Evaporator replacement 2014+

Discussion on Air Conditioning/Heat & electronic controls for the same, radiators/fans/engine cooling and related items.
renegade6
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Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by renegade6 »

It looks like my evaporator is leaking and will need to be replaced :( which, means the dash is going to have to come out. Anyone have any shots from the manual or experience pulling the dash?
2014 Caprice PPV (mine)
2014 Caprice PPV (son's)
2017 SS (hers)
Silversled
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by Silversled »

Renegade6,

PM'd
2014 Chevrolet Caprice PPV
2014 Chevrolet Stingray Z51
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smwalker
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by smwalker »

I have done 2 so far on 14+ and just to conceptualize it the black part of the dash you see is all a cover. There is a frame underneath it that holds everything. It is really just a matter of unscrew every screw you can see and unhook anything attached to the black cover. once the cover is out the frame is easier because you can then see everything.

Harness wise there is a large connector for the dash harness in each side footwell. Unhook those and the two plugs going to the HVAC module and the harness can stay in place on the frame.

Splitting the AC case and putting back together will be the trick I tried it tonight and there area about 5 rods that run from side to side and go into slots on each end. Trying to line those up all at once seems pretty impossible. They have some little holes on the ends I am thinking put some different length of coat hanger in there to line up each rod as you lower the case.

ANd before you buy a evaporator (or make sure you can return it) there is a joint that could be leaking and maybe some new o-rings might solve it. Just give the evaporator a good inspection to see if you can locate the leak in the actual evaporator. The joint is on the part called the inlet tube (#4 in pic below) . I assume you have already tried new o-rings on the expansion valve but that is another place for o-ring failure.

Image

Here is a 14 evaporator with about 140K miles on it. Even with the cabin filter in place still get some debris build up in there.

Image
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
smwalker
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by smwalker »

When you replace the evaporator there is some rubber tape that covers the lines from the case to the expansion valve. If you cannot reuse yours (try to get it all off in one piece) the rubber is commonly called Prestite Tape but the foam coating on it that comes from the factory I have not been able to find. But just the rubber tape should be good enough the protect it and direct any condensation into the case.

Actually found something called Foam Insulating tape and it says it is made with a mastic. that could be closer to factory stuff. Never used it though.

Parker Virginia Foam Insulation Tape / Mastic
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Really, a Polish company?
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CrashTestDummy
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by CrashTestDummy »

So how does one determine the evaporator is leaking? Using an electronic leak detector? I have a leak somewhere, but haven't found anything other than a dodgy recharge port that is showing any leakage. I'll be getting a closer look at the compressor and the lines attached to it, but initial cursory examination looked good.

I can charge the system, and it's needing a recharge in about 3 weeks. :cry:
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
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1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
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Mooseman
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by Mooseman »

The best is with an electronic leak detector. I picked one up from HF for $50 at the time and was able to find a leaking evaporator in my TrailBlazer. Was getting pings from the drain tube and inside the case through the filter door. Even though it looked and felt cheap, it worked well.

Running joke is that when a vehicle is built, they put the HVAC case on a pedestal and build the car around it :lol:
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by smwalker »

R134 Systems generally come with UV dye in their oil so with a UV light you should be able to see a small leak. WHen doing a system recharge it is common practice to send in more oil charged with UV dye to refresh what is in there and hope that it makes it's way out of the leak and you would be able to see it with the UV light.

Our shop has not had good luck with R134 leak detectors, not like the days when using R12 those worked great.

Here is an example of a guy inding a leak:

https://youtu.be/Gd0KwE11S1g?t=1m43s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Steve Walker
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'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Mooseman wrote:The best is with an electronic leak detector. I picked one up from HF for $50 at the time and was able to find a leaking evaporator in my TrailBlazer. Was getting pings from the drain tube and inside the case through the filter door. Even though it looked and felt cheap, it worked well.

Running joke is that when a vehicle is built, they put the HVAC case on a pedestal and build the car around it :lol:
A lot of cars are like that. We have a 86 Mustang SVO that I'm restomodding, and am considering just R&R the heater core before it destroys the new carpet we installed, simply because the entire dash has to come out to get to the thing.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
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CrashTestDummy
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Re: Evaporator replacement 2014+

Post by CrashTestDummy »

smwalker wrote:R134 Systems generally come with UV dye in their oil so with a UV light you should be able to see a small leak. WHen doing a system recharge it is common practice to send in more oil charged with UV dye to refresh what is in there and hope that it makes it's way out of the leak and you would be able to see it with the UV light.

Our shop has not had good luck with R134 leak detectors, not like the days when using R12 those worked great.

Here is an example of a guy inding a leak:

https://youtu.be/Gd0KwE11S1g?t=1m43s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yeah, it has a dye in it already, but my attempts to find the leak with a black light haven't been productive. I've thought about an electronic leak detector. I used to use on often when I worked with a friend in the HVAC business, but that was decades ago. I guess I just need to bite the bullet and get a detector headed this way.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
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