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Evaporator replacement

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33K views 27 replies 23 participants last post by  Happily Retired  
#1 ·
I have a '17 Impala. A couple of days ago the AC stopped working and the car had leaked quite a bit of bright green fluid on the garage floor.

I took it to the local dealership, and they said the evaporator needed replaced. They had to order the part, and they didn't know how long it would take to come in, maybe as long as a few weeks. Fortunately I am under warranty, and they gave me a loaner in the meantime.

How hard of a repair job is this? Looking around online, I couldn't find much specific to this car. For some vehicles this repair requires a pretty extensive teardown of the dash, which is concerning. I'm just wondering what I should look for when I get it back.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I think the usual fear is that the dash will squeak. But I think that's more a 70's thing than a current fear. Still, there are lots of plastic fasteners in the dash that can lose some of their mojo with only a couple extraction/insertion cycles.

Basically, the car is built around the evaporator and heater core. Not really, but if you try to replace them, you'll think that :)

Seriously, I don't know why accessing these two pieces isn't a little easier. I'd like to think they could be located, and have an access panel, that lets them be serviced without so much teardown involved. That said, my 86 Mustang wasn't any better - that is, I'm not sure that evaporator/heater core replacement has ever been easy.

Doug

.
 
#3 ·
This is a hard job to do. The seats, center consol, and the whole dash has to come out. Then the case is removed, split in two and the faulty part is replaced.
Luckily I haven't replaced one yet, but my time is coming since there have been a lot of them failing in the 17's, but from what I've seen it takes a couple days to do. Unfortunately it doesn't pay the tech doing the job that much time. It only pays about 8 hours to do. Warranty unfortunately almost never pays enough..
The heater core on the other hand is a lot easier. The dash doesn't have to come out to replace that.

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#7 ·
I just posted a thread about this.


There is a special coverage regarding this issue but for some reason GM is telling me my 2016 Impala, which falls within all requirements listed under their special coverage bulletin, is not covered. Thus far they have given me no rationale for why that is so and have told me there is mo number for me to call to speak with anyone except their low level foreign call service reps.
 
#10 ·
See my post above.

Call GM customer service at 1-867-522-9559.

Tell them the evaporator core needs replacement and that GM has a special revision covering this issue. Provide them the revision # provided in my post. I am currently fighting with them over this issue. Make sure they give you a reference mumber for your case.
 
#9 ·
#11 ·
I've done two, one sort of. Non-chevrolet. I put an AC in a vehicle from a box of new parts. 14 hours not including charging and getting a open end wrench to tighten a belt.`

Another time, oak leaves ate the evaporator core. Shop said we won't replace it. Too much time and money. I replaced it, pumped the system down. Checked for leaks and they charged it. 8-12 h,

I now have an EPA license.
 
#12 ·
I have a 2018 Impala 3.6 V-6 with 45,000 miles on it. I purchased the car with 25,000 miles on it and since then we have had to get the evaporator core replaced twice (under warranty). The AC system already feels like its starting to go out again just over a year since it was last repaired and of course its no longer under warranty. Gonna keep my fingers crossed that's not the issue. If it is hopefully with the history of the dealer replacing it twice already and this bulletin post which I didn't know about until now will help convince them not to charge me for a 3rd repair if it comes to that.
 
#13 ·
We had a Carrier AC nsatlled wth an evaporator made by Supercoil. Looks like supercoil isn't in business. Then, of course, they just didn't want to find the leak or just replace the evaporator, Everything past the 10 yr warranty,
Looks like they didn't account for the higher pressures of R-410A.

I was like 10 years old and "helped" dad install the house AC. It was still running after 40 years. They used pre-charged lines back then and Sears sold the DIY kit. We had the charge checked after installation and no issues with leaks. The fan had to be replaced once.

The t-stat wire has a short between the outside and the inside of the house, so only 3 "wires" are available.

When I said help at 10 YO, I did all of the T-stat wiring. Later I had to add an anti-short cycling relay because the fuse box would self-destruct.

We had a guy install a Carrier AC/heater, But he left the t-stat set-up and outdoor temperature sensor to me, I do like the system and the t-stat as diagnostics. This stupid idiot, left a cut line un-capped outside. All we needed was a bug to crawl inside. All it neeed was a aluminum foil cap.

==

I worked in the semiconductor industry and therefore, knew vacuum systems and how to put them together.
You don't touch fittings with your fingers.
 
