Having Problems With the A/C in Your 26’ U-Haul Truck?

The summer heat is here, which means that your air conditioner (A/C) will be working overtime during your moving journey. However, some customers experience problems with the A/C unit during long trips in our 26’ U-Haul trucks. If this happens, here's a quick procedure to get cool air blowing again.

1. While still driving, turn off the A/C, “Max A/C,” and recirculation buttons.

2. Ensuring that all three buttons (lights) are off, continue driving for 5-6 minutes with windows cracked open approximately 1-2 inches.

3. After 5-6 minutes, turn only the A/C button back on. The air should start to cool.

If this doesn’t work, then pull over to safe area and perform the following reset procedure:

• Shut off your truck and remove the key for 1-2 minutes. Then, restart the engine. The A/C should start to cool again. It’s recommended that you continue to use the A/C without the “Max A/C” and recirculation settings enabled, and we’d also advise you to keep your windows cracked 1-2 inches while driving.

Why is This Happening?

Modern engines are engineered to deliver sufficient power for driving while still adhering to emissions regulations. This balance of efficiency is managed by an onboard computer.

As mentioned above, this computer monitors the power output to the engine and will deactivate the A/C compressor to allow for more power when necessary. This often occurs when climbing steep hills that require more engine power.

Enabling both the recirculation and “Max A/C” settings can also lead to issues, especially in humid climates. The temperature drop from heavy A/C use can cause moisture in the air to freeze which obstructs the flow of refrigerant. The computer monitors this temperature and prompts the A/C compressor to shut off before it reaches that point, causing warm air to be expelled from the A/C vents instead.

Will This be Fixed in the Future?

New models of the 26’ U-Haul truck have had several fixes implemented to prevent this, most notably relocating the refrigerant lines to improve the efficacy of the computer’s sensors. Future models of the 26’ U-Haul truck will also see major cooling updates that will help to solve this issue moving forward.

For more tips on how to prevent common issues, check out this article.

If you have any further questions or need roadside assistance for your vehicle, use the U-Haul App to live chat with a U-Haul Roadside Assistance team member, or call 1-800-528-0355.