Is there an easy way to get access to the evaporator behind the dashboard of the 2001 XK8?

Need to verify whether there are traces of a possible leak at the evaporator or its connectors.


Daniel

 

NO !

Find a sniffer, turn down the fan to the lowest speed and check for Freon at the vents.

I had a '00 with a slow leak somewhere but neither I nor 3 separate AC shops could find it. The sniffer did not register on anything other than the lowest speed.

You really do not want to consider replacing that evaporator. I just kept filling the system with a can a year until it died an untimely death at an intersection.

 

You can get "visual" access by removing the center dash trim, and then the face air vent fins. Then you can play with the controls to open the face flap. You can then use the opening for a mechanics mirror, or even one of those cheap USB cameras mounted on a flex stem. You can definitely see stuff down there, but I have not checked enough to know if this is mostly the heater core or the evaporator. 2 screws total, so worth a look.

Other possible option would be again a flex camera through the foot vents. Never tried it...

FWIW, the couple of recent reports related to leaks of the A/C system were at the fill valve itself.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

Unfortunately no, if the evaporator is the problem.

We just changed the evaporator on my 2000 XKR. I searched for the part and 2 different sites gave me 2 different parts. As they were $30 and $16 respectively, I bought both that I would have they proper part when changing out. It was a good thing that I did. My brain told me it would be the squarish silver one but it turned out to be the brass (colored) steam punk part.

This required taking out the dash. (be sure to take off the sheering wheel as it makes it all much easier). A long arduous project but worth it in the end.

Good luck,

John

 

Thanks for all the inputs.

The work was done by a company who is only in AC Business:

After refilling (3 times), the System is empty the next day. There must be a big leak

There was added a coloraddtive when filling the system.

With a gas-detector (sniffer?) and with a special Light/Glasses they checked all the Lines, valves,core etc where possible. Only the center-dash vents gave little gas-alert. The water on the ground below the car was clear - not traces of the colored additive.

Conclusion is: The leak must be somewhere they have no access: Evaporator or its connectors behind the dashboard.