Evaporator or heater core?
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 715
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From: Warner Robins GA
Evaporator or heater core?
I've got reason to believe that my evaporator core is going bad, but I'd like to get some feedback before I start ripping things out.
First off, the symptoms. In the mornings when I defrost the windshield, I get some faint smoke/fog coming out of my vents. I can also tell that there's somewhat of an oily film on the inside of my windshield. I'm not noticing any loss of coolant (though more time might be necessary to tell for sure). Passenger floor board is dry as a bone.
I've replaced both the evaporator and the heater core approximately 5-6 years ago, so they're both pretty new. My AC is currently not working due to a very small refrigerant leak. That's what makes me think it's the evaporator even though the symptoms are pretty close to what made me originally replace the heater core. Regardless, I'm going to replace all the AC line seals pretty soon.
Any ideas without pulling the parts and checking for stains? I was thinking about charging my AC with a bit of UV dye and seeing if my windshield lights up like a Christmas tree, but it'd be nice to to do everything at once.
First off, the symptoms. In the mornings when I defrost the windshield, I get some faint smoke/fog coming out of my vents. I can also tell that there's somewhat of an oily film on the inside of my windshield. I'm not noticing any loss of coolant (though more time might be necessary to tell for sure). Passenger floor board is dry as a bone.
I've replaced both the evaporator and the heater core approximately 5-6 years ago, so they're both pretty new. My AC is currently not working due to a very small refrigerant leak. That's what makes me think it's the evaporator even though the symptoms are pretty close to what made me originally replace the heater core. Regardless, I'm going to replace all the AC line seals pretty soon.
Any ideas without pulling the parts and checking for stains? I was thinking about charging my AC with a bit of UV dye and seeing if my windshield lights up like a Christmas tree, but it'd be nice to to do everything at once.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
My guess would be the heater core, I've never seen a leaking evaporator film the windshield, but understand that a working A/C system has a huge influence on defogging the windshield.
Pressure testing the cooling system may help isolate the problem, but it could also turn a minor leak into a major one.
Good luck.
Pressure testing the cooling system may help isolate the problem, but it could also turn a minor leak into a major one.
Good luck.
