The air conditioning stops because of a faulty compressor or a leaking pipe. In a commercial vehicle this is not a comfort question: the driver spends eight to ten hours a day in the cab, and recharging the system is no solution on its own if the leak is not found. The cost of the compressor is orders of magnitude higher than a pipe: the test drive shows which one it is.
What to check
- Set the air conditioning to maximum and measure the outlet temperature
- Watch whether the compressor cycles on and off (an audible click)
- Look at the condenser in front of the radiator: damage, oil traces, corrosion