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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/02/2003
11:41:21
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 Subject: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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It appears the evaporator on my 00 CC Dakota went yesterday and I am wondering what kind of $$ I am looking at to replace it?
Had it checked out and the leak was coming from the firewall where the water normally drips when the AC is normally on. I was quoted $910 and it taking the guy a little over a day to do the job. Is this a realistic price considering I can't do it mysekf and must pay someone else?
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DakotaDan
*GenIII*
3/02/2003
12:36:59
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Are you sure it's the evaporator !!
Read this thread......
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/gen/3240.html
Dan
Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/02/2003
13:58:08
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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If I could only be so lucky. That may have been the route cause of my problem but not the end result. My AC system has no 134A in it at all, the man put his guages on and put 3 cans of 134A in the system along with some dye and within a minute it was drippping on the ground below the passenger side firewall. I have always had water in my passenger floorboard after it rains but only after a rain, not any other times.
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DakotaDan
*GenIII*
3/02/2003
14:13:29
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Izzy Sorry to hear this.....
You can look up the parts $$$$ at this web site
http://www.wyckoff-mopar-parts.com/mopserreppar.html
Then click on "OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS" and enter your vehicle info, you will end up at HVAC components and you can get individual prices.
I have purchased parts online from this dealer and had very good service, it's just not the fastest in the world, usually a week to 10 days to receive parts.
Dan
Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~
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Lab Rat
GenIII
3/02/2003
15:33:19
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Core=$235 (dodge-auto-parts.com)
R-134a=$6/lb (by the can, $3/lb bulk)
That leaves $655 for labor to R&R the coil, evacuuate and charge. I'd call another shop, shouldn't take all day either. Any good tech could have the coil out and on the floor in two hours or less.
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2003
09:24:07
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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I am very mechanically inclined and a great understanding of tools and how most of them are used. Some of my past experience includes having rebuilt engines, taken 2 bad manual transmissions with all their little needle bearings and made 1 that worked great in the end amongst other things.
I would tackle this R & R of the evaporator core if I only knew how to get past any possible chance of popping the air bags. That is my only fear of this job. For extra help, I even have a factory service manual for my truck that details much of the job but I am still very hesitant about it due to the air bags.
Are there fuses that can be pulled to disconnect to air bags or would I remove them from the system all-together before digging into the dash?
Any help from those of you experts who actually know how this job is done would be greatly appreciated.
The labor for this $910 job I was quoted was $520 for 8 hrs of work plus parts, apparently that is a time-needed standard for this type of job and this guy bills on that average time needed basis.
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DakotaDan
*GenIII*
3/03/2003
12:09:48
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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I see your point... pop an air bag and there goes $3-400.00 I think I would remove both + - cables from the battery just to be sure !!!!
Dan
Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2003
16:54:33
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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I'm afraid to even look at an airbag for fear of it going off. I can almost seee it still being somehow energized with enough current to pop it after having the battery unplugged for a couple days, is this a possibility? I want to know FOR SURE I can't pop them before I even attempt to go for my evaporator.
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deano
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2003
17:39:34
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Your fuses on the drivers side dashboard in between the door and the dash. Just pop the cover and you'll see that among all of the fuses, two of them have big white plastic tabs. Those are the two for your air bags. Just pull them out and you'll be fine.
Deano
2001 3.9L 4x4 CC
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danny
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2003
18:46:04
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.........WAIT TWO MINUTES.......IF YOU HAVE THE DDC MANUAL READ PAGE 8M-2.......IT TELLS YOU TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE ONLY BUT TO BE SAFE AFTER DISCONNECTING THE NEGATIVE I ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE POSITIVE ALSO....... AND WHEN PUTTING BACK TOGETHER POSITIVE FIRST!!!!!!!
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danny
Dodge Dakota
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3/03/2003
18:52:04
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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OK WE HEAR YOU..... :O
OK WE HEAR YOU..... :O
OK WE HEAR YOU..... :O
OK WE HEAR YOU..... :O
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Lab Rat
GenIII
3/03/2003
19:54:23
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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LOL...
Izzy,
If there is a separate control module for the bags, I'd disconnect it too. Some manufacturers recommend it. Having done what you have in other projects, this outta be a piece of cake.
1) Drop the steering column after disarming the air bags.
2) Drain the coolant.
3) Remove the dash, not but a handful of screws and 2-3 bulkhead electrical connectors.
4) Remove the nuts from the studs on the engine side of the firewall after disconnecting the heater hoses and A/C lines and accumulator.
