New Guy Skoolie questions - 1999 BlueBird - 3800 T444E

[JohnDeWarr]

Hello,
Just a new guy with a few questions, I would appreciate any help.
Does anyone have or know where I could get the owner’s manual for a 1999 Blue Bird with a 3800 T444E?
Does the 3800 T444E have a “hot cord”? Not sure if that’s what it’s called. A heavy tow truck driver told me about it. It’s basically for helping warm up the engine during cold temperatures. I’ve had a few problems starting the bus during cold mornings.
Thanks
John

 

[chev49]

look to see if there is a electrical plug in at the front of the bus, or inside by the engine. Mine has a 110v cord at the front of the bus that goes all the way back to the engine... mainly cause the school district that purchased it new was in eastern washington...

 

[Diesel Dan]

Sometimes a diesel engine is set up with a block heater, or certainly has a place designated for one even if the actual electrical cord is missing or was never installed. It should be a fairly simple job to install whatever parts you need for a block heater; you just need to figure out where it's supposed to go on your engine. I suppose if you don't even have the heater element, you may have to drain the coolant before installation, which adds a little bit of a hassle factor. For what it's worth, this plug is located on the lower passenger side of the engine block on both my Ford F250 (similar engine to yours) and Mercedes 300D. I haven't checked my bus yet to see where it is, but we have different engines anyway. Block heaters ROCK! I plug mine in for 3 hours on an auto timer when the temps go below freezing and the engine starts instantly and purrs like it's been running for hours.

 

[chev49]

If you are gonna install a block heater, or have a need for one... don't forget to also install a battery warmer...

 

[Diesel Dan]

Our 2002 T444E rear engine has a block heater with an outlet on the passenger's side. We hope not to need it but it is nice to have for sure.

And a rear-mounted engine is reversed from how it would be mounted in front; so then the original poster would need to look on the driver's side if he has a front engine bus. Sorry if that's just obvious, but ya never know...

 

[chev49]

What if your bus has a sideways engine?

 

[JohnDeWarr]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Any answers on the manuals?

 

[somewhereinusa]

I have one of these. They cost a bit more, but are much easier to install(just cut the heater hose and mount the heater) and actually circulate the water through the block instead of just heating the water near the heater. Most block heaters involve getting at and removing a freeze plug which is sometimes very difficult.

If you go here http://www.fivestarmanufacturing.com/Guides you can download their catalog and see pictures of all of the block heaters

 

[chev49]

I have a couple of those in my rooms of parts..

 

[somewhereinusa]

I don't think you will have much luck contacting BlueBird directly, I never did. I did get all of the wiring diagrams available from the local BB/Cat dealer. The were very nice and quick.

Dick

 

[Jarlaxle]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Any answers on the manuals?

Chassis: any International dealer should be able to get you a manual. I also HIGHLY recommend the engine troubleshooting flowchart...that bus should have a diagnostic button on the dash, which lets you pull computer codes from the driver's seat. That can save you some money if you ever need engine-related repairs. (The mechanic gets the same hourly labor rate to pull codes as he does to do repairs...)

For the bus part...all I can suggest is, maybe ask at the local school bus shop? They might have an extra one for an older bus they no longer have. (IIRC, the IH 3800-T444E ran 1995-2001 essentially unchanged.)

(Edit because I misread the body manufacturer as Thomas.)