Bluebird has wiring diagrams on line.

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[cadillackid]

when they take the light monitors out they likely let all the wires hang and short out.. check your fuses.. the panel in the center dashboard is where the tails, heads, brakes, are fused from...
-Christopher

[Iheartbus]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

That box must have been the light center.
What bus body? Year?
Maybe someone has the same one and can snap some pics for you.
Bluebird has wiring diagrams on line.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Hi, it's a 97 bluebird body

[Iheartbus]

That's what we thought too, however the fuses were in tact. Is it possible they just cut the back wire by mistake? I know nothing of electrical and it really screwed me

[Njsurf73]

You can go to blue bird. Have your vin and body number.
In the owners portal there are wiring diagrams. They may help.

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[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Iheartbus

That's what we thought too, however the fuses were in tact. Is it possible they just cut the back wire by mistake? I know nothing of electrical and it really screwed me

Sorry you know nothing of electrical as you say. Do you have a voltage tester, multi-meter? You are going to need one and know how to read it, unless you pay for having things fixed. pretty hard to do from this vantage point under the circumstances.
The best place to start would be to test all those loose ends for voltage with the appropriate switches on for the non-working lights.
Then it becomes a process of temporarily connecting them and see what lights up at the rear. That is going to take time even for someone with experience.
May I suggest you read up on dc current as an intro to electricity otherwise you are probably not going to enjoy the bus experience or any vehicle for that matter.
Good luck.

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by Iheartbus

That's what we thought too, however the fuses were in tact. Is it possible they just cut the back wire by mistake? I know nothing of electrical and it really screwed me

It isn't just one wire though. There are 5 wires that run back there, with four different switches in different places that control them.

(That doesn't include the flashing amber and reds for stopping to load and unload passengers.)

[Iheartbus]

My friends father had a meter and we tested the cut endings, but we couldn't pull any voltage. Everything else in the bus works just fine, I really don't know what to do since I don't have experience with it and I'm pressed for time. Do you guys recommend calling an electrician or going to a repair shop and seeing if they can fix it?

[Robin97396]

The repair shop will charge you for their time regardless of fixing it.

[Njsurf73]

Start at the fuse block. Then the switch. Then trace the wires,(disconnect the battery) and use a telephone toner to send a signal and see if it goes from the fuse block to the hole above your head. Check for a ground that could have been disconnected. It could be something very simple.

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[BlackJohn]

Tell me your method of powering up the wires in question. I can't believe you got no readings at all if you checked properly, each wire, each switch for every wire etc. Signal and brake lights.
What position was your ignition switch in to test? Battery had voltage?
I suggest you find the time to do this, but this won't be a cheap hourly fix at any rate.