| Author |
Message |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 1:30 pm: | |
Please help everyone. I was driving down the road and I turned a corner. The throttle became unresponsive. The engine continued to idle for about a minute and then stalled. Now it won't start. (I guess it must the the air throttle, because when you press the pedal it is not moving.) The bus runs great. (normally) I am thinking perhaps a clogged fuel filter or something. Please help. I'm 24 and don't know crap about diesel engines or buses. I am guessing something fuel related just don't know what. Any ideas? Thanks alot for helping!!! |
airless in Mississippi (Airless_in_mississippi)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 1:44 pm: | |
Do you have fuel in the tank? Turned corner maybe and low fuel condition created? |
marc schlabach
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 3:23 pm: | |
You could also be low in oil. I had mine shut down once at an intersection because of low oil. Sounds more like fuel though. Marc |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 3:28 pm: | |
Roy
If you think you sucked air - then you'll have to re-prime
try this:
First - unscrew both fuel filters - make sure they are filled to the brim - if not - fill them
next - screw them back on and try to start the bus - with luck that's all you need
if not
Go to LOWES / TRUE Valve / home depot and buy a 1/4 NPT (national pipe tread) brass barbed fitting - one end will be 1/4 pipe tread the other will be a tappered shape with ridges to grab rubber hose
so get some rubber hose from Autozone to fit over the barb
Now either find a outboard fuel tank - with a squeeze bulb - or hook up some kind of funnel to the end of the rubber tube
unscrew the 1/4 NPT plug that's in the fuel filter that's closes to the engine - it will be on the top of the filter adapter and usually facing out - screw in the brass barded fitting and use the squeeze bulb or funnel held above the filter to prime the filter and the line
Or
You could try putting a rag around the fuel filler nozzel and GENTLY pressurize the fuel tank with the line FROM the last filter to the engine - removed or very loose - do this until fuel goes out the line - this will re-prime everything also
good luck
any questions - call 386 672-0571 - I'll call back (unlimited long distance is great) |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 6:06 pm: | |
Hi Pete, it was nice talking to ya'! Thanks so much for the help. I am gonna go fool with it a little later when it is cooler. I really appreciate everything you had to say. I am sure it will be most helpful. I just wanted to take a sec. to thank you again, and I'll call ya' and let you know how it works out! Have a great day and thanks so much again!!!!
RS |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 1:48 am: | |
WELL, HERE'S A LITTLE UPDATE:
I tried to pressurize the fuel tank gently with the line removed from the secondary filter going to the engine. No luck, I know I was getting a good seal on the tank because when I pulled the nozzle/rag away, a big rush of air would blow back out. So no luck getting fuel that way.
Then, I tried taking the input line off of the Primary filter (after securing the one mentioned above) and repeat the procedure with the same effect: no fuel coming out and a big rush of air when the nozzle/rag is pulled away from the tank.
Ok I thought.... So on the same incoming line from the tank to the primary filter, I figured what the heck... I tried the other way... I put the nozzle made of almost perfectly fitting rubber to the end of the line at the filter and blew towards the tank. Nothing... no air would flow. The nozzle would provide air until the pressure in the fuel hose equalled that of the compressor (portable one which was close to empty from trying in the tank)and the no air flow.
Absolutely no air would pass either direction through the hose. What could cause that??? I figured if it was blocked at the tank somehow that the attempt at reversing it would clear it... apparently not. I just can't imagine what would cause no air to flow whatsoever.
I guess since my $8.25/mo. insurance includes towing, betsy will be off to the shop first thing this AM since its now 1:24 AM. I am really worried about this thing... I feel like now it's gonna nickel and dime me to death and I've only had it 2 days..... I expect a little cause it's so old, but now I'm kinda worried about this fuel issue. I hope it's not the injector pump (if the 8v71 has one). Prior research indicates that would be a most costly repair, assuming the info was at all accurate. I guess we'll find out soon enough. I should have waited a while, I don't think this is gonna fit my budget well if this junk keeps up. I can't complain about the engine, because when it comes to starting... I mean you can't push and release the button fast enough for it NOT to start... I've never seen such. But this has me a little worried.
Also, on the WD-40 starting attempt, if my location was correct, the air intake has 2 - 90 degree bend after coming in from the where I think it's supposed to. (The little triangular shaped grill thing all the way rear, on the passenger side of the bus, above the lower and middle rectangular grill sections - Looking in the triangular section, towards the bottom of if there was a large diameter round pipe like intake for something... Hope it was the right spot, if not, I probably lubed the A/C (that doesn't work) or something. HAHA. Oh well, you can bet your bottom I'll look at it further next time the bus runs and see if it draws in air.
By the way, on the A/C, I saw Trane on the compressor. I want to get it serviced, as the seller told me it has worked last time it was used, had not been used in a while and probably needed a charge. Any idea which type of A/C people (meaning like car A/C or house A/C) I need to work on it. I am so lost on all of this. Anything here would be most helpful!!
Lastly, (gosh sorry this is getting so long!!)
the article I saw on traderonline when I purchased this bus said...
