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I’ve been doing my homework


JIMDTS

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This weekend I going to change the evaporator coil in my 01 dev I figure it will take the better part of the day to do it. I have to tear the dash apart to get at it. I have been reading the manual poking around under the dash & hood looking for any short cuts I can figure out.

Jim

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Keep us posted on your progress. I'm curious how much time it takes. The previous generation Devilles ('94-'99) are a fairly involved job but the dash doesn't need to come apart on those cars.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Hi KHE

I asked some friends at the dealer about the coil. He mentioned it is an uncommon part to fail on the 2000 forward devilles. On mine that drain must have been clogged for awhile.. The evaporator must have been under water a long time. I have not been checking under the car for the ac dripping water. The job looks straight forward to do it’s just that you have to tear into a bunch of stuff to get at the part. I did notice a piece of the evaporator coil filter in one of the ac ducts about a month ago it was a very small piece about the size of an eraser on a pencil I lo0k at that piece I could not figure out what it was. When I purchased the new evaporator and actually seen the filter material I now know what that piece was.

I’ll post when done if it all comes apart with no BS. It should not be that bad of a job. My son is going to help me at least I will have someone to hand me tools&beers.

Jim

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I hope it goes well - I would suggest using a quantity of ziplock bags to hold the parts. Label each bag with a description of the fasteners so you don't forget anything. The last thing you want is to miss a fastener somewhere during reassembly and have the dash begin to squeak/rattle.

Also, get some high viscosity PAG refrigerant oil - 150 viscosity is what GM cars use as you'll need to add a small quantity - usually no more than two ozs. to the evaporator before connecting it to the system. The shop manual will state the exact quantity. Also, buy new o-rings for the connections from the dealer so you won't have any leaks. Lube the o-rings with 525 viscosity mineral refrigerant oil (the old R-12 oil), not the PAG oil that is used inside the system. The alternate choice is Nylog but that stuff is hard to find on short notice. Mineral oil is used to lube the o-rings because it is a better lubricant for that purpose. Nylog works even better but finding it available locally is tough.

Good luck on the project.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Hi KHE

Thanks for the tips. Driving around with no AC & the windows down SUCKS on a hot day.My wife will not even get in the car she says I don't like a car without AC. What BS the other day since the ac is not working I have been putting the windows down to drive the car I put the right window down & the regulator let go

The clip that attaches to the window broke so that was small job to R&R the regulator I had to buy a new regulator ($265) This car is getting rebuilt little by little. Shoot I keep this up I may just keep it. Normally i never put the windows down The dealer is looking for a nice 07 for me I talked to him yesterday he does not have a nice one the ones he has are just so so with very early build dates like 08/06 that means less warranty If I'm lucky I can find a late build date the 07 devilles are just starting to come back to the dealers.

JIm

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Well I’m done with the evaporator on my 01 dts. I started at early this morning. The job took about 6hrs to complete I had to tear the dash out to the firewall I have ac now So far so good Not an easy job but not that hard either. Just R&R’ing a bunch of parts Thank god for air tools. I was lucky everything came apart easy went back together with no issues & no left over parts

Jim

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Well I’m done with the evaporator on my 01 dts. I started at early this morning. The job took about 6hrs to complete I had to tear the dash out to the firewall I have ac now So far so good Not an easy job but not that hard either. Just R&R’ing a bunch of parts Thank god for air tools. I was lucky everything came apart easy went back together with no issues & no left over parts

Jim

Hey congrats Jim, that is quite an accomplishment, great job.. Did you charge it yourself? Post some pics if you took any.. Where did you use the air tools, I would think they couldnt be used for a job like this... Did you find the leak in the old one?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Plenty of clips, screws, small bolts,wiring harnes,wires, etc to get at. I used a small air ratchet that I have for most of the screws & small bolts. Big time saver. I charged the ac with the help of my neighbor. He has an evac unit to remove the freon & charge the ac that was a BIG help.I called him at 10am to bring his unit over by 11am we were done with the charge. How I noticed the leak it was VERY obvious I had slime (ac oil & dye) dripping out of the evaporator drain box I had a rotted out core. That’s the only thing that can leak oil & freon out of the drain from the ac. The real culprit was the rubber drain hose that was stuck together not allowing the water to drain from the evaporator core filling the case up with water that the evaporator sits in.. Too bad it happened that’s what I get for never checking for drips coming out of the ac under the car. No pix I was in a hurry to get the job done. At least I know what’s under the dash.

Jim

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Well great job, you should be proud...this is not an easy job. We need a hall of fame...

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Hi Mike

The job went faster than I thought it would so far so good. Everything works in the car & the ac is nice & cold. My Son was A BIG help along with my neighbor

I was driving the car around this afternoon. One thing I did notice is I missed one small screw that I found under the the right passanger carpet I'll make that an Obsolete part on my car.. I have been looking for a newer dts If I keep this up I should just keep the 01 The car is in great shape with just over 52k on the clock it has plenty of life left in it. Sitting in the car it's like new the steering wheel has been replaced a couple yrs ago along with the top of the dash & all the seat covers for the seat heater failure I cleaned up the interior seats with lexol leather soap & put some lexol conditioner on the seats and the car looks nice

However with any car YOU NEVER know what is going to break next I'm thinking I should get rid of it while I still have some equity towards a newer car.

Thanks

Jim

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