2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Leaking Antifreeze from cab.

[TMills]

I just bought my 2000 2500 and have only had it for a few thousand miles. I noticed that it uses alittle antifreeze. I have had to level up the reservor a couple times already. Yesterday, I noticed some antifreeze on my passenger side control arms. It looks like it is leaking from a tube right below where the AC goes into the cab. I asked the previous owner about the tube and he said a couple years ago he had a problem with water in the floorboard and the dealer installed the tube to drain the water outside instead of in the cab. Where is this tube coming from? Why is antifreeze coming out of it?

 

[Moe]

Sounds like the heater core is leaking and all he did was extend the drain tube for the a/c. MOE

 

[BK]

I 2nd that.



The only thing that should come out of that drain tube is clear H-2-0, from when the AC is running.



I replaced my AC evaporator when it went bad, more than 80% of the job (maybe 95%) was getting the dash out to get to the box that has the heat core and evaporator.

So it's all the same work to get the heater core out.



I would try some BARS stop leak for now.



Find out during the summer of the AC works.

It's not uncommon for the evaporator to be bad in our trucks. It's the same one used in the Jeep GC (atleast in my 99 Ram and 95 Jeep GC), and notorous to go bad.

So if your gonna tackle it, might want to do both at the same time.

 

[TMills]

It was actually warm enough here for me to turn the A/C on and see if it does anything. Nope, nothing but room temp air coming out.
What causing these things to go bad?
Also, is there a link of how to take the dash appart? A list of part numbers needed?

 

[BK]

the evaporators are very thin cheap aluminum construction. besides just being crap, if leafs and such get in there, they cause corrosion around where the fins are joined to the base, and they leak. I had no crap in mine when I took it apart, it was just leaking like a sieve.

I've been told by a dealer tech, that at times, right from stock they have had bad evaporators.

From the factory , there's a piece of white foam on the bottom , with lots of extra material that reaches up, nice place for the crap to collect against the evaporator.



For the AC, you should also replace the dryer at a min.

If the dude before you tried to use some sealent for the AC, you may need an orifice tube as well.

Any dealer can look up the parts.

I think I spent around 300 in parts for mine + evacuation and charging (~ $125)

Best bet is to get a factory service manual.

It takes you through most of the steps, step by step.



Electrical connectors have to be disconnected.

Steering column has to be dropped.

Some control things have to be disconnect for the heater and ac controls.

Vents and all softs of good stuff.

When your done, and the dash is out, you just see firewall with the steering wheel dangling from it, two peddles, and the box housing the heater / AC parts.



Took me about 1/2 a day to get the dash ready to be pulled out.

My buddy came over and helped me carry it out, and later carry it back in.

I've heard that dealer service techs that do this normally have a way of just getting the dash tilted back (still need to do 90% of the things you would need to do to pull the dash). But I didn't see how, there wasn't enough room for me to work on the heat box, get it all apart and out.



I hear it's about a 1200 job at the dealer.

With your 2 for 1 (both AC and heater) you may want to think about it if you don't want to start dealing with getting the dash out.