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KABALA
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2005
17:57:22

Subject: Evaporator help!!!!
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Thank you for anyones help.

I have a 00 dak sport with 111k miles, that I need to change out the evaporator per dealer findings. Im sure nothing new to this board, but dealer quote was $1528 to replace it. LMAO. And I thought plugs, wires, rotor and cap for 564 was bad!!! After reading many posts, I would like to try and tackle it myself but not sure exactly where to get the replacement parts.

FROM EBAY, is this the part I need for a 3.9 vin X
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7970999614&category=33547

ALso, does anyone think while im in there I should replace the heater c since the mileage? If so, can I go to any parts place and get a generic heater core?

And finally is there anything i need to have parts wise on hand while i open everything up. Im going to get the Turndown tube that is posted on a previous thread.

Again thanks for all your help,

Mike
Baltimore, MD



KJS
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2005
01:07:23

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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i would replace the heater core since you are in there i just replaced my heater core in my 2000 and man what a pain in the a$$ i also replaced my evaporator when i was in there too because i never what to take apart that stinkin dash again.



Zach
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
20:25:41

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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NEVER try to tackle an evaporator yourself. It takes the head mechanic at my work about 3 days. You have to remove the ENTIRE dash all the way to the firewall. This is a project that only the insane can tackle. Don't try it, man. Take it anywhere except the dealership and I'm sure you will get it for less than half. For your own sake, don't try it yourself.



KJS
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
21:22:33

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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Why not Zach? i'm not a mechanic and i successfully ripped out my whole dash and changed out both the heater core and the evaporator core, it only seems scary when you think about it, once you get going, it's only taking out bolts and screw and trying to remember where you,took them out from, it is an expensive job if you take the truck in to a shop but if you go slow and take your time you should be able to complete the task, the only hard problem i found was that i never bought enough beer for the 9 hours it took me to do it.



another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/04/2005
00:33:06

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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"And I thought plugs, wires, rotor and cap for 564 was bad!!! "


Are you 5hitting me? $564????

If you have a second vehicle to drive, go for it, do it yourself. Get the factory manual, or just use good old fashioned logic and document what you take apart with a digital camera. A man put that truck together and a man can take it apart too. It takes a head mechanic three days? He must take a lot of coffee breaks, BS alot and leave work early. It doesn't take that long. You can do it if you really want to.



KJS
Dodge Dakota
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5/04/2005
03:57:42

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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o by the way KABALA if you do decide to do the job yourself you will need an a/c fuel line connector tool to seperate the a/c lines from the evaporator, and the heater core hoses will be a complete b!tch to get off, my advise is to remove them both from the engine and then push them through the firewall still attached to the heater core itself otherwise you could try pulling on them, but i found that they would not budge for me, if you need more info on the removal of the heater core i'll try and help you out as best as possible.



04dak3.7
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2005
17:36:31

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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If you know what you are doing it will only take about 3.5 hrs to do.
Inside truck
1. Remove the 4 bolts at the top of the dash 10mm
2. Remove both "A" pillers, kick panels, and skid plates.
3. unplug BCM, blower motor, and two connectors at rear of dash on passenger side.
4. Remove cover underneath steering column.
5. Remove lowwer column suport 4 phillips screws.
6. remove hood latch and DLC from lowwer column support.
7. remove four nuts holding steering column up 10mm slide steering wheel forward and set on floor.
8. Remove instement cluster benzel.
9. Remove HVAC control head and disconect mode door vacume connector, and blend door cable.
10. Remove 10mm bolts holding center of dash to floor (5 if I remember correctly)
11. Loosen but DO NOT remove two 13 mm bolts that hold dash to outter edges of fire wall. (they are behind the kick plate)
12. Get a vary strong hook shaped like an S or a bungee cord.
13. pull passenger side of dash forward it will kind of rotate on the two lowwer bolts, lift it up find a good place to put your bungee and strap it to the roof.
Under hood
14. Disconect all heater hoses and A/C lines.
15. remove H-block (expansion valve) two torx bolts from evap core under the hood.
16. remove 4 11mm nuts that hold the heater box (plenum) in 3 are easy to find the fourth is benind the trans dipstick if you have an auto.
Inside truck
17. remove 10mm nut securing plenum in truck.
18. remove plenum.

