2001 Bluebird All American RE brake light switch.

[Rock-N-Ruth]

I just had a real heart stopper yesterday in heavy traffic in El Paso. I was cruising at 50 with the cruise control on when traffic suddenly stopped.

Normally not an issue, because I always keep a generous stopping distance between me and the next vehicle. So I tapped the brake to disengage the cruise control. Nothing happened. So I applied the brakes, the bus accelerated. The distance was closing quickly and I fumbled for the cruise control power switch got it turned off and stopped the bus with plenty of distance but a little something may have happened between my butt cheeks.

Later that day, I had Ruth apply the brakes while I looked at the brake lights, no bueno. I haven't yet gotten down on the floor to see if there's a brake light switch right there where the pedal is or crawled underneath to see if that's where the brake light switch is, I thought I would just ask before I got dirty, any of you guys know where the brake light switch is on a 2001 bluebird All-American?

I know one thing that I am going to add to this bus when I get this brake light switch thing solved, an indicator on the dash that lets me know that the brake lights are being triggered. Both of my internationals have little panels on them with indicators for the front flashers,rear flashers, turn signal, and brake lights.

This bus gets about the same fuel mileage that our three quarter ton suburban does, and it's a lot more fun to drive, and has a lot more carrying capacity. So I drive it a lot. And I am really fond of cruise control. I'm not fond of cruise control trying to propel me forward into stopped traffic.

 

[ewo1]

Whew, too close of a call for me and I'm not even there!
It is really good to hear you say that you kept a generous distance.....

You also bring up a really good point!

I know one thing that I am going to add to this bus when I get this brake light switch thing solved, an indicator on the dash that lets me know that the brake lights are being triggered.

Yes sir, I'm now gonna look to do the same thing! I think you brought forward a really great safety item!
Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Whew, too close of a call for me and I'm not even there!
It is really good to hear you say that you kept a generous distance.....

You also bring up a really good point!


Yes sir, I'm now gonna look to do the same thing! I think you brought forward a really great safety item!
Thanks for sharing!!!

While I was looking at the brake lights I also took a peek at the turn signals. They really don't light up very bright. I'm going to do what I did on the international bus that we live in and put a bright yellow LED in the center of the big lens. I bought a whole bunch of huge bright LEDs from timu a while back not sure what I was going to do with them but now I think I'm going to put them in the turn signal and brake light lenses on the back of the bluebird.

We almost sold this bus a few weeks ago, but I don't know if I ever will. I'm thinking I'm probably going to sell the suburban, because it mostly sits. One of the other benefits to having a school bus versus pickup truck or SUV, yes I can leave the dogs in it when I go into the store and they've got plenty of ventilation and room to run around, and I don't have to deal with nosy people calling the cops because I left the dog in my car.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

I just had a real heart stopper yesterday in heavy traffic in El Paso. I was cruising at 50 with the cruise control on when traffic suddenly stopped.

Normally not an issue, because I always keep a generous stopping distance between me and the next vehicle. So I tapped the brake to disengage the cruise control. Nothing happened. So I applied the brakes, the bus accelerated. The distance was closing quickly and I fumbled for the cruise control power switch got it turned off and stopped the bus with plenty of distance but a little something may have happened between my butt cheeks.

Later that day, I had Ruth apply the brakes while I looked at the brake lights, no bueno. I haven't yet gotten down on the floor to see if there's a brake light switch right there where the pedal is or crawled underneath to see if that's where the brake light switch is, I thought I would just ask before I got dirty, any of you guys know where the brake light switch is on a 2001 bluebird All-American?

I know one thing that I am going to add to this bus when I get this brake light switch thing solved, an indicator on the dash that lets me know that the brake lights are being triggered. Both of my internationals have little panels on them with indicators for the front flashers,rear flashers, turn signal, and brake lights.

This bus gets about the same fuel mileage that our three quarter ton suburban does, and it's a lot more fun to drive, and has a lot more carrying capacity. So I drive it a lot. And I am really fond of cruise control. I'm not fond of cruise control trying to propel me forward into stopped traffic.

Well I'm going to go crawl around on the bus and see what I can find out about that brake light switch. I'll let you guys know.

 

[ewo1]

I know you already know about this link.... but if you want to share the vin I would be happy to help you look thru the wiring diagram.

Wiring Schematics by Body Number - Central States Bus Sales

Central States technical support team can help you find wiring diagrams for your bus or help diagnose your Blue Bird bus electrical system.

www.centralstatesbus.com

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Well I'm going to go crawl around on the bus and see what I can find out about that brake light switch. I'll let you guys know.

