Air Conditioning Diagnostic and Repair Services for Light and Medium Duty Trucks

With increasingly extreme temperatures, having an air conditioning system on commercial vehicles has become the norm instead of a luxury. Just like any other mechanical system, a truck's AC is susceptible to wear and tear that can cause major problems if not properly maintained.

Quicken Truck & Trailer offers specialized commercial truck AC diagnostic and repair services to keep pickup truck drivers comfortable and alert on the road.

Components of a Commercial Vehicle Air Conditioning System

A commercial truck will have an AC system similar to a normal car's air conditioning system but on a larger scale. Understanding how the air conditioners work is the key to successful commercial truck AC repair.

Control Panel Switch

The control panel lets drivers set their ambient temperature and fan settings. Modern systems allow the driver and passenger side to create their own settings.

Evaporator

The evaporator absorbs heat from the ambient air using a specialized refrigerant. Cooling fans blow this chilled breeze through the dash vents into the vehicle cabin. As it absorbs hot air, the refrigerant heats up and needs to go into the condenser through the compressor expansion valve.

Low refrigerant is a common problem that causes inefficient cooling.

Compressor and Condenser

The compressor delivers the heated refrigerant vapor to the condenser to cool down. The condenser then cools the refrigerant through pressure and cycles it back into the evaporator coils to ensure an even flow of cold air.

Receiver-Dryer

This component takes moisture out of the AC system by using a desiccant. Excess moisture can be disastrous, especially if it gets into the compressor or condenser.

The components work together to create a complex system, which is why professional AC diagnosis is essential to identifying and repairing faults.

Why Your Air Conditioner Needs Maintenance

AC systems use motors and fans to keep cool air flowing, which are subject to wear and tear. Most AV systems also have filters to keep dust, pollen, and other particulates out of the system and drivers healthy.

Regular maintenance replaces worn parts before they break and ensures optimal AC performance. Ignoring your truck's AC maintenance schedule is one of the most common causes of breakdowns and expensive repairs that can take a truck off the road for days.

Signs of Failing Air Conditioning Systems

The following are common signs that your commercial trucks need professional AC diagnosis and potential repair:

• AC fails to produce significantly cooler temperatures
• Strange smells, such as mildew and damp, coming from the AC vents
• The AC only functions while driving
• The defroster doesn't work
• Fan settings don't impact airflow