2008 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Problems

AS THE BUS DRIVER PULLED INTO THE BUS GARAGE, HE NOTICED HIS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND FOUND IT LOW. I APPLIED CONSTANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINE RUNNING DOWN FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL WAS LEAKING. THIS LINE HAD A HOLE RUBBED IN IT BY THE FUEL LINE COMING FROM THE WATER SEPARATOR. THE FUEL LINE WAS ROUTED ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BRAKE LINE ALLOWING IT TO RUB. AFTER REPAIRING THIS BUS I INSPECTED OUR THREE OTHER C2'S WITH THE SAME CAT ENGINE COMBINATION AND FOUND THE FUEL LINE LAYING ON THE BRAKE LINE IN THE SAME LOCATION. NO CHAFING WAS FOUND ON THESE BUSES. I TIGHTENED THE FITTING ON THE WATER SEPARATOR TO RELOCATE THE FUEL LINE AND USED A WIRE TIE TO SUPPORT IT OFF THE BRAKE LINES. THANKFULLY THIS WAS CAUGHT IN THE BUS GARAGE AND NOT ON A ROUTE WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD. *TR

BUS BRAKE INTERLOCK WILL NOT RELEASE, MUST BYPASS BRAKE SWITCH TO MOVE BUS FROM ROADWAY AFTER STUDENT PICKUP. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY ,WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TO REPLACE AMU BRAKE SWITCH BLOCK, PART #A12-19776-010-01. TO CORRECT. BUS ONLY HAS 21,485 MILES .HAVE 6 BUSES WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE, HAVE REPLACED 3 TO DATE. HAVE REPLACED WITH IDENTICAL PART AS ORIGINAL, FEEL PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. IS VERY DANGEROUS DO TO LOCATION THAT PROBLEM COULD OCCUR SUCH AS BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY. *TR

THE CONTACT HAS A FLEET THAT INCLUDES 18 MY2000-2008 THOMAS SCHOOL BUSES. ALL HAVE EXHIBITED MULTIPLE FAILURES TO PASSENGER SEATBACKS; THE SEAT PAN BECOMES DETACHED FROM THE SEAT FRAME. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A DAMAGED SEAT MAY NOT PERFORM ITS ROLE IN COMPARTMENTALIZATION AS INTENDED BY FMVSS 222. THE CONTACT FURTHER ALLEGED THAT SEATS WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE REMEDY DESCRIBED IN THOMAS SERVICE BULLETIN 16A (SEATBACK PAN IS RIVETED TO SEAT FRAME) ARE NO LESS LIKELY TO FAIL AGAIN AND MANY OF THEM HAVE. OTHER NON-THOMAS SCHOOL BUSES IN HIS FLEET DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM.

IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOORS ON THE 2007-2008 MODEL SAF-T-LINER C2 BUSES OWNED BY SC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE FLEET DISCOVERED CORROSION RELATED DEGRADATION OF SHAFT TO THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT WATER IS GETTING PAST THE FOAM WASHER POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR SKIN. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT DEGRADATION TO THE STRENGTH OF THE SHAFT COULD CAUSE IT TO FAIL IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND DELAY EVACUATION. UPDATED 02/17/12 *BF UPDATED 02/22/12

THERE IS A PLASTIC FITTING AT THE REAR HEATER THAT IS FAILING WHICH CAUSES HOT ANTI-FREEZE TO SPILL INTO THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE SCHOOL BUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE BUSES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. HOT ANTI-FREEZE CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING TRANSPORTED.