Ruth wisely suggested I check the fuse before I start crawling around on the floor. Turns out I still had to get down on the floor to get to the fuse. It was blown. Replaced the fuse. Brake lights work and the cruise control is operating as it should.

At least I didn't have to try to squeeze in under the steering column to see if the brake light switch is attached to the brake pedal.

Why did the fuse blow? A faulty socket on the taillight on the engine cover shorted to the engine cover.

 

[nikitis]

I don't like the idea of that design that cruise control stop relies on a fuse. I feel like that should be hardwired. Or have a check engine warning light if the fuse blows it lights up letting you know it's cut.

Bad design by the bus chassis designer.

 

[ewo1]

I don't like the idea of that design that cruise control stop relies on a fuse. I feel like that should be hardwired. Or have a check engine warning light if the fuse blows it lights up letting you know it's cut.

Bad design by the bus chassis designer.

I think the best solution would be that brake lamp mod on the dash !!

 

[Busjamin]

Damn, that sounds like a clencher moment for sure. I didn't realize I should be looking into this as well. Our newly acquired 04 Blue Bird also does not deactivate the CC when applying the brakes. It will slow, but when you release the brake it immediately starts trying to get back to the set CC speed. Odd, but I just turned the CC off by hand if I was approaching any sort of traffic and didn't realize it might not be working properly. My brake lights are working fine...interesting.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Damn, that sounds like a clencher moment for sure. I didn't realize I should be looking into this as well. Our newly acquired 04 Blue Bird also does not deactivate the CC when applying the brakes. It will slow, but when you release the brake it immediately starts trying to get back to the set CC speed. Odd, but I just turned the CC off by hand if I was approaching any sort of traffic and didn't realize it might not be working properly. My brake lights are working fine...interesting.

Yes Ben, You do want to hunt down that issue and cure it. Applying the brakes must disengage the cruise control. Otherwise you could have the cruise control try to accelerate while you are braking.

If your brake lights are working and the cruise is not disengaging, it is possible that your cruise disengage signal is coming from a different switch associated with your brake pedal or a separate terminal on your brake light switch. Without looking at the wiring diagram it would be hard to know. perhaps your brake light switch is a SPDT with one line going to the brake light circuit and another going to the cruise control circuit.

There is even the possibility that the installation of the cruise control was done improperly. What ever the case, you don't want to be put in the situation of having to manually turn off the cruise if you are forced into an emergency stop. Even if you are keeping a generous buffer between you and traffic in front of you, ( I like a minimum 4 bus lengths, more if I am going fast,) there is always the possibility of the unknown factor, like an insurance fraudster or an old man having a stroke, or worse yet, two elk and a mountain lion (but that's a story for another thread.)

I believe another poster in this thread has offered to assist in obtaining wiring diagrams from Bluebird. If you don't already have them you should obtain them.

 

[Busjamin]

Yes Ben, You do want to hunt down that issue and cure it. Applying the brakes must disengage the cruise control. Otherwise you could have the cruise control try to accelerate while you are braking.

I guess to me this felt like something easy to compensate for and figure out later. Switching it off when it's not just open road is pretty light duty compared to other tasks at hand.

I believe another poster in this thread has offered to assist in obtaining wiring diagrams from Bluebird. If you don't already have them you should obtain them.

Blue Bird's vantage portal provides a good bit of basic 1s & zeros to make sense of your configuration. I've got a full manual of PDF diagrams and maintenance procedures from there and Cummins Quickserve. Some detail is missing sometimes, but overall I think I have a pretty good bible started.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

I guess to me this felt like something easy to compensate for and figure out later. Switching it off when it's not just open road is pretty light duty compared to other tasks at hand.

I agree that it can seem like no big deal until it is. All it takes is that one really unexpected thing to happen that requires you to stop as fast as you can, to find out the cruise is fighting you, and mess up an otherwise really good day.

"Would ya believe, two pit bulls and a brama bull?" (typical Maxwell Smart)

 

[Busjamin]

Yeah I agree it's going on the whiteboard

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

I know one thing that I am going to add to this bus when I get this brake light switch thing solved, an indicator on the dash that lets me know that the brake lights are being triggered. Both of my internationals have little panels on them with indicators for the front flashers,rear flashers, turn signal, and brake lights.

I just realized, such a light exists on my dash. It's just obscured by the steering wheel. I'm going to add another in a more visible spot. I am also going to add one that alerts me to a failure. It only lights if the brake lights don't.

 

[nikitis]

These is the kind of mods I like to do and have done already (Remember the air pressure light mod

Except I already have a light on my left panel when I hit the break. It's an old large red light.