[Archived]

Jon,

I have always carried extra belts,filters,fuses,house waterpump,holding tank dump valve,some engine hoses,clamps,oil,coolant,meter, air line repair fittings and airline,generator hoses,a couple of extra breakers,several work lights,battery charger,extension cord,spare headlights,spare interior bulbs,a/c repair tools,freon,(after a couple of very expensive on the road a/c repairs,I went to school and learned about the system and bought the tools,Got to keep them COOL).

Because of the newer coaches being so electronic controlled,If you have the time in the next 6 months make me a list of diagnostic tools and spare parts you think I may need and I will check it against what I have and already planned to get and will add to my list.

My new interior is going to have a lot of Ipad control and high end electronics,I am grateful my wife is very educated on that part of our venture.I can handle t.v.’s,dvd players,tracking satelites and stereos.But hard drive media centers that store movies and some of the other electronic interior parts I am going to have to learn a little on!!!!LOL

Jon,

Thank you for your continued help as well as everybody else,With the help of this forum and a couple of others I am guaranteed to be succesful in my new venture. This forum helps me more with the newer equipment and that is what I need.

Robert

[Robert]

Robert,

I cannot help you on what sensors you need. I carry the Detroit Diesel sensors that others on various forums have posted problems with. The Volvo engine I am sure is different and although codes are somewhat universal I cannot help with how to access them and interpret them.

As an example we had all kinds of check engine light and fault codes displayed on a trip to Maine. The problem was our charge air cooler. Because it was leaking so bad it was kicking out a series of codes and their modifiers. Because I carry my reader for the Detroit Diesel DDEC V which my coach has I was able to verify all operating parameters with the engine were well within safe limits and I could read not only the code, but the modifiers which give more specific detail. Because nothing other than the lack of turbo boost was wrong I could keep on driving until we got home.

I am sure the same type of reader or provision to read your engine fault codes from a lap top is available so you can see specifically if you need to seek help, shut down, or keep on driving. I think the best source for setting you up with the best spares and the ability to read fault codes in detail will be Prevost or a Volvo engine dealer.

I know your new coach will have a message center and it will have diagnostics. I know the diagnostics are detailed enough to point you at Prevost electrical faults that help you to isolate problems. I do not know if the diagnostics for the engine will provide you with the detail you need to make qualified decisions about what action you must take. I can tell you that if you intend to do your own diagnostics and repairs you need to look at the Prevost training schedules and make sure you enrol in the classes covering those areas of concern, such as AC, electric, etc.

[Archived]

Robert, Dewayne from Arrow gave me this for problems with their 2011 models with D13 Volvo engine after complete engine replacements in 2 of them

1 Injector cups

2 the electric turbo actulator ( they carry a spare in each bus)

3 Turbos

4 sensors

5 bull gear failure

6 EGR Valve

7 main idler gear

8 Engine brakes Volvo does not use Jakes they have their own version the VEB

9 injectors not the cup

and they replaced the head on one engine some were warranty some not he said Prevost warranty is first class if they can get you in.

They prefer the service centers over the truck dealers 10 to 1 the average miles per month for Arrow is 5 to 6 thousand fwiw

Down time to Arrow is money they want it up and running like he told me to RV owner 3 or 4 days in a shop is no big deal but to Arrow it is a big deal $$$$ of lost revenue

He seems to believe Prevsot is going to be forced into offering the Cummins ISX 12 or the ISX 15 for the seated coaches maybe not the motor home chassis he dosen’t know for sure

He says MCI is killing Prevost in sales by offering 3 different engines that is the reason why they bought 6 -J4500 2 – 417 Setra’s and 1 -D4045 this year he loves the H but didn’t want the down time of 3 or 4 days a month with the D13 that is the best I can pass on to you from a owner of 300 buses

Wishing you well on the new venture

[Robert]

You mention engine brake spare parts,why not order it with a transmission retarder?

