Community Forums

bowhunter72 · 05-06-2021, 03:58 PM

I have a 99' Safari Continental Panther, in the service center bay, next to the big black start button are two switches, on is a 2 way which is for shutting off the engine, the second is a 3 way switch and i have no clue what it is for, the plate is gone. For some reason i can not start turn the engine over with the key and im afraid my son played with a switch he shouldnt have.

Sandy12 · 05-06-2021, 07:07 PM

The 3 way is back, off, front start positions. Push it all the way to the other position.

theroc · 05-06-2021, 10:27 PM

Agree ^

From my experience with buses, the rear run panel I believe is what Sandy12 describes. Since I'm assuming you have a side radiator, there should be a start-button, a possible momentary switch for engine stop, and a three-way run switch with top position = front start (normal mode), middle position = off, and bottom position = rear-run for the rear start push button

The older transit buses I drove would routinely have to be started from the rear as front-start would often not get enough juice. So we'd have to go back to the engine compartment, set the switch to "rear run" and push the button there to start.

It was a three-way toggle switch in those days and the challenge was to be able to flip the switch back to front-run without killing the engine. If doing it fast enough, you could flip the switch to front-run without shutting off the engine so that you wouldn't have to walk back to the engine compartment again when wanting to shut the engine off.

Bus drivers would sometimes run into a similar dilemma as you are experiencing in that they'd jump into the driver's seat and attempt to start the engine and nothing would happen. We knew the first thing to check was to go back to the engine compartment and check to see if the switch was somehow left on rear-run.

So yes, if you put the 3-way switch on the top position for front-start, you should have engine start available again from the driver's seat.

You might want to label your switch like this:

bowhunter72 · 05-06-2021, 10:40 PM

Mine is a toggle that goes side to side, so I'll try that. Gonna have to pull out the label maker and make new labels thanks guys. Try it in the morning.

bowhunter72 · 05-07-2021, 06:45 PM

I moved that switch to all 3 positions but still wont turn over from the key. Cant find anyone with Cat Software to even come here and check this out so i can get it to run again.

Argosy · 05-08-2021, 05:04 AM

Can you start it from the rear?

Software probably won't be a lot of help for something like that. Gone through the basics, in neutral, park brake on, batteries on, chassis voltage good except for ignition?

bowhunter72 · 05-09-2021, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argosy

Can you start it from the rear?

Software probably won't be a lot of help for something like that. Gone through the basics, in neutral, park brake on, batteries on, chassis voltage good except for ignition?

I can not start it at all, i have had a no start issue going on for over a month now. Because of where i live, i can not get anyone with cat Software to come give me a diagnostic test. And I sure as heck cant afford to tow it to the nearest service center.

gnvrvin · 05-09-2021, 06:30 PM

Dont get mad,

Is your chassis battery disconnect in the off position? turn it on

Are your batteries fully charged? Charge em up

Is transmission in neutral ? Park set? ...not sure what your coach requires

Wishing good things,
greg

bowhunter72 · 05-09-2021, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnvrvin

Dont get mad,

Is your chassis battery disconnect in the off position? turn it on

Are your batteries fully charged? Charge em up

Is transmission in neutral ? Park set? ...not sure what your coach requires

Wishing good things,
greg

It turns over, just refuses to start. I got good flue pressure, im gonna pull the ECM and take it in the Peterson and get it scanned, at least they can see fi there are any codes and if the ECM is still good

theroc · 05-10-2021, 12:09 AM

A buddy who used to live in the Roseburg area swore by MDS in Sutherlin. They are great with motorhomes. Maybe you can call and see if they can diagnose the problem over the phone and give you some things to check in order to start the engine.

If not, they do mobile service but I'm thinking that they'd charge quite a bit for travel as it's probably more than 150 miles away from you.

It appears they just moved into a new shop.

MDS - Mobile Diesel Service --Sutherlin Oregon -----> website HERE

(541) 459-8939

Argosy · 05-10-2021, 06:58 AM

How did you check fuel pressure? If you have compression and fuel a diesel should start.

bowhunter72 · 05-10-2021, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argosy

How did you check fuel pressure? If you have compression and fuel a diesel should start.

I put a fuel pressure tester on the Compucheck fitting on the fuel flow adapter housing. I am wondering if maybe I ran the thing out of fuel when i was stupid and fallowed Cats guidelines on changing filters. I fear my injectors are air locked. Or i suddenly gotten a bad check valve.

Argosy · 05-11-2021, 04:43 AM

What pressure did it show?

bowhunter72 · 06-05-2021, 12:36 PM

OK, so i got my MH started again, took a rebuilt ECM from Go ECM, however still cant not start the engine from the ignition key, i can shut the engine off from the key, but not start it, i have checked the switch, and all is good. I messed with that 3 way and still no good. I know my son messed with the leveling system up front, but all the jacks are up, is it possible the switch is bad and is keeping the engine from starting from the ignition switch? Starts juts fine from the rear button.