How to Bypass the School Bus Emergency Exit Interlock * Skoolie Conversion * Gus The Struggle Bus

We searched high and low for a video that would explain how to bypass the school bus emergency exit interlock all with no prevail. Finally, with your help, we were able to uninstall our emergency buzzers so that we may turn the bus on without having to have the emergency doors open.
We are not professionals by any means of the word but if you have any questions at all feel free to reach out to us!
We would like to highly encourage you to subscribe to our channel if you liked what you saw in this video. By subscribing you are helping us get a little bit closer to our dreams. We want and hope that this journey becomes bigger than us and encourages others to live the life they want. Whatever it is go out and get it. It will by no means be easy, but if you are willing to kick butt and work hard your dreams are achievable!!
Music:
Dreams by Joakim Karud / joakimkarud
Blog - mapgpsblog.com
Instagram - @map.gps / map.gps
Instagram for Gus - @Gus.gps / gus.gps
MAP.GPS (Meredith and Paco.Going Places Suckaa)
We have now added new ways for you to support us!
- Here is our Etsy shop -
www.etsy.com/shop/Meredithand...
- Here is our Patreon -
/ meredithandpaco
If you would like to see what equipment we shoot with, feel free to follow the links. We have also added links to some of the tools that we used for this video. We do get a percentage of whatever you buy within 24 hours no matter what it is. This is the best way to support us!
OUR AMAZON STORE!
www.amazon.com/shop/mereditha...
Titanium Coated Drill Bits
amzn.to/37xPszZ
KILMAT
amzn.to/30hT30p
Jimmy Proof Lock
amzn.to/30lm7Jv
Trim-Lok Edge Trim
amzn.to/2N6RBvJ
5 Ft Continous/Piano Hinge
amzn.to/2PXD2wG
T Handle Latch Lock
amzn.to/2LomhXj
Ryobi Orbital Jig Saw
amzn.to/3053HHM
Ryobi Circular Saw
amzn.to/2Q3XwnJ
Bosch Impact Drill
amzn.to/31c0Yxx
MaxxFan 5100K
amzn.to/2NO9Q8O
Henry's TropiCool
amzn.to/2N7Y8WR
Butyl tape
amzn.to/34B4Eev
Bondo Body Filler
amzn.to/2N5CzpW
Heat Gun
amzn.to/2QbuGBA
Little Tiny Flat Nose Toy School Bus
amzn.to/2A0FNT8
Go Pro 6
amzn.to/2NR5vBB
Google Pixel 2
amzn.to/2A2kfp5
RODE Video micro
amzn.to/2HUxjBd
Go Pro Suction Cup Mount
amzn.to/2HX74KI
GoPro Rechargeable Battery
amzn.to/31k9ESN
SanDisk Extreme 64GB microSDXC
amzn.to/2NScA56
Mystery Waterproof GoPro Handheld
amzn.to/2Q1iKT9
Doing a Skoolie conversion is not an easy feat. We are literally doing a tiny house build and doing a school bus conversion to RV. If you have any tips or words of encouragement please write them down below. We want to live the bus life and take you guys with us as we become a skoolie vlogger.
If you liked the video at all please give this video a BIG thumbs up. If you liked it or even if you didn't, please let us know in the comment section. and If you liked this video and would like to see more videos from us please hit the subscribe button. We want to get better so constructive criticism is encouraged!
-Tell us what you thought we did wrong
-What you would do differently
-Give us tips on editing
-Give us tips on audio
-Give us any tips you have (WE NEED IT!!)

[@corrinnewright1273]

Great job guys!! Thank you for all the step by step along the way. Can’t wait to watch all of your adventures to come! One day I will be joining the Skoolie community with ya!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thank you so much!! It means so much to us that you are enjoying our adventures 😁 and when you do you can learn from both our success and failures lol

[@JakefromSF_NM]

Thank you sir! I have a friend who had this issue. My thought would be replacing the push button with just a switch to by pass the door buzzing

[@aslPlayer]

You helped me so much! I just started pulling wires from my bus and disconnected the rear door switch and the bus wouldn't start. You saved me hours of work! Thanks so much!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

So glad we could help!!!

[@tcmarie]

I really enjoy watching all your videos. I'm not sure how I missed this one when I was watching them.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Aw thank you so much!!

[@eloyanzaldua1889]

Fantastic pace, glad I got to see that. I was getting ready to start on that next month. Thanks from louisiana Raza. Take care.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thanks, you too!

[@wasabifetish2972]

Thanks guys appreciate it keep up the good work

[@GustheStruggleBus]

We try! Thank you!

[@princexander488]

Extremely helpful! Thank you.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

You're welcome!

[@davidpinner4598]

Good afternoon guys, keep up the good work.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thank you so much 🥰🤓

[@bryanfunk5298]

Thanks so much this video was extremely helpful!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sweetschoolbus]

So glad to see that my bus isn't the only one that showed up with birds-nest wiring. I have a mini stroke every time I open that panel. 😆

[@GustheStruggleBus]

I think it happens to everyone at some point lol You got this!

