1995 Thomas No start after battery theft.

[D&SRasmusson]

Recently purchased a 1995 Thomas bus on a 3800 International chassis. The bus ran and started fine. I parked it at my shop and the next morning I was not so thrilled to find both batteries had been stolen.No wires have been cut. Ibought two new batteries and installed them now it won't crank and there is a constant beeping. Any ideas would be great.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Check to make sure it's in neutral, parking brake set, clutch pushed in (if manual transmission). Wiggle the shifter in neutral as the safety switch may be slightly out of sync.

 

[johnforrest]

back door or other interlock switch may be open. batteries could be weak, battery connection may not be moving enough amps

 

[cadillackid]

be 100% sure you didnt hook the wires up backwards... the constant beeping is probably the normal Brake warning light you get when either your air pressure is flat or if hydraulic brakes when the key is on engine is off..



check the fuses in your center dash next to the glove box... one of them is an ECM bat fuse (thats if you have an electronic engine)....



also make sure the thieves didnt open and not fully close an emergency window, hatch, rear door, etc..




-Christopher

 

[johnforrest]

No hurry, but we are waiting to hear what was wrong?

Im leaning toward cables backwards

 

[D&SRasmusson]

No hurry, but we are waiting to hear what was wrong?

Im leaning toward cables backwards

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Will try all of them after work today.

 

[D&SRasmusson]

I must be missing something.

Batteries are new and charged.
All interlocks are closed.
Bus is in neutral . (Automatic)
Everything else works. Glow plugs light does not come on and starter won't even click.
I checked underneath and it doesn't look like the culprits cut or took anything.

 

[johnforrest]

most of the time when I am stuck like this one of my assumptions wasn't right.

But if you know how to hot wire the starter to bump it over you could eliminate battery and connection issues.

also I have two interlocks on my back door

 

[D&SRasmusson]

I'll try to hot wire it. There are two huge grounds and positive cables in the battery box. And several small red wires. I could possibly have the wrong ones on the wrong battery.