Manual Pretrip Inspection

Pretrip inspections are an important part of a preventative maintenance program designed to minimize operating problems and breakdowns. Perform this pretrip inspection before every trip involving refrigerated cargo.

Note Pretrip inspections are not intended to take the place of regular maintenance inspections.

Battery: Verify the battery terminals are tight and free of corrosion.

Note All truck and trailer units will have a small battery drain when the unit is off. The battery can be drained even quicker if there are aftermarket options or third party devices connected to the unit which consume battery power.

This will cause the battery to become discharged over time.

Apart from the obvious inconvenience of having to charge the battery, it is also liable to damage battery cell material and cause the life of the battery to be shorter than acceptable.

Therefore, to ensure the battery remains in optimum condition during periods when the unit is not being used, Thermo King strongly recommends to switch on the unit at least once each week and run for 30 minutes or longer to keep the battery safe.

If the EnergyONE battery is drained after a long idle period, it will need to be recharged using an automatic programmable battery charger (Thermo King does not recommend the use of manual battery chargers on dry cell batteries).

Failure to do so may result in warranty for the battery being rejected.

Alternatively, Thermo King offers a solar panel option which would negate the requirement to switch off the microprocessor switch during long unit idle periods. For more information, please contact your local Thermo King dealership.

Compressor:

Important To maintain the integrity of the compressor shaft seal and to prevent loss of refrigerant, it is recommended to run the unit at least once each week for 30 minutes or longer.

Belts: Verify belts are in good condition and adjusted to the proper tension. For more information about belt tension, see the Specifications chapter.

Electrical: Check the electrical connections to verify they are securely fastened. Wires and terminals should be free of corrosion, cracks, and moisture.

Structural: Visually inspect the unit for leaks, loose or broken parts, and other damage.

Coils: Verify condenser and evaporator coils are clean and free of debris.

  • Washing with clean water should be sufficient.

  • The use of cleaning agents or detergents is strongly discouraged due to the possibility of degradation of the construction.

  • If using a power washer, the nozzle pressure should not exceed 600 psi (41 bar). For the best results, spray the coil perpendicular to the face of the coil. The spray nozzle should be kept between 1 inch and 3 inches (25 to 75 millimeters) from the coil surface.

  • If necessary to use a chemical cleaner or detergent, use a cleaner that does not contain any hydrofluoric acids and is between 7 and 8 on the pH scale. Verify dilution instructions provided by the detergent supplier are followed. In case of doubt about the compatibility of the detergent with the type of materials listed above, always ask the supplier a written confirmation of the compatibility.

  • Should a chemical cleaner be required, it is MANDATORY that all components are thoroughly rinsed with water even if the instructions of the cleaner specify that it is a “no rinse” cleaner.

    Notice
  • Equipment Damage
  • Failure to comply with above mentioned guidelines will lead to a shortened life of the equipment to an indeterminable degree and also may void your warranty.
Note The repeated transportation of meat and fish waste can cause extensive corrosion to the evaporator coils and evaporator section tubing over time due to ammonia formation and can reduce the lifespan of the coils. Appropriate additional measures should be taken to protect the coils against the aggressive corrosion that can result from transportation of such products.

Cargo Box: Check the interior and exterior of the cargo box for damage. Any damage to the walls or insulation must be repaired.

Note On trailers equipped with units qualified for pharmaceutical applications - under ThermoKing protocol inspect the integrity of the air chute.

Cargo Doors: Verify the cargo doors and weather seals are in good condition. The doors should latch securely and the weather seals should fit tightly.

Defrost Drains: Check the defrost drain hoses to verify they are open and are equipped with one way kazoo valves at the drain exit.

TracKing Module:

  • Check that the module is turned on and communicating.

  • For Whisper Pro Enabled TracKing, it is recommended to check at some stage throughout your journey if the Advanced Controller automatically switches to “High Speed Lock Out” in an area designated for this - i.e., PIEK assigned Zone.

      Note

    1. For more information on how to set up PIEK assigned Zones, please refer to your unit installation manual, please contact your Thermo King Dealer Representative..

    2. For further best practices, please visit www.europe.thermoking.com/best-practices.