Broke down in Boise

John316 · August 16, 2016, 05:31:36 PM

No it did not crank. Just had a check engine light and flashed some codes. If check those fuses just in case.

You can also turn the master switch on. Then see if your Allison pad lights up. If it doesn't, then tranny issue.

Hope you get it figured out! I really feel for you. I know what it's like and I don't envy you one bit.

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 06:24:27 AM

All the lights are doing what they should and it is cranking, just not firing. The no srs has me suspecting either a worn/damaged bullgear or a damaged/relocated srs pin. They have eliminated everything electrical and electronic at this point.

luvrbus · August 17, 2016, 06:52:26 AM

I never heard of a pin falling out parked but anything is possible.

OT I been trying to help a guy on F/B who bought a bus with a famous 10,000 mile rebuild it lasted 20 miles and dropped 3 cylinders and I haven't heard what else is going on.You want to sell the engine in your MCI 8 Derrick

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 07:00:42 AM

Cliff the whole bus (mc8 ) is for sale. I haven't listed it anywhere becuase I am on the road for another 2.5 months but if the guy is interested we should talk and we can work something out. You could go to my place and get it.

Back on topic, I have never heard of a pin falling out just setting either, but unless I understand incorrectly once the engine is running you can unplug the srs and it will still run until you shut it down. I am leaning more towards the bullgear or an incorrect airgap @ the srs. I have experienced a few hard starts over the last month ie extended cranking. Otherwise it has always fired up on the first spin.

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 08:03:12 AM

The pin has relocated itself so it looks like time for a new bullgear.

luvrbus · August 17, 2016, 08:18:29 AM

You are lucky or blessed maybe both when that pin falls out running you can pickup a series 60 in a basket,1500 bucks plus labor and you going again

good luck

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 08:30:27 AM

Yes the repair cost itself isn't too bad, but add to that all the hours of diagnosis it took them to find the problem and the bill will be double.

B_K · August 17, 2016, 10:50:05 AM

I'd be arguing on the time it took to do some of it as they just jumped right on ordering a new ECM without farther testing!
I'd tell them they need to eat half the time as a "LEARNING experience" and tell them that education is expensive and if they won't give you a break on their incompetence bill them for educational services since YOU already suggested the bull gear earlier on!
I would be paying for parts not needed either!

BK

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 12:02:04 PM

The shop foreman said he would "work with me" on the labor and they will reinstall the old ecm once they have it back together and check to see if it is good. I will give him a chance to make it right before I step in and make any demands, but you can believe I am not about to pay for unnecessary parts or thier learning experience.

luvrbus · August 17, 2016, 12:23:28 PM

Quote from: thomasinnv on August 17, 2016, 12:02:04 PM
The shop foreman said he would "work with me" on the labor and they will reinstall the old ecm once they have it back together and check to see if it is good. I will give him a chance to make it right before I step in and make any demands, but you can believe I am not about to pay for unnecessary parts or thier learning experience.

They will I have had work done in Boise and Salt Lake at Smiths and was never over charged.The thing to watch now is some of these shops are charging double the standard labor rate for diagnostics. I was in a large truck dealership the sign read $125.00 shop labor.

Diagnostics for electronics engine,transmission,chassis and suspension $200.00 per hour welcome to the world of electronics

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 12:42:37 PM

The rate for rv and coaches is 125 he said he would charge me 112. I left to run some errands and get some groceries, when I got back at noon they already had the new gear in and the front cover on, putting things back together. Might be done this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

thomasinnv · August 17, 2016, 03:02:32 PM

IT'S ALIVE!!! The bus once again has a heartbeat. They will finish putting things back together in the morning and we should be on the road before lunch. Tomorrow will make day number 4 parked at the shop. We ran out of fuel in the generator tank yesterday afternoon and it's been so hot and humid without air conditioning on this blacktop. Be glad to get somewhere tomorrow we can plug in and turn on the air. They ran us a cord but it won't run the air.

Scott & Heather · August 17, 2016, 08:22:27 PM

Glad to hear you're back up and running!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thomasinnv · August 18, 2016, 12:33:37 PM

Total bill ended up being 4725. I feel they could have done a little better on the bill, but I am satisfied. I think overall they were pretty fair, and they are a good bunch of guys, they treated me really well while I was there. I generally shy away from big shops like this because they tend to cost alot more, but I would absolutely recommend these guys. Smith power in Boise ID, good shop to go to.

luvrbus · August 18, 2016, 03:30:14 PM

That price is not bad a bull gear replacement only can cost $3500.00 even at a independent shop like Southern Oregon Diesel

good luck