C O N T E N T S Foreword / 6 Mirrors and Adjustment / 24 Interior Mirrors / 24 Before Placing the Bus in Service / 7 Exterior Mirrors / 24 Reporting Safety Defects / 7 Mirror Maintenance / 26 Body Identification / 7 Outward Opening Entrance Door / 27 Maintenance Requirements / 27...
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Keeping Your Vehicle Looking New / 41 Washing Your Vehicle / 41 Polishing And Waxing Your Vehicle / 41 Foreign Material Deposits / 41 Finish Damage / 41 General Maintenance Schedules / 42 About Service Intervals / 42 Vendor-Supplied Maintenance Guidelines / 42...
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This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with various aspects of service, maintenance, and operation. It explains the vari- ous features and controls which should be familiar to you before you attempt to drive the unit. It will help keep your Blue Bird Micro-Bird in top operating condition and help extend its service life.
This Operator’s Manual provides some general and specific information regarding safe operation and maintenance of your Blue Bird bus. It does not address all items or situations that may arise, and it is not a substitute for proper driver and mechanic training.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately informthe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Blue Bird. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation and, if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy cam- paign.
2007 emission standards diesel engine, as indicated by a decal located near the fuel filler door, reading: The engine in Blue Bird buses equipped with diesel engines must be operated only with low ash engine oil and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (meeting EPA speci- fications for highway diesel fuel, including a 15 ppm sulfur cap).
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Regarding Modifications Blue Bird Corporation offers many items as standard and optional equipment to meet federal, state, and local specifications and individual customer requirements. Those interested in modification of thisvehicle should consult the Service Manual and Blue Bird Engineering Department for a more complete understanding of the vehicle.
MICRO BIRD Inspection Daily Inspection To keep your bus in the best operating condition in terms of safety, convenience, service, and operating expense, follow these recommended inspection procedures on a daily basis, as well as all inspection procedures recommended by your chassis manufacturer.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k • Ensure the horn, defroster/heater blower, and windshield wipers are working properly. • Check the brake pedal for right height and feel. Check the gauge reading. Check the Parking brake release, reset. Outside checks required before driving away: • Check right- and left-turn signals in front and rear. Ensure they are clean and flashing. • Ensure the flasher warning lights in front and rear are clean and flashing. • Ensure the stop arm is clean and working. • Check hi-lo beams in headlights. • Ensure stop lights and taillights are clean and working.
MICRO BIRD • Lubricate all rear and side emergency door latch slide bars with light grease to reduce friction. • Tighten all body tie-down bolts to between 75–85 ft lbs (102–115 Nm) torque at 1,500 kilometers, and quarterly thereafter. • Grease emergency door hinges. Yearly Inspection • Complete Quarterly Inspection. • Remove all seat cushions, thoroughly clean with upholstery cleaner, and re- install on a rotating basis. • Adjust door control rod and closing mechanism to entrance doors.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Switch Panel 1. Left rearview mirror control. 2. Right rearview mirror control. 3. Electric door control. (If so equipped) 4. Manual warning light switch. 5. Master warning light switch. Systems may vary on some units. 6.
MICRO BIRD Seats and Seat Belts Driver’s Seat Belt Operation For driver’s seat belt operation, refer to chassis manual. If you failed to receive such a manual, contact the chassis manufacturer’s closest dealership immediately to obtain one. Passenger Seat Belt Operation (If So Equipped) Individual lap belts for passengers are retractable or non-retractable, depending on option ordered.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Installation 1. Place the rear edge of the cushion down on the base portion of the seat frame. Lifting the forward edge of the cushion five to eight centimeters, slide the cushion to the rear to engage the positive type clamp into the rear retaining channel.
MICRO BIRD Child Restraints Young Children And Infants Everyone in a vehicle needs protection. This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need for everyone to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to a certain age must be restrained while in a vehicle.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Whenever applicable, use the universal child restraint anchorage system instead of the vehicle’s safety belts to secure a child restraint. [WARNING] If a child restraint isn’t attached to its anchorage points, the re- straint won’t be able to protect a child sitting there.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Optional Equipment To figure current draw, add constant load and 35% of intermittent load. Policy • Warning light options include lights, standard flasher, and pilot light. If op- tional flasher unit is desired, add current draw of that option. • Directional light options include lights and standard thermal flasher.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Light Bulb Data Lamp Trade Name Trade Number Bulb Color Number Interior Lights Dome Weldon 8005 (Standard) Weldon 8010 (Deluxe) Stepwell Arrow Emerg. Door Light Weldon 8025 Switch Panel Pilots...
MICRO BIRD Mirrors and Adjustment Left and right front fender mounted convex crossview and left and right front fender- mounted convex rearview mirrors are required equipment on all Micro-Bird buses. [WARNING] The vehicle’s mirror system has been designed to comply with all field-of-view requirements, but it is the owner’s responsibility to adjust the mirrors properly before placing the vehicle in service and to maintain the ad- justment during the service life of the vehicle.
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D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k [CAUTION] A convex mirror has a curved surface and is designed to provide a wide view with minimum distortion. However, persons or objects seen in a con- vex mirror will look smaller and appear farther away than when seen in a flat mirror or viewed directly.
MICRO BIRD Mirror Maintenance All mirrors should be cleaned once a week (or more if needed), preferably with an ammonia solution. Keep the mounting fasteners tight so that mirrors will not vibrate. Check weekly and retighten, if necessary.
Maintenance Chart). Circuit Breakers Blue Bird uses circuit breakers and fuses. The circuit breakers are a quick resetting type and are located behind the driver’s compartment above the driver’s side door. The advantage of circuit breakers is that no replacement (as with fuses) is required.
