12/14/2020
INTRODUCTION
Practically all motor coach operators will agree that air conditioning problems will draw more complaints than most anything else that can happen to a coach other than simply being broke down beside the highway with not even a McDonald’s in sight. Not many places are more uncomfortable than a bus with the AC out. A load of irate passengers on a hot, humid summer day is every coach operators nightmare! Some say that air conditioning system maintenance is the greatest challenge facing bus mechanics. That statement is the result of far too many owners, operators and mechanics simply not understanding the system, and waiting for it to break before doing any maintenance.
We've seen it all: the coach with the burned out condenser motor because the brushes had never been replaced, the Prevost that came in with 34 pounds TOO MUCH R134A; we don't mean 34 pounds in the system, we mean 34 pounds MORE THAN it's supposed to hold! We repaired the almost-new Dina that drove all the way from Dallas, TX to our shop in Stockbridge (Atlanta) GA with no AC, because of a ground wire pulled out of its terminal. . . the owner-operator was not happy; he had sent another bus from Atlanta to Dallas to work the trip. I think he'd rather we had charged him for a compressor, a tank of refrigerant, a drier, labor etc. and not told him about that one wire!
We met the operator whose condenser motor went out, and he bought bags of ice and packed all he could get behind the condenser trying to keep it cool. It worked about five minutes. . . We saw the bus that came in on a 95 deg. day with the evaporator coil frozen solid because the water valves were closed, and the unloaders not set right on the compressor. We see condenser coils rotted away that should have been replaced five years earlier, motors hooked up and running backwards, blower wheels reversed, condenser fans blades upside down. . . you name it, we've seen it! The only good thing about all this is the lessons we learned, that you don't have to repeat. Along with these, we see many good operators that maintain their coaches and seldom have a failure: if you want to, and put forth a reasonable effort, you can do it too!
With a reasonable effort, you can understand the air conditioningprocess and you can maintain the system to the point it will be dependable, the coach comfortable, and your clientele happy! You don't need to be an Einstein to understand how it works, a genius to perform maintenance and repairs, nor a banker to afford the upkeep it requires. The greatest asset you need is simply the desire and willingness to put forth a reasonable amount of effort to know how it works, and by using ordinary handtools, a vacuum pump, a gauge set, and some basic understanding, you can be successful. Most all modern coaches have adequate cooling capacity when maintained properly, the systems are dependable and will make the trip to and from your destination with AC working. Make a good effort toward your coach A/C, and you will be rewarded with happy fare-paying passengers, ready to go again and recommend you to others.
This book will help you understand air conditioning, it will show you how every component works, its importance and how to maintain it. We will do so without boring you with highly technical terms, you won't have to learn any big words, and won't expect you to have a college degree in science or engineering. Following our instructions may get your hands dirty occasionally, but you will be rewarded with a coach that's cooling right, and passengers that will appreciate you and return for another trip. The net result will cost you far less by doing it right, and you will be rewarded with dependable service from your equipment also.
We’ve learned the hard way most of the things in this book, we know they work, and when you read something that you’ve done different in the past, keep an open mind; we may be on to something, try it once, and if it works, good, if not, let us know about it. If you know a better way, let us hear from you. We’re still learning too, and want to pass on information that’s good for you as a motor coach operator and technician. It’s also our goal to help supply you with all the things you need in maintaining your coach AC system. And with the sale goes the help you need to get it done right, so call any time, we’ll help if we can.
