Bluebird VISION 2011 User manual

10013333
2011 BBCV DRIVERS HANDBOOK
10013333
BBCV
BLUE BIRD VISION
2011

10013333
Revision B

VISION D R I V ERSHANDB O O K
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© 2010 Blue Bird Corporation. All rights reserved.
All Blue Bird products sold for use in the United States of America and its insular areas comply with all applicable Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and applicable Federal ADA requirements.
Many of the components of Blue Bird buses are obtained from outside suppliers. Where maintenance and/or service information
conflicts with the component manufacturer’s documentation, the manufacturer’s documentation prevails.
In the event of any conflict between the requirements of this publication and any applicable legal requirement, the legal require-
ment prevails. Technical requirements that exceed the legal requirements are not considered to conflict.
Blue Bird Corporation continually endeavors to improve its products and reserves the right to change without notice. Text, illustra-
tions, and specifications in this manual are based on information available at the time of printing.

CONTENTS
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Introduction / 7
Blue Bird Authorized Dealers / 8
Blue Bird School Bus Support / 8
Blue Bird School Bus Training / 8
Blue Bird Parts Sales / 8
Blue Bird Technical Publications / 8
Blue Bird Bus Warranty / 9
Reporting Safety Defects / 9
Driver Certification / 9
About 2010 Emissions Standards / 10
Regarding Modifications / 11
About This Driver’s Handbook / 12
Safety Precautions / 12
Scope and Content / 12
General Specication, Chassis / 13
General Specification, Chassis / 13
Alternator / 13
Axle & Suspension, Front / 13
Axle & Suspension, Rear / 13
Batteries / 13
Braking System / 13
Bumpers / 14
Controls / 14
Cooling System / 14
Drive Line / 14
Engines / 14
Intake / 15
Exhaust / 15
Frame, Chassis / 15
Fuel System / 15
Horn / 16
Instruments / Gauges / 16
Steering / 16
Tires / 16
Tow Hooks / 16
Transmission / 16
Wheels / 16
Wiring / 16
General Specification, Body / 17
Panels & Compartments / 17
Emergency Doors / 17
Entrance Doors / 17
Electrical / 17
Fans (optional) / 17
Floor / 18
Heater/Defroster / 18
Insulation / 18
Lettering / 18
Lights / 18
Mirrors / 19
Paint / 19
Panels, Exterior / 20
Panels, Interior / 20
Reflectors / 20
Rubrails / 21
Safety Equipment / 21
Seats / 21
Stepwell / 21
Stop Arm, Crossing Arm / 21
Sun Visor / 21
Switch Panel / 22
Ventilation / 22
Windows / 22
Windshield / 22
Windshield Wipers / 22
Wiring / 22
Dimensions / 23

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Driver Orientation / 25
Driver Orientation / 25
Emergency Equipment Locations / 25
First Aid Kit / 25
Body Fluids Clean-up Kit / 25
Fire Extinguisher / 25
Triangular Roadside Hazard Reflector Kit / 25
Flare Kit / 26
Fire Axe and Crowbar / 26
Driver’s Area / 27
Left Switch Console / 28
Radio Switch Panel / 29
Upper Left Switch Panel / 30
Heater Control Panel / 31
Lower Left Switch Panel / 32
Right Console Switch Panel / 34
Driver’s Instrument Panel / 35
Instrument Cluster / 36
Message Display Center / 37
Warning Bank Indicators / 38
Set the Clock / 40
Dimmer Adjustment / 40
Contrast Adjustment / 41
Backlight Color Adjustment / 41
Heat and Air Controls / 42
Heater Valve Lever / 43
Heater FIlter Panel / 43
Steering Column / 44
Steering Wheel Position / 44
Left Switch Stalk / 44
Right Switch Stalk / 44
Cruise Control / 44
Parking Brake, Units With Air Brakes / 46
Parking Brake, Units With Hydraulic Brakes / 47
Driver’s Seat, Standard / 48
Driver Lap & Shoulder Belt / 48
Driver’s Seat, Air / 50
Driver Lap & Shoulder Belt / 50
Interior Compartments / 52
Passenger Seats / 54
Passenger Area Heaters / 55
Passenger Windows / 56
Emergency Exits / 57
Rear Emergency Door / 57
Vandal Lock / 57
Emergency Pushout Windows / 58
Emergency Roof Hatch / 59
Entrance Door Emergency Release / 60
Exterior Compartments / 61
Engine Compartment / 61
Battery Compartment / 62
Fuel Filler / 62
Hazard Rating (NFPA/HMIS) / 63
Keeping Your Bus Looking New / 63
Rating Scale / 63
Wax / 64
Bus Downtime Treatment / 64
Product Identification Information / 66
Federal Vehicle Certification Plate / 66
Axle Record and Chassis Service Number Plate / 66
Body Serial Number and Service Number Plate / 66
Data Plates Reference / 67
Pre-Trip Inspection / 69
Before Placing the Bus in Service / 69
Daily Pretrip Inspection / 69
Exterior Walkaround / 69
Entrance Area Inspection / 72
Engine Compartment Inspection / 73
Instrumentation & Driver’s Alert Checks / 75
Exterior Lights Check / 76
Passenger Area Inspection / 77
Emergency Equipment Check / 77
Prepare For Driveaway / 78
Mirrors and Mirrors Adjustment / 79