1980 GM BUS 35 Pass, A/C, Auto, Looks, Runs and Drives good. New batteries w/ purchase.
Now here's what I got. 1978 GM BUS, don't care about the passengers, didn't even count. THE A/C DOES NOT WORK, THE BUS I WOULDN'T SAY LOOKS GOOD MORE ALONG THE LINES OF AVERAGE. When the bus RUNS, it does run ok, but it has broken down twice in two days.... It does drive ok, no shaking, fairly tight other than a small amount of play in the first U-joint on the steering column just below the tilt adjustment. The turd charged me $320 for 4 new batteries. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, FOR SOME ODD REASON, THE ENGINE BLEW ABOUT 4 GALLONS OF FREAKIN' OIL IN ABOUT 400 MILES. How's that for dandy? I understand Detroit are subject to usage, but that much? Weird thing is, in the last 200 or 250 miles, I have not had to add any. What I want to know here, is based on what the article said and based on what I got, do I have sufficient grounds to dispute the charge? I realize I got something for the charge, but seems the only parts that were correct were the auto trans. and drives good. Other than that, it seems to be a complete miss. WHAT WOULD YOU DO HERE? Bear in mind I only gave $2495 ($2819 after paying for the "new batteries w/purchase") for the thing, but if the guy had told me it was gonna be a money pit, I don't think I would have bothered. Personally, I feel like I have sufficient cause to dispute the charge because the article differs tremendously from what I got.
Thanks so much for all of your help. You folks are an inspiring bunch of knowledgeable people, and I hope after I build some experience, I can help out in the way you have most graciously helped me thusfar. I really appreciate it.
Roy Strickland
rstrick182@aol.com |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 3:17 am: | |
Roy-
Ask if you can return it and get any part of your hard earned
cash back. Don't expect a full return, and consider anything
back, an exceptionally inexpensive learning experience. Negotiate,
and let the guy get some cash in his pocket for the time and trouble
that he's taken for selling it to you, and for the time and trouble
he's going to have, to re-advertise it and sell it again.
Consider it all, the cost of a learning experience. The next time
you consider buying a used piece of heavy commercial equipment,
you'll know enough to take it to a competent bus garage for a
complete inspection.
There's no great "deal", if the "deal" isn't so great. |
Roy Strickland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 5:22 am: | |
I'm not thinking it's quite that bad off. I was just thinking that since what I paid for was a good bit different that what was advertised, the CC company might reverse the charge. |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 9:20 am: | |
there is a check valve which prevents fuel from draining back to the tank - so you'l never be able to blow "back into the tank.
You didn't say if the engine started with the wd40 spray ?? |
Larry
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 9:31 am: | |
The bus pricing sounds right unless it look an sounded like junk when you bought it.
Not bad for a good set of batteries.
Expect for the price, that you will have things to do.
Buy the manuals and learn all you can, you will be an expert, once you been thru it all. |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 10:20 am: | |
Roy:
If this is a DDEC engine (has an electronic "brain"), there could be a sensor off somewhere... possibly from your "emergency" braking test.
Your oil usage sounds alarming. You need to determine the cause post-haste.
RTS' are great busses, but you will find very few "professionals" qualified to work on them. Heavy trucks shops and most diesel engine shops know very little about the unique construction and mechanics of a highway or transit bus.
You'll be far better off to order the maint. and parts books for your model, and the engine manual for your engine, and then spend some quality time underneath it, learning about its systems as you repair and maintain your rig.
Yahoo has a group for RTS owners you should join for specific RTS support. This BBS is also a wonderful place for general bus-related issues. You can learn a great deal by just perusing the archives for hours on end.
HTH,
Brian Brown
GMC PD-4106-1175
Longmont, CO
Our Bus Site |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 11:35 am: | |
Roy - it sounds like the oil was possibly overfilled - should run it a quart low and use only straight 30 or 40 weight CF-2 less than 1% SULPHATED ASH - HTH - Niles |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 7:08 pm: | |
Roy, one other thing. While I didn't see that you said that it had been sitting a long time, some things that you said made me think that it had.
If that's the case, you can expect considerable change in behavior until you put enough miles on it for it to settle down.
John MC9 may have put his finger on the best course of action for you to take, unless you have the inclination and money to learn about and pay for your bus.
If you have no other papers other than the advertisement that you acted on, when you paid the extra money for the batteries, you probably made it very difficult to dispute the charges for them.
The right time to dispute the charge was before you paid the extra money. Doing so after you took the bus and batteries will put you in a very bad light.
You either have to be able to pay others to do what you don't know how to do (unless you can get the answer here or some other free source) or be able to pay for the parts and be able to do the work yourself.
To give yourself a fighting chance, you need the manuals and some experience and a place to work undisturbed.
I might tackle repairs without any one of those three items that I mentioned above, but I would really hesitate if I lacked any two of them.
Can you see where that puts you?
You're welcome to any answers that you can get from us, but you will need to allow for the fact that you could get any kind of answer about a problem, because we ARE on the internet.
Good luck with getting your headaches sorted out.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher |
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