5) Remove the evap case from the interior. Split it open, remove the old coil, clean the gunk out, install the coil and reassemble the case.
6) Reinstall the case, dashboard, steering column and reattach the lines and hoses. Reinstall the steering column.
7) Don't forget to add two ounces of oil. Use the Sanden PAG that you can get from your dealer.
8) Take it to get it vac'd and charged. Don't let them overcharge it; three cans is too much, 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 should do it if the factory charge is 28 oz.
LR
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2003
09:31:03
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Deano, Danny, & Labrat,
Thanks guys, those are the helpful answers I was looking for. I'll pull the fuese, unhook the battery and if I find a control module, its getting unhooked too.
Labrat, you just clarified a job that 10-20 pages in my manual had me still scratching my head about...I just kept telling myself I could do it.
Thanks for the translation into simple English, now I know I can do it.
Labrat, I checked that website dodge-auto-parts.com and don't see an Evaporator listed, only a condenser, called and they say they don't carry it either, could you have been thinking of another site?
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2003
09:28:27
|  RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Finally got the evaporator replaced. Paid $209 at the dealership for a new Evaporator, its nice to know the parts man in the parts dept. as it retails at $280+. After another few dollars for the spring and oring kit and tool to remove the lines going to the evaporator, I was ready for what I swear I'll NEVER tackle again.
The dash was pretty straight forward on getting out (lots of nice wiring harness plugs and ground wires) and so was the AC/Heater unit. I had no help and that was the biggy that made it hard. Dash is bulky and does weigh a bit but can be done by 1 person.
Air bags were no problem, pulled fuses in fuse block in drivers door of dash, pulled wire harness plug on Airbag module on hump below radio and behind base of dash.
Got core out and other than the oil from when the core blew and the additional oil and dye from the leak check, it was pretty clean. There was a small pinhole on the bottom of the evaporator about an inch back from the tubes.
Dealership also gave me a formed turn-down tube/hose to put onto the drainage tube after I told them what my problem was and that I had found out about the TSB from this website.
Parts guy said that they haven't seen any of these drainage tubes clogged up but rather people who drive long distances with AC on having the flooding problems as the speeding wind coming into the engine area and actually blowing the water back into the tube and into the areas around the tube.
Anyway, formed turn-down tube they gave me is made of rubber and nicely flaired at the end to cover the complete hole in the firewall. Now I can dry my carpet out 1 last time.
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tekmon
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2003
10:16:18
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Izzy,
Glad to her ya fixed your problem, mine is somewhat different Flooding in the passenger compartment.. In So. Florida we always have the AC on. I have '98 Dak CC, same ac setup drain is conviently hidden behind the auto-tranny dipstick, sticks straight out bout 1/2".
Do you know, or can you get, the part number for that formed turn-down tube/hose to put onto the drainage tube ???
I went to the dealer and explained the problem, they offered up the firewall seal $1.94, possible 6 hours replacement @ $80.00 per hour.. I went home and siliconed the crap out of the seal.. but still have water probs, haven't had rain in months.
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tekmon
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2003
10:46:00
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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Izzy,
Sorry forgot to ask b4.. Do you have the TSB, service bulletin, Number ? .. I researched the threads on wet carpet and they lead me to TSB 24-11-97, which describes an areosol spray cleaning solution for the musty smell from the Ac unit.. but no information on a drain hose fix..
Also heard about a similar prob and a TSB 24-012-01 for Jeep, but can't find details of that bulletin.
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Izzy
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2003
14:43:34
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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I do not remember the TSB number for what I had read, in fact someone out here on this forum clued me in on the TSB. Anyway, the part number on that turn down tube (Cowl, Drain hose) is 5264688 and should be able to be purchased at any Chrysler/Dodge parts dept.
I asked my buddy at the dealership if he remembers the TSB and he didn't wither but he did remember Dodge admitting a problem with the blow back of drainage water from that drain line and causing floorboard floods.
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pwalters
Dodge Dakota
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8/10/2005
14:20:53
| RE: AC Evaporator = How much to replace?
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I just had a garage quote me 12 hours of labor and $100 for a new evaporator coil in my 97 dodge dakota (6cyl). Does that sound right to everyone?
It has been re-charged twice this summer. Once by a garage and the second time by me. The re-charge lasted about 3 weeks each time. I could not find any leaks in the engine compartment and narrowed it down to the evaporator coil.
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