ABF | Sterlings

Trucker 206

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Anybody still driving a Sterling? I've had the damndest time with the climate-control system in mine. I start losing the cool air about this time of year (easily fixed by recharging the system), but what the mechanics can't seem to fix is the air-flow issue...I can't get full air flow thru the panel vents when it's set to AC! On 'PANEL' I get full blow, but turn the dial to 'AC' and forget it...it just seems to die out. Any ideas?
 
There is a filter somewhere under the dash that gets clogged up. DCM_doc should know how to fix it.
 
Anybody still driving a Sterling? I've had the damndest time with the climate-control system in mine. I start losing the cool air about this time of year (easily fixed by recharging the system), but what the mechanics can't seem to fix is the air-flow issue...I can't get full air flow thru the panel vents when it's set to AC! On 'PANEL' I get full blow, but turn the dial to 'AC' and forget it...it just seems to die out. Any ideas?

There is an outside filter under the hood on the upper firewall above the ac condenser under the pass windshield. There is a plastic plate with two screws holding it in place. It only goes in one way. That filter collects a lot of outside dust. The inside filter is under the passenger side dash up against the pass side wall inside the cab. If you open the pass door an look under the dash against the front wall you can see it. The filter is like a piece of mess against the intake vent, the filter just snaps in. If you press in the middle of the filter you can just take it out. If either is dirty it will cut down on air flow coming out of the AC vents. I hope this helps you.
 
There is an outside filter under the hood on the upper firewall above the ac condenser under the pass windshield. There is a plastic plate with two screws holding it in place. It only goes in one way. That filter collects a lot of outside dust. The inside filter is under the passenger side dash up against the pass side wall inside the cab. If you open the pass door an look under the dash against the front wall you can see it. The filter is like a piece of mess against the intake vent, the filter just snaps in. If you press in the middle of the filter you can just take it out. If either is dirty it will cut down on air flow coming out of the AC vents. I hope this helps you.
Thanks, trux! I'll give it a try!!
 
That reminds me of those internationals that we had back in the 1990's, the fans were so weak it was un ba lievable that the ICC or the DOT even let them exist.
 
TRUX is correct on the filter locations. If you are getting flow on one position & not on another the problem is probably the blend door not operating properly. The mechanic can call the NLR shop & get the information needed. I don't know about parts though. As you probably know ABF bought the last Sterlings built in 2009. Sterling promised parts availability for 10 years but several parts like door window regulators are as hard to find as hen's teeth.
 
TRUX is correct on the filter locations. If you are getting flow on one position & not on another the problem is probably the blend door not operating properly. The mechanic can call the NLR shop & get the information needed. I don't know about parts though. As you probably know ABF bought the last Sterlings built in 2009. Sterling promised parts availability for 10 years but several parts like door window regulators are as hard to find as hen's teeth.
Time to send these sterlings to there final resting place, the crusher. These tractors are beyond a 3rd world country at my barn alone the vendor fees have to be through the roof they have at least one over there shop at all times. wise decision not to purchase equipment in 2013....
 
The mechanic can call the NLR shop & get the information needed.
:hilarious: No disrespect to you whatsoever but you need to come out and see how it works in our EOL's out here. A call to the NLR shop for help would never happen unless it was needed for the manager's vehicle. I know that the mechanics at the break bulks are amenable, conscientious workers who do their best for us but when you get to the EOL you would think that it was a different company and some things we are better off to do ourselves if we can. I removed that outer filter and threw it in the trash. I know that it then let dirt into the evaporator coil and all but at least I had some air flow for a little while.
These tractors are beyond a 3rd world country at my barn alone the vendor fees have to be through the roof they have at least one over there shop at all times.
They do have that 'Venezuela' feeling to them but it could still be cheaper to fix them than to buy new ones. I just wish that they were more comfortable to sleep in when we break down.
 
