1985 Autocar: we work on any truck
If it runs diesel and needs help, we'll show up. Age is not a barrier: classic, vintage, or modern.
Mobile Bus Repair
Mobile Bus Repair in Charleston, SC. We Come to the Bus.
School bus, shuttle or church bus down in the lot or on the side of the road? We diagnose and repair diesel buses on-site, so there is no tow to a shop and no waiting in line.
- No-starts, electrical, A/C, brakes, DPF regens and Allison transmission faults
- School, shuttle, cutaway, church and transit-style diesel buses
- Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant
Buses We Work On
Diesel buses of every shape
School buses
Type C conventional and Type D transit-style buses such as the Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2, Blue Bird Vision and IC Bus CE Series, owned by private schools, daycares and churches.
Shuttle & cutaway buses
Diesel shuttles on Ford F-550, Freightliner, International and Chevrolet chassis, plus older diesel Ford E-Series cutaways, run by hotels, senior living and event operators.
Church & activity buses
Buses that sit all week and still need to start Sunday morning.
Transit-style & tour buses
Front, mid or rear-engine diesel buses used by shuttle and tour operators.
Who We Serve
Bus repair for private operators
In South Carolina, the SC Department of Education owns and maintains the public school bus fleet, and those buses are serviced through the state system. Our bus work is for everyone else: private schools, daycares, churches, shuttle companies, hotels, senior living communities and tour operators.
Most of these operators have no bus shop or mechanic on staff, and a down bus usually has a schedule attached. Because all of our work is done on-site, the bus stays put while we fix it.
Why bus operators call us
- Mobile service where the bus is parked
- 24/7 Charleston-area availability
- Testing before parts replacement
- Run by founder Joseph Cufaude, 13 years in the diesel trade
- Clear findings before the work starts
Common Bus Repairs
What we diagnose and fix at the bus
No-starts & electrical
Buses carry extra wiring for lighting, cameras, radios, stop arms and warning lights. Weak batteries, bad grounds and parasitic draws are common on buses that sit.
DPF & aftertreatment
Short routes and long idle times keep exhaust temperatures low, so the DPF loads up and regens fail. We check the sensors and DEF system and run a parked regen when the system allows it.
Air & hydraulic brakes
Larger buses often run air brakes, while cutaways and some school buses use hydraulic brakes. We handle air leaks, compressors, dryers, valves, slack adjusters and calipers.
Bus A/C
A full bus in a Charleston summer needs working air. We diagnose compressors, condenser fans, blowers, controls and leaks.
Allison transmission faults
Allison automatics are standard in many diesel school buses. We read codes and check fluid, wiring and shift behavior to find out whether a fault is electrical or internal.
PM & pre-trip items
Oil and filter service, fluids, belts, hoses, lights, tires and brake adjustment, done at your lot around your schedule.
How We Work
Built for buses that can't sit for a week
A bus that sits between trips is different from a truck that runs every day. Batteries drain and small problems wait until the day the bus is needed. We ask what the bus is doing and when it has to be back in service, then test at the bus: codes and live data, voltage and grounds, brakes, A/C pressures and transmission data.
Many repairs are finished on the first visit. When a part is needed, we confirm the failure, get the correct part and install it on-site. For wheelchair-equipped buses, we offer hydraulic lift diagnosis using the same pump, cylinder, solenoid and wiring checks we use on truck liftgates. Founder and lead technician Joseph Cufaude brings 13 years in the diesel trade to every bus we work on.
What to text us
- Year, make, chassis and engine
- Where the bus is parked or broke down
- What it is doing and when it started
- Photos of the dash and any warning lights
- When the bus is needed back in service
Bus broken down in the Charleston area?
Call or text Lowcountry Diagnostics and we'll come to the bus, day or night.
Common bus repair questions
Do you work on school buses in South Carolina?
Yes, on privately owned diesel school buses run by private schools, daycares and churches. South Carolina's public school bus fleet is owned and maintained by the SC Department of Education, so public district buses are serviced through that system.
Can you repair a bus that won't start at the lot or on the side of the road?
Yes. All of our work is done on-site, 24/7. We test the batteries, cables, grounds and starter circuit at the bus and fix the cause where it sits. If passengers are stranded, call (843) 310-0995 so we know the situation.
Can you fix bus A/C where the bus is parked?
Yes. We check refrigerant pressures, compressor engagement, condenser fans, blowers and controls on the front and rear systems. Many A/C faults are electrical or airflow problems fixed on the spot. When a compressor or other part is needed, we confirm the failure first.
What kinds of buses do you work on?
Diesel school buses (Type C conventional and Type D transit-style), shuttle and cutaway buses on Ford, Freightliner, International and Chevrolet chassis, church and activity buses, and transit-style buses. Text us the year, make and engine and we will tell you how we can help.
Request Mobile Bus Repair
Tell us where the bus is, what it is doing and when it needs to be back in service. For a bus that is broken down now, calling or texting is fastest.
Bus down right now? Call or text (843) 310-0995.
Recent Repair Photos
A look at the repairs we make
Real field photos from Lowcountry Diagnostics, from engine diagnostics and electrical to hydraulic, HVAC, and heavy-duty truck service, handled on-site across the Charleston area.
Reviews
What Charleston truck owners and fleets say
“These gentlemen are very helpful and methodical about the way they go about diagnosing your truck I recommend them”
“He stayed on top of troubleshooting and never stopped until everything was fixed.”