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Old 05-10-2022, 09:40 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Location: Lancaster County, PA
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Year: 2007
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Chassis: BE 200
Can't unlock my parking brake!

So ... I don't have air brakes on my bus (it's a 2007 IC E300) and the yellow parking brake button won't release.

This is what's happened on the bus recently that might have caused the problem:

1. I disconnected and removed my roof's escape hatch (now there's a constant beep whenever I start the engine ... would love to figure out how to stop that)

2. I've started and run the engine weekly, but the bus hasn't been driven for 4 months or more

3. I'm also getting a brake pressure warning light on the dashboard.

Any ideas on what to do would be greatly appreciated!

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Old 05-10-2022, 09:54 PM   #2
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Sounds like you have air over hydraulic brakes. Probably a bad air compressor. Also check your air dryer.
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Old 05-10-2022, 09:59 PM   #3
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Hmm ... okay, thanks ... where do I find that (I'm a real newbie)?
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Old 05-10-2022, 10:04 PM   #4
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The beeping is caused by the removal of your hatches. You'll need to bypass the alarm with some wiring.

As for the compressor and air pressure issues in all honesty you're going to need a mechanic to diagnose the problem for sure, and if you need a new compressor then to handle the install as air compressors require air fittings and usually both an oil and coolant connection which gets complicated for amaturers fast. I've been doing buses for 10 years and still rely on my mechanic for air compressor work.
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Old 05-10-2022, 10:18 PM   #5
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Thanks for your help!
Hmm ... problem is, how to get to the mechanic if I can't drive the bus. Towing or a house call, I guess.
Was hoping it was something simple like a frozen rotor I just needed to tap on.
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Old 05-10-2022, 10:19 PM   #6
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You should have an air pressure gauge on your dash, if you do what's it read?
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Old 05-10-2022, 10:47 PM   #7
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I'll take a look in the morning and let you know ... thanks!
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Old 05-11-2022, 08:31 AM   #8
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Nope, no air pressure gauge.

I tried rocking the bus back 'n forth from forward to reverse, but no movement.
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Old 05-11-2022, 08:49 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shortbus PA View Post
So ... I don't have air brakes on my bus (it's a 2007 IC E300) and the yellow parking brake button won't release.

This is what's happened on the bus recently that might have caused the problem:

1. I disconnected and removed my roof's escape hatch (now there's a constant beep whenever I start the engine ... would love to figure out how to stop that)

2. I've started and run the engine weekly, but the bus hasn't been driven for 4 months or more

3. I'm also getting a brake pressure warning light on the dashboard.

Any ideas on what to do would be greatly appreciated!
Your post is a bit confusing. First you say you do not have air brakes then you say something about a brake pressure switch.

Also, in your profile you got E300. Did you mean CE300?

Your obviously a newb and that’s quite alright but you do have a responsibility to learn as much as you can and ask for help when you need to get further ahead.

If your confused please do yourself a favor and gather as much info as you can about your bus and start becoming first hand familiar with what you got. It will only serve to give you more confidence and will also help you explain to us what is going on.

That being said, here is an operators manual on your bus. Please read about the braking section, do some googling the things you need further clarification and then come back so we can better help you out.

Here the link to the manual -> https://www.leonardbus.com/staging/w...ual-4-2020.pdf

Also please, a pic of you dash so we can see if you do or do not have air brakes.
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:30 AM   #10
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Thanks for your post and sorry for any confusion. Yes, I am a total newbie, trying to get more educated for sure.

There's a bit of confusion regarding the model bus.

The metal tags riveted on the inside ceiling say model PB40500 with a date of manufacture of 6/16/2005.

However, my bill of sale says 2007 IC 300.

Not sure what to make of that discrepancy in date of manufacture (2005) and the bill of sale calling it a 2007.

However ... there is not a switch, but a warning light on my dashboard saying "brake pressure!" (see photos) and I'm unable to release the parking brake.

Here are some pics:

/Users/brian/Desktop/IMG_4497.jpg
/Users/brian/Desktop/IMG_4496.jpg
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:32 AM   #11
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:35 AM   #12
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:37 AM   #13
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Hmmm ... not sure if photos are uploading (I'm a newbie at the forum workings too).
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:47 AM   #14
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IC Bus' model numbers get a bit confusing. The model name on the interior plate which is what you'll often find if you run the VIN is a PB number. Those correspond to either BE (conventional short/handicap bus), CE (conventional dog-nose bus), FE (flat-nose front engine) or RE (flat nose, pusher) number. Those BE/CE/FE/RE numbers are either a 200 or 300 which designates the engine in it.
There's a chart online somewhere, and I think I posted it in a thread somewhere on this site but I can't find it offhand.
Anyway, a PB405 is a BE200.
There is often a one-year difference between the build year that appears on your title and the year of the engine/drivetrain manufacture.

Your photos didn't upload.

I may have misread your initial post... is your parking brake activated by a yellow diamond-shaped knob on your dash? That would indicate air over hydraulic.
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:50 AM   #15
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Running the VIN number it looks like a series BE with hydraulic brakes and a VT365 engine.
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:53 AM   #16
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Yup, it has the diamond-shaped parking brake button.

How can I tell if it's a 200 or 300?
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:53 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dbacks2k4 View Post
There's a chart online somewhere, and I think I posted it in a thread somewhere on this site but I can't find it offhand.
Model or Series
CE Series Commercial (PC105)
FE Series Commercial (PC205)
BE Series School (PB405)
BE Series Commercial (PC405)
HC Series Commercial (PC505)
FC Series Commercial (PC605)
RC Series Commercial (PC705)
FE Series Commercial Chassis (PC045)
SFC Series Minibus Chassis (PC055)
FBC Series Commercial Chassis (PC035)
RE Series Commercial Chassis (RE300)
3200 Series Commercial Chassis (PC015)
CE Series School (PB105)
FE Series School (PB205)
RE Series School (PB305)

RE Series Commercial or Chassis with shell (PC305)
3300 Series School Chassis (PB015)
SFC Series Commercial Chassis (PC025)
FC Series Commercial (PC625)
FE Series Commercial Chassis (PC065)
RC Series Commercial Chassis (PC075)
AE Series School (PB905)
AC Series Commercial (PC805)
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Old 05-11-2022, 09:59 AM   #18
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Quote:
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Yup, it has the diamond-shaped parking brake button.

How can I tell if it's a 200 or 300?
There's usually a plate on the outside of the bus near the entry door. IIRC there wasn't a 300 series of the BEs. They were short buses so the 7.6L DT466e engine that was used in the 300 series was overkill.
On a 200-series, you'll probably have the infamous 6.0L VT365 engine. Do some reading on that, it's not a well-liked engine.

Ok, so your parking brakes are air with that knob. Does the knob push in at all or immediately spring back out? When the bus is running and you walk around do you hear air hissing out anywhere?
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Old 05-11-2022, 10:18 AM   #19
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I can push the knob in, but it doesn't stay in. I can also pull it out to engage the brake and it then goes back in to its original position (midway position).

Don't hear any air leaking ... at least nothing louder than the rumble of the engine as I walk around the bus.
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Old 05-11-2022, 10:46 AM   #20
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Definitely sounds like you don’t have any air pressure. I would highly recommend watching some YouTube videos on air brake basics. Your parking brake will not disengage if you have less than about 40 pounds of pressure in the system.
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