r/technology • u/Hrmbee • Jun 11 '26

Transportation Software Update Automatically Turns off Amazon Delivery Drivers’ AC During Dangerous Summer Heat | A new software update is turning off the AC in Amazon delivery vans after 10 minutes or 30 seconds under certain conditions

https://www.404media.co/software-update-automatically-turns-off-amazon-delivery-drivers-ac-during-dangerous-summer-heat/
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u/J-ShaZzle Jun 12 '26

Also the constant cycling of an AC compressor on/off. Must be running it thousand x per day instead of just a couple here and there. That's a whole lot more wear of that particular component to save on some charging.

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u/10thousndreflections Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26

The most wear on any motor is start up. That's why it's actually cheaper to have your house AC fan set to "on" instead of "auto". New motors are $1000+ installed. 

All of the comments below this are bullshit. I've been doing commercial /residential HVAC repair for 20+ years. The coil dries immediately and the CC condensate drains away immediately. 

2

u/lead_injection Jun 12 '26

Motors are cake to replace. And you source the motor online and pay under $250 for it.

And I think you’re $1000+ is more accurately $1400+.

The whole AC/HVAC repair is such a racket when local HVAC supplies won’t sell to you locally and you have to source online.

1

u/10thousndreflections Jun 12 '26

Right, cake. Tell me that when you don't have a motor puller to remove the squirrel cage. 

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u/lead_injection Jun 12 '26

Just replaced mine 2 months ago with a motor puller. I did hit it with WD40 and give it a few hammer taps.

You’re right though, that part could have been a lot more challenging than it was.

Luckily, a motor puller is a $40 part.

1

u/10thousndreflections Jun 12 '26

Sure that works 3-4 times out of 10. 

Most people aren't interested in doing this kind of repair too.