Changed out the front A/C evaporator in my 98 3500
#1
05-13-2012, 11:16 PM
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Miami, Florida
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Changed out the front A/C evaporator in my 98 3500
Restored power to the front HVAC system by tracking down a short in the wiring harness - the part of the harness coming off of the blower relay was shorting out on the transmission dipstick tube. Charged up the system, only to find out the evaporator was leaking. Picked up a new evaporator at the local AC shop, and proceeded to install.
First of all, do not even attempt to simply "figure out" this R&R. Thankfully, everything is in the engine bay, except for some nuts and screws that need to be removed, so you are spared that abuse. However, everything has to be done in a certain order, or the whole thing will be completely messed up.
I still cannot believe how horribly, terribly blocked with dirt the evaporator was. It was just ridiculous. I wanted to throw up a little just thinking about how the air that would have been hitting me dead in the face would be passing over all of that nasty crap first. I ended up cleaning out the whole airbox assembly with anti-bacterial soap, and then following that with a good wipedown using moist paper towels and Febreeze. Did the same procedure for any air duct I could get at. The whole bit smelled a good deal better that it had previously, and the system definitely moves alot more air than it did before. AC is almost too cold now.
Just have to do the same thing to the rear unit some time and reconnect the rear hoses. Problem is, I can't find anyone who makes or carries the rear A/C evaporator. Keeping my eyes open, however. 
Going to pull off the passenger fender and see what I can do about adapting a cabin filter from another vehicle. Gonna have to get my fabrication skills going on. As far as I am concerned, it is a quality and reliability issue. Who wants an A/C system that gets crappier and nastier as time goes on, or one that may fail due to coils freezing under wet dirt on the coils?
The difference between the 2 is clear. If your van is as old as mine, or older, it might look like this too.
First of all, do not even attempt to simply "figure out" this R&R. Thankfully, everything is in the engine bay, except for some nuts and screws that need to be removed, so you are spared that abuse. However, everything has to be done in a certain order, or the whole thing will be completely messed up.
I still cannot believe how horribly, terribly blocked with dirt the evaporator was. It was just ridiculous. I wanted to throw up a little just thinking about how the air that would have been hitting me dead in the face would be passing over all of that nasty crap first. I ended up cleaning out the whole airbox assembly with anti-bacterial soap, and then following that with a good wipedown using moist paper towels and Febreeze. Did the same procedure for any air duct I could get at. The whole bit smelled a good deal better that it had previously, and the system definitely moves alot more air than it did before. AC is almost too cold now.
Just have to do the same thing to the rear unit some time and reconnect the rear hoses. Problem is, I can't find anyone who makes or carries the rear A/C evaporator. Keeping my eyes open, however. Going to pull off the passenger fender and see what I can do about adapting a cabin filter from another vehicle. Gonna have to get my fabrication skills going on. As far as I am concerned, it is a quality and reliability issue. Who wants an A/C system that gets crappier and nastier as time goes on, or one that may fail due to coils freezing under wet dirt on the coils?
The difference between the 2 is clear. If your van is as old as mine, or older, it might look like this too.
#2
05-13-2012, 11:17 PM
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 95
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