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DIESEL ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURE
1. Apply parking brake.
2. Place transmission shift lever in park position .
3. See appropriate engine manufacturers operating manual for proper starting procedures. Starting pro-
cedures vary from different engine manufacturers and also varies with temperature.
4. After engine starts, release accelerator to maintain a fast idle (1000-1600 rpm) until the engine is warmed
up.
IMPORTANT:
Do not keep starter engaged for more than maximum of 30 seconds followed by 120 seconds
(2 minutes) off time. If engine fails to start after a reasonable time, determine cause of failure. Pumping the
accelerator will in no way assist in starting the engine. Refer to engine manufacturers recommended proce-
dures. DO NOT RACE THE ENGINE TO SPEED WARM-UP!
STARTING WITH BOOST CABLES
WARNING: Batteries give off flammable fumes that can explode. Prevent sparks near the batteries. They
could cause vapors to explode. Do not allow battery cable ends to contact each other or the engine.
CAUTION: Do not smoke when observing the battery electrolyte levels. Electrolyte is an acid and can
cause personal injury if it contacts skin or eyes. Always wear protective glasses when working with
batteries.
Your bus has a 12-volt starting system. Use only the same voltage for boost starting. The use of a higher
voltage will damage the electrical system.
Always connect the boost cables in parallel with the bus battery cables, Negative (-) to Negative (-) and
Positive (+) to Positive (+).
Do not reverse the battery cables. The alternator can be damaged. Attach ground
cable last and remove first.
1. Fasten the positive (+) clamp of the boost cable to the positive (+) post of the battery.
2. Fasten the negative (-) clamp of the boost cable to the negative (-) post of the battery.
3. Start the engine.
4. After the engine starts, disconnect the negative (-) boost cable from the battery.
5. Disconnect the positive (+) boost cable from the battery.
STARTING THE ENGINE FROM THE REAR OF THE BUS
Move switch from front to rear position and press start button. Note, the transmission must be in neutral.
Be sure everything is clear of all belts before starting. To stop engine move switch to stop position, then
return switch to front position. If engine has been started from the rear, it must be stopped at the rear, and if
the engine has been started from the front, it must be stopped from the front.
WARNING: While working on the engine, the front-off-rear selector switch should be turned to the off
position for safety.
USING ENGINE AS A BRAKE
In descending a steep or long grade it is a good practice to use the engine as a brake to retard vehicle
speed. Reduce speed before the grade and shift into a lower gear (with either automatic or manual transmis-
sions), being careful to select a gear which will slow the vehicle without overspeeding the engine. Under such
conditions, use the brakes sparingly to prevent them from overheating, which reduces brake effectiveness.
WARNING: Do not take transmission out of gear when going down a steep or long grade. You may not be
able to get the transmission back in gear, and the drastic slowing of engine speed could reduce air pres-
sure supply to the air brake system, and result in a reduction of brake capacity.