:hilarious: No disrespect to you whatsoever but you need to come out and see how it works in our EOL's out here. A call to the NLR shop for help would never happen unless it was needed for the manager's vehicle. I know that the mechanics at the break bulks are amenable, conscientious workers who do their best for us but when you get to the EOL you would think that it was a different company and some things we are better off to do ourselves if we can. I removed that outer filter and threw it in the trash. I know that it then let dirt into the evaporator coil and all but at least I had some air flow for a little while.
They do have that 'Venezuela' feeling to them but it could still be cheaper to fix them than to buy new ones. I just wish that they were more comfortable to sleep in when we break down.
A new mack costs about 96k. I would like to know the actual value of them when they reach 600.000 miles and then handed off to the eol bootlickers (city drivers)....
 
A new mack costs about 96k. I would like to know the actual value of them when they reach 600.000 miles and then handed off to the eol bootlickers (city drivers)....
I have been told that the terminals are charged little or nothing for these relics. Value would be next to nothing.
 
The company used equipment site has several Sterlings listed. Most need work so the company sells instead of making repairs. Recently several with no mechanical problems were listed at locations in California. The pre 07 units don't meet emission standards & emission reduction retrofit kits are not reliable & cost more than the tractors are worth. The fact that Sterlings & the MBE 4000 engines are no longer built makes the older Sterlings obsolete & cheap. The 2009 Sterlings had the DD13 engine which will probably be built for many years to come. Even though the engine is not obsolete like the MBE engines many cab parts are captive parts & are difficult to get. A lot of the Sterlings have several miles left so the more miles that can be squeezed out is a positive since the resale value is low.
The company bought some used Freightliners that have worked out well. They are the ones with white paint.
 
The company used equipment site has several Sterlings listed. Most need work so the company sells instead of making repairs. Recently several with no mechanical problems were listed at locations in California. The pre 07 units don't meet emission standards & emission reduction retrofit kits are not reliable & cost more than the tractors are worth. The fact that Sterlings & the MBE 4000 engines are no longer built makes the older Sterlings obsolete & cheap. The 2009 Sterlings had the DD13 engine which will probably be built for many years to come. Even though the engine is not obsolete like the MBE engines many cab parts are captive parts & are difficult to get. A lot of the Sterlings have several miles left so the more miles that can be squeezed out is a positive since the resale value is low.
The company bought some used Freightliners that have worked out well. They are the ones with white paint.
I actually don't mind driving my Sterling. I keep it fairly clean and it goes in for its PM on schedule, and any 'minor' problems get repaired by a local shop. For all 'other major repairs' it gets sent to the Breakbulk. This AC issue is recurring, and seems to surface just before the warm weather hits.
 
Actuators open & close the HVAC doors. Usually that or linkage on the doors is the problem. Sterlings have a lot of plastic in the dash & HVAC.
 
I wish they still made the Sterling, I like them better than the Freightliners.
Hah!...Brother....did you ever hear the old joke about Freightliners? "What's the difference between a Freightliner and a Jehovah's Witness? ...You can close the door on a Jehovah's Witness."

Anyone who's owned an old Fruitliner knows what I'm saying........

I noticed they put the same generic instrument cluster in the Freightliners as they did in the Sterlings.........Interesting........
 
Hah!...Brother....did you ever hear the old joke about Freightliners? "What's the difference between a Freightliner and a Jehovah's Witness? ...You can close the door on a Jehovah's Witness."

Anyone who's owned an old Fruitliner knows what I'm saying........

I noticed they put the same generic instrument cluster in the Freightliners as they did in the Sterlings.........Interesting........

Since Daimler- Benz owns Freightliner/Western Star & owned Sterling they probably buy from the same supplier. The Freightliners of today seem cheap compared to those of days gone by.
 
I just want a Mack with 300,000 or less miles on it.
 
I just want a Mack with 300,000 or less miles on it.
Just 300,000 miles? Good Grief! You'd just be taking the plastic wrapping off the seat! You'd only have maybe six or seven holes in the headliner,........instead of the traditional hundreds of holes,..like you'd get in a 700,000 miler " new" city truck......
 
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