5
Routine Operation / 81
Routine Operation / 81
Maneuvering Safety / 81
Prior to Starting the Engine / 82
Starting the Engine / 82
High Idle Function / 83
Engine Cooling System / 84
Coolant Types / 84
Coolant Testing and Replacement / 85
Service Brakes / 87
About Hydraulic Brakes / 87
Parking Brake (With Hydraulic Brakes) / 88
About Air Brakes / 89
Parking Brakes (With Air Brakes) / 89
Parking / 90
Allison Automatic Transmissions / 91
Allison Model 2000 Bus Series Transmission / 91
Allison 2000 Bus Series Transmission Gear Selection / 92
Allison Model 3000 Bus Series Transmission / 93
Allison Model 3000 Bus Series Transmission Gear Selection / 93
Range Inhibit Feature / 94
Allison Automatic Transmission Driving Tips / 95
Electric Retarder (If Equipped) / 96
Transmission Indicator Lights / 97
Exhaust System / 98
DPF Regeneration In Blue Bird Buses / 99
Aftertreatment Terms / 99
Levels of Notification / 100
Stationary Regeneration Precautions / 103
SCR System in Blue Bird Buses / 104
DEF Levels of Priority Notification / 105
General Propane Tank Filling Procedures / 107
Propane Powered Motor Vehicle Filling Procedures / 108
Enroute Emergencies / 111
Enroute Emergencies / 111
Using Triangular Hazard Reflectors / 111
Using Booster Cables / 112
Starting Problems / 113
Jacking and Towing / 114
Jack Points / 114
Towing / 114
Air Tank Schrader Valve / 116
Scheduled Maintenance / 117
Scheduled Maintenance / 117
Fluids & Filters / 118
Maintenance Task Schedule / 120

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INTRODUCTION
7
We at Blue Bird Corporation wish to thank you for your investment of trust
in Blue Bird quality, and congratulate you on being a Driver of one of the
most innovative vehicles in pupil transportation; the Blue Bird Vision.
Blue Bird Strength; Blue Bird Innovation
The BLUE BIRD VISION is the first C-Type (“conventional”) school bus built upon a chas-
sis designed specifically for pupil transporation, rather than mounted upon a multi-
purpose truck chassis. The VISION’S chassis is purpose-built at Blue Bird’s Fort Valley,
Georgia plant, as are Blue Bird’s ALL AMERICAN transit-type buses and the VISION’s C-
Type “little brother,” the EC72.
The BLUE BIRD VISION, with its and ALL AMERICAN FE and RE siblings, comprise a com-
plete line of built-from-the-ground-up buses, providing an ideal fit for any school
route need.
Unlike most “conventional” type school buses, the VISION is anything but “ordi-
nary.”The VISION is the result of Blue Bird’s steadily innovative engineering and over
85 years of school bus experience, applied to the C-Type category.
What kind of innovation? For 2008, the VISION receives a handsome new engine
hood mounted to a rugged torsion pivot mount. Opening and closing the hood is
a light-as-a-feather breeze. Yet this new engine hood sacrifices none of the VISION’s
legendary field-of-view.
The Driver’s area has received multiple improvements for 2011 you are sure to
enjoy. An all new dash houses the new instrument cluster and also provides a built-in
glove box.The instrument cluster includes a major new features: the Message Display
Center with on-board diagnostics. This is a large LCD panel which provides you and
your service technician access to a wide array of system information. The infinitely-
adjustable steering column is also new, providing quick and easy adjustment.
Of course, there are myriad other technical technical refinements “under the
hood”with which the Driver may never interact directly; but which nonetheless con-
tribute to an overall improved operating and ownership experience.
Built to purpose. Built to last. Built to bring to your operation a new level of value,
efficiency, and rugged reliability.
h Y
…n ngrlis!

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Backed By Blue Bird
Blue Bird provides all the behind-the-scenes support you depend upon for success in
your school transportation operation:
Blue Bird Authorized Dealers
Blue Bird administers its full range of Customer Services through a nationwide
network of local or regional Blue Bird Authorized Dealers. The Dealer through
whom your bus was purchased should always be your first point of contact for
information and assistance. Contact information for your dealer is located on
the back cover of this manual.
Blue Bird School Bus Support
Your Blue Bird Dealer is equipped and staffed to handle your service-related
issues, and also has immediate and direct access to Blue Bird’s own factory-
based Customer Support. All Blue Bird Support Representatives are true Blue
Bird technical experts with long histories at the Blue Bird plants where your
buses are built.
Blue Bird School Bus Training
The Training staff of Blue Bird Technical Comunications conducts an ongoing
program of Field Service, Factory Service, and Focussed Training classes and
seminars, to ensure that service technicians of Dealers are always up-to-date
on the latest service information and techniques. Some of these training classes
are open to the service personnel of customers.
Blue Bird Parts Sales
Blue Bird’s modern Service Parts facility ships parts directly to Blue Bird Autho-
rized Dealers and Blue Bird Bus Spec and Bus Care centers nationwide. Blue Bird
Parts Sales consists of modern warehousing facilities, efficient ordering and
inventory control systems, and expert technical staff who know your bus in-
side and out. Service Parts also publishes its own parts catalogs, available for
customer purchase.
Blue Bird Technical Publications
Blue Bird Driver’s Handbooks and Service Manuals are produced and continu-
ally updated by a full-time in-house staff with full access to manufacturing as-
sembly lines and Blue Bird Engineering. Additional manuals are available for
purchase through your Blue Bird Authorized Dealer.