Air Con - evaporator - substitutions

[HughB]

Hello all

The sniffer machine tells me I have a leaky evaporator in my 1986 Century VG40.

The parts supplier tells me no evaporators are available ex-Japan. This I can believe.

I'm also told there is no substitutable part. This I find harder to believe, not only in a car which has been significantly unchanged over its 40-odd year production run, but given Toyota's range of models.

SO, anybody have experience with substituting evaporators?(I'm told they're not repairable).

ALSO, please tell me I don't have to take the entire dash out to replace it: I've accessed the blower box by removing the panels under the glove box, but it's not clear I don't have to go the whole hog and take out the dash if I want to actually remove or open the unit.

Many thanks

[roadsailing]

there will be something that fits, even if it isnt listed, might need a bit of modification to fit in there. it could get tricky depending on what kind of system it is, as there is a lot of tech in certain systems.

i'm guessing you will have to pull the dash out, but you would have to do that to modify your HVAC box to fit a different evap in there.

they can be repairable, depends where the leak is. if its just a leaky O-ring, then its a piece of piss to fix, if its a hole, then its not so easy.

tried toyota parts for one? they can be hard to deal with i have heard.

call Denso, as they have done every aircon unit in any toyota as far as i can tell

good luck with it!

[The Real Roadrunner]

i just had a car diagnosed with the same thing, the quote to repair was over a grand.

i took it elsewhere and got charged 130 inc regas for a loose fitting and o ring on the tx valve which was changed by the original mob, go figure?

have you got anyone else to look at it?

i dare say there wouldnt be to much difference between them if you got one out of a slightly later model.

but yes dash out to do it right and it wont be fun.

cheers
linden

[fixeruperer]

regas it with the dye, then go over it with the uv light and glasses you will be able to see were it is leaking, it could be as simple as what others have said.
maybe another toyota of same time/modle has a similar evaporator.

[Dale]

more likely a leaking TX valve than the evaporator itself

If the evaporator is actually stuffed you'll be able to find something that fits or can be made to fit, it's toyota!

[thechuckster]

being '86 you may have to get a different TX valve fitted to suit more modern gasses - new gas probably also means new dryer cannister.

a/c repairs are notoriously expensive unless you have some influence over the business owner.

[cressida_1jz]

Its very rare an evap leaks on a Denso system.

Also them sniffer things are a piece of un reliable junk.

Being a 86 model,it probly has a older style brass TX valve that are common to leak at the o-rings.

Early 90s Toyotas started using the block style TX valves that also leak but they just blow the arse out of them.

But if u pull the evaporator out and its leaking,give me measurements and pics,i can tell u what other toyota evap will fit it.

[MRMOPARMAN]

if the evaporator is leaking, its highly probable you will find a thin oily substance (the aircon oil) leaking from the heater box drain on the firewall