[@johnclamshellsp1969]

Great videos as always you two. Looking good. LOL, me being "mr proper" perfect with wiring, I hooked up all the cut wires when I got my bus. It was a no start, traced it to the main coach power solenoid/contactor. Yep I learned fast. Save that wiring to recycle back to the bus for your needs. Today begins the bus flooring for my bus, yippy, wife and kids all excited. Also, a very old yucky old man hates me at the RV storage place, seems to have some belief that I am just a drug using hippy, Lol. Has no clue I'm federal and normal.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Hahaha I'm glad that you're it will to get that done. It's so cool that all your family is involved in the build and excited about it! And you can tell the guy the RV storage place to mind his own business LOL

[@danielfisch655]

Great job, as always!!!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thank you so much!

[@danielfisch655]

MEREDITH and PACO anytime and thank you for the amazing content.

[@williamburgos9705]

Sweet! Thanx for sharimg this bro

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Of course! Hope it helped!

[@johnnieworker2704]

Great job!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thank you!! 😁🤓

[@pelican212movies]

I'll be trying this tomorrow morning!! Good explanation Meredith and Paco.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Wow good luck, let us know how it goes 😁🤓

[@pelican212movies]

Merry Christmas, Meredith and Paco. Bus works great! Thank you so much for the video. --John Rees

[@GustheStruggleBus]

You too!! Of course! We are so glad we could help 😊

[@wasabifetish2972]

When I get my bus and we keep this video in mind so when I have to do my stuff I'll be ready

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Yay! I'm so glad we could be helpful!

[@grobison9696]

I knew I would find it!

[@jdsquared]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh k. Just got my panels off starting to look at the wiring. I knew it was a continuous wire into the panel, but now I get what it's doing there! This was helpful, thank you. I have emergency windows but its going to be the same as your doors, where it needs the continual ground. These same wires didn't go through your ceiling hatches?

[@GustheStruggleBus]

There where a couple of things that just by disconnecting them the bus still started and that was our emergency windows and hatches. I'm not sure if this is how it'll be on all buses but this is how it was on ours. We are glad that this that only makes sense but what's helpful to you 😁🤓

[@kirktruman6707]

Hey Meridith hey Paco. Wow awesome job. That will be one job I will not look forward to because when I worked on cars I sucked at electrical Lol. Yes we had a wonderful Thanksgiving hope you did also have a wonderful day and a wonderful blessed Sunday.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Lol I can't really say that this is in our repertoire but little by little we've learned 🤓 glad to hear that you and your family had a great Thanksgiving and hope that you have a wonderful weekend as well!

[@kirktruman6707]

@@GustheStruggleBus Absolutely thank you my friends

[@ohheyv]

Did you ever find out what that circular cylinder box was called?? 5:00 I'll be going thru my wires here REAL SOON and I'm recognizing somethings on my bus with this vid!! This is most def super helpful!! THANK YOU for making it!! I'll be linking you guys in my vid!!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Hey! I believe that is a solenoid, you will hear it clicking when it is trying to switch something on. There are a few around the bus and each has a different purpose! So glad the video was helpful!!

[@verticle2612]

Excellent work. Saved me tons of time! Now, how do we disable the No Child Left Behind system. Every time I turn my bus off, if I don’t walk back and open and close the rear emergency exit the alarm (bus horns) will honk until I get back in the bus, close the main entrance, cycle the key, open and close the rear door, and then power off the bus. It sucks. I subscribed so help a brother out.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Yes!! So glad that it helped, it took us forever to figure this out and just knew we had to put it out there

[@davehaygood2076]

Thanks for posting the video - found it super helpful! Quick question, do you have to keep the back door wiring hooked up for the buzzer? Would it cause an issue if you just removed the whole setup at the back door?

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Great question.once we grounded the system we found out that the bus would still start with everything locked or unlocked. We removed the buzzer just to make sure it would still start and it did. A lot of the wires in the back, we couldn't remove. So, we removed that components for the alarm/ buzzer and cut all the wires where we could access them. Hope this make sense. And I apologize for the late reply 😊🤓

[@08elka]

Located on the inside of the door for the wires area is a fuse/wire/etc chart. There should be an area labeled,"BUZZER" it identifies all the wire numbers and location. Not sure if it is on all bus charts but it will save a little time and frustration having to follow the wire though the bus.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

thank you! we will remember this for next time!

[@margaretlong683]

I'm still in the thick of it! I have a Midsize International I bought 3 month And I spent a 5 hours trying to figure how to disconnect and be able to start the engine. My escape hatch are dry rotted so when I messed with them you know the drill. Now I'm loosing my scruples. I finally figure how to temporary start it because of this video until I am able to tackle all the wiring with calmness. Thank you Meredith and Paco. If you can please send me any links you've viewed ?

