Ladybug

I've checked with two mechanics at good shops and gotten different answers on how long it takes to change the evaporator and expansion valve for the a/c in my '92 Legend. (We took out the blower and used sniffer and uv light and it appears to be the expansion valve itself, where leaves got in and rotted and ate away at it.)

The computerized estimator at one shop said 4.3 hours to change the evaporator but the same software came back with 7 hours for taking out the dash. That doesn't make sense, unless you can change the evaporator without removing the dash. Both the Acura official big manual and Chilton's say it's gotta come out.

Another mechanic went to his trusty estimator book and it said 1.7 hours. That would mean not taking out the dash. But I don't think that's right.

Anybody here know?

 

reboticon

I *Think* the 4.3 hours is for removing the heater/evap. The 1.7 is the additional hours to service the evap. 4.3 + 1.7 = 6.0 hours. Then 1 hour to service/check/fill the A/C.

ActionJackson

The dash must come out to remove the evaporater. Unless that second mechanic can move at the speed of light, there is no way 1.7 hours would cover it. From what I've heard, it would take a seasoned mechanic most all
day to disassemble, replace, reassemble and recharge the system. Good luck
with it....

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ari_one

The 1.7 sounds ok if only replacing the expansion valve but to change out the evaporator you have to remove the dash (or at least move it up to get the heater assembly out. The big question is exactly where is the leak!

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Ladybug

The guy who put the sniffer to the evaporator -- which was exposed to our view with the glove compartment gone and the fan removed etc. out of the way -- says the tool is "stingy," meaning it doesn't beep about refrigerant unless there is an ample amount of such in the vecinity. And this is inside the cabin, under the dash and away from everything else a/c.
So it's gotta be the evaporator or expansion valve. (Insert prayer here.)
I know, huge difference as far as money and effort are concerned. He did say that he thinks the accumulation of leaves is similar to what he's seen before when leaves deteriorate and the resulting chemicals/acids eat into the evaporator. There was no dye at the expansion valve under uv light.
Whatever. He isn't trying to get my money, because he won't touch it -- once before, many, many cans of refrigerant ago, I used one with something that is supposed to stop leaks. Says it'll foul up and ruin his equipment. I doubt it, but I didn't argue.

Now, you mentioned something that catches my eye for the easiest way to do the job. Another friend who is a very good professional mechanic says he can't vouch for the Legend, but his experience with Honda/Acura cars tells him that the dash probably can be loosened, particularly on the passenger side, and pulled away enough (after loosening evaporator connections to the firewall) that the evaporator can be pulled down and out and replaced without taking the whole bejeebus dashboard out.

Whaddya think?

Kenso

Sorry to say, but you will have to just pull the dash all the way out if you decide to replace the evaporator. Sucks but it's do-able.

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reboticon

Ari will probably know for sure about the dash, but in my experience its no good trying to pry and slide anything on the legend. The risk is just too high. On a civic or an integra you can get anything from autozone, but for the legend, if you break something, you are usually going to the dealer or here. Unlike the others, there were not that many legends sold comparatively, and the downtime waiting on parts is a killer.

I've never actually seen a refridgerant machine killed by an additive, but could be because i've never met anyone who owned one who would risk mixing it with your system. The suppliers, from the dealer, to the jobbers, to the clinic holders, all drill that point into your head. Could be just so you have to buy more of their expensive equipment for recovery, or could be because it really will mess up your machine, but i don't blame him for not wanting to find out

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