parts list for doing an a/c evaporator replacement

[keakar]

Why dont you take it to an AC shop or private shop? My mechanic told me my AC coils were bad and would cost $1300 to replace but he said if I have a small leak I might as well keep recharging it. So that's what I did. Not the 4runner but another car. He only charged $75...not bad for a german car. But last week I just bought AC Pro from Walmart and did it myself. I just made sure I didnt overcharge and kept it lower than what it was, just in case.

I do a/c work for a living, or at least I used to.

and the leak isn't small, something like a can every week at this point

this isn't one that can be ignored :cry2:

 

[keakar]

Only thing you have to do on the engine side is undo the A/C lines and heater lines. Pretty simple on that side. The inside is a complete taredown to the firewall....No joke!

yep and that's why im "wanting" it to be done with a warranty in case it needs to be "redone" if the new coil is defective or something but at the same time if we are talking $2k plus, then in that case, I am gonna have to do it myself.

I was prepaired to shell out $1k-$1500 for repairs but if its north of $2k then I might just attempt it myself at that type of cost, I have a lot more time then money.

is there a detailed write up that shows the process? the ones I find saying they will do it and make a detailed write up, but then they all end up letting a mechanic do it before they get around to the point or replacing it, so no detailed write up. :fishing:


I find with most repairs you do, there is often a lot of stuff you are "told" you have to take apart, mainly just to get more rom to work, but often times it doesn't all really have to come out in order to do the repairs, the thing is, to find out which parts do or don't "really" need to be removed in order to get the old part out and the new part back in.

 

[keakar]

so I will ask again, .........

is there a detailed write up that shows the process to replace the evaporator?


there must be "someone" out there who did this job themselves that can give some "guidance" about what it all involves and what things to do, and not do?

 

[AuSeeker]

so I will ask again, .........

is there a detailed write up that shows the process to replace the evaporator?


there must be "someone" out there who did this job themselves that can give some "guidance" about what it all involves and what things to do, and not do?

This is the only topic I know of someone doing it themselves, not a lot of play by play on how to do it, but he does give advice further along into the topic.

He does have a link to photos but it seems to no longer work.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/236758-done-c-evaporator-teardown-omg-right.html

 

[keakar]

This is the only topic I know of someone doing it themselves, not a lot of play by play on how to do it, but he does give advice further along into the topic.

He does have a link to photos but it seems to no longer work.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/236758-done-c-evaporator-teardown-omg-right.html

thanks, it allowed me to get more info :bravo:

sadly this is still one of those few jobs no one ever bothered to do a video on doing, or even a picture gallery.

 

[keakar]

UPDATE: this quickly turned into 1 can of freon every 6-7 days within a week of the time i first posted about this, it hasnt gotten much worse then that "yet" but im using the truck "almost" every day so who knows what if i let it sit unused, i would imagine it only lasts a few days now if i do that.

ok so i lined up a mechanic who said he did this before on an 04 4runner and would charge between $600-$700 to do it so im going to let him do it.

i am game to try it and kinda want to do it too because i am OCD and afraid someone else will strip or leave something lose to cause rattles or squeaks, and even though i know have the skill to do it, i just do not have the physical health, plus my age (60), i am not able to be all twisted and contorted getting all up into everything under the dash.

so i was hoping you can confirm that this is absolutely everything i need, i want to replace every moving part in the dash if i am going to do this:

evaporator
heater core
condenser
the 2 hvac vent door servos

is that everything i need to buy in advance to do this? serpentine belt and cabin air filter are brand new

 

[keakar]

hello??????????????????

 

[ghs215]

hello??????????????????

you also need a o-ring kit, expansion device, heater hoses :welcome:

 

[AuSeeker]

Since I have not done this job, I can't truely answer your question, BUT if indeed the mechanic you have lined up to do the job has done this job before shouldn't he be able to answer your question on all parts needed??

That being said, if he can't advise you on which parts you need I would be very hesitant to allow him to do the job!

 

[keakar]

Since I have not done this job, I can't truely answer your question, BUT if indeed the mechanic you have lined up to do the job has done this job before shouldn't he be able to answer your question on all parts needed??

That being said, if he can't advise you on which parts you need I would be very hesitant to allow him to do the job!

well he has done one, just one, so its not like he works at Toyota or something and did a few of them, I don't see where its reasonable to think he would remember every part that he took off on just one of the hundred some odd vehicles he has worked on, granted its one of those "jobs" you tend to remember but not necessarily all the specific parts you removed, I could ask him but I don't think I should trust in his remembering everything I need, but that's just me

you also need a o-ring kit, expansion device, heater hoses :welcome:

good to know, I wasn't sure if the o-ring kit and expansion valve came along with the evaporator or if they were something you bought separately.

