Desperate for help - Accessory wiring failure

[davidsbus]

The accessories on my bus are not currently working. Wipers, fans, interior lights, and door. From reading other posts, I’m thinking it may be a solenoid issue. The small wires going into my two solenoids are not getting power. I traced one of these wires back to the heater master switch which is confusing. At the ignition, all the wires have 12v when at IGN position.
I’m not sure what to do next. Please help!!

 

[ewo1]

Do you also need help identifying the year make and model of your bus?

Oh and a nice simple hello all, I'm new here and need some help would go a long way....

just saying....

 

[davidsbus]

Oops! You’re right on both accounts. Thanks for the reply.

Hello everyone! I’ve been reading this forum for years but this is my first time posting. Thanks for having me! I’m hoping someone might be willing to give me some help.

I have a 2004 bluebird all American. A vin finder says the model is A3 RE 7800 but I’m not sure what that means

 

[ewo1]

Welcome and thanks for the humble greeting!

Firs thing to do, plug in your vin number or body number...many times you can get a service manual or wiring diagrams from this site.

Blue Bird Vantage | Portal

vantage.blue-bird.com

If it is a wiring issue and if your willing to learn, I will try to help you...


Have you been doing any wiring work-cleanup on the bus?

 

[davidsbus]

I tried that site but I wasn't able to find a service manual. It looked like there may be some wiring diagrams but I wasn't able to get any of them to open. My VIN is 1BABKBKA95F223415 if you're interested in double checking.

I did some wiring cleanup but it was years ago....back then I didn't notice any problems. But it's not impossible that I just didn't notice them. At this point, it seems virtually impossible to retrace what I did back then.

I just used a jumper wire to test the solenoids. They both worked as they should and powered the accessories. So somehow it seems like the electricity is not reaching them even though there is 12v at all the ignition wires. Trying to trace what I assume is the correct wire (black with yellow tracer in the photo), one leads to the heater main switch and the other leads to the bus bar right below the solenoids.

 

[Slapdash]

Hey,

I can’t speak to the exactness of your bus or the situation, however, I have chased down many a wiring issue in my day. Looking at this, there seems to be a lot of places for corrosion. It might look fine on the outside, but corrosion creep is a thing and it could be blocking signals in a number of areas.

Also, those connectors aren’t the heat-shrink type, so water, salt, sand, or other schmutz can sneak in the connectors and rot from the inside.

Also, the red circle around the ziptied bundle, check that for chafing/wear behind it where the wires meet the metal plate. I just went through a Jimmy Hoffa-esque search for shorting issues on my bus and found two chafed/corroded wires behind a similar bundle. Mine were rubbing on the chassis, then corroding and shorting along the way.

Patience and pictures are the key.

Good luck!

 

[ewo1]

I haven't looked into it yet but this I believe is the wiring diagram you want to work with.
Read the notes by the solenoids....
I also a ttached the master wiring diagram for you.

 

[desrtdog]

Also, with reference to the vantage site and opening wiring diagrams, try using Chrome for your browser…I have had issues with the wiring diagrams not loading on my iPad using safari, but they will open on chrome…if you get an error message, try reloading the page…

As far as a service manual goes, try this site: Central States Bus … below the section that is labeled 2004-2008 Blue Bird Vision, there is a link for 1999-2003 BB All American - may be close enough for you even though not the exact year…

 

[davidsbus]

Thank you for the tips!

Looking at the diagrams, there is a component which I don’t understand and could potentially be the issue. I’m attaching a screen shot of it. Is this a switch?

From both the diagrams and what I can see in front of me, this issue seems to be the wire running from the ignition switch to the solenoids. It seems like I will have to manually inspect this wire for defects by cutting apart the harness. Is there an easier way that I’m not thinking of?

 

[ewo1]

That switch is for killing power to circuits such as the defroster blower motor,....etc... to kill any noise that could potentially interfere with a drivers ability to hear outside sounds such as train horns or other type of audible alerts..

There was another member here within the last 2 weeks who had the same issue as you and his problem was that switch...got stuck he said.

Test power going in and out of that switch with a voltmeter.