A/C evaporator in '93 Caravan.........

The A/C in my '93 Caravan won't hold a charge for more than a month, I've been told the evaporator is bad.

I've also been told that to replace it, the ENTIRE dash needs to come out. Is this true? If so, any tips, tricks, or sage words of advice?

Letting someone else do the entire job is a budget breaker. I was quoted $800 to $1200 to do the entire job. A shop I know will do JUST the evaporator R&R (me getting the dash out) for around $300.

The dog days of summer are coming , trying to plan ahead.

Thanks.

I did it on my 97 dodge Dakota, took me 3 days. Took the whole dash out. (I know, I'm a backyard mech, and took my time).
I uesd a factory service manual, (check ebag for a cheap one).

Once it was apart, I used a 'Four Seasons brand replacement' and did the heater core too.

Worked like a charm....just took me a while...

So, get a service manual, I'm amazed at how accurate it was, to take the dash out.

The dash pretty much has to come out most of the way.The air bags need to be depowered.Then the box comes out and you can do the evap on a bench.Been a few years since I did one.Replace the heater core while you have it out.Not that much more and all the labor is already done.Last one I did was about 5 hours or so.Rocky

Thanks guys for the replies. Quite the time difference on getting it done! I'll be shooting for starting on a Friday after work, and having it back together Sunday evening.

I need to get into the dash too because there's a wicked RATTLE that's coming from behind the instrument cluster that's driving me nuts.

I *think* the dash may have been out once already (van had been wrecked). Hope that doesn't cause any nasty surprises.

Now just to psych myself up about it.......

Take out the passenger seat it will make job a lot easier I did one Xmas eve and took me about 6 hours plus the stripped seat bolt and laying in the snow etc. Take box out as assembly and do on bench The heater core also it cant' be far behind if you have not had it done yet

I'll definitely take a look at the heater core too. We had a couple of days where it got into the upper 20's here, and it was COLD in the van. I felt warm air coming out, but, it never really got HOT, despite the engine being up to temp.