Air Conditioning system malfunctions

[Nabi60SFW9620]

What is CTAs policy in the event the AC system malfunctions? Do they take the bus out of service immediately? Or do they keep in in service until they can take it out of service? Or do they just have everyone manage with the windows open?

[Busjack]

What is CTAs policy in the event the AC system malfunctions? Do they take the bus out of service immediately? Or do they keep in in service until they can take it out of service? Or do they just have everyone manage with the windows open?

Don't know their current policy, but the reason sliding windows were retrofitted in the New Looks, and transom windows were put in the L cars was the last.

This is a rather strange day for that question, anyway (although last Thursday would have been stranger).

[artthouwill]

Don't know their current policy, but the reason sliding windows were retrofitted in the New Looks, and transom windows were put in the L cars was the last.

This is a rather strange day for that question, anyway (although last Thursday would have been stranger).

I thought everyone knew that CTA's air conditioning system works best in winter!!! I remember how well they worked in the 6000 L cars.

[Busjack]

I thought everyone knew that CTA's air conditioning system works best in winter!!! I remember how well they worked in the 6000 L cars.

Which, except for apparently one, didn't have them, but I sure froze my feet any time the doors opened on the trip from Loyola to downtown.

[Nabi60SFW9620]

I know many TAs handle HVAC malfunctions different ways. I know Baltimore. When the AC fails if the bus has the large sliding windows then most cases they depend on having all windows open. Unless the supervisor decides to send a replacement which only happens in the event they have enough buses available. But with the new buses. Both 08001-08030 and 09001-09100. They have to be switched out when the AC system fails due to the fact they have the transom windows instead of the sliding windows. And SEPTA. I was once on a SEPTA bus with a malfunctioned AC and the worse part. The windows on their entire fleet do not open. So there was definetely no air circulation. Only ventilation from the roof hatches. And Im sure CTA has encountered HVAC malfunctions on many of their buses. As well as every TA in the nation. But different TAs handle that different ways. I am glad I never encountered an HVAC malfunction in DC on a hot summer day. But Im sure they have had them happen in the past.

[BusHunter]

What is CTAs policy in the event the AC system malfunctions? Do they take the bus out of service immediately? Or do they keep in in service until they can take it out of service? Or do they just have everyone manage with the windows open?

Alot of different things can happen. Most of the older sliding windows have a window lock on them that can be opened or closed by a hex screw. Normally all windows are locked. A driver can call in the bus as hot and someone will unscrew the windows for you to ventalate the bus. If the problem is more serious with the driver like there too hot to continue then they could get a bus, but in most instances you end up working with the hot bus, especially in rush hour when they are low on replacements. That's why in the summer you see drivers with pitchers of water. It nice to stay hydrated while you work. Back before the Flx #5300's and #4400's rehab the buses were mostly not air conditioned except for the artic #7100's and #7000's. You would see the water more often then, because it was like an everyday thing with the hot buses. Most buses nowadays have working AC, unless you get a #6000 which you may not. (50/50) So it's not as bad a problem as it used to be.

[Nabi60SFW9620]

Im hoping the screws to lock the windows are the same type as a typical screw. If so anyone can unscrew the locks to be able to open the windows. I read Pittsburgh PAT also is known to lock the windows. I dont know about WMATA but I know Baltimore MTA never does with both the sliding windows from 06 and older and tip in windows from 08 and newer. If a tip in window bus encounters and AC malfunction it has to be switched out. If a sliding window bus encounters a malfunction if there are not enough buses for a replacement then they have to make due with the windows open. I just found out with SEPTA if the AC fails if theres no replacements they have to make due with only the roof hatches open. Which you can do if the windows are locked and the AC fails. Or you can be daring enough to pull the red handle on the side. Which I hear happens with SEPTA. Baltimore MTA. They never lock the windows since if the windows cannot open and the AC fails people are known to damage the windows. With Baltimore people would be known to bust out the windows if they didnt open and the AC failed. Since knowing Baltimore MTA the surveillance doesnt always work. Especially in the event of a fight or attack on the bus. Which has happened before.

[BusHunter]

On a Pace bus if a window is opened via the emergency escape lever the operator will instruct you to close the window. They will state they cannot operate a bus with open windows so different agencies have different rules. On the CTA in most instances windows can be opened this way and it's not a problem. The operator is required to close the windows however when he turns in the bus to the garage. In fact many of the older buses when the rider doesn't have a hex screwdriver with him will pop the windows open. The CTA got wise on this and many of the newer buses only have emergency exit windows in the front half of the bus. A few garages have gone as far as to drive screws into the hopper windows (top part of window) to prevent riders from opening windows all together. Once the #6000's retire the windows that lock with a screw will be history as most of the buses now don't have sliding windows anymore.

