"Dash" A/C problems--

MikeandClaudia · 11-20-2010, 07:38 PM

Had an interesting situation arise.

I noticed that the voltage gauge was down to about 9 volts as I was driving across Kansas. As we were only about 20 miles from the Corps project we were headed to for the night, I monitored it and crossed my fingers.

We got about 100 yards from the entrance when it gave up the ghost. I started the generator and got out the battery charger. After charging it for about 30 minutes, we started it up and managed to pull in to a site.

When I got to checking it, the serpentine belt we gone except for about 3 1' pieces. Thank goodness I had one I had bought a couple of years ago. Got it out and began installing it. I noticed on the a/c compressor the "dog" where the bolt holds it on at the 10 o'clock position was cracked, which allowed the compressor to tilt down, which forced the belt against the main bottom pulley which had apparently caused it to eat the belt up.

I checked it as we drove along and, although the edge of the belt became slightly frayed, it was holding. We stopped in OK City and checked with Freightliner. They said to pull it in and leave it, and they could get to it in a week or so.

I bought a spare belt "just in case" and proceeded on to Amarillo, my destination.

I got "my" mechanic to look at it and he said that the bolts appeared to be tight, but there just didn't appear to be good engineering in the support of the part.

Fortunately it was covered under an extended warranty.

Over and above, he put in an extra 1/4" x 1" x 8" brace from the 4 o'clock lug of the compressor going down to the block, which should help support it better.

The moral of the story is--here is yet again something to periodically check. Make sure the bolts are tight, check the mounting dogs on the compressor, and see if you think an extra support would be warranted on your rig.

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Now: I need some help: As he went to put in the coolant, we couldn't find the stipulated pressure. He couldn't check the sight glass, because it is so far under the "dash" that he couldn't see it, even with a mirror.

Thinking you in advance!

This is a 1999 DSDP on a Freightliner chassis with a 300 HP cat engine.