2009 3.0 AC blowing hot air

[ralphy4321]

OK, so I got my car back, and they said the following.

"Perform EVAC/ Found System empty, Fill and Charge AC System. Found Freon Leaking from the Evaporator, Replacement of Evaporator Needed."

Now I tried to make the case that they changed my Compressor on August of Last year, Maybe while changing it, they broke it. They said no because the compressor is in the Front and the Evaporator near the Dashboard opposite end.

The question I am asking is,
Where is the Evaporator located?
How much will a job like this to fix cost me, at an indie shop?
Can I put something like stop AC leak on it?

Now Keep in mind, I am no mechanic at all or familiar with parts.

[ard]

Originally Posted by ralphy4321

OK, so I got my car back, and they said the following.

"Perform EVAC/ Found System empty, Fill and Charge AC System. Found Freon Leaking from the Evaporator, Replacement of Evaporator Needed."

Now I tried to make the case that they changed my Compressor on August of Last year, Maybe while changing it, they broke it. They said no because the compressor is in the Front and the Evaporator near the Dashboard opposite end.

The question I am asking is,
Where is the Evaporator located?
How much will a job like this to fix cost me, at an indie shop?
Can I put something like stop AC leak on it?

Now Keep in mind, I am no mechanic at all or familiar with parts.

Have you googled anything to look at a wiki or youtube explaining an AC system?

I wont get into details- 20 minutes of typing or a 45 second video. Give it a look.

The compressor moves freon between the condenser (by the radiator) and evap (in the dash). I do not think a failed comp can cause the evap to LEAK. I do not think working on the comp can damage the evap. I do not think that debris from doing a sloppy job would cause an evap leak. (note these are all 'dont thinks'- im not an AC tech)

How did they determine, conclusively, it is the evap? Using a freon detector and finding freon blowing out of the dash?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjcghZ3b8s

https://repairpal.com/estimator/bmw/...placement-cost

I cannot find a price on your part, but 200-300 seems possible? Id be OK with a behr replacement, if one exists

Based on the costs listed at repair pal, I would get another opinion/estimate.

I would do the following:

1. Determine how precisely they diagnoses the leak in the evap. Id demand this in writing.

2. Find a shop that will quote and AC evap replacement.

3. Once you chose a shop, ask that they confirm the diagnosis; determine of the prior work caused this failre; ...then probably do the evap replacement.

Thats all I got...

[giaka]

Originally Posted by ralphy4321

The question I am asking is,
Where is the Evaporator located?
How much will a job like this to fix cost me, at an indie shop?
Can I put something like stop AC leak on it?

Now Keep in mind, I am no mechanic at all or familiar with parts.

Looks like some work to replace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjcghZ3b8s

[ralphy4321]

Originally Posted by ard

Have you googled anything to look at a wiki or youtube explaining an AC system?

I wont get into details- 20 minutes of typing or a 45 second video. Give it a look.

The compressor moves freon between the condenser (by the radiator) and evap (in the dash). I do not think a failed comp can cause the evap to LEAK. I do not think working on the comp can damage the evap. I do not think that debris from doing a sloppy job would cause an evap leak. (note these are all 'dont thinks'- im not an AC tech)

How did they determine, conclusively, it is the evap? Using a freon detector and finding freon blowing out of the dash?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjcghZ3b8s

https://repairpal.com/estimator/bmw/...placement-cost

I cannot find a price on your part, but 200-300 seems possible? Id be OK with a behr replacement, if one exists

Based on the costs listed at repair pal, I would get another opinion/estimate.

I would do the following:

1. Determine how precisely they diagnoses the leak in the evap. Id demand this in writing.

2. Find a shop that will quote and AC evap replacement.

3. Once you chose a shop, ask that they confirm the diagnosis; determine of the prior work caused this failre; ...then probably do the evap replacement.

Thats all I got...

Thanks ARD, I am checkng with Local BMW shops now.

[ralphy4321]

Originally Posted by giaka

Looks like some work to replace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjcghZ3b8s

Thank you for all the information you have provided me as well

[pshovest]

Sniffing the condensate drain w/halogen detector is test method I use. However some cars like E34/E39's also have expansion valve & tube connections inside the evaporator housing, so leak could come from these in addition to bad evaporator. Leaking expansion valve was issue for one of my E34's. Need to determine if there are any connections inside E70 evap housing before committing to evap replacement.