Need help with a 6.5l in a mini bird

[95 minibird]

I recently just scored a 1995 mini bird that was bought and drove 200 miles or so before covid. They couldnt get it to run after sitting and now here we are. Its a 6.5 on p30 chassi blue bird. Any help is appreciated

 

[nikitis]

Start with the usual. Check battery voltages, ensure it's in the 13v range on the meter. If good, move on to child safety checks, and bypass those. Then move on to codes to try to understand your issue. Codes can be read using the flashing count method of your WARN light.


Let us know what you find.

 

[BamaBus]

I don't know if a GM P20 has the same set up as the International chassis. I have more than one 6.5 in trucks and a mini bird and use a cheap OBDII scanner ordered online to read codes. You may need the OBDI for the 95. The two crank/no start issues I have dealt with were from losing prime in the fuel line and the pmd controller. I would have to bleed off the fuel line at the top of the fuel filter in order for it to start. That was simple and free, so far. The pmd and other issues start getting in to some money. Youtube has plenty of video's on this subject. Injection pump, injection pump wiring, lift pump, glow plugs, fuel filter etc.
This should have two batteries. My trucks have both in the engine bay and the minibird has one under the bus. Both need to be fully charged.
https://www.accuratediesel.com/nostart.html#:~:text=%22The%20PMD%20%2F%20FSD%20(Pump,is%20very%20likely%20the%20issue.

 

[Booyah45828]

Not starting after sitting is likely a fuel drain back issue.

Follow this procedure to bleed air from the system.
https://www.dieselhub.com/maintenance/6.5-diesel-fuel-filter.html

If you get fuel and still no start, I'd suggest testing the pmd for function, they're known failures because of heat. If it is bad, get the relocation harness and replace it.

If this has sat since before covid, I wouldn't even test the batteries, just get new ones.

 

[95 minibird]

A lil background in my rig

Its a y letter L57 with 200000 miles. It was a monterey county school bus a 1995 bluebird minibird. The people i got it from have the intake manifold already off. so should I start by putting all back together? Or should i do what i can now while its off. Its kind of a mess but only cause im no mechanic but very mechanically inclined

 

[Booyah45828]

I'd ask them why they took the intake manifold off. Kind of odd thing to do for a no start unless you had good reason. Unless you mean the air cleaner and snorkel. They might have pulled that to give a snort of ether to it. Some old school mechanics will jump right to that on a no-start.

I'd still bet this has no fuel to the engine. Old diesels with mechanical lift pumps will almost always drain fuel back to the tank after sitting for awhile, especially after 5 years. The seals and hoses just aren't up to the task of sealing air anymore after 20 years. Who knows, after 5 years of sitting the fuel might be sludge at this point.

Unless this was given to you, your score might not be so much of one after this is all said and done.

 

[95 minibird]

It was bought and drove to where it sat right before covid. They parked it and started work on inside did floors built bed frame etc. Then it started and ran funny then ran real smooth and then a cloud of black smoke and hasnt started since.

I did get it for free but only cause they moved on to other things and wanted space for a toy hauler

 

[95 minibird]

A few pics for insight

Here are some pics of what i got on my hands. I appreciate any and all the feedback guys

 

[magnakansas]

I am not 100% sure

But, am I looking at a mechanical injection pump? If that is mechanical, for testing purposes, should run with out manifold in place, should it not?

William

 

[Booyah45828]

Looks to be a mechanical pump.

Should be able to get it to run without installing the intake, just be sure it's spotlessly clean near the ports and on top of the engine. You don't want to inadvertently suck something.

They might have diagnosed it as a failed pump, hence the removal of the intake. Could happen, but I'd do my own diagnosis before I'd r&r a pump. Follow the bleeding procedure I linked earlier and get fuel to the pump, then you can proceed with diagnosing this.

 

[95 minibird]

They said they rebuilt the ip. I dont know why but they have what looks to be a accutator plugged into the ip. Im waiting on a buddy to come help me out this weekend. I jus wanna get as much info for him as possible. I dont know if maybe they did some changes while it was a school bus for emissions and what not.

 

[Booyah45828]

Looks like they installed a mechanical db2 instead of the electric ds4 pump.

That actuator dangling on the injection lines would be the high idle solenoid used for when the engine is cold. They've yet to install it in the correct place.

 

[95 minibird]

Im learning as we go here and just trying ti figure out where they left off and where i should go from here. Thanks for your guys help i habe a pretty good idea where to start

 

[sportyrick]

Find someone in your area that is an expert on them, it's your choice to make this turn out wonderfully simple or catastrophic. Right now you better look into the intake runners for unexpected consequences if something got down one of them, then you'll be looking for a new engine. Plug those runners after checking, don't crank that engine over until you LOOK. Much cheaper to get the correct help before something goes south and costs you an engine. Is your buddy a professional GM diesel engine mechanic? A friend of mine had a water pump put on his car, it started running terrible the next day so I helped him pull a head......a hose clamp worked it's way down into a cylinder, yes a hose clamp, bummer. Whats in your intake runners?