Thomas Hdx won't start!

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

I have read many threads on the interlock switches keeping a bus from starting... bus has been running fine and all of the sudden during a rainstorm it wouldn't start. It started fine using the service in the back of the bus I know it's charged because I have it plugged in to a house charger built in to the 120 V system I added. You turn the key over all the airbrakes solenoids click but when you turn it to start you hear a click from the ignition relay and nothing happens. Pretty good with electricity but cannot locate the wires I need to cut confidentiality to bypass all the interlocks. Some help would be greatly appreciated !!

Oh I ohmed every single fuse and could not find a blown one.

Pictures attached are with the key in the ready to start position as you can see the middle circuit panel LED number 21 starter interlock relay has power to the coil.

[VeldatheWonderbus]

I had this happen once and I tore my hair out for a good half-hour before my girlfriend asked me if the bus was in neutral...

You might also just double-check that all exit doors are unlocked, just in case it's the interlock system, but it seems like that isn't the problem from what you've shown.

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

Yeah I checked them all first because the back glass has given me trouble before all seems ok. Mine has the automatic Allison trans. I don't know if it still has a neutral switch? Where is yours at? Thanks for the help!

[VeldatheWonderbus]

We're just outside Bozeman, MT now, and Velda is parked in the outdoor storage area at the mini-storage facility that we're managing while we finish her up. (Housing, a paycheck, AND a place to store/work on my bus while on the clock? Yes please!)

We bought her sight-unseen while we were still living in Juneau (where are you from in AK?), picked her up in Colorado, and spent a year working on her in central Wisconsin before heading here last October. We've had some adventures already, and she's not even fully operational yet

I've really got to upload some more pictures to photobucket...

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

That's awesome! Adventures are what life is about! Yeah it takes a while, I've dumped more time than $$ into mine. I'm from North Pole, right outside of Fairbanks.

[VeldatheWonderbus]

Have you read through the thread at http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f10/ho...ock-10956.html ?

[VeldatheWonderbus]

Oh, boy, North Pole...I've never been into organized sports, but you guys used to be one of my high school's most contentious rivals in just about every sport. Good thing we're not in high school any more or we might not be able to be on friendly terms ;)

BTW I like your web site. Looks like you're having some fun out there!

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

Yeah that is a good post. I couldn't follow it all the way through, it seems like mine is different somehow. Thanks though. Yeah they are crazy about sports all I remember growing up is playing soccer. Thanks again & thanks for checking out the site!! We love our fun! Off to live on the beach in FL for a while!! As soon as I get this thing running right ! Hah

[Carytowncat]

Have you check to see if the starter is getting 12v? Also if you take power directly to the starter does it turn? Is the starter good?

Good luck!

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by Carytowncat

Have you check to see if the starter is getting 12v? Also if you take power directly to the starter does it turn? Is the starter good?

Good luck!

If I understood what he meant in his original post (which I'm not entirely sure I did), he's still able to start it using the switches in the engine compartment.

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

Originally Posted by Rameses

If I understood what he meant in his original post (which I'm not entirely sure I did), he's still able to start it using the switches in the engine compartment.

Yes I do have power at the starter and it will crank by using the service at the rear of the bus. Thanks though! I'm going to try very hard to trace all the wires again today..... guess ill be taking my dash apart!

[Rameses]

I feel for you. I absolutely hate tracing down electrical problems.

[cowlitzcoach]

Before you start tearing your dash apart I would make sure that the problem isn't in the switch in the rear that stops the front switch from working.

Next place I would look is to see what is going on when you turn the key up front. Finding where the juice stops is going to reduce the number of places you will be looking to find the break in the circuit.

Since everything was working correctly I would start with all of the easy fixes before I started on tearing apart the dash.

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

K I made a YouTube video I'm lost. My wires don't seem to jive with what's been provided for help! Any help is appreciated! Thanks.

https://youtu.be/h7_cak9LCE8

[superdave]

there are locks on the emergency door and back glass? do you have the levers shut but the locks unlocked? is the engine door shut?

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

Before you start tearing your dash apart I would make sure that the problem isn't in the switch in the rear that stops the front switch from working.

Next place I would look is to see what is going on when you turn the key up front. Finding where the juice stops is going to reduce the number of places you will be looking to find the break in the circuit.

Since everything was working correctly I would start with all of the easy fixes before I started on tearing apart the dash.

Which rear switch are you talking about? The one in the window?

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

Originally Posted by superdave

there are locks on the emergency door and back glass? do you have the levers shut but the locks unlocked? is the engine door shut?

Yes i've opened and closed them 100 times.

[TheTravelingAlaskan]

This morning I wanted to try something different so I took the switches loose at the back and when you depressed they they were not ohming! Cut and twisted wires, started right up!! Thanks for the help everyone!!!

[cowlitzcoach]

WOW!

Ya' just gotta love those cheap fixes.

Although the aggravation that comes with them can be a real PITA.

I bet you are glad you hadn't gotten to the point of tearing out your dash.

[Tango]

So many of those issues are indeed cheap to fix...just a royal beotch to find.