 

[keakar]

ok so my updated list of all the things I need to buy are:

evaporator
heater core
condenser
the 2 hvac vent door servos
o-ring kit
expansion valve
heater hoses
gallon of antifreeze to top off radiator after

he will be handling / supplying the equipt to do the freon


I cant seem to find the "o-ring kit" when I look for these parts, anybody have a part number for it?

also, I am thinking, shouldnt the O-rings already come with the new expansion valve and evaporator?

can anyone think of something that is missing from the new list?

 

[keakar]

Yep , and check the servo motors and linkage too.

yes im going to replace the servos but what do you mean by linkages? if its a good idea to replace I wont bother checking, I will just replace it

 

[ghs215]

I cant seem to find the "o-ring kit" when I look for these parts, anybody have a part number for it?

also, I am thinking, shouldnt the O-rings already come with the new expansion valve and evaporator?

Autozone
Santech A/C System O-Ring / Gasket Kit MT2584 - Read Reviews on Santech #MT2584

No...The parts do not come with new o-rings

:wave:I'm now wearing the merit badge I earned by completing this job successfully. The few, the proud, the idiot that spent 18 hours replacing the a/c evap :wave:

 

[V8Man]

Had a damper not work because the linkage was off. Motor would operate but the damper didn't.
After a heater core replacement under warranty on a Ford, the heater still would not work. I added a new screwdriver to my tool chest that was left from the mechanic.

 

[ghs215]

can anyone think of something that is missing from the new list?

Since you have everything apart.....

• Add a kick a$$ new radio/entertainment
• Feed the wires for a front/rear camera through firewall and through floor
• Check the wiper fluid line that runs along floor on passenger side (make sure it is ok)
• There is a servo above the cabin air filter that opens/closes outside air, could replace that too. It just failed on one of my 4runners
• Now is the time to do the LED swap on the instrument cluster
• Add the USB charger/USB data port in the center consol

 

[keakar]

Since you have everything apart.....

• Add a kick a$$ new radio/entertainment
• Feed the wires for a front/rear camera through firewall and through floor
  [*]Check the wiper fluid line that runs along floor on passenger side (make sure it is ok)
  [*]There is a servo above the cabin air filter that opens/closes outside air, could replace that too. It just failed on one of my 4runners
• Now is the time to do the LED swap on the instrument cluster
• Add the USB charger/USB data port in the center consol

not bad ideas but I don't think I need those except for the bold ones

WTH is a wiper water line doing inside the cab?????????

and I definitely want to replace the outside air servo, do you have a part number for that? or something to help me find it here ToyoDIY.com at this website

 

[keakar]

Had a damper not work because the linkage was off. Motor would operate but the damper didn't.
After a heater core replacement under warranty on a Ford, the heater still would not work. I added a new screwdriver to my tool chest that was left from the mechanic.

so im having trouble understanding, the linkage was broken by the mechanic? or did it break because it just wears out?

 

[keakar]

Autozone
Santech A/C System O-Ring / Gasket Kit MT2584 - Read Reviews on Santech #MT2584

No...The parts do not come with new o-rings

:wave:I'm now wearing the merit badge I earned by completing this job successfully. The few, the proud, the idiot that spent 18 hours replacing the a/c evap :wave:

thanks, I had in mind just buying the O-rings I needed but this kit looks like a much better idea.

I plan to buy new rubber grommets for the heater core, evap, and a/c drain line tube. did you find those were in great shape on yours or would you have replaced them if you thought about it?

 

[ghs215]

not bad ideas but I don't think I need those except for the bold ones

WTH is a wiper water line doing inside the cab?????????

and I definitely want to replace the outside air servo, do you have a part number for that? or something to help me find it here ToyoDIY.com at this website

Servo - Toyota (87106-35150)
Servo Sub-Assembly Damp
https://stores.revolutionparts.com/...1bm5lciZ5PTIwMDYmdD1zcjUmZT00LTBsLXY2LWdhcw==
# 13 in the diagram


Wiper fluid has to get back to the rear wiper somehow....lol...I was like WFT is this when i saw it...

 

[ghs215]

I plan to buy new rubber grommets for the heater core, evap, and a/c drain line tube. did you find those were in great shape on yours or would you have replaced them if you thought about it?

rubber grommets were all fine on my rig.