Evaporator leaking photos

[Ron in SC]

Here's photos of my evaporator and part of the evap case from my 92 300TE.

I could not find the leak with either my sniffer or with dye. Leak not big enough to have oil leak from evap case drains.

Also air did not come out very well from center vent. That vacuum element did have a leak.

I'll just replace all elements, evap, and blower motor.

I think it's pretty apparent that when you can not find a leak in system with dye or electronic sniffer there is a very good chance it's the evaporator.

[michael cole]

Great shots Ron in sc!how the heck did all that dirt and leaves get in there?isnt the evap open to the interior of the car only?

[Ron in SC]

I'm not the first owner of this car so I don't know how that stuff got there, I assume the prior owner did not keep leave out of the area where the blower sucks in air.

One side of the evaporator is open to outside. The other side of the evaporator faces the inside of the car and the heater core.

[michael cole]

i have used compressed air on mine ,last time the blower motor was out for lubrication but i thought it was the heat exchanger.might be a good idea to go in periodically to clean it out considering the complexity of RnR.

[Ron in SC]

Part of the evaporator/ heater core box with new evap with expansion valve, new blower motor and squirrel cages, new foam around heater core. Also I removed old foam from large air mixing door ( I think that what it's called) and installed a different material that works much better, it doesn't need to cover the entire door since it does not all make contact to seal 100%. The evap and blower motor are made in Germany by ACM.

Can not put box back together since one of the vacuum elements goes inside case and I'm waiting on the rest of my parts and all of the vacuum elements.

[Ron in SC]

Pictures of evap case back together; front, side and rear. Installed new evaporator, expansion valve which comes with the evap, blower motor with squirrel cages, new rubber elbows on all connections, new foam on fresh air door, and of course 6 new vacuum elements.

Can not reinstall it yet since I decided to replace a small grommet in the firewall that supports one of the pipes that goes to the heater core. That grommet is on its way to me from Germany.

[Ron in SC]

Everything is back together. Filled with 2.116 lbs of R 134a which is about 85% of r12 charge which was 2.4 lbs.

With outside temp, according to gauge on dash of car, of 80 degrees F the center vent temp was 40 degrees with blower on low speed, temp was higher with blower on full speed.

Cold air now blows hard from center vent and side vents. I’m sure most people know this but with this chassis if air blows hard out defrost vent when it should blow out center vent then there is a leak in the vacuum element that controls the vent. Of course I replaced all the elements, blower motor, evap with expansion valve, and receiver/dryer as well as several different rubber grommets that serve as drains, grommets that go thru firewall and evap drain hoses. Replaced all the tiny 4.5 watt bulbs that go in the vent control wheels just to be safe.

Also took this opportunity to adjusts shift interlock cable, which is very easy since the center console is apart and everything is exposed.

[Merkey]

Very nice job, Congrats!
What did it cost you in parts?

[Ron in SC]

Very nice job, Congrats!
What did it cost you in parts?

Thank you. I didn't keep real good track on what I spent, but I'd say between $650 to $850.

I just finished completely rewiring the TE for a new sound system. New speakers, crossovers, head unit and amp. Not that was a real pain. I'd say doing an evaporator change is much easier and takes less time.

[SteveUrban]

I’m sure most people know this but with this chassis if air blows hard out defrost vent when it should blow out center vent then there is a leak in the vacuum element that controls the vent.

My 92 300CE had the same problem, but it was not the element, it was a vacuum hose under the battery that had leaked!

Cheers,
Steve Urban