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Hey! I will see if I can find them. I hope that is was helpful! I know that wiring can get so confusing and out of control lol

[@EthanJones-fw8kg]

Thank you so much for making this video really saved me! I have a 2001 International and I also have a 58 pink wire going to that cylinder but my 57 pink wire and 14 (emergency window) wire are going to a buzzer in the electrical panel. I was just planning on disconnecting it from the buzzer. Just curious if you have any input on that?

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Sorry for the late reply. You can try that, if you do I would suggest that you test it afterwards to see if it works.

[@felipemarques2378]

Hey Ethan. I have the similar issue. My wire is a 14 pink. Did you ever figure it out?

[@EthanJones-fw8kg]

@@felipemarques2378 Yes I did! Do you have the same bus?

[@TylerP823]

@@EthanJones-fw8kghow did you end up fixing your wiring? I’m having the same problem it’s a tough one to figure out!

[@holler2235]

Gus…thanks for the update on this…did you ground the front of the solenoid or side?

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Thank you! And yes it is grounded

[@GustheStruggleBus]

The side!

[@rfs54]

Hey there i hope this works for me, i bought a 2005 e-450 diesel school bus that somebodody had cut out a lot of the wiring i got taillights and all but while driving apparently the switch was bad or going bad anyhow it cut off and now it will not crank i did not even know about an interlock and just saw the sticker saying emerg door must be unlocked, so since my friend locked it before i drove it home i think that is what happened to mine is the switch came loose and now it thinks the door is locked even when it is not, i will be trying this.. thanks

[@peterkuczynski6785]

Hi Paco, I have a 2005 Thomas rear engine. I just started to remodel too. Now the bus wont start, were trying to figure out why. I think its a door inter-locka, but we haven't removed any. Only think that's changed, is we have the escape hatches open all the time. Does your bus have a inter-lock, on any of the escape hatches? Great video btw, thanks for helping the community!

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Hey Peter! I am so sorry to hear that, we did have some on the hatches but they were very simple to disconnect by just unplugging them. Let me see if I can think of anything else for you to try!

[@peterkuczynski6785]

MEREDITH and PACO ok, bus is running, it was a rear window kill switch. Man they buried these things all over this bus : )

[@felipemarques2378]

@@peterkuczynski6785 hey brother. I think we have the same bus. I’m Having issues where it’s not turning over. How did you disconnect the buzzer and have your bus turn over?

[@richardstamp2410]

Life is many times easier if you have the wiring diagrams for your bus. No need to follow the length of wires from one end to the other since International's diagrams are one of the easiest to read. Anyone that gets a bus for a skoolie project should invest in a set of diagrams for their bus - just in case. The round silver can is a constant duty relay.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

You are completely right. It would be so much easier!!

[@josierock968]

So my boyfriend ended up cutting off the back doors buzzer and then when we turned on bus the buzzing noise started and like we’ve tried grounding the wire he cut that controls the buzzing, but it doesn’t work so I’ll try this in the video I hope it works.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

O I'm sorry about that. Let us know if it works!!

[@josierock968]

@@GustheStruggleBus We found out the top hatch wasn’t closed all the way, so that’s what made the buzzing noise. But yeah me and him just cut the buzzers off.

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

I wonder if all bus models have the same start interlock design for emergency doors.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

This is a great question. Unfortunately we weren't able to find a lot of videos that had to do with the Interlock system so I can't be sure but our bus is a 2002 international. I would guess that at least all internationals would be wired this way but I wouldn't be able to confirm that LOL.

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

@@GustheStruggleBus I'll soon find out if my Thomas MVP-ER is of the same design. I probably have a schematic in my technical my digital documents. If not, I'm sure Thomas customer service will send me one. They've been terrific with questions.

[@johnclamshellsp1969]

Any bus for usage of hauling children to school must have this. Its part of the federal school bus standards. If its a private coach for private use, then no. They only need a one million dollar + insurance policy like a limousine or related livery service.

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

@@johnclamshellsp1969 I was asking if the technical design of the interlock mechanism was the same across brands. Their bus interlock function was based on the ground not being faulted when emergency doors were closed.

[@t_ravi_ous9493]

Thomas is way different than international bus, same concept you could say but SUPER different. I am an electrician turned bus mechanic and i have to say international is a pain in the ass. Thomas isn't perfect but easier to say the least. I'd love to help more people with thomas bus, as I've been a cert thomas mechanic for 3 years now at a dealership. Love the build, keep up the skoolie nation guys!!

[@danallen8173]

Maybe some busses are different but all I did was cut the wire to the door and moved on with life. Bus has always started fine.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

That is awesome, I am so glad that worked for you. Yeah busses are all different

[@maxmaas7065]

First😂

[@GustheStruggleBus]

Yay!!!

[@pamcolechadwell1302]

I wish the back of my bus would open. Our cats could be twins.

[@GustheStruggleBus]

It is nice to have that back door! Aww we love out baby, that is so funny!