Discovered this week that the freon is leaking out of my evaporator core...under the dash! Which means the whole dash must come out to get to it. My mechanic buddy tells me that while it's off it's a good idea to replace the heater core too, since it would have to be pulled out again when that goes. He quoted me a price of about $1100 to do this, plus the diag, plus a new compressor & hoses, freon. Sounds kinda high. Any experience/prices on a job like this?

I appreciate your input.
8lugnuts
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There is a thread with pictures here somewhere....after looking at the write up and the pictures I decided if my evaporator went, I wouldn't have AC!

 

It is a pure PITA, that said a normal person can handle it, with normal hand tools, plus a set of spring lock connectors. Taking your time, 8 hours will do it. Go over to the Grand Cherokee forum for the run down.

If the system will cool at all, you probably dont need the compressor. The heater core is within 4 inches of the Evaporator, so whether you replace it or not is up to you. I chose not to replace mine. I also did not remove the whole dash, nor the seats.

Ron

 

heres a complet dasn removal write uphttps://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/dash-removal-35444/

 

I could probably construct a rocket and fly it to the moon before I could accomplish that dash removal.

 

It sucks but I had to do it twice. It isn't as bad as it looks. The first time it took like 7 hours taking out and putting in. The second time it was like 3 hours. Just keep track of everything. 90% of the screws are interchangeable/same design, so I would go for it.

 

I passed up a 112K 2000 Sport last November because it needed a heater core, and I knew I would never have the time to do it.

And I didn't really want to pay the mechanics $650 labor plus my parts to do it either.

 

"$1100 to do this, plus the diag, plus a new compressor & hoses, freon. Sounds kinda high."


How bad do you want A/C?

 

Wow! What a great write up! Thanks for sharing that one and thanks to the guys that contributed!

 

Indeed. If it is a new compressor (the only way to go), it sounds about right.

 

freegdr, thanks for the cross link, that is an excellent DIY post! I could see myself doing that on my '88 Pioneer, but the dash on my '01 Limited is way more involved than this, 'specially w/the air bags.

95Cherokee: I'm w/you...when I was a kid I was an *expert* at taking things apart, but putting them back together?

8lugnuts

 

$1100 aint that bad of a price for that job, most of that is for labor.