Author Topic: A/C evaporator coil (Read 8947 times)

fb_rider · « **on:** July 16, 2006, 10:34:07 PM »

Any advice on how to take out my a/c evaporator coil? It has a leak in it and I need to replace it. Every time I take a look at it I start thinking it's going to be a nightmare job. Any help would be appreciated.

Eagle 1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2006, 11:20:48 PM »

This is how I would do it.
Jack up the right front side and remove the right front wheel.
Take off the hood.
Take off the right side hood hinge.
Unbolt the right side inner fender
Take off the right side fender and inner fender (and anything that bolts to it)
Remove what ever ac compessor lines necessary.
Then unbolt the evaporator housing from the fire wall. Remember there are several bolts around the housing. Two of them are on the bottom towards the inside. The easiest way to get to them is from underneath the car.
Its a heck of a job, but you can probably do it in a day.

eroc022 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2006, 05:47:26 PM »

if thats the one in the a/c suitcase then just take off the side towards the motor and disconnect the lines....with a little time it comes right out!!!!!

fb_rider · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:29:50 AM »

Well, it's done, and it really wasn't too bad. I started at 8pm and finished around midnight, including a 10pm run to Advance Auto for o-rings and 134a. Now I have a/c again! Thanks!

whwright · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2006, 11:14:30 AM »

Congratulations!

When you split the case, did you remove the half near the engine, or the half away from the engine?

I'm just curious...

Wayne.

fb_rider · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2006, 01:06:10 PM »

I removed the half near the engine - it wasn't too bad. The other half has too much in the way.

whwright · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2006, 04:12:11 PM »

Thanks for the info. Hopefully it will never be an issue for me.

Did you replace the dryer/receiver also?

fb_rider · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:14:32 PM »

I did not replace the receiver/drier. Some idiot (me) put a hole in the evaporator coil when I was replacing the heater core, so my 29 year old car with working a/c lost it's entire charge. I found a good used coil, and replaced it and the o-rings only. I did evacuate the system with a vacuum pump before recharging it. So far, so good - I'm getting about 60-65 degrees at the vent on a 90 degree day - hopefully it stays that way!

ta78w72 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2006, 08:47:36 PM »

I've just got to ask....how on earth did could you put a hole in the evaporator coil when you changed the heater core? You must have taken something off that didn't need to come off to change the heater core.

fb_rider · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2006, 10:06:31 PM »

I'm really pretty embarrassed to say! The heater core housing wasn't holding in place, because one of the top bolts was stripped. Making a stupid decision, I tried a longer bolt (that had a sharp tip) and screwed it right into the evaporator coil. I knew what I did as soon as I started hearing the hissing noise, but there wasn't much else I could do at that point!

whwright · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2006, 11:54:24 PM »

OUCH!

Mark one down for experience!

Here's another one to remember: there is only one snap ring holding the clutch to an A6 compressor. The inner snap ring is retaining the front seal. If you pull the inner snap ring while the system is under pressure, the seal sounds like a rifle and you lose your charge there to.

:oops: