Day 2. Huge thanks to Hidalgo for stopping by and showing me how to take off the dash top and other tricks. Its amazing where a screw may be hiding Only put in a few hours today. Tomorrow is the big day of finally removing the evap and putting it all back together. Hopefully the compressor may even go in tomorrow as well.

I'll have to remember to take some pics.

Quote of the day "If I towed it to a shop....how much would a shop charge from this point on?"

Staying focused and organized

Day 3 about 4 hours. Removed old compressor and bolted up new one. Kind of a funky belt tensioner setup. The allen bolt holding the hoses to the compressor was awfuuuuuly tight.

Removed the box assembly with the evap, blower and heater core. We put the new evap into the box assembly and I've decided to order a new heater core. The old one is not leaking but I figure since it's essentially the same labor I might as well replace the part now. Because of this I'll be delayed unitl next weekend before I can finish. I'll have to spring for a rental for my wife to use during the week.

Thank to my friend Crickett for helping out today. Its great to have a professional mechanic as a good friend He was able to calm me down and work out a few items that I was stressing about.

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old evap NASTY SMELLY DIRTY ROTTEN PIECE OF EXCREMENT

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Rotten drain tube, I'll have to order new ones or make a set out of heater hose or something. Any suggestions?

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The new gutted look

The flash on my digital was wacked out so I couldn't get it to work

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another inside shot

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I am glad everything is working out for you!
I had the same problem with the drainage hoses in my car. Since it is just a drain, I bought a clear "reinforced" hose from Home Depot. Similar to the one that connect the windshield fluid reservoir and the windshield wiper nozzles, but thicker. It is flexible enough, it is durable and cheap. Obviously, the originals from MB don't last.
Good luck!

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J.H.
'86 300E

I am going to order the heater core and cabin filters this afternoon. I may also replace the blower motor as well while I am in there. Any thoughts on the blower motor replacement?

Its under $200 for the part and may save me much labor down the road.

I'll probably make some sort of hoses for the drains.

Good thread! Keep us posted...I'm adding this thread to others like it in an attempt to psych myself up to perform an avap replacement on my '89 300E...kind of like psyching yourself up to jump into a lake on the first sunny day of spring when you know the water is still going to be ice, ice cold...

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Hi Neumann

I just wanted to offer my support and admiration - that is one helluva job you have underway.

It is really sensible to swap out the heater matrix and blower but the added expense must be painful.

Keep on posting and see if you get your flash working - your car is as dark as the inside of a cat!

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NormanB
230 TE (W124) 1989 with 153,000 miles on the clock - hoping for at least another 100K

Thanks to everyone for their words of advice and such.

I'll be working on the rest this upcoming weekend. I would have finished on Sunday but I needed the extra parts.

I've decided to hold off on the blower fo rnow. It looks easy enough to replace later down the road if the need arises.

I'll keep the thread alive and try to take some better pics of the bare firewall before I put it back together

update as of Sat 6/21/03

Thanks again to Hidalgo for his help this afternoon

The evap/heater core/blower assembly is back in, actuators are all hooked up, igintion is back in place...

Just need to refill the coolant, charge the a/c and check for leaks and make sure the actuators are working then I'll put the dash top back on, the vents, airbags and remaining miscellaneous items.

I should be done tomorrow evening.

Title of thread question: "looks like I need to replace my evaporator and compressor..am I nuts??? "


Answer to thread question: YES........but, man, do I admire and respect you!

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Coolant is in, ac is charged up, dash is halfway back in, vents are in, center console is in, just have to install the lower dash sections, radio, airbags and kick panels. I may have it done by 2am tonight. I'll have about 5 to 6 hours into it today.

AC blows nice and cold

I am officially finished with the project.

Had it out today for some shopping and the dash out side temp was 90 degrees F and inside was 50 degrees F according to my stick thermometer I stuck inside one of the vents.

Oh man it was an ordeal but I feel well worth the time and effort

With the money I saved I think I may buy a Jacuzzi to help my aching back

Btw, I figure I have around a solid 20 hours into the job. Thats with help from Hidalgo and my friend Crickett.

Replaced the evap core with expansion valve, heater core, compressor (new), all actuators, drier and pollen filters. Parts were about $1450. Saved well over $2000 in labor.