2001 Vanden with 80,000 miles. AC just stopped all at once. Checked freon, will not hold. Machanic says evaporator, $2000. Any ideas before I break the bank.

rickysjag

 

eBay.
Used jag parts:google.
Should find a serviceable part for very reasonable price.
Good that you know what you are looking for...

 

I'm surprised it's the evaporator, because the most vulnerable component is the condenser, right at the front of the car at the lowest point in front of the radiator, and which gets all the road dirt and SALT thrown onto it. On previous XJs this is the AC part that failed the most, normally after 10 years.

 

Further to my last post......

A search of the internet shows the condenser as commonly on-sale, but nobody seems to supply the evaporator. Either it's not supplied by the climate control box manufacturer to the trade, or it's a very slow moving part so not worth stocking.

 

Thanks for the posts. I am taking to a machanic friend Monday who says we need to put up so he can see drain tube. If the die detector is there, he feels it would be the evaporator since we can not detect die anywhere else. When charging unit, you can hear the clutch on the condenser opening and closing as the charge build. Problem is the charge will not hold at all so the sealant/ and freon is going straight out the evaporator, so he says. Makes since to me, but I do not have a clue how ac works except for what I have read on internet.

Where exactly is the evaporator? He tells me you have to take the dash, seats and your mama out the car to get to it and thats why the labor is so high.

Thanks guys.

 

The evaporator is inside the heater/cooler unit inside the car in the middle and below the dash. The heater matrix is fairly easy to replace, so one would expect the evaporator to be so, but it might not be, and could involve substantial dismantling, which is all labour time. I have not read of an evaporator failure EVER ! Plenty of condensors fail of course.

 

If there is dye coming out the drain tube, the evaporator is most likely the culprit...especially if there is no dye anywhere else. Evaporators do fail... they have lots of connections and also the expansion valve is connected there. Constant radical temp changes work the connections through expansion and contraction and they fail at the weakest solder joint. This car is an X300, not an X350 and the evaporator is different, but the dash still needs some dismantling to get to it as the expansion valve prevents it from being slid out like the heater core.

 

thanks for all the post. We will see where the dye is Monday. Hope for the best, pay for the rest.

Thanks again.

rickysjag

 

Hi

While on the subject of aircons, my car has done over 200,000KM, when would I need to refill the gas, and at what point would I possibly start experiencing condensor problems?

So far the car is going well with no aircon problems, but I am worried about the unit packing up soon and then face an exorbitant replacement/ repair costs.

Thanks

 

Gradually the gas manages to seep out over time. However the main component that is most vulnerable is the condenser, right at the front of the car, in front of the radiator, and in line for all the road crud, and most especially salt. Most mechanics reckon 10 years max before one corrodes and starts leaking. Mine is 9 years and OK so far, but the cooling fins on it are starting to crumble away.

 

thanks for all the threads. Final results. The contanment switch or condenser switch depending on who you order from. The switch is right on top of the left wheel well and screws into the ac pipe. Got it on line from a Jaguar parts dealer for 75 dollars including the overnite shipping .

Because of where it is located, I did not notice the seal die until I took a black lite to it.

Thanks again to all of you.