SPQ2014

Re-learned how to find a short this week... Had to stare blankly at my meter until it came back to me. Haven't needed to find many shorts recently. Working with Travis helped me out because he remembered some things I didn't. Got all of the lamp boards done and did the shorted boards as well as the fan motor boards. Did the 101 electrical self test too.

Well, a 1/4 steel plate can look nice but it takes some time with a 9" grinder.

Used Cummins EDS to diagnose a regen problem on a LTI truck on Saturday. They had changed the EGR valve but were still having problems and found the EGR differential pressure sensor had failed.

Week: 50 hours

Winter 2014

Been doing some clean work lately... Fenders and lights on a 2015 Kenworth

Air solenoid valve for the interlock on a Volvo shorted out and kept blowing the fuse

ProStar was reading out on the speedometer while parked. Found the ECM harness rubbed on the ECM mounting bracket

I got a new tool box so now I have room to lay all of my tools out

Refer Training

I'm currently sitting in PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor waiting for my flight out at 6:40... They flew me out here for an Idealease Transport Refrigeration class. It's based on ThermoKing and Carrier's two week training programs and then condensed down into a 4 day class for Idealease. I took the test for my Universal/608 certification allowing me to legally work on any refrigeration system not covered by EPA 609 (Automotive A/C systems). I've never learned that much in 4 days before... Time to go home.

We currently do no work on trailer refer unit's at all and are not even set up to recover R-404A and I'll be the only one that can even legally touch a refer unit. It looks like we're going to get into refer service (or at least our leasing side will be) and they must be confident that they'll have work because they dropped over $3,000 for me to go to this class.

Learned quite a bit and I can honestly say that I think I could solve most anything wrong with a ThermoKing unit now. The electrical systems are simple and the wiring schematic is well laid out. LED indicators in the circuit board, self diagnostic abilities are amazing... I can shut the unit down and command individual solenoids and functions to cycle for up to 15 minutes. They put highway trucks to shame for diagnostic functions. Going into this I didn't know hardly anything about even a basic A/C system and now I actually understand how and why they work.

I was surprised that only 4 people were in the class (This is for the entire western sea board) but at the same time I think I learned a lot more that way.

Last two weeks: 80 hours

WQ2014

Started training on the laptops in the shop this week. Did a DPF differential pressure test using cummins Insite and then pulled up a print out for a customer on a wheel speed sensor.

Been doing a lot of online courses this week too.

... and it looks like I may be flying to Phoenix for an Idealease training class on trailer refrigeration. We hired a UTI grad so I've been bumped up the ranks a bit and am doing some diagnostic work now! He's on the Tues.-Sat. shift with me making me experienced tech on Saturdays (I'll be doing all the service calls etc...) since Jim is the lead on Saturdays he spends most of the day on the phone.

Week: 45

More light!

Because seeing is everything... $94 for the headlamp and $78 for the batteries and charger. Worth every penny at 1020 lumens. For comparison the Streamlight Stinger that everyone loves is 640 lumens.

WQ2014

Went on a service call for the first time on Saturday. A Schneider National driver had been parked overnight waiting for IK truck repair to come back but could not raise them on the phone and finally called us out at 9 am. The spring brake valve was routing all the air into the service side through the anti-compounding hose. When I arrived the hose was crimped off at the valve but the service side was left open. IK wanted the driver to follow him back to the shop like that (Uh'... No service brakes!) but the driver said no because he runs electronic logs and couldn't leave his route.

I pulled the valve off and headed back to the shop to match it up. Parts guy be like, "we don't stock those". We carry a Sealco replacement valve that matches up to the SR-5 Bendix but I was hoping to not have to re-plumb the back of the trailer to make a different valve work. I found an SR-4 in the parts room which looks almost identical to an SR-5 valve minus a drilled hole in the flange. Smart phone to the rescue to see if it was compatible... The answer ended up being no. The Bendix website crashes all of our computers at work but runs fine on my phone and I was able to find some information.

An SR-5 uses an external reservoir supply hose and the tractor's supply to release the spring brakes as FMVSS 121 doesn't require the trailer reservoir to supply air to the spring brakes anymore.

An SR-4 uses an internal passage to supply air to the trailer reservoir but uses the trailer's supply to release the spring brakes.

Alright well I guess I'm stuck using the Sealco and ended up having to reroute some hoses under the trailer http://www.sealcocvp.com/tech/sbv/techvlv05.htm

Week: 42 hours

WQ2014

I'm not sure I'm too keen on pulling doubles into the shop... I can put a 53' anywhere I want it but these are just ridiculous.

Well I guess I won't be doing it that way next time. According to Eaton and everyone I've asked that was the right way to take the input shaft out but I dunno about this.

Did some A/C work for the first time. That was a steep learning curve... Hey, go change the leaking a/c compressor! Okay then.

Changed a trans filter on an Allison and couldn't get it to communicate with the laptop to reset the indicator. The foreman, our engine tech, and an hour later we switched USB plugs on the computer and it worked fine.

And then there's this stupid stuff. Had to pick up a set of chains for my truck to make it to the main roads. 2wd and snow drifts don't really mix well.

Week: 40 hours