#14 ·
I have a 2016 LT Impala with 3.6L V6 engine. A/C completely went out on a 105° day a few weeks ago. Took it to my usual shop (not the dealer) and they said the A/C compressor was leaking (it was) and needed replacement (they did). The A/C worked for a few hours but was still leaking where the evaporator is and no longer works. Took it to the dealer for a diagnosis (even though I already knew what it was) and they confirmed it was the evaporator. However, they will not honor this and act like they don't even know it exists. According to the special coverage adjustment N182186881 evaporator core bulletin I meet the requirements listed. I called GM and after talking to the person they escalated my case to a "senior advisor" and said I would receive a call within 2 business days. No call (or course), so I had to call back twice. My call from the senior advisor kept getting rescheduled by them and they never did call. I called again and had it escalated to their supervisor. They said they would call the dealership and then get back to me.

Still, no one at GM or the dealership even acknowledges that this special bulletin exists or is legit. I see the link above and have read it, but is it posted anywhere else? I'm so confused and have received no answers about it. Is anyone else having this same issue?
 
#20 ·
Yes, my 2016 56000 miles on it. Fighting with GM but getting nowhere. They acknowledge the bulletin but they say my VIN number does not qualify for assistance. So I’m told if I don’t get it repaired through the dealer then they will not reimburse in the future if they decide to cover it. Unfortunately dealer wants to charge 800.00 more than my mechanic (who doesn’t really want the job). So now what? I’m hoping enough people have problems that they decide to widen the scope of the bulletin. Have you had any luck?
 
#15 · (Edited)
Yep, my '14 is in the shop now for a leaky evaporator core. I took it in because the AC wasn't getting cold enough. My service advisor told me it would be a 16-hour job because they have to take out the dash and would be close to 2 grand to fix it. I have a warranty through Endurance and they're requiring them to tear it down and take pictures of the evaporator before they cover the repair. Very frustrating to have these kinds of issues on a 6 year old car with less than 100k miles. I just purchased the warranty about 6 months ago and I'm glad I did.
 
#17 ·
New to forum so hello. But I have a tech question regarding this specific repair. Replaced evaporator in a 14 Impala and after install I have all ac function other then the floor function. Removed and replaced the blend door actuators and performed calibration and still no floor ac function. Is the blend door installed incorrectly? Defective actuator? Does anyone have any insight to this issue? Thanks in advance. Im desperate to resolve this issue in my customers car.

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#21 ·
Just noticed a few green drops on the floor under the 'area' of evap core for my 2015 impala. Its now winter and havent noticed any drop in ac function however. Anyone had luck with getting at least partial coverage for ac core change if outside the 2016-2018 impala special bullitin? I called gm and provided info and waiting call back. Interested to hear what they will say. Its so far pretty minor so maybe not needing a full ac evap core exchange. Who knows?
 
#22 ·
January 21, 2021 - I have a 2017 Impala with 35,000 miles and 2 weeks ago I noticed a medium size green puddle on my garage floor and then I found this forum which indicated it was the evaporator core. My Chevrolet dealer said they knew it would be the evaporator core issue and did not charge me to do $230 diagnostics based on the green fluid I found on the garage floor coming from the AC drain. My warranty technically expired last August which was the three year point of ownership although I was within the warranty mileage number. The dealer entered my information into the GMC claim database and it indicated that they would cover all but $325 of the repair. My dealer indicated that the non-warranty retail cost to repair it would have been $1,800. I had the work completed and it was done correctly. It is a very invasive job. The dashboard, center console, driver's seat, and steering wheel all have to be removed. So you you have the work done question who will be doing it. They were unsure if the replacement part has been modified by the manufacturer since this issue was identified several years ago so I do not know if I will have the same issue again in the future.GM does provide a warranty on their work for 2 years. If you are having this issue I would suggest that you try to get the dealer to circumvent doing the diagnostics as I was able to do and ask them to enter your VIN number into their GM database to see if they will cover at least a portion of the repair. My VIN was also not covered by the technical bulletin that is mentioned earlier in this forum. Good luck!
 
#23 ·
I am having the same issue with my 2017 Impala. I was told there is a leak in my evaporator and it will cost me $3,000 to repair. My car meets all of the requirements under the bulletin but does not qualify because of my VIN. I have called GM customer service and they referred me to a senior advisor. This has gotten me nowhere.

GM needs to acknowledge this is a problem and do a recall.
 
#27 ·
I had mine replaced on my 2017 and wouldn't you know my VIN was not covered. Imagine that. I argued with the dealer and Chevrolet to no avail. luckily I had purchased the extended warranty and they covered it. my bill would have been $2400. Chevrolet need some new design engineers. there is no reason this job should require removing the seats, car console, and the whole dash.