Changeing the evap and heater core at this stage is self explanitory and installation is the reverse of removal. Just make sure you have someone proporlly evacuate the system first venting refrigerent is illegal.

Have fun and like I said it should only take a novice about 3.5-4 hours to do. Having done as many as I have 2 is a vary reasonable time.

P.S. the dash does not have to come totally out of the vehicle you just need enough room to get the plenum out.



Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2005
17:42:54

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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I'm in the process of trying to do this in my 95 CC 4x4. I've got everything done except remove the 2 a/c lines that run into the firewall. How do i disconnec them from the accumulator?

- Dan M



welsh
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2005
11:30:25

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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You can do it yourself without much difficulty. If you don't have another vehicle thought I would recommend removing the heater hoses from the core instead of pulling them through. This way you can couple them together. Also, if you don't completely remove the dash you can still drive the truck. I only had one problem, my washer fluid light has been on since I replaced my evap., any ideas?




Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2005
12:30:59

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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I have a quick disconnect tool, the scissors type. I can't get the A/c lines off the core.

If i can't remove the a/c lines, I can't replace the evaporator core because i cant' get the case out from under the dash.

Guys at parts stores (napa, orielly, advance, autozone) tell me to just use the tool and squeeze and push it up and into the disconnect. Problem is, the hose won't squeeze. I even tried using vise grips on the tool and still i can't get it to squeeze. It's like the tool I have isn't the right size though I checked all over the internet and didn't find one with a difference size than the one I have.]

I guess i'll have to put it back together and and see if I can drive to a shop and get someone to disconnect the lines for me.

- Dan M



Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2005
15:47:31

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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Resolved my issue, the scissor type disconnect tool sucks. I purchased the plastic type and it worked perfectly!

- Dan M



KJS
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2005
22:23:19

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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04dak3.7 what year dak were you workin on? because i think KABALA said that he has a 2000 not a 2004, i believe the dash is totally different on the 04 than than the 2000 there are 5 bolts at the top not 4 and once you unbolt the dash and lower it on the pivot bolt you have to unscrew the wiring harness attached to the dash or the dash will not come out, and also you have to remove the dash or unhook it because the heater box will not come out, believe me i tried there is not enough room to pull it out, and also there are only 2 bolt at the bottom center of the dash and a third that holds the dash stablilizer bar to the steering column, and also if it took you 3.5 hours then you might want to contact dodge for a job because that is the quickest i've ever heard off.



04dak3.7
Dodge Dakota
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5/30/2005
23:18:38

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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I have not done one with the new dash in it yet 01 and up.
I couldn't remember if there were 4 or 5 bolts on top or the exact number at the center but it is all realitive.
The dealer just put a blend door in my 04 and they had it done in just under 3 hrs.
I have done them (the older ones 00 and older) in 2.5 hrs.
If you only take the passenger side pivot bolt you can pull the dash up and to the rear of truck leaving more than enough room to get the plenum out. (the side of the dash will be around half-way to the pass. seat headrest.)
I assure you that you do not have to take the dash all the way out of the truck. Next one I do I will take some pics and post them. (can't say how long that will be as most people don't want to spend the $1000+ to get it done.)

P.S. I work at an independent shop in the St. Louis area it pays 7.5 hrs and we "Flat rate it" even though we aren't a flat rate shop.



Eric Monte
Dodge Dakota
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7/15/2006
16:25:13

RE: Evaporator help!!!!
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can someone get me a job at doge cause I had it out in 1hr 45 minutes. great help from the guy with the step by step directions from above. Really helpful, thanks!



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