Thomas C2 questions about wiring and child alarm

[matt.n@wnybusco.com]

Hi
We have a 2011 and 2013 Thomas C2. In the 2011 we want to REMOVE the factory installed child-safety alarm feature (the one that rings after the overhead lights activate it, then ignition is turned off).



Anybody have any good insights as to how to do this? I reached out to Thomas/freightliner and they just said that because it's a "multiplex unit" that we would have to take it to a dealership... with this cryptic line in the email:


"26-02096-012Passenger Advisory-On Ign and warn lps, high beam HL flash,No PA,No air horn To 000 and take out the pilot light"

Next some general questions about wiring and access in these Thomas C2's (2011-2013)...

1) is there an easy way to access the horn relay besides removing the steering column and getting in that way?

2) Where are the buzzers located? The ones that go off when the back emergency door is open.

3) Why are these Thomas wired like this?? Have worked on Internationals which have this nice open panel on the driver side. Getting at/into the Thomas "multiplexer" (the aluminum block where everything terminates under the driver side compartment??) is a huge hassle when having to work on large numbers of these.

Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

[matt.n@wnybusco.com]

Spoke with a mechanic on what exactly multiplexing means, and how it needs to be reprogrammed to disable the child alarm properly.



However, we still have these aftermarket child-check safety alarms that we need to install, which requires access to the horn relay, overhead lights, buzzers, etc.



Can anyone confirm that there is no easier way than to probe for these wires on the multiplex termination block? all in all these installs are a PITA.

[musigenesis]

On a C2 (at least the new ones I drive for work), the child safety alarm (aka "no child left behind") is only activated when your red 8-ways are turned on. If you've disabled those, the NCLB alarm should never be a problem.

Edit: never mind, I guess you're talking about something else.

[matt.n@wnybusco.com]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

On a C2 (at least the new ones I drive for work), the child safety alarm (aka "no child left behind") is only activated when your red 8-ways are turned on. If you've disabled those, the NCLB alarm should never be a problem.

Edit: never mind, I guess you're talking about something else.

Nope you're right- we are indeed talking about the "no child left behind" alarm (the one that comes installed from the factory on C2's). Here's the problem- they want to disable just the alarm feature (buzzing, horns, etc.) but still leave everything else operational (overhead lights, light up sign, etc) for a training bus that (temporarily anyways) does not carry any kids. In reaching out to Thomas/Freightliner, they said you can't just disable it by cutting a wire or pulling a fuse. The multiplexer needs to be reprogrammed.



On another note, we're being asked to install 3rd party/aftermarket child safety alarms on buses that do not come with this feature from the factory. The Child Checkmate A-1 is the model. Anyhow, this requires wiring up to the horn relay, overhead lights, buzzers for the emergency doors, 12v, and ground. Working on the same bus (different year, no alarm from factory), the components are a real chore to access... and we're talking 100+ buses that need this install. For the overhead lights and horn, the side compartment next to the driver needs to be disassembled and probed to find the right individual wire. For the horn, the steering column needs to be disassembled to wire into the horn wire. For the buzzers, I haven't even been able to find the actual buzers yet. It seems like there's multiple hidden throughout.

Just thinking, there has to be a better way to install these things. Of course the video/documentation for the product show the install on an old bluebird... everything easily accessible.



Just wondering if anybody has any suggestions for this, or has a better way to access the wiring components from either a fuse box or relay or something. As it stands, one of these alarm installs is pretty much a full day's amount of work.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

no help for this thread? the safety manager in my head clicked on? sorry
but why would you disable the child check system on a bus driver trainer?
its might be annoying but it should be something they get into a habit of from day one not trained and sent out and have to figure it out.
and if the system is already functioning on a bus that is used for people transport then why not keep it working for whatever people transport you are running at the end of the daythe driver should check the bus before leaving it for the knight?
i know i love my buses but with the hours they do and dealing with the screaming window lickers i would be in jail.
back in the day when i was a young one.
my dad took me to the bus stop instead of going to work and beat my ass on the school bus in front of everyone. i earned it and i took it but what i did to get that never happened again.
long story short.

[matt.n@wnybusco.com]

hahaha!


You're right- sounds counter-intuitive. Gonna pass on disabling the system and focus on my issues with installing the aftermarket alarms.



Thanks for the input