[WARNING] Do not lift the vehicle by the bumper. Bumpers are designed to protect the vehicle and occupants during a collision, they are not designed for towing or jacking up the vehicle. Blue Bird does not recommend towing or jack- ing the vehicle by the bumpers.
Never attempt to lift the bus by the tow hooks. Wheelchair Lifts Blue Bird Micro Bird buses may be fitted with lifting platforms designed to aid in loading and un-loading passengers. There are 2 optional wheelchair lifts available. The units available are: Ricon™ model S5010 and Braun™ model L919FIB. Both offer a maximum of 48 inches (122 cm) lift from the ground to the level of the bus floor.
However, the interlock will prevent the park brake from being released. Stop Arms Stop arms are required on Blue Bird school buses by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 131. Stop arm assemblies are purchased as a kit; many different kits are available with blades to meet various state requirements. The stop arm is located on the driver’s side of the body just behind driver’s door.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k The “STOP” sign must extend, and if so equipped, the lights must be operating while the red lights of the warning light system are flashing. For those state-designed warning light/stop arm systems that allow the stop arm to withdraw while warning lights are operating, an audible alarm sounds to alert the driver to this condition.
MICRO BIRD 13. If the motor runs, it should run until the CAM circles and opens the limit switch, causing the motor to stop. At that time, change the 12 VDC supply to the limit switch to the other lead; the motor should run until the CAM positions itself to deactivate the limit switch.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Body Fluid Cleanup Kit The body fluid cleanup kit is designed to contain accidental spillage of biological matter, minimizing risk of exposure to potential health hazards. The contents of the kit should be inspected every 30 days or as required by local regulation to be sure that all contents comply with state specifications.
BIRD Heaters Blue Bird heaters are hot-water type, which depend on engine-generated heat 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.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k If the defrosters are not turned on until the after condensation starts, it is more dif- ficult to heat the glass and drive moisture away. As passengers are loaded onto the bus, the moisture content of the air inside the bus increases.
MICRO BIRD Heater Bleeding Instructions The following procedure must be followed to ensure adequate heater bleeding. During the bleeding process, it will be necessary to remove the radiator cap and refill cooling system several times to ensure adequate coolant is available to replace purged air and coolant lost when bleeding.
BIRD Glass Replacement The glass used in Blue Bird buses meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 205 and 217. When a piece of glass is broken, it should be replaced with an identical piece. The following instructions are for replacing glass in the side split sash window, rear and rear side vision, entrance door, and windshield.
D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Figure 5 Rear Vision Figure 6—Window frame shown disassembled 1. Remove filler strip from channel in glazing rubber. 2. Apply pressure against glass from the outside of the bus, starting at a corner. Push glass and glazing rubber off of metal flange.
MICRO BIRD Emergency Exits Emergency exits are clearly identified by the words “Emergency Exit”. Operating instructions are written close to each exit. Some units are equipped with an audible alarm device signifying an emergency exit is open. If a buzzer sounds, when turning the ignition switch on, check emergency exits to see that they are completely closed.
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• Read the manufacturer’s directions on all products used prior to use. Wash In order to preserve your vehicle’s finish, Blue Bird requires protection of the finish by washing a minimum once every 3 months. • Wash the vehicle in lukewarm or cold water.
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To wash units, Blue Bird Corporation recommends Bird Bath™ Bus Wash & Wax, available from Authorized Blue Bird Dealers. Bus Wash & Wax is a concentrated vehicle wash (rated triple-zero), that is recommended to be mixed at up to a 20/1 ratio for new and re- conditioned buses.
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Bus Downtime Treatment During periods of bus downtime, Blue Bird Corporation recommends the applica- tion of Bird Bath Bus Guard (available from Authorized Blue Bird Dealers) to protect exterior surfaces. Bird Guard is a triple-zero product that, when properly applied, protects against harmful UV rays and other damaging environmental conditions.
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The technician should bear in mind that many of the components which are installed on the bus by Blue Bird, are neither manufactured nor serviced by Blue Bird. Service and Maintenance information more detailed than that presented in this manual may be available from the component manufacturer.
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D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Every Day Doors Test Wheelchair Lift Follow the manufacturers recommendations. Emergency Equipment Inspect Fire Extinguisher Charge Ensure that Extinguisher Charge is not expired. Inspect Fire Extinguisher Mounting Bracket Ensure that Extinguisher bracket is secure and operates correctly.
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MICRO BIRD Engine Inspect Oil Level See Engine operators manual for oil specifications. Fuel System Inspect Fuel Cap Tires & Wheels Inspect All Tires & Wheels Check air pressure. Visually inspect tires, tread wear, lug nuts, including spare. Transmission Inspect Transmission Fluid Level Check production order for proper type of fluid to be added.
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D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Every Month or 3000 Miles Doors Lubricate All Doors Vandal Locks Spray Apply lubricant into key locks. Use LPS #1 for sliding bolt locks. Lubricate Wheelchair Lift Lube Points See model-specific literature provided with lift.
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MICRO BIRD Every 3 Months Exterior Structure Wash Body Wash the vehicle in lukewarm or cold water. Do not use hot water or wash in the direct sunlight. Only cleaners with an HMIS rating of 1,0,0,0 or less should be used to clean the buses.
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D R I v E R S h a N D b O O k Every 12 Months or 12,000 Miles Heaters & Defrosters Tighten Front Heater Fasteners All fasteners holding such heaters in place in unit. For details on fasteners check installation prints. Clean Front Heater FIlter &...
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