it looked easier on video

tropicsteve

tropicsteve

New member
the a/c in my 2000 ford f150 died last year, but the $1500.00 repair cost put it on the back burner. with a little research on youtube, i was able to view several professional videos on the procedures needed to make the repair for the a/c evaporator. i also decided to replace my heater core at the same time for preventative maintenance. unfortunately, you have to remove the entire dash, drop the steering column, etc. just to get to the firewall mounted box that contains the parts. i'm just praying the truck starts up when i get it put back together again. now i think i know why most people just pay the money and get it fixed, but sleep better at night ! the evaporator is the siver looking box mounted against the right side of the exposed firewall. :wall
 

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Your a trooper for attempting that ! Good luck!

A leaking heater core was the demise of my last van.The shop I had it in kept it for days complaining it took them way longer then expected and told me they would never take a job like that again!:lol:

I decided to sell it after I got it back.That was the last straw!

Im glad those days are over!
 
tropicsteve said:
the a/c in my 2000 ford f150 died last year, but the $1500.00 repair cost put it on the back burner. with a little research on youtube, i was able to view several professional videos on the procedures needed to make the repair for the a/c evaporator. i also decided to replace my heater core at the same time for preventative maintenance. unfortunately, you have to remove the entire dash, drop the steering column, etc. just to get to the firewall mounted box that contains the parts. i'm just praying the truck starts up when i get it put back together again. now i think i know why most people just pay the money and get it fixed, but sleep better at night ! the evaporator is the siver looking box mounted against the right side of the exposed firewall. :wall
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I have new respect for you Steve! Only a real man would attempt that one!:D
 
I saw a video on appendix surgery in case anyone has any pain in the lower right abdomen I can take care of that for cheap in my kitchen! Wow! Good luck!
 
You got this Steve!!! I ripped the entire interior dash included out of my car when it had like 94 miles on it. When I put it all back together I only had like 10-50 screws left over ;). YOU CAN DO IT!!!
 
Jsmooth said:
You got this Steve!!! I ripped the entire interior dash included out of my car when it had like 94 miles on it. When I put it all back together I only had like 10-50 screws left over ;). YOU CAN DO IT!!!
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ah yes I've fallen victim to the multiplying screws as well. Took off my bumpers and I could of sworn that my screws had, well, screwed and multiplied :rofl
 
Jsmooth said:
I only had like 10-50 screws left over ;). YOU CAN DO IT!!!
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Well that's nothing to worry about, generally the screws left over are the "extra" ones that are not really needed, at least that's what the backyard mechanic told me when he rebuilt my engine ;)
 
Steve, I can tell you first hand that this is a REAL job. Back in the day installing a heater core or evaporator in a Mustang, Camaro or Firebird was enough to make even the most seasoned Mechanic cringe. They looked very much like what you have laying there. Chiltons listed between 6 and 8 hours on these vehicles. It's nice to see you tackle such a demanding job. I've done many dozens of these but can no longer get under the dash. I wouldn't even consider it these days.
 
I never enjoyed ripping a dashboard apart. There's a reason when the vehicle is built that they completely assemble the dash outside the vehicle then just bolt the whole thing in all at once.

Question though... how are you planning on recharging the system after repairing it? The recovery and recharging systems that shops have aren't exactly cheap. AC work is really something that shouldn't be done at home without proper equipment (big reason why it costs so much). If you get it all back together I highly recommend you take it to a shop to have them recharge the system. Don't just pickup a can of r134 at auto zone and pump it in. To properly recharge an AC system it needs to have all moisture removed from the system, then a precise amount of refrigerant is pumped into the system. Basically the machines they use will pull the entire system into a vacuum for about 15 minutes, then fill with the proper amount of refridgerant. You should have a sticker under the hood somewhere that says how much the system holds.

Good luck with it. Dashboards are no fun at all. Good call on the heater core while you're in there. I had one go bad in a old mini van before and coolant just poured out at the passengers feet whenever the car was on. Big mess!
 
tropicsteve said:
the a/c in my 2000 ford f150 died last year, but the $1500.00 repair cost put it on the back burner. with a little research on youtube, i was able to view several professional videos on the procedures needed to make the repair for the a/c evaporator. i also decided to replace my heater core at the same time for preventative maintenance. unfortunately, you have to remove the entire dash, drop the steering column, etc. just to get to the firewall mounted box that contains the parts. i'm just praying the truck starts up when i get it put back together again. now i think i know why most people just pay the money and get it fixed, but sleep better at night ! the evaporator is the siver looking box mounted against the right side of the exposed firewall. :wall
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Wow. Bravery personified....

GearHead_1 said:
Steve, I can tell you first hand that this is a REAL job. Back in the day installing a heater core or evaporator in a Mustang, Camaro or Firebird was enough to make even the most seasoned Mechanic cringe. They looked very much like what you have laying there. Chiltons listed between 6 and 8 hours on these vehicles. It's nice to see you tackle such a demanding job. I've done many dozens of these but can no longer get under the dash. I wouldn't even consider it these days.
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Years ago me too.... IT'S TOUGH TO GET OLD
 
ShaneB said:
I never enjoyed ripping a dashboard apart. There's a reason when the vehicle is built that they completely assemble the dash outside the vehicle then just bolt the whole thing in all at once.

Question though... how are you planning on recharging the system after repairing it? The recovery and recharging systems that shops have aren't exactly cheap. AC work is really something that shouldn't be done at home without proper equipment (big reason why it costs so much). If you get it all back together I highly recommend you take it to a shop to have them recharge the system. Don't just pickup a can of r134 at auto zone and pump it in. To properly recharge an AC system it needs to have all moisture removed from the system, then a precise amount of refrigerant is pumped into the system. Basically the machines they use will pull the entire system into a vacuum for about 15 minutes, then fill with the proper amount of refridgerant. You should have a sticker under the hood somewhere that says how much the system holds.

Good luck with it. Dashboards are no fun at all. Good call on the heater core while you're in there. I had one go bad in a old mini van before and coolant just poured out at the passengers feet whenever the car was on. Big mess!
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yeah, i went ahead and invested in a set of manifold gauges and a vacuum pump just in case, but i probably will let the dealer do it, since you have to mix in a/c oil too.. i worked all day today trying to get the evaporator installed and of course autozone special ordered the wrong part after i was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what i was doing wrong. think i'll buy the parts local next time to avoid this. it's quite an adventure.:D
 
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