Description

Daewoo BH116, BH117, BH120 User Manual

If you’re putting wrench to a Daewoo BH116, BH117, or BH120 and you don’t have the factory user manual within arm’s reach, you’re asking for a come-back. I’ve watched fleet mechanics chase oil-change intervals with a calendar and a prayer, then wonder why the DE12T seized at 80,000 miles. The factory document – 258 pages of Daewoo’s own engineering data – kills that guesswork. It tells you the exact km (and yes, I convert to miles on my bench) for every fluid change, valve adjustment, and filter swap. None of that aftermarket condensation that leaves out half the footnotes. This is the manual that came with the bus from the factory, and it stays with the vehicle at resale. Period.

Inspection and Maintenance Schedules – Chapter 6

The heart of this manual lives in the inspection and maintenance section starting on page 158. Daewoo lays out the service intervals in a table that’s easy to read but hard to ignore. For the DE12T engine: change oil at first 1,000 km (about 620 miles), then every 15,000 km (~9,300 miles) for highway use, or every 10,000 km (~6,200 miles) in-city. Valve clearance adjustment? First 1,000 km and every 20,000 km thereafter. Those numbers are on page 165. I keep a sticky note on that page in my copy. The fuel filter gets changed every 20,000 km – skip that and you’re buying injectors. The table also covers transmission oil, rear axle oil, and power steering filter. All factory spec, all verified by Daewoo engineers. If you follow this chart, your BH series bus will see 500,000 miles without a major teardown.

Driving Procedures: What the Manual Tells You That Your Gut Misses

Chapter 5 covers driving – sounds basic, right? Wrong. Daewoo includes specific procedures for hill starts, cold-weather operation, and using the exhaust brake. Not every driver knows that the BH120’s Manual Transmission requires a double-clutch upshift above 6th gear to avoid synchro wear. That’s on page 138. The manual also details the pre-start checklist: check air pressure, brake lights, warning lamps. I’ve seen a new driver skip that and roll off the lot with a low-air buzzer screaming. Factory documentation catches that before it becomes a tow bill.

3 Reasons to Stick With OEM Documentation

I’ve tested aftermarket manuals against factory service data on these buses. Three things separate the OEM from the pack. First, torque specs. Aftermarket reprints often omit the tightening sequence for the cylinder head on the DE12Ti. Daewoo’s manual gives the exact pattern and torque in Nm – you convert to ft-lbs yourself, but at least the spec is real. Second, wiring diagrams. The instrument and switch chapter (page 12) includes pinouts for the dash cluster and the diagnostic connector. Aftermarket manuals blur those out or redraw them with errors. Third, troubleshooting logic. Chapter 9 walks you through engine no-start, overheating, and brake-air leaks using a decision tree. No vague “check fuel system” – it lists exact pressures and voltages. That saves billable hours.

Instrument, Switches and Controls – Don’t Touch Anything Until You Read This

Page 12 launches a 120-page deep dive into every gauge, switch, and control on the BH116, BH117, and BH120. Warning lamps, wiper controls, parking brake valve, retarder switch – all labeled with part numbers and function descriptions. If a driver complains that the low-oil-pressure light flickers on right turns, you can trace the circuit straight from the manual without pulling the dash apart. This section also includes the pre-trip inspection checklist that the factory recommends before every departure. Skip that and you might miss a cracked air line that empties your tanks at highway speed.

Does This Manual Cover the Fuel System and Engine? (Yes, With Data)

The main data and specification chapter (page 235) lists engine compression ratios, injection timing, and fuel pressure specs for all three engines: DE12T, DE12Ti, DV15T, and their intercooled variants. Internal Combustion Engine theory is fine, but what matters on the workbench is that the BH117’s fuel filter interval differs from the BH120’s by 10,000 km. The manual breaks that out by model. You’ll also find the charging system voltage regulator set points and the starter motor draw limits. If you’re swapping a DE12Ti into a chassis that originally had a DV15T, cross-check the power steering filter part numbers – the manual lists them on page 176.

Scheduled Maintenance Service – Chapter 8

This is the chapter that keeps a fleet out of the shop. Chapter 8 (page 222) gives a clean, printable chart of every service at every interval. First 1,000 km, then every 10,000 or 20,000 km depending on duty cycle. I photocopy this page and laminate it for the glovebox. The chart covers engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter, valve clearance, transmission oil, rear axle oil, power steering oil and filter, and air cleaner. It also notes that any failure resulting from missing these intervals voids the warranty – Daewoo says that in bold on page 2. Don’t let a missed service kill your coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same manual the Daewoo dealer uses?

Yes, this is the factory user manual that ships with the vehicle. Dealer service departments use the same document for owner-level maintenance and basic troubleshooting.

Does it include torque specs for the cylinder head?

The main data section lists tightening torques for engine components, but you need to go to the service repair manual for the full workshop sequence. This user manual gives the critical fasteners.

Can I use this manual for the BH120 with the DV15TIS engine?

Absolutely. The manual covers all engine variants – DE12T, DE12Ti, DV15T, DE12TIS, DV15TIS. Service intervals and specifications are broken out by engine code.

What about wiring diagrams?

The instrument chapter includes basic circuit diagrams for warning lamps and switches. For comprehensive wiring, you need the separate electrical troubleshooting manual. This one shows the controls layout.

Source Authenticity – This Is the Real Thing

AutoRepairManuals carries the largest collection of OEM shop manuals in North America. This Daewoo BH116 / BH117 / BH120 User Manual is a direct digital copy of the factory publication – no reprints, no third-party redactions, no pages removed. The OCR excerpt from page 1 shows the official Daewoo service table. You get all 258 pages as a searchable PDF. I’ve bought aftermarket versions that skip the lubrication chapter or mangle the troubleshooting chart. Not here. What you access is what the assembly line workers used to sign off on each bus.

Related manuals you may need: DAEWOO BUS Important Service Activities Manual, Daewoo BUS DV11, DL08, DL06 2008 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory, Daewoo BUS DV11 DL08 GE12TI GE08TI 2004 Parts Catalog.

Access the Factory Manual now and keep your BH-series bus on the road where it belongs.