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Old 01-05-2019, 04:29 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Question I Cut the Wrong Wire

Hey all!
I have been in the process of ripping out the old useless wiring and managed to cut the wrong wire... and now my engine won't start. The wire goes directly to the engine bay, goes to a little converter box (at least, that is what I think my brother called it), back into the body, and directly to a labeled fuse box. I am FAIRLY sure that the wire I cut is the starter wire, but it may also belong to the ignition system. Does anybody have any tips on identifying just what I cut other than tracing it back? Also, does anybody have any tips on figuring out exactly where this mystery wire should connect to?
Thanks, all!

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Old 01-05-2019, 08:09 PM   #2
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Does the engine crank? Or does crank and not start?
There are different safety items put in to the starter feed, for example neutral safety switch, clutch switch, vandal lock.
Can you take a picture of the device that you were referring to. It will with the identification
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Old 01-06-2019, 01:54 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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It doesn't crank at all - which is why I think it is the starter. I can take some photos tomorrow when I go back out! Thanks.
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Old 01-06-2019, 09:45 AM   #4
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A very common cause for "no crank after removing extra wires" is the safety interlock system. It is intended to disable the starter if any of the emergency exits are open.

Incorrect removal of interlock wiring has been the source of MANY calls for help here.
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Old 01-06-2019, 09:52 AM   #5
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I was thinking that too. But IDK if a bus that old would have an interlock.
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Old 01-06-2019, 10:21 AM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I'm fairly certain it does not have an interlock system, but I'll close the back door and see if that makes a difference today! It's worth a shot, right?
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Old 01-06-2019, 10:43 AM   #7
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Check any exits or hatches too.
Put some pics up if you can.
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Old 01-06-2019, 11:58 AM   #8
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I am wondering, if it has interlocks, if maybe you cut one of the associated wires?
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Old 01-06-2019, 07:57 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Exclamation

Okay there are a bunch of photos here. When I got to the bus, I found even more wires that have no homes.

The first photo is of the wire that I accidentally cut. It is the purple wire that runs up and through the body of the bus into the engine bay. If you trace the wires in the engine bay, they run to the little box shown in the second and third photos. If you continue tracing the wires that come from this box, they lead back into the body of the bus to the little labeled thing shown in the fourth photo. This is as far as I can trace this issue back.

The fifth photo is of the actual face of the switchboard. There is a button on it labeled MAN... I am fairly sure that this is supposed to read MANUAL. There is a little connector wire inside of there that isn't attached, but I am not sure what the button is supposed to do in the first place. I could trace this back and attach it to where it belongs super easily, but I am not sure if I am wasting my time.

The last issue is even more annoying: the sixth photo is an overhead of yet another system that isn't completed. The little box on the bottom has a red wire shown in the seventh photo that is loose. The little cylinder on the top has a white 12 gauge wire that is also loose and hot when the batteries are on. You can also see the wire that runs from the cylinder and connects to another port in the switchboard. I won't even try to describe where you can see this because there are so many wires. If you trace the wire that connects to the port (I'm fairly certain this isn't the correct term - forgive my lack of knowledge), it leads back to the thing pictured in the eighth photo. This looks like a ground to me, but again, I am super inexperienced with wiring. And this is as far as I can trace this issue.

I am fairly sure I am just going to buy a custom switchboard at this point, but any ideas to see if I can get this thing working? I don't even know where to begin.
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Old 01-06-2019, 08:35 PM   #10
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Two things right off for you. Loose wires, corroded connections. Tighten the loose ones up. Cleaning is going to have to be done. Why is stuff loose?

Also, your description confuses me.



You are tracing wires but not from the source to wherever.



You are tracing the circuit backwards which complicates the thinking for me.


The wire in pic 1 .. Can't you reconnect it to where ever you cut it from?

That would help get back to square one.




Pic 4 is the panel that has to be satisfied for your start up, that's where the start relay seems to be powered from. I believe what you refer to as the pink wire is what that panel shows as violet in colour, start relay.

So many other things too.


Front engine bus? Fill profile out, we know zilch about the bus.



Start with the simple things I gave you and then retry. You might get lucky but this could take a while and a lot of money to trouble shoot for a pro. Know your bus well.



John
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Old 01-06-2019, 08:55 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Do you own a test light? If you don’t, you should get one. You could also use a DVOM if you have one. Start with the ignition switch, check for power in, power out with the key on, power out when the key is in the crank position. Just follow wires to the next part of the circuit. The power solenoid should have power to one side when the key is off, and power across it with the key on. The solenoid is used to feed power to the fuse block. I have circled the solenoid in your picture
You might check at a local IC dealer and see if someone might be able to get you a diagram
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Old 01-06-2019, 08:56 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
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John, I do not remember cutting the wire at all. When I actually pulled the switchboard off, a bunch of the wires were held together loosely with duct tape; the old owners did quite a lot of "work" on the bus, it seems.

I am tracing these things backwards to figure out exactly what they are and where they connect. I have a connection that may be able to find a manual, so I am familiarizing myself with all of the systems.
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Old 01-06-2019, 08:59 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Okay, so there is a wire that connects to the solenoid that looks like it had been duct-taped at one point. I now have no idea where that it supposed to connect. This wire is hot when the batteries are connected. Any ideas what the wire is? I know this isn't a lot to go off of and I thank you for the advice!!
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Old 01-07-2019, 06:43 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinthebluebird View Post
Okay, so there is a wire that connects to the solenoid that looks like it had been duct-taped at one point. I now have no idea where that it supposed to connect. This wire is hot when the batteries are connected. Any ideas what the wire is? I know this isn't a lot to go off of and I thank you for the advice!!

Post a pic of what solenoid you speak of.



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Old 01-07-2019, 07:10 AM   #15
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the MANUAL switch is related to the school warning lights.. when the busses ran stop to stop to stop the warning lights could be set into an autop mode to activate each time.. the manual button was a momentary and would fire the system manually if you had stop signs or such in between stops.. so that and its circuit can go away..

-Christopher
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Old 01-07-2019, 08:16 PM   #16
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
the MANUAL switch is related to the school warning lights..
Thank you! I completely forgot that the stop sign has lights on it. I should probably take that off before I finish up with the rest of the wires.
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Old 01-07-2019, 08:16 PM   #17
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackJohn View Post
Post a pic of what solenoid you speak of.



John
It is literally pictured in the comment above mine. I can't save the photo to the device I'm on right now.
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Old 01-07-2019, 08:27 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinthebluebird View Post
It is literally pictured in the comment above mine. I can't save the photo to the device I'm on right now.



Well you have so many solenoids and relays pics that I have no idea what you are talking about. Comments are way to vague too, be explicit in describing items and procedures. All components have names which helps immensely.



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Old 01-12-2019, 04:18 PM   #19
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There is many many reasons. Too many to even list. Asking is probably going to cause more confusion. Honestly. You’re better off figuring it out alone. Look t all the wires you took out if you still have them.
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Old 01-13-2019, 07:18 AM   #20
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Find where the wiring harness comes from the vehicle into the control panel ( not the side that goes to the switch panel). You'll likely find two wires in their own protection casing (separate from the larger bundle). These are to the lock on the rear door, which must be unlocked when kids are onboard. Attach these two, and it will likely start right up. It's often a safety in addition to the alarm.
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