[Archon]

At MCTS if you call in for a bus change for the A/C being out they will do a bus change. This is due to OSHA rule after a Driver passed out a couple of years ago after driving a bus with the A/C out. the driver pass out in the bus after it was parked in the garage

[Nabi60SFW9620]

There are causes to the AC malfunctioning. Like the Radiator overdue for a flushing. Which with the AC on the engine is at higher risk of overheating. Then theres also the system is out of freeon or theres a freeon leak. Or the fan belt to the AC compressor can break. Which is what happened with Baltimores bus 8027 causing the AC to fail. And due to the tip in windows the bus had to be switched out. Plus it can be dangerous if the AC fails on a hot summer day. Especially if the windows do not open. And I believe all transit buses have fans over the drivers area to keep air over them circulating in the event of an AC malfunction and the drivers window is standard in the large sliding window. Passenger windows. Its up to the transit authorit whether or not they have sliding windows. Tip in windows or if the windows do not open. Now days I do wish transit buses were standard with an emergency dehumidifying system in the event the AC fails so humid air can be dehumidified outside of the bus. When the AC in my house broke 3 years ago we had to move the dehumidifier upstairs when we had company over for 4th of July. Its never fun when the AC malfunctions.

Rabbit Transit of York does not allow buses to operate unairconditioned. I was on a bus in York where the AC compressor was rattling and we had to get off at hte next stop and board the next bus as the result. And the only TAs I rode where the AC failed were Baltimore MTA and Philadelphia SEPTA.

[Busjack]

Rabbit Transit of York does not allow buses to operate unairconditioned. I was on a bus in York where the AC compressor was rattling and we had to get off at hte next stop and board the next bus as the result.

Can you imagine the riot that would ensue if a CTA driver told passengers packed on a bus, and are already hot and sweaty, to get off and wait for the next one, which the passengers would assume would be no better?

Does Rabbit Transit die when the pregnancy test is positive?:lol:

[BusHunter]

Can you imagine the riot that would ensue if a CTA driver told passengers packed on a bus, and are already hot and sweaty, to get off and wait for the next one, which the passengers would assume would be no better?

Does Rabbit Transit die when the pregnancy test is positive?

That's why they call it rabbit transit, because in case of a failure you will be hopping between buses Just hop on :lol:

[Nabi60SFW9620]

Rabbit Transit is a small city transit. So basically they rarely get to full capacity. Systems like Baltimore MTA, SEPTA, as well as CTA are major Transit Authorities and they want buses to keep in service as much as possible. So if the AC fails. They keep it operating until a replacement is brought. Or kept running all day. Same for if the fare box doesnt work. As well as the Wheel chair lift or wheel chair ramp switch dont work. And many other things. Even if the check engine light is on they may keep the bus operating. So minor TAs are stricter about everything properly working then major TAs. Im sure you all encountered times trying to pay on CTA and the fare box didnt work. I encountered that on SEPTA last year and the ride was free as the result. Thats how Baltimore handles it to. And Pittsburgh. They use auxillery fare boxes in the event the fare box is malfunctioned. I myself like major TAs better then minor TAs.

With Rabbit Transit. They find it a safety hazard when the AC doesnt work. Other malfunctions they keep the bus in service until they get to the downtown transit center and then they get switched out. Systems like Harrisburg CAT and Lancaster Red Rose Transit all trips are pull out pull in. So drivers pull out to start their runs. Pull in when finished. I think Delaware DART is the same.

I dont know about the NABI 60LFWs CTA owned in the past but I do know NABIs can be common for AC malfunctions. The only SEPTA bus I encountered it with was a 1997 NABI 416. And thats the common case with Baltimore as well. Some cases its happened on Flxible Metros. As well as Neoplan AN440LFs and even New Flyer D40LFs and DE40LFR and DE60LFRs. But I didnt encounter one on a DE40LFR.

[BusHunter]

I dont know about the NABI 60LFWs CTA owned in the past but I do know NABIs can be common for AC malfunctions. The only SEPTA bus I encountered it with was a 1997 NABI 416. And thats the common case with Baltimore as well. Some cases its happened on Flxible Metros. As well as Neoplan AN440LFs and even New Flyer D40LFs and DE40LFR and DE60LFRs. But I didnt encounter one on a DE40LFR.

I never really noticed many NABI AC failures for CTA. But those only ran in service for 5-6 years when they were pulled from service so they were still fairly new. They were more known here as rattling buses and having structural defects. As bad as CTA's 60 foot model turned out the 40 footers at Pace seem OK. The manufacturer with more AC failures here would have to be Flxible. But you have to take into account many of the buses were 17 years old at retirement without a rehab at the 12 year mark. Any older bus is going to be harder to maintain it's AC than a new one.

[Nabi60SFW9620]

Baltimore MTA used to commonly have AC malfunctions on their Flxibles also. And even their 97 NABIs in 2002 had malfunctioned AC systems even on 100 degree days. But now days I dealt with more AC malfunctions on NABIs then on New Flyers. But I have experienced a few on New Flyers. And the worse part with the 92 and older Flxibles. Many of them the back window on both sides were superglued shut to keep people from sticking their heads out the window since the Flxible Metro Bs and Metro Cs had a silver catch that stopped the window but everyone pushes that catch to slide the windows all the way open for no reason. And sliding space dwindled on recent bus orders until 2006 and starting in 2008 the windows tip in instead of slide from top to bottom.