new truck
- Thread starter bambam
- Start date
Doggie Daddy
Veteran Expediter
I hope she doesn't think that changing from a Frieghtliner to an International is going elimanate all of the mechanical problems.DD.
We had the same problems with our first Frieghtliner str8 truck...in 1 yr we went through 13 a/c condensors, 2 egr valves and cooler, a clutch plate, 2 wiring harnesses, and and several other little "glitches". We've been in the same type truck, just with a bigger sleeper now for over 120,000 since july 06 and haven't encountered but 2 condensor problems and it freezing up during wet weather...and a resistor change fixed that.
good luck in the new truck
good luck in the new truck
Interesting as guys at my last company are all getting out of the Int'ls due to the problems and going to FLs. The biggest complaint from both though is the cost of the shop labour ($112/hr) and the shops not fixing the problems on the first visit (both brands). Many have left the dealers for the independant mechanics.
Rob Fis
Rob Fis
greg334
Veteran Expediter
This is not to slam anyone please understand that.
I understand most people who drive are not mechanically inclined but I really think that every driver should know not only how to operate the truck as much as know what componets are what outside of a tire or light bulb.
I read that one team went through 13 condensors, sorry after the second one, I would have been screaming - there is little reason why. I mean I have a condensor problem on our caravan which I refuse to fix but I can't remember when I had more than two condensors replaced on 40 vehicles I so far owned that had A/C. As a fleet manager with every car having A/C and a fleet size of 200 cars at times over 300, we went through maybe 5 condensors a year, most of them due to the idiots hitting parking stoppers really hard and ripping the bottom of the condensor. The neons were the worst, the fords the best. The dodge trucks we had didn't out live the fords thinking about it. but I digress, the point is that 13 is way too many and even two is unless you are following behind a gravel truck at ten feet while they are spraying rocks at your truck.
Condensor freezing?
Which brings me to another story, I stopped to help someone out in another expediter truck (nice KW with a n14 in it). The truck was on the side of the road with the hood up and the driver was going side by side like he was about to deliver a baby when I was passing him. I backed up and got out, said hi to the driver and he told me that he was dumbfounded why the truck just died. He already called a tow truck to get it to the nearest shop and while I was talking to him, I asked him 'did you check the oil lately?'. He looked at me in disbelief and said 'I just got the truck about a month ago and haven't got around to it.' 'Oh'I said in a surprised way as I pulled the dip stick out and there was no oil on it, 'you know that these engines shut down with no oil in them?'. So I am asked him when it died, what did it do. He replied that a light went on with a buzzing noise and he hesitated than added it has done that a few times in the last week. The nice guy I am explained to him in the 105 degree desret that the engine needs oil and you need to check it every day. I asked him how much money does he have in cash and I told him I have 8 gallons of Mobile one oil I will sell him at cost ($320), so thats what I did sold him the oil. The thing took every drop of oil and just started to appear on the stick, which means it was about 10 gallons low. I told him try starting it up and of course it did start. I had him shut it down and than told him to check the oil and do you believe he could not figure out the add and full line on the stick? I gave up and told him go get the oil changed and a mechanic check it out as soon as possible - don't haul anything with this truck until then. Got into my truck and left.
Well anyway... maybe I should become a roving mechanic for A/C problems?
I understand most people who drive are not mechanically inclined but I really think that every driver should know not only how to operate the truck as much as know what componets are what outside of a tire or light bulb.
I read that one team went through 13 condensors, sorry after the second one, I would have been screaming - there is little reason why. I mean I have a condensor problem on our caravan which I refuse to fix but I can't remember when I had more than two condensors replaced on 40 vehicles I so far owned that had A/C. As a fleet manager with every car having A/C and a fleet size of 200 cars at times over 300, we went through maybe 5 condensors a year, most of them due to the idiots hitting parking stoppers really hard and ripping the bottom of the condensor. The neons were the worst, the fords the best. The dodge trucks we had didn't out live the fords thinking about it. but I digress, the point is that 13 is way too many and even two is unless you are following behind a gravel truck at ten feet while they are spraying rocks at your truck.
Condensor freezing?
Which brings me to another story, I stopped to help someone out in another expediter truck (nice KW with a n14 in it). The truck was on the side of the road with the hood up and the driver was going side by side like he was about to deliver a baby when I was passing him. I backed up and got out, said hi to the driver and he told me that he was dumbfounded why the truck just died. He already called a tow truck to get it to the nearest shop and while I was talking to him, I asked him 'did you check the oil lately?'. He looked at me in disbelief and said 'I just got the truck about a month ago and haven't got around to it.' 'Oh'I said in a surprised way as I pulled the dip stick out and there was no oil on it, 'you know that these engines shut down with no oil in them?'. So I am asked him when it died, what did it do. He replied that a light went on with a buzzing noise and he hesitated than added it has done that a few times in the last week. The nice guy I am explained to him in the 105 degree desret that the engine needs oil and you need to check it every day. I asked him how much money does he have in cash and I told him I have 8 gallons of Mobile one oil I will sell him at cost ($320), so thats what I did sold him the oil. The thing took every drop of oil and just started to appear on the stick, which means it was about 10 gallons low. I told him try starting it up and of course it did start. I had him shut it down and than told him to check the oil and do you believe he could not figure out the add and full line on the stick? I gave up and told him go get the oil changed and a mechanic check it out as soon as possible - don't haul anything with this truck until then. Got into my truck and left.
Well anyway... maybe I should become a roving mechanic for A/C problems?
yea, we did go through 13 of them...some broke after 1 week, some took a month...but when you speak of cars and compare them to a str8 truck, that is an apple-orange comparison...there is no getting out of repairing it as the freightliner Mercedes engine, while idling, DEPENDS upon the a/c system to keep the temp normal. the pics below show the part that continued to break due to a poor design and due to that...there was a national shortage on this part. there is no possible way to hit a parking stub, not that you were implying I did, and also not possible for it to be hit with anything that frequently in the same spot every time. it was just a poorly reinforced bend in the tubing and almost every truck my fleet owner had went through this same problem.
tom tinker
Expert Expediter
Would it help to put rabbit wire, what we put on bottom of rabbit cage?? Wire with squares 1/4/ to 3/8 so air could flow good, and keep other projectiles from damaging condenser. Pictures sure nice for show and tell.
Hurrier I go the be hinder you get! Tom Tinker
Hurrier I go the be hinder you get! Tom Tinker