Hi all. Purchased a 2001 Cherokee last December. The A/C did not work this summer and, after a few tests, I discovered that the evaporator is the problem. People are quoting me $1,200 or more for the fix on a car I got for $4200. Does this sound high? Is there a quicker fix, like stop-leak that could hold up? Any advice? Anyone have a good hookup on an affordable mechanic in Philadelphia? Thanks.

 

Stay away from stop leak products. Replace the evaporator and the heater core while you're at it. I tried a product call Red Angle ($30-50 for a two-ounce bottle) that supposedly some shops use. I used my vacuum pump the logged the rate of loss. It fell within their specs before using it. It didn't work so I emailed them for a refund (with the logged rate loss), I never even got a reply to my email.

$1,200 is typical, it's a big job and one you won't want to do twice so replace your heater core at the same time. There are step-by-step posts with photos available on this and other forums.

 

Thanks for the input. May be worth just selling it - Anyone have an idea what a 2001 Cherokee Sport at 111,000 miles should go for with a busted evaporator?

 

I don't want to discourage you but here are some of my pics of when I changed out mine 2 months ago, Some say you can do it a different way by dropping the steering wheel, but not on my 97. I replace the entire AC system and I love it. You can follow my links below to see more pics.

 

i dont like leak stop stuff either but id try it before i paid $1200 and id try it before i ever pull another dash out of a vehicle again... id pay the $1200 before id do it myself also... dashes suck... so much time... so many rattles afterwards... and so many cuts and scraped on the hands.... dashes suck...

 

I agree, I took the time to clean all my grounding points and repad everything, I think mine is actually better then it was, I thought about possible problems and went slow. I think if you can look around you might be able to find you could get it done for between $700 and $800 dolars, Just make sure they know about Cherokee's. My 96 is way different then my 97.

 

try and find a backyard mechanic who does stuff on the side form his normal job (not one that makes backyarding his normal job) and they can hook it up with no overhead... my buddy charges $50 an hour and goes by alldatas time chart to do the job... plus parts... but it aint bad...

 

I didn't feel like ripping my entire dash and everything attached to it apart. Mine had a decent leak in it at the rate of loss that it would last 3 weeks. I have a 99', all the XJ's seem to have this evap issue... I put a can of that Interdynamics stop leak from Advance Auto Parts for $20 in the end of May. I too do not like using quick fix sealers. But being in FL, and not wanting to do the evap job, I put the stuff in anyways. Since May I have had cold air. I will be moving to MA in march, so I could care less if the AC works next summer, I was hoping it would just last until the end of the FL summer(November). So far so good.

 

Newbie.

I've reviewed much of the thread for evaporator replacement and I'm willing to try. I've got a 1999 Cherokee Classic 4.0L FWD with auto trany. If Ol Blue would be kind to an old man and share the info on how to, I would be most appreciative.

OBTW, this one has a factory installed graphic equalizer. Seemed a little strange when purchased used. Figured it for an Chrysler exec program car.

Thanks in advance for all help.

 

you should look up Ole Blues profile and PM him... hes not subsribed to this thread so he wont know you need him... not sure where you saw him do this swap but i would guess a different thread then this one...

 

I sent you a PM with the info you requested Geno, and Welcome to CF.
Thanks for pointing Geno in my direction. You're very helpful. I appreciate it.

 

your welcome! try and do what i can!

 

Thanks all!