[Sammy]

Wow, your list is not making me very excited about ordering a new bus. I haven’t had any major problems with our Cummins. A few adjustsments as it threw a few codes. I think once it noted that we might have ‘blow by’ but it was a filter replacement. Another time I was getting a loud air noise, something came loose and reconnecting it repaired the issue. Oh, and I’ve had three replacement coolant boxes…. for some reason they want to leak…. hopefully the last one is the final fix.

When I think of spending $2M+ on a new bus, the issues that I’ve been reading are not any less than a $400,000 plastic coach. I don’t want to jump from the frying pan to the fire…. I might as well keep what I’ve got as it makes me realize I’ve got a smooth running trouble free coach.

I think I’ve just gotten a wake-up call. Give the money to charity.

Mr. Mark

[Clifford]

Luvrbus,

Thanks for the parts list,I am not at all happy with the thought of 3 or 4 days a month downtime in a shop either.My Iteniary does not allow for such things,I can see my business go out the door when right in the middle of the tour I announce that everyone has to get off the coach because it has to go to the shop for a few days!!!! I like the looks of the J4500,But most accounts dont like them.The ride is not the same as Prevost they say and in my business my most important issue is keeping the client happy and on time for there tour.The amount of money they are paying to ride on the coach demands we have no regular downtime every month. I have had equipment failures on the road before were it could not be fixed fast and it causes a lot of problems,In addition to having to find alternate transportation in the middle of the night in the middle of no where they get real upset when there routine is interupted. That is why I have been asking about the Volvo Engine as I have no expierence with one at all and am concerned about performance and durability. Like you said in a motorhome if you break down its a problem but can be worked around,But on a nationwide tour it not only affects the people on my coach,it effects people on the other coaches,the truck drivers,the local crew member waiting for the load in,the venue if the star doesnt show up,the people who paid to see the show. It can get rather costly in a lot of ways if you break down on a tour. I guess I will just have to carry a parts room in the front of the trailer along with all the diagnostic tools and manual and go back to school for a course on repairing and maintaining a Volvo D13C Engine,Just to be safe.Lord willing I will make this work!!!!

Robert

P.S. My choice would be for them to put a big CAT in there,Never had problems with my Cats!!! Just Sayin’

[Bob]

One has to remember revenue service and a RV service is 2 different ball games those guys run more miles in a month that most RVers do in a year plus at a different pace with different drivers about every day

Charter Co’s do not want to be tied to one bus manufacture for all the services is what I read from him it’s never happen before till now

Here where I live a casnio has a new H nothing can be worked on from another manufacture it even has a Volvo 12 speed I shift transmission anything happpens it goes back to Volvo or Prevost

A friend of mine in Phoenix owns Swift Trucking he buys his Volvo trucks with a 50/50 mix of Cummins and Volvo engines I am going to ask him today about the D13,DD13 and the Cummins ISX engines which is best he will have it to the penny on cost for each engine

good luck

[Archived]

Luvrbus,

As you can see, we didn’t give the money to charity as we ordered a new bus.

So, did you ever find out what your friend said about his trucks?

Thanks,

Mark

[Archived]

I stopped in Phoenix and had a visit with him he had just ordred 50 of the Volvo I think he said the 780 but they were coming with the ISX Cummins 1850 ft of torque and the 12 speed ZF transmission he told me he hasn’t had good luck with the D13 or D16 and the I transmissions,the trucks that are using the Cummins ISX are giving him the best service and mileage so he says.

In a RV bus I don’t see where it would matter that much but to him 1 mile to a gal more is big $$$$ and down time even more $$$$

[Dean]

Just made a five day trip from California to Tennessee (by car). It is amazing how many Volvo trucks you see on the road.

I’m not sure what engines are in other trucks (Peterbilt, Maverick, Mac, etc.). I assume that Freightliners have a Cummins engine. But, there is no question when you see that cross member in the front grill, it’s a Volvo. Looks like Fed Ex made a major committment in leasing or purchasing Volvo trucks as that is just about all I saw pulling Fed Ex trailers.

MM.