1997 Bluebird minibus

[bikemech77]

Good day everyone. I am working on a friends bus he uses on a farm. the bus keeps blowing the starter fuse. I went behind the fuse panel and found melted wire ( no more coating just bare wire) replaced the wire to the bulk harness connector at the fire wall. Inside the engie bay I found it to be a grey wire. using a multimeter I found the the wire is short to ground also is making a tone with other wires in the connector. I cannot find a wire diagram for this year anywhere. I've disconnected the ecu and all the relay on the fire wall and still have short to ground and cross with other wires. Does anyone know what or where the grey wire goes? or has anyone had a similar problem and can point me in a direction to where maybe the problem may lie? when disconnnecting the connector from the fire wall the problem still exsists so im pretty sure its not inside the bus and the problem lies in the engine compartment.
Thank you in advance for any help you may offer. and thank you for letting me be a part of this forum.

 

[Tootalltechie]

Who made the base chassis that the blue bird bus body was put on?

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[bikemech77]

Not to be ignorant but where would I find that? I found a body number M80640
Also I found a solenoid on the transmission that is frayed I disconnected it and my short went away. The thing I'm not getting is I had continuity across multiple colored wires and that ms not there anymore either. I find it odd that a shift solenoid would cause all that.

 

[bikemech77]

I don't know if this will help but looking at the connector from the outside its second row from top 3rd wire in from left on the blue clip side. If that makes any sense.

 

[Carytowncat]

Please post pictures if you are able. A picture is worth a thousand words Good luck!

 

[Tootalltechie]

The Blue Bird micro bird chassis was made by Chevrolet or Ford. The Chevrolet chassis changed from the G30 chassis to the Express chassis 1996/1997. The Ford chassis is based on the "E" series (E 350 & E 450)/ Econoline.

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[bikemech77]

for some reason I cannot upload more than one picture at a time. dorry for taking so long to get back to y'all. as I said im out on a farm with no signal.

 

[bikemech77]

the upload page keeps tiing out. It has a T4443G International engine. and now its throwing like 8 codes 136,142,152,223,224,615 and 622. I am having a bear of a time finding anything. as stated that year could have come on multiple frames. is that a reason why its hard to get info?

 

[bikemech77]

Here is the data plate. I hope all this helps you help me. just trying to help a friend.

 

[cowlitzcoach]

If it has an IHC T444E engine then it most likely has an IHC chassis under the Blue Bird bus body.

What does the front of the bus look like? Does it have a Ford, Chevy/GMC, or IHC nose out front?

Knowing which chassis you have can help sort out what we are talking about.

 

[bikemech77]

Ok I feel like a puts now. International 3800 T444E

 

[bikemech77]

(561)891-6671 in my number. Name is Matthew if someone doesn't mind wanting to give me a call. I really appreciate you guys taking the time out to even answer my questions. Sorry I'm not a bus technician. I work on motorcycles and was an ASE automotive tech for years so I do have an understanding of all things mechanical and technical. I also know when I need help this is my first time actually using a forum so if I'm out of line please let me know. Thanks again y'all.

 

[ennonne]

Something like this?

 

[Tootalltechie]

Try the bluebird vantage website it might be helpful.
https://vantage.blue-bird.com/Portal/Vantage-Home.aspx

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[bikemech77]

Something like this?

Yes sir that would be the one.

 

[bikemech77]

I tried that site but if you have anything older than 2002 they don't have much.

 

[cadillackid]

hey thats my bus! oh wait mine was 766 not 726.. identical bus though..

im out and about getting the oil changed on one of my busses now.. I odnt have my diagnostic software with me but once I get back in a few hours I can look the flash codes up..

are you getitng those using the diagnostic button and reading the flashing indicator?
chances are a bunch of them may be sotred inactive from when the power was shorted out and need to be cleared..

you can try the onboard clear sequence...

get in, hold the diagnostic button, while holding the diagnostic button turn on your key BUT DONT START OR ENGAGE THE STARTER..... contiue holding the diagnostic button and quickly floor and release your accel pedal 5 times, release the diagnistic button and key off... now try to re-read your codes...


-Christopher

 

[bikemech77]

hey thats my bus! oh wait mine was 766 not 726.. identical bus though..

im out and about getting the oil changed on one of my busses now.. I odnt have my diagnostic software with me but once I get back in a few hours I can look the flash codes up..

are you getitng those using the diagnostic button and reading the flashing indicator?
chances are a bunch of them may be sotred inactive from when the power was shorted out and need to be cleared..

you can try the onboard clear sequence...

get in, hold the diagnostic button, while holding the diagnostic button turn on your key BUT DONT START OR ENGAGE THE STARTER..... contiue holding the diagnostic button and quickly floor and release your accel pedal 5 times, release the diagnistic button and key off... now try to re-read your codes...


-Christopher

I've been trying to do it like that several times. Also another way of slowly pressing it 3x's either way doesn't seem to clear it at all.

 

[cadillackid]

they may be active codes then. im assuming after your Wait-start light goes off the warn engine light stays on?

i'll look at my code sheets when I get back to the computer that has the servicemaxx software on it.
-Christopher

 

[bikemech77]

Yes sir comes right back on and stays on.