2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission AC Repair, Everyone Get a Filter! (Long)

[Crazy Horse]

nwinters,

Excellent Thread. Genos better get ready for the rush.

 

[dseabaugh]

I can really feel for anyone that under takes this job. Last Fall Stealer replaced my evaporator under warranty. Then in winter the heater core started leaking (no longer under warranty, of course) and I ended up Taking the dash apart to replace the heater core myself. Same procedure including evacuating the AC. Come to find out there was not a single screw or nut tighter than finger tight and the weight of all that mess had cracked the tubes where they attach the core. Very nice display of pictures! My box was clean but I put on a filter because a leaf got into the fan and drove me nuts one day. The filter does not keep out the dsl. smoke though.

 

[Deezal Man]

Hummm...



So the question is, "when" do you know this job is necessary?



Better still, how can one "guess" what his or her evaporator looks like?



What I mean is..... Someone who is forced to park their truck outside and/or lives on or near a dirt road under trees and/or lives in a warmer (southern) region... . it would make sense that this is a very real problem. In a short period of time I might add.



So what about the guy who's truck is parked inside and rarely sees a dirt road??



The mention of using A/C MAX brings up another interesting point in that it recirculates the cab air rather than pulling fresh.



Guess I'm sitting here wondering what my A/C looks like... Cause I gotta tell ya... I don't think I would have the "stones' or know how to pull out my dash. And I'm certainly not going to let DC do it.



The joke about getting a new truck isn't really so far fetched. That is assuming you've been eyeing up a new one anyway

 

[RJ2]

I'll second that DEEZALL MAN. I will ask my friend in daytona that owns a large auto ac place what would I expect to find in there. Sometimes we torture ourselves trying to stay away from the-- until we need to know mode.

 

[Cliffman]

Had a really bad experance with the dealer tring to find my AC leak. After 4 visits and 4 re-charges they finally decieded it was the evaperator. Took 12 hours to R&R. From what I can see he did a good job. Had to cut some wires but he sodered them back. Man I'm glad I got that extended warrenty

 

[icarus33]

A great thread, but you know someone had to ask this so here goes.



Any of the industrious members considering making one of these filters using K&N media? Gotta love the TDR membership.



ic

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Where does all the dirt go from the filter when you wash the truck?

 

[GotDiesel]

I also have the same problem. Looks to me like a lot of work. Why is it necessary to remove the steering colum and airbag stuff? The part you want to get at is on the other side! What if you removed the seat instead, to give a little more elbow room?

 

[Cliffman]

My compressor is cycling every 3 seconds when I turn on the AC. Dosen't that mean it's running out of freeon . Air is not as cold as normal. Just had the evaperator replaced 5 days ago I'm getten sick of this crap. I've had my truck to the dealer 4 times now for this problem

 

[nwinters]

Originally posted by GotDiesel

I also have the same problem. Looks to me like a lot of work. Why is it necessary to remove the steering colum and airbag stuff? The part you want to get at is on the other side! What if you removed the seat instead, to give a little more elbow room?

I don't think you could get to the A/C housing without removing the entire dash as one unit. The thing is one giant piece of plastic that runs the entire width of the truck along with other metal pieces, it would actually be alot more work to tear the thing down. Once you know what to do, pulling the column/airbag stuff then pulling the whole dash out makes it seem quite a bit easier. Its actually a really nice system the way it is. I couldn't immagine what a dealer, or anyone unfirmiliar with the truck (to be fair), could screw up with all the custom wiring I had done, stereo probably won't work, gauges, Edge Box, CB... With that in mind though, I would consider having easier disconnects on all custom wiring etc. from now on. Alot of my wiring ends up being soldered and I'm just glad I had enough lenth in there to get the dash into the front seat.

I dont' think removing the seat would help. There is pleanty of room to work, I'm 5'10, 165lbs, that may make a difference.



Cliffman, as long as you didn't get an evaparator w/leaks, all the rest of the connections are under the hood, so you won't have to go through the major teardown again, hopefully. Its alot easier now that you have that out of the way. At least you are getting this done under warranty and can get a filter installed so it will last for the life of the truck beyond the warranty. Good to hear your tech could get all the custom work you did back together correctly. Its tough enough for me to work on their (DC) stuff w/ a manual, they have to work on our custom work w/out one .



icarus33, I can just see the discussions -{}) about people finding filter oil in their fresh air fans, clogging up their heater core/evaparator, and collecting in the housing LOL.



As far as the Genos filter goes, it does seem to do a good job filtering the air, I am happy with it. When the truck isn't moving it does seem to cut the airflow down about 30% compared to turning on the recirculate air setting. When the truck is rolling the pressure on the windscreen seems to increase the air velocity in-cab to normal. Last weekend I was in beach traffic for about 30 min. I wasn't using Max-AC and it was keeping the cab environment comfortable. Was also the first time I've heard my fan clutch kick in, that fan turns heads when you rev it up to 2k while stopped.



Nate

 

[Cliffman]

nwinters, thanks for the incourging news but the evaporator was a last resort. The "under the hood" area has been checked several times but I'm still hopeful. So there's no connections @ the evaporator that the tech could have messed up?

 

[nwinters]

There are 2 connections at the evaparator, the in and out, but they are accessable from under the hood, they both poke through the firewall.