Dealership to replace Evaporator

[jlh0799]

Took my truck in cause a/c was blowing hot air. They said they have to replace the evaparator. for $1400. Does this sound about right? It is out of warranty by about 6,000 miles (5yr or 75,000). I'm at 81,000.

 

Really don't want to drop $1400, but it's freakin hot here in Texas. Any suggestions. I could do the work myself, but I hear it is quite a job to switch out, since you have to pretty much take out the dash.

 

Anyone have any suggestions? Should I take it to a mom and pop shop and get an estimate?

 

Thanks,

 

J

 

2002 EXT. Silverado LT Z71

[rdnkcpa]

If they have to remove the dash, it is a job. I had to replace the heater core on my old Ford station wagon last winter. I had to remove quite a lot and it took me a while. I'm not the fastest mechanic or the slowest but it took me the better part of a Sunday to get the old one out, new one in, and part of Monday night to finish putting it together. How many hours of labor are they quoting you? I can attest by doing a similar job, it is labor intensive and difficult to do. Most of the time you are laying on your back on the floor of the car up under the dash board. It really does suck.

[redvett]

Get a second opinion. Go to a shop that specializes in A/C systems. Evaparators dont go bad that often.

[dewfpo]

I agree..... if it's not under warranty any longer I would go to a well known reputable place that specializes in A/C work in your area. Shouldn't be hard to find one where you are located. They'll most likely give you a better price and a similar guaranty to the dealer.

 

My 1.5 cents..... (discounted today only).....if you buy now....right now.

 

DEWFPO

[OnyxMAX]

agree on 2nd opinion if it was blowing hot air first thing i would check would be the temp (blend) door.

 

only way to break a evaporator is to clog it or put a whole in it. unless they started intergrating parts like dryer and oriface into it and makeing it one unit.

[00Tahoe]

The evaporator just went out on my Tahoe this summer. I called 3 dealerships. 2 quoted me around $1100. Another quoted me $600. The third quote was over the phone, I am sure it would have gone up when I got there in person. Calling around to all the local shops, I quickly came to the realization that this job was not going to be less than around $600; $440 for labor and the rest in parts. I ended up doing the job myself with the next door neighbor and it took us about 5-6 hours to take the dash apart (d**n near everything has to come out). Then it took about 5-6 hours to put everything back together. Works very well now. We might have been able to do it quicker had we had some instructions, but we just sort of winged it. I dreaded the job before and during the job. Now, that it is over, I am glad that I did it and saved that money that would have done towards labor at a shop. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Matt99Z71]

What makes the evaporater go bad, and whats the purpose that it serves? Where is it exactly?

[dewfpo]

Evaporators go bad because of leaks. Typically due to corrosion. It's exposed to condensation every single time it is turned on. When you turn it off it sits there wet. So corrosion takes place and it leaks. If you want to avoid corrosion as much as possible, you can try to dry out your evaporator each time by turning off the A/C a mile or so before you get to your destination and keep the fan running to dry it out. It works.

 

The job of the evaporator is to remove the heat from the air inside your vehicle.

 

It does this by getting very cold (ideally, slightly above the freezing point), and passing the warm air of the cabin thru it.

 

DEWFPO

[Z71Dave]

Having A/c problems on my 03 Suburban as well...found A/C oil (bright fluorescent green) on the floor, and traced it back to the drain tube from the evap core...yikes!!! Called the dealer and learned the same thing: $1100.00 to fix. Now mind you, I'm 9 months over on the warranty, but only at 36900 miles. So I called GM to see if there was any chance I could still get this fixed under warranty, and was told that as long as there were no signs of misuse, abuse, or lack of maintenance on the truck, the odds are in my favor that GM will pick up the entire tab! (I believe them when they say this because GM just replaced the catalytic converter on my 99 S10 ZR2 2 weeks ago..it has 61K on it) I'm calling the dealership Monday to have them verify my diagnosis, then we'll put GM to the test on their word. I'll post the outcome here. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

Dave

[pm26]

I wonder why they do not use smart designs anymore. My '67 Ford Thunderbird has the A/C evaporator mounted in the engine compartment, near the firewall, in an insulated fiberglass enclosure, which also houses the heater core and the blower motor is right behind it! Takes less than an hour to change either one out. Talk about a logical design! Who in the world decided to bury these things under the dash?

[AFD256]

I wonder why they do not use smart designs anymore. My '67 Ford Thunderbird has the A/C evaporator mounted in the engine compartment, near the firewall, in an insulated fiberglass enclosure, which also houses the heater core and the blower motor is right behind it! Takes less than an hour to change either one out. Talk about a logical design! Who in the world decided to bury these things under the dash?

 

 

You answered your own question.....Instead of fixing it in an hour in your driveway you now have to take it in to the dealer where he can charge an arm and a leg(sometimes your first born also). Look at the cars up thru the 70's to early 80's, almost everything was straight foward and easy to cahnge and at least get to. Now you are hard pressed to find much that isn't bury somewhere in the dash. Look at the fuel filters on the new chevys- I think they are in the tank, how much of a pain in the a$$ in that? It's all about them cashing in on you. Now that I vented I need another bud

 

That's my .07 cents

[mini1]

I'd just get rid of the truck and get a newer or new one. It just doesn't make sense to drop $1400 on a 81k mile 02 Silverado. Unless you can get it done for somewhere around $500-700, then it would be worth it.

[ChrisNJ]

03-burb, ac compressor puked it guts out, under warranty dealer changed ac compressor and the evaperator, said it was $1200.

[Z71Dave]

Update regarding the previous post on my 2003 Suburban:

 

I called the dealership this morning and spoke with the service manager. He said they would be able to make the repair (replace the front A/C evaporator core) under warranty, at no cost to me. I can't tell you how happy that makes me...I was not looking forward to tearing the dash out of my 'burb. The truck goes in later today, and they will start repairs 1st thing tomorrow...I'll let everyone know the final outcome when I get it back sometime later in the week.

 

[Z71Dave]

DONE DEAL!!!

Got the Suburban back yesterday...nice ice-cold air again, and all repaired under warranty (despite being 9 months and 900 miles outside of warranty parameters!)

 

This is not the first time this dealership has taken care of me this way....this is why I buy all of my vehicles from them. They actually care about their customers after the sale!!