Wait for it ... interior comfort edition.
Posted by bitumin_aria@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 42 comments
We got assigned a '24 Frightliner Cascadia and the interior comfort system, as you may know, waits until Satan's asshole makes an appearance before turning on. I was tired of tiddytwisting the knobs until she blew cold air so I went hunting for the interior thermometer that controlled it all. Give this little nubbin some attention, and you'll have your AC kicking on again faster. (I bet using an ice pack in winter will turn the heat on.)
Brother_Trucker@reddit
Just a quick question; are you unable to turn off "Optimized Idle"?
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
I wish we could without catching some hell.
Brother_Trucker@reddit
Is it not accessible via the button on your steering wheel? On my Cascadia, there's a button, far-right, on my steering wheel. Kinda looks like the old "minimize window" button from a PC. It scrolls through several settings screens on my dash. One screen is the "Optimized Idle." In my truck, it's off by default.
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Oh my bad, I probably misread your first message. We COULD, but the entire shuts off, leaving us without AC at all. And we're not allowed to touch the engine shutdown override button.
Brother_Trucker@reddit
If you use the engine idle adjust, does that change anything? Or does it still just shut off after a little bit? What if somebody presses down on the gas pedal a little bit? Does that do anything?
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Gas pedal stops it from the auto shutoff, but I'll have to check idle adjust today in some delightful Utah heat if thats something we can so. Honestly, it's acting like central air automatically turning itself off and on if that makes sense.
Brother_Trucker@reddit
If your truck doesn't shut off when the gas pedal is held in place, you can use a hood prop to hold it down. Stick one end of the hood prop on the seat, and the other end of the hood prop on the accelerator pedal.
hotdog11inch@reddit
Get you one of those lights that are bendable and put it as close to the thermometer as you can get it and the heat from the light will keep it going
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Here, take my upvote!
istillhatesteve@reddit
Is there a reason you've got the thermostat set at "box fan in the window during June" instead of locked down on "Artic Blast?" It misbehaving too? Very cool trick, regardless.
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Hoth cold is actually TOO cold for us, and causes more frequent regens. It also was a tolerably-cool morning today.
istillhatesteve@reddit
Wasn't exaggerating when I called it "Artic Blast." And I'm usually the one saying it's too hot!
My slow self was thinking it would be better for the demo but having it set lower, where the temperature needs to be higher for it to come on, is a better test. Don't pay me any attention!
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Absolutely zero worries! I grew up without AC in New England, so "too hot" is so valid when we've been in Idaho and Arizona in the last few months. But you raised a great point! I wonder what the threshold is for turning heat on during summer as well. 🤔
randyaldous@reddit
An incandescent light will work better than an LED fot this, by the way.
TacoRedneck@reddit
Or yank the thermometer out of the socket and stick it on a candle warmer
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
You is so smart!
GroundbreakingEar450@reddit
Not really. They have the thermostat set too high. It would fuckingbget colder and run longer if they'd turn down the god damn thermostat.
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Awww thankya, doll!
Rambler330@reddit
Turn the thermostat down.
GroundbreakingEar450@reddit
No shit. I was looking at it like, it's not all the way down on the cool side.
Adept-Lettuce948@reddit
Was that the engine or APU that kicked in?
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Wholeass engine/optimized idle, no APU on board.
Aromatic-Scratch3481@reddit
Switchbot. They're $30. Mount it above the override button on the dash. Set custom setting to every minute if you don't wanna hear the dash beep but need a new battery every 3 weeks or every 4 min and need a new battery like every 6
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
Oh, the "you'll get fired for touching this" button! Yeaaaahhhh, we WOULD but ...
firemarshalbill316@reddit
Your AC is set at nearly the middle. It isn't supposed to come on. Unless of course that is broken too. Which is a high probability. 😂
bitumin_aria@reddit (OP)
I responded why it hadn't been set to Hoth above but it gets WAY too cold for us at that temperature.
Always_Shifting_4459@reddit
Homey dont play this set up either. 2014 389 Pete. No need for thermometer in my sleeper. It just blows so hard and cold even gallon jugs of water on the floor get cold 🤣
firemarshalbill316@reddit
Haha 😂😆😂😆😆
wukillabee2744@reddit
Or you can turn down the control a cpl clicks & it will turn on. The fuck..?
JOliverScott@reddit
Push the snowflake button and it should run or start the engine if necessary.
illdoitlaterokay@reddit
AC IS FOR THE WEAK oh wait. yeah do that.
JOliverScott@reddit
That's why the button has a snowflake!!
voicareason@reddit
8 battery epu/apu for the win. I hate opti idle with a passion that borders on the words opti idle being a slur to me.
Red-Dog-Run@reddit
Walmart... Hand warmer. I use them on the exterior thermometer too.
mrockracing@reddit
I used hand warmers for this. In the International LT, you can use a lighter in the mirror to keep the thing running indefinitely. The Cascadia's will auto shut-off no matter what you do with them.
Public_Attention7@reddit
But don't you have the settings at like light cool and low blow? Shouldn't you turn the cool all the way cold ?
GhostlyCannibal94@reddit
Playing all these games for comfort is why I'll never work for a company that doesn't use APUs.
Songgeek@reddit
This is where even if I’m a company guy I’ll spend my 34 looking for a way to open that truck up and disconnect that fuse, or I’ll find a shop and pay someone my whole check just to plug in and program that shit off
FileCareless@reddit
That’s definitely weird I have the same setup but definitely have zero problems like that. My AC stays on whatever put it at.
Knexcluther@reddit
I will never work for a company that micromanages comforts for drivers like AC.
WhoTFsaidthis@reddit
I wish all drivers were like this. Why tf would anyone allow these companies to dictate their comfort for a BE paycheck anyway.
Snappingslapping@reddit
I'm more than happy to provide lovin' to nubbins 😜🔥