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Old 07-21-2022, 01:31 PM   #1
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bus wont start

We have been starting the bus regularly to air it up. We drove it around town the other day to fuel it up. I got it all loaded up because we were going out of town. Hubby drove it to his place of work to check all fluids and check the tires and all that good stuff. He got all done and the bus will not start. I am at a loss. Yes batteries are good. It will not even turn over.



thought maybe someone could give suggestions. It is a thomas built 2007 FE with a C7

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Old 07-21-2022, 03:36 PM   #2
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Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,607
Year: 1996
Coachwork: AmTran (Now Navistar)
Engine: DT444E (7.3L) International
Rated Cap: 31,800 pounds
WHAT IS THE BUS?
Year, make, model, engine, transmission, front/rear/conventional engine location. These things matter as there are often common failure modes in some configurations.



GENERIC TROUBLESHOOTING:


PULL THE CODES address any code items relevant to the current problem of no start.



Check battery voltage (ALWAYS first step) In a 12 volt system, 12 volts is 1/2 charged.


Inspect all wiring and connections (not just the big wires ALL of them) at the batteries.



Inspect all wiring and connections AT the ignition switch


Inspect all wiring and connections AT the starter and solenoid.

Check for ignition switch START signal at the starter solenoid. Keep hands clear of rotating parts and trust the person hitting the ignition while you're checking for solenoid activation voltage.
--if no START signal present at the starter solenoid use an ignition bypass cable or fabricate a jumper wire and present battery voltage to the starter solenoid (observing all safety precautions like vehicle in PARK or NEUTRAL, EMERG BRAKE SET, wheels CHOCKED, safety observer present).
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Old 07-21-2022, 03:42 PM   #3
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Join Date: May 2018
Location: topeka kansas
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Year: 1954
Coachwork: wayne
Chassis: old f500- new 2005 f-450
Engine: cummins 12 valve
Rated Cap: 20? five rows of 4?
sounds like

door open hatch not sealed some sort of safety switch kind of thing shifter not in neutral


william
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Old 07-25-2022, 11:25 AM   #4
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thanks

So we got the bus running. I called Thomas Built Buses and found out how to jump the neutral start switch. We have had no more issues starting it.
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Old 07-25-2022, 11:40 AM   #5
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Join Date: May 2018
Location: topeka kansas
Posts: 1,769
Year: 1954
Coachwork: wayne
Chassis: old f500- new 2005 f-450
Engine: cummins 12 valve
Rated Cap: 20? five rows of 4?
Starting

Good to hear you have it running.

William
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Old 07-25-2022, 03:14 PM   #6
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Year: 1999
Chassis: Amtran / International
Engine: DT466E HT 250HP - Md3060
Quote:
Originally Posted by rizzboots View Post
So we got the bus running. I called Thomas Built Buses and found out how to jump the neutral start switch. We have had no more issues starting it.
Hi, it would be very helpful to others if you could explain the procedure for jumping the neutral start switch.

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Old 07-25-2022, 04:30 PM   #7
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,753
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
for those who have an International 3800, the neutral safety switch on most of them with Manual trans (its a clutch switch).. and withy AT545 / MT643 its 2 single barrel Weather-pak connectors (round barrels).. one is male and the other is female.. you can unplug each end from the transmission and plug the 2 ends headed into the vehicle harness together and it bypasses neutral safety anti-start..
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Old 07-26-2022, 10:52 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by ewo1 View Post
Hi, it would be very helpful to others if you could explain the procedure for jumping the neutral start switch.

the guy that helped me had me print off an electrical schematic. then he showed me where the neutral start switch is. There is a terminal block in the electrical panel area that I jumped 2 wires in between.



Thomas built buses has been very helpful when I called them. I even have the bill of materials of everything that was put on my bus when it was made. I have gotten access to all the schematics and manuals i need.
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