Evaporator / Cooling Coil Replacement
Also called cooling coil replacement
The evaporator is the cold coil hidden inside the dashboard that the blower pushes cabin air through. When it leaks refrigerant or is blocked with dirt, cooling drops and gas disappears with no visible leak under the bonnet. Reaching it means stripping the dashboard on most cars, which is why this is a full-day job. It is a last resort after under-bonnet leak points have been ruled out.
Signs you need this
- Refrigerant disappears with no leak found under the bonnet
- Musty smell and oily film on the inside of the windscreen
- Cooling fades within days of every refill
- Water dripping inside the cabin on the passenger side
- Dye appears at the evaporator drain tube
Not all of these have to be present, and one of them on its own can mean something else entirely. That is what the diagnosis is for.
What the job includes
- Leak testing to confirm the loss is at the evaporator, not elsewhere
- Refrigerant recovery and dashboard removal
- Evaporator core replacement with new seals and expansion valve
- Receiver dryer replacement with the system open
- Housing and drain cleaning while access is available
- Reassembly, vacuum, recharge and full function test of dashboard controls
How we do it
Rule out easier leaks
Hoses, seals, condenser and compressor shaft seal are checked first, because those repairs are far cheaper.
Strip the dashboard
Trim, airbags and wiring are removed in order and labelled so everything returns to its correct position.
Replace the core
The evaporator and expansion valve are replaced, the housing is cleaned and the condensate drain is cleared.
Rebuild and test
The dashboard is reassembled, the system vacuumed and charged, then every vent, control and airbag light is checked.
How we work
The same on every job, which is why we can write it down.
Diagnosis before quote
We find the fault first. A price given over the phone for a noise nobody has heard is a guess.
The price is agreed first
You approve the work and the cost before a spanner is picked up. Extra work means another call.
Parts you can check
We tell you whether a part is genuine, OEM, aftermarket or used, and what each one costs.
Old parts returned
Ask and we will hand back whatever we replaced. It is the simplest proof that the job was done.
Book evaporator / cooling coil replacement
Fill this in and a person will call you back to confirm the time and the price. Only your name and one way to reach you are required.
You send this
Takes a minute. No payment, no obligation.
We call you
To confirm the car, the time and the location.
Tell us the car and the symptom
We will arrange a mechanic at your location, or a slot at the nearest workshop. No payment until the price is agreed.