No crank no start issues.

[Jhighley]

Greetings,
New to all things skoolie forums... So please bear with me.

Bought a 2004 international RE300 flat nose rear engine fullsize school bus with the International DT466e engine and the Allison auto transmission. (Model PB30500 Serial # 972414)

Did my careful electrical cutting of no essentials, things like door sensors and emergency exit sensors, had a "stop and check" system I removed. Everything seems to be good bus still started and ran. Drove the bus from VA to MI everything went great. It sat over the winter and now no crank.. replaced all three batteries (two read dead cells) solenoid clicks hard upfront but nothing happens. I can't figure out what would just cause it to not even try?...

My question is what are the typical trouble shooting paths to take?

I know a lot of people shoot themselves in the foot just going crazy cutting everything.. I tried to be very careful and not remove too much and then bus still started and ran when parked.. oh and I did turn the motor over a little by hand to make sure it's not stuck (only 167k on the clock, hours unknown)

Any photos needed or questions about things that I have done let me know

Thanks!

 

[Timeline]

Try moving the shifter while turning the key my bus needs that sometimes. Disconnect the batteries and check the lugs on the starter see if they are loose or dirty. If they need cleaning up just do one pole at a time so the wires dont get mixed up.

 

[Jhighley]

Try moving the shifter while turning the key my bus needs that sometimes. Disconnect the batteries and check the lugs on the starter see if they are loose or dirty. If they need cleaning up just do one pole at a time so the wires dont get mixed up.

My bus has an automatic transmission, and I have verified that the control panel shows "N" .
Good idea about the starter haven't gotten that deep in the back yet so they could be pretty bad.. I'll see about cleaning them up.

 

[skoontz]

Hopefully something simple. Did you check the start stop switch in the engine compartment?

 

[Jhighley]

Yeah unfortunately it's been on "run" the whole time. I got excited when I found that switch hoping it was it, but dead end.

 

[Jhighley]

Edit more information.

One more thing to add is the voltage gauge shows very low voltage up at the front dash.. but the batteries are brand new and toped up at 12.8 so couple just be a faulty gauge or I have a voltage drop problem?

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

If batteries check good, and yours seem to. Start checking voltages at the starter then clean all ground connections. Wire brush to bare metal.

 

[nikitis]

12.8v is low. They need to be 13-14. Put them on a charger asap. Could have a bad alternator not charging the batteries properly. Get them puppies into the mid 13+ range then try again.

 

[Gyrkin]

Will it start if you jump start it?

 

[Jhighley]

Update-- SHES BACK!

Swapped around some relays in the back engine control cabinet and found a configuration (using the spare they have back there thanks previous tech!) and got it to crank! Swapped fuel filter and primed with fresh diesel. Swapped the critical relays with new OEMs.. and she fired right up like I was crazy one thinking she wouldn't start..

Thanks for all you guy's insight and shockingly fast replies Im so happy I found this forum!