Blue Bird TC/2000, Owner'S Manual

Page: 36 / 111

35
TCRE
To open press the release button on the latches located at the far right and left edges of the door. (Right
Side Shown) Press the upper portion of the disappearing handle located in the lower center of the door for
handle access. When the handle is reversed, grip and pull to open door. After closing press in the larger
portion of the latch until it snaps to lock into position.
REAR SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DOORS
To open press release button latches on top and bottom of rear side access doors. Opening LH door gives
access to the outside of the radiator. Opening RH door gives access to the RH side of the engine. After closing
press in the larger portion of the latch until it snaps to lock into position.
HEATERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Blue Bird heaters are hot water type which depend on heat generated by the engine for their function.
Heat from the engine is picked up by the engine coolant which is pumped through the heaters inside the
body and back into the engine. A typical heater inside the body is made of a heat exchanger coil and fans
which move air across the coil. Air moving across the coil picks up heat from the engine coolant and transfers
it into the body.
Satisfactory performance of the body heaters is basically dependent upon:
1. Adequate engine (coolant) temperature - this can be altered by thermostat rating (which should never
be higher than recommended by the engine manufacturer) and/or shutters.
2. Adequate coolant flow - this varies with engine speed and can be increased if necessary by the use of
an auxiliary water pump. The heaters are rated at six gallons per minute.
3. Proper fan operation - all motors have multiple speeds, and can most easily be checked for function
by operating the motor switches individually and listening for the speed variations.
Many other factors affect performance, but the three mentioned are most basic.
HEATER OPERATION
Be sure the engine radiator is full and all coolant flow valves are open. See charts on valve location. Do
not leave the engine running while opening or closing valves. Warm up the engine to operating tempera-
ture with the engine at up to 1800 RPM, if possible, and turn on the heater fans and the auxiliary water pump
if so equipped.
Under extremely cold weather conditions, turning on the heater fans will cause the engine temperature to
drop noticeably as heat from the engine is being transferred into the body. But as air temperature inside the