MY BUS STOPPED RUNNING! any suggestions

[Len Silva]

Chris,

The first thing I would do is to rig an electric primer pump at the fuel tank (lot's of info in the archives here).

The next is to know how to replace and prime your filters at the side of the road and how to do basic trouble shooting of the fuel system.

I mean no offense, but most bus nuts would not opt for a tow just because the engine won't start, usually a simple fix.

Len

[chriss]

Sounds to me like you ran it out of fuel, or very possibly your tank was low, and when you turned the corner into the station, all your fuel ran to the opposite side of the tank, and you sucked in air.  BTDT!!  You'll have to reprime the fuel system.

craig

I might have, but I don't think I was too low, I only went about 400 miles with a full tank. since fuel was still at a low price I thought, why not fill back up.
I hope I don't have to reprime the system!

[chriss]

Chris,

The first thing I would do is to rig an electric primer pump at the fuel tank (lot's of info in the archives here).

The next is to know how to replace and prime your filters at the side of the road and how to do basic trouble shooting of the fuel system.

I mean no offense, but most bus nuts would not opt for a tow just because the engine won't start, usually a simple fix.

Len

Len,
No offense taken, I was in a hurry and it was raining like crazy! I spun the fuel filters off and they were full of fuel so I though it might be something more serious. I emptied the fuel filters, re filled them and put em back on, then tried to start it again, with no luck. and my batteries started to get low so I gave up and decided to have it towed. thanks for the advice on the primer pump, I'll check the archives on that.
Chris

[chriss]

OWWW!

That tow bill would pay for 4 or 5 years worth of emergency roadside assistance.

I consider the ERS as just another part of the insurance bill.

Available from your insurer, your RV club, your auto club...just make sure it is really for your big RV.

And when you call for a tow, you tell them to be sure to send the right tow truck "I've got a Greyhound style bus, I need the big wrecker."

Good luck with the fuel delivery problem.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

I am definately looking into ERS insurance!
thanks,

Chris

[chriss]

OWWW!

That tow bill would pay for 4 or 5 years worth of emergency roadside assistance.

I consider the ERS as just another part of the insurance bill.

Available from your insurer, your RV club, your auto club...just make sure it is really for your big RV.

And when you call for a tow, you tell them to be sure to send the right tow truck "I've got a Greyhound style bus, I need the big wrecker."

Good luck with the fuel delivery problem.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

I lived and learned!

[gumpy]

Oh, one other thing that I don't think was mentioned... did you check to make sure you didn't trip the emergency shutdown flapper on the air intake?  I forget about that, as it's not on the 92 series engines.

[uncle ned]

chris

use your air compressor to prime the engine.
Put the air hose in the tank, wrap with a cloth, put a small amount of air to the tank.
not enough to blow it up.
might need to crack the line at the primary filter and let the air out.

uncle ned

[JackConrad]

When you crank the engine are you getting white smoke?  If not, you are not getting fuel into the cylinders.  If you are getting white smoke and it is not starting, check the emergency shutdown flap on top of the blower in the air intake tubing.  Jack

[jjrbus]

chris

use your air compressor to prime the engine.
Put the air hose in the tank, wrap with a cloth, put a small amount of air to the tank.
not enough to blow it up.
might need to crack the line at the primary filter and let the air out.

uncle ned

What about the overflow/vent pipe?

[uncle ned]

on a gm the vent pipe is inside of the fuel filler. it whistles when it starts to get full

ned

[jjrbus]

Those GM guys thought of everything!!

[bigjohnkub]

Well, what was wrong with the bus?  Inquiring minds want to know.

[chriss]

Well, what was wrong with the bus?  Inquiring minds want to know.

I still haven't got it going yet. when I tried to start it today, It ran for about 30 sec. then slowly shut back down. then couldn't start it again. I checked the fuel filters and they were full of Diesel. I don't believe it was gas, because it smelled like diesel. I couldn't trace any gas smell. when I tried starting it back up, it puffed white smoke, so it seems to be getting fuel. I'm wondering if it could be an electrical problem? any suggestions?

thanks,
Chris 

[Lin]

Without going back and re-reading stuff--I assume you have disqualified the emergency shut down or anything else obstructing the air intake.  Could it be an intermittent bad contact in your ignition/main switch or fuel solenoid?  Could it be the fuel pump?  Not being a expert, but as I understand it there are only three elements to starting--fuel, air, and compression.  Will it start with starting fluid?

[gumpy]

Well, what was wrong with the bus?  Inquiring minds want to know.

I still haven't got it going yet. when I tried to start it today, It ran for about 30 sec. then slowly shut back down. then couldn't start it again. I checked the fuel filters and they were full of Diesel. I don't believe it was gas, because it smelled like diesel. I couldn't trace any gas smell. when I tried starting it back up, it puffed white smoke, so it seems to be getting fuel. I'm wondering if it could be an electrical problem? any suggestions?

thanks,
Chris 

This sounds a lot like an emergency shutdown like is found on the MCIs. I didn't think GMs had that, but maybe they do. 

First, do you have a switch somewhere (maybe in the engine compartment) for killing the engine that may be in the wrong position.

Second, when you started if, was the air fully built up. Try again, and this time, watch the shutdown cylinder on the engine. If it slowly pushes the fuel cutoff lever as the air builds up and shuts the engine down, then you have a problem with the shutdown system being activated. On the MCIs, the temp stats and oil pressure are hooked into this. There might also be water level sensors hooked into this. Usually, they activate by grounding, and the sensors can go bad. If you remove the wire from the terminal, it will disable the sensor, and should allow the engine to start, if that's what's causing the problem.

If it's not that, then it could very well have air in the fuel pump; possibly as a result of the turn into the fuel station, as I mentioned before. Your fuel pickup tube could be cracked or broken in the tank allowing it to suck air, or possibly the fuel level just got too low and you sucked air in when you turned. I've done many times.

If it starts, it's getting fuel. If it dies a slow death, it's running out of fuel for some reason. Probably one of the reasons stated above. Make sure you check the emergency shutdown flapper, too, in case it accidentally got triggered. I wouldn't expect it to start, though, if it is closed, as it wouldn't be able to get air to support combustion, but maybe there's enough there to let it run for a bit.

craig