Aftermarket evaporator coils

[Herr Kutz]

Does anyone have experience using aftermarket evaporator coils? Nissan only sells the entire assembly which is in the 4-10x price range. Brands available for my car are: UAC, TYC, GPD, FOUR SEASONS. Any info on which of these brands is best? They are all within ~$20 of each other.

6/10/19: SEE POST #6 FOR UPDATE.

 

[HarryLui]

Are you doing the work or is a shop doing the work?

If a shop is doing the work, let them get what they want, other wise you'll probably won't get a warranty.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Are you doing the work or is a shop doing the work?

If a shop is doing the work, let them get what they want, other wise you'll probably won't get a warranty.

I am doing the work. I may also go to a junk yard this weekend and see if any Versas on the lot have an acceptable looking coil.

 

[NutBucket]

IMHO given the work involved to replace the evap you might as well buy a new one. Hardly seems worth the effort otherwise.

 

[bruceb]

You do realize on most cars, the evaporator coil and the heater core are in the same box. It would be prudent to do both as the labor will be the same. Might as well flush the cooling system while you are at it. On my 1999 Grand Prix, it has a leak from the compressor section gasket and the shop also claimed a leak in the condenser. They wanted $1,400 to change out both of them. The parts would run about $450 or so, it is the labor that is a killer as the radiator has to come out to get the condenser out. For now I will try AC PRO with Sealant and see how long it will hold the R134 .. The car has 251K on it and if the AC PRO will hold for about 4 months or so , that will get it through most of the summer weather.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I replaced the AC evaporator, expansion valve, and ac condenser along with all O-rings connecting those pieces of equipment with high and lower pressure tubing. Total cost for those parts, including o-rings, was approximately $200. All parts are new aftermarket. Refrigerant and random odds and ends maybe another $100. After installing everything, the system was able to hold a vacuum. Very excited since my AC is now working and it was a great learning experience. However, I feel like it's bouncing between cold and cool too much. I have no system temperature sensors; it's just off or 1-4 and a dial selecting which temperature I want. Could it possibly be overcharged or undercharged? My system calls for 0.99 lb of R-134A so I purchased a can with 16oz. I stopped maybe 1-2 ounces short of emptying the can because the pressure gauge was starting to enter the yellow "alert" range. The coldest I've seen my AC get is 58 degrees with a thermometer stuck into the ac vent. It normally stays between 60-70 but spends the majority of the time in the 60 to low 60s range. Recirc is on, max AC button is on, and temperature is set to lowest possible. Is this typical or still too warm? Outside temperature is in the 90s.

 

[NutBucket]

Wait, did you use a set of AC gauges that monitors high and low pressure or just the dumb gauge on the refill can? 58 sounds about right if it's in the 90's.

If I remember correctly you should be seeing about a 40 degree drop between inside and outside temperatures.