Evaporator going out. Any easy fixes??

[mustangenthusiast25]

Hello All,

Well I noticed my driver side vent is blowing warm air and the passenger side is blowing cold air, so it looks like I have the infamous evaporator core leak. My extended warranty just expired in March 2023, so perfect timing

I was thinking of adding refrigerant with stop leak formula (like this:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-R-134a-Refrigerant-12-oz/10316793)
or adding refrigerant and stop leak to see if that may remedy the situation.

If y’all have tried this and it worked or failed, I would appreciate hearing about your experiences.

I’d rather try this before ripping apart my dash. This should definitely be a recall.

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[rwp50]

Had it three years ago and grabbed an extended warranty that paid for it.
Just renewed specifically for that reason.

I know I didn’t answer your question. Just thought I’d add what I did.

 

[Conquistador555]

So, I've been a (master) licensed HVAC guy for over 30 years. I will tell you, I've used stop leak before in some cars and it worked, at least for a long while if not forever.

That cheap Walmart or other stuff is crap, won't do much if anything at all so even though it's cheap just save your money. Now being in the trade I can easily get the good stuff that actually does work. Used to be you could only get it at supply stores but now you can get it other places I think even Amazon.

Nu Calgon makes a variety of products, they do make one specifically for cars now. It's around $50 give or take.

Now I'll be the first to say that stop leak isn't usually the proper and professional way to attack a leak but in some circumstances where the repair was very costly and I was replacing several components anyway, it was a 'can't hurt' situation; i.e. if it works great but if not I'm only out $50 or so. The risk is overusing the stuff and gumming up compressors, txv's, etc. and having a bigger issue but again, I have used it and it has worked. One can won't hurt you.

An example is I had an old 2000 Dodge Durango that had a bad evaporator coil leak and getting to it just sucked as it ran at an angle through the firewall. So, I put the dash back together, shot a can of stop leak in it and recharged the system and it actually sealed the leak for something like 6 mos or so, and I did it a few more times after that. Now, this was close to giveaway vehicle and I would have done the labor if it didn't work, so I figured what the hell, so you can best judge your path forward. I have used it in other cars for people and I've had good results. A few it only held for a few months, others it slowed the leak enough that you could just top it off on occasion when the air started blowing warm and do this for several years.

Keep in mind the stuff is made for vehicles and it isn't some "Flex Seal" TV promo stuff so it isn't voodoo or bs Wally world stuff.

Hope that helped you make a decision.

 

[IPOGT]

Hello All,

Well I noticed my driver side vent is blowing warm air and the passenger side is blowing cold air, so it looks like I have the infamous evaporator core leak. My extended warranty just expired in March 2023, so perfect timing

I was thinking of adding refrigerant with stop leak formula (like this:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-R-134a-Refrigerant-12-oz/10316793)
or adding refrigerant and stop leak to see if that may remedy the situation.

If y’all have tried this and it worked or failed, I would appreciate hearing about your experiences.

I’d rather try this before ripping apart my dash. This should definitely be a recall.

If I were you, I’d call customer support and explain what happened. They are aware of the issue and *MAY* help you. I was out of warranty and they stepped up for me.

 

[mustangenthusiast25]

Had it three years ago and grabbed an extended warranty that paid for it.
Just renewed specifically for that reason.

I know I didn’t answer your question. Just thought I’d add what I did.

That is exactly why I bought the extended warranty, but I didn’t drive the car enough smh and when I did, the warranty expired. If I could renew my extended warranty I would definitely do that, but I don’t think that’s an option at least from Ford.

 

[mustangenthusiast25]

So, I've been a (master) licensed HVAC guy for over 30 years. I will tell you, I've used stop leak before in some cars and it worked, at least for a long while if not forever.

That cheap Walmart or other stuff is crap, won't do much if anything at all so even though it's cheap just save your money. Now being in the trade I can easily get the good stuff that actually does work. Used to be you could only get it at supply stores but now you can get it other places I think even Amazon.

Nu Calgon makes a variety of products, they do make one specifically for cars now. It's around $50 give or take.

Now I'll be the first to say that stop leak isn't usually the proper and professional way to attack a leak but in some circumstances where the repair was very costly and I was replacing several components anyway, it was a 'can't hurt' situation; i.e. if it works great but if not I'm only out $50 or so. The risk is overusing the stuff and gumming up compressors, txv's, etc. and having a bigger issue but again, I have used it and it has worked. One can won't hurt you.

An example is I had an old 2000 Dodge Durango that had a bad evaporator coil leak and getting to it just sucked as it ran at an angle through the firewall. So, I put the dash back together, shot a can of stop leak in it and recharged the system and it actually sealed the leak for something like 6 mos or so, and I did it a few more times after that. Now, this was close to giveaway vehicle and I would have done the labor if it didn't work, so I figured what the hell, so you can best judge your path forward. I have used it in other cars for people and I've had good results. A few it only held for a few months, others it slowed the leak enough that you could just top it off on occasion when the air started blowing warm and do this for several years.

Keep in mind the stuff is made for vehicles and it isn't some "Flex Seal" TV promo stuff so it isn't voodoo or bs Wally world stuff.

Hope that helped you make a decision.

Thank you for taking the time to reply back. This is a great suggestion. I heard some good things about Red Angel so I ordered that from Amazon and it should be here in a few days. I read that it can sometimes cure small leaks.

 

[mustangenthusiast25]

If I were you, I’d call customer support and explain what happened. They are aware of the issue and *MAY* help you. I was out of warranty and they stepped up for me.

This is a great suggestion. I was thinking about this option and have heard mixed reviews about Ford actually helping customers alleviate the cost of this repair.

Was there a specific way you contacted support and we’re able to get them to help you out? Any suggestions in regards to my plea? Did you have to first go to a dealer and then contact support after their diagnosis?
Thank you for responding!

 

[rwp50]

Find a dealership with a good service manager and they may be somewhat reasonable.

 

[IPOGT]

This is a great suggestion. I was thinking about this option and have heard mixed reviews about Ford actually helping customers alleviate the cost of this repair.

Was there a specific way you contacted support and we’re able to get them to help you out? Any suggestions in regards to my plea? Did you have to first go to a dealer and then contact support after their diagnosis?
Thank you for responding!

I called general support. I will say this. They have good and bad employees like everywhere else these days. Some have no interest in being helpful at all. If you get one of those, hang up and call back. Explain your issue clearly and simply ask for help.

 

[Dana Pants]

You need to actually find the issue. For example my condenser started leaking. A black light should be able to find the trouble pretty quickly as my car has dye from the factory.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Hello All,

Well I noticed my driver side vent is blowing warm air and the passenger side is blowing cold air, so it looks like I have the infamous evaporator core leak. My extended warranty just expired in March 2023, so perfect timing

I was thinking of adding refrigerant with stop leak formula (like this:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-R-134a-Refrigerant-12-oz/10316793)
or adding refrigerant and stop leak to see if that may remedy the situation.

If y’all have tried this and it worked or failed, I would appreciate hearing about your experiences.

I’d rather try this before ripping apart my dash. This should definitely be a recall.

Did you see the sticky thread at the top? There's tons of info/tech/images and also how others have contacted Ford and Ford was willing to take up in some instances 3/4 of the repair bill...
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/a-c-evaporator-factory-defect.62682/


Some on here have even taken the time out to replace it themselves, it can be done it's just tedious.

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