Replace air conditioner evaporator

[4wheelz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 4wheelz]

This has come at a great time with my air con having just gone twice in as many weeks....I wasn't sure what the issue was so i had it re-gassed and added in some die so we could see where the leak was coming from but now the same issue had occurred however no die stains in the engine well which indicates its behind the dash being the evaporator.

My question is can this same replacement as noted above be replicated in a 2012 Prado 150?

[4wheelz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 4wheelz]

Great 1st post!
Yes my air-con specialist ( I sublet air-con work) he uses cool drive & says its the goods.

Hi There - I'm curious to learn if you know whether or not the evaporator in a 150 Prado can be removed similar to that of a 120 series? Thanks in advance!!

[TurboZenith Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TurboZenith]

Hi everyone,

My 2008 Prado 120 (1KD-FTV) was just tested for AC. The specialist found leaks in the evaporator core. Ive just ordered one. So my question is... Is it possible to replace as 1st post?

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi everyone,

My 2008 Prado 120 (1KD-FTV) was just tested for AC. The specialist found leaks in the evaporator core. Ive just ordered one. So my question is... Is it possible to replace as 1st post?

Yes, replaceable as per first post. Much more difficult if yours came with climate control.

[TurboZenith Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TurboZenith]

Yes, replaceable as per first post. Much more difficult if yours came with climate control.

Why is that? How hard should 'jiggle' the fan and intake assembly. Attachment points suggest I slide the fan assembly to the left. OK. So the fan assembly is out. Can’t seem to see how the evaporator can slide out.

[TurboZenith Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TurboZenith]

I hope the link works. Getting late so putting it back together. Trying again on the weekend.

[DT4Dave Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DT4Dave]

I guess you’’ve changed the evaporator by now, but Yes the KDJ120 GXL is able to be changed as described in this post. Remove the glove box, fan assembly then screws towards the rear of the white unit, then the bolts on the pipes under the drivers side. To remove the fan assembly you’’ll need to undo some wiring harnesses and move them out of the way.
I had die put in about 4 months ago and was able to see the small leak with a UV light from jaycar and a pair of sunglasses in a dark room.
Happy to help anyone with their replacement

Hey, about to take my 08 prado into toyota for this to be done as i'm not brave enough to tackle it myself. I was told either it will be the glove box way, or the entire dash and only the "build model" will tell me. $642 the easy way. $1200ish for the whole dash, taking it in today to have them look at it. How do i know if they are just going to rip me off?

[thomasellis Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close thomasellis]

Hey, about to take my 08 prado into toyota for this to be done as i'm not brave enough to tackle it myself. I was told either it will be the glove box way, or the entire dash and only the "build model" will tell me. $642 the easy way. $1200ish for the whole dash, taking it in today to have them look at it. How do i know if they are just going to rip me off?

Hi Dave,

There are indeed models that require full dash removal, however I've just done my 08 Prado 4L V6 (GRJ120R) this weekend and it was pretty easy and does not really require a ton of courage.

Total cost: $340 (Cool Drive Evaporator EV3320 $200; Aircon regas @ Headland Auto (Pressure test, labour, gas, oil & fluoro dye) $140
I also replaced the cabin air filter for $42 from repco although to be honest the quality of the repco filer does not seem as good as the original (time will tell I guess)

Here are the steps I followed (or at least should have followed):
Passenger Side
1. Remove the glove box (+- 6 screws)
2. Unclip all the cables and remove the car computer (I got it out without removing the computer but I needed some beers to calm down, perhaps that was a bonus)
3. Remove the fan unit (1 nut, 3/4 screws) it slides out to the left and may require a bit of patients without the computer removed it was almost impossible
4. Remove the cover for the evaporator (6/7 screws)

Engine:
5. Degas by pressing the valve in (use a rag to make sure you don't spray oil in your face)

Drivers Side:
6. Remove the plastic cover over the aircon pipes (1 screw)
7. Remove the 2 hex screws that are holding the evaporator in place

Passenger Side:
8. The evaporator will now be lose so you should be able to pull it out easily
9. Remove the slide at the bottom of the evaporator and put it onto the new evaporator
10. Remove the old sensors from the evaporator and put it into the same spot on the new evaporator
11. Slide the new evaporator into place

Now go though all the steps in reverse. I only removed the computer at the end when I could not get the fan unit back in easily but it would have saved me about 20 minutes if I had done it at the start. Total time took about 2.5 hours. The prices you've been quoted don't sound too bad however.

Glove Box Removed

Evaporator Cover Removed

Driver Side Cover Before Removal

Drivers Side - Hex Bolts

Evaporator Removed

Thanks to Andrew for the original post. Hope this provides a bit more info for anyone wanting to give it a bash.

Here is the list of evaporators:
https://view.publitas.com/cooldrive-...logue/page/406

Enjoy
Thomas

[raoakbar Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close raoakbar]

Dear All,
I am a new member in this forum and did nit find the way to start a new topic. So I am using this existing thread to post my question.
I have Prado 2008, VX. My Car AC evaporator failed twice in almost 5 years. I got the help of a reputed workshop to replace it first time. It worked fine for almost 5 years. After 2nd failure I went to another mechanic who replaced the evaporator. After this, AC works fine only when the temperature is set to "Max Cold" but when I set it to any other temperature like 18 C or above, it starts blowing hot air on passenger side while maintaining cold air on driver side. Different modes of blower like Front, Floor and Dual are also not working. Another observation is that when I increase temperature set point to maximum like 25 C and above in auto mode, the blower speed increases and decreases when temperature setting is decreased although it should be the other way. Can anyone please help me understand what is the actual problem and how to fix it?

[Adventuretime Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Adventuretime]

Hi There - I'm curious to learn if you know whether or not the evaporator in a 150 Prado can be removed similar to that of a 120 series? Thanks in advance!!

For anyone else asking this question I can tell you unfortunately it’s not. I did mine just this weekend and it’s a good 10 hour + job. The access to the evaporator is on the rear side of the AC box up against the firewall. The whole dash needs to come out, the metal cross bar needs to be pulled forward and the windscreen wipers also need to come off as there’s a single bolt engine side that goes through to help hold the cross bar on. Also the heater core pipes need to be disconnected.

[KLC Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close KLC]

Hi All
I have a Prado Grade 2003 KZJ120 series. Please correct me if am wrong, but reading these posts am I right to say that yo CAN replace the evaporator via the glove box?
Just got quoted $1600 to remove/replace AC compressor and leaking evaporator, labour being 3.75 hours.
Was horrified and just want to know if it seems accurate?

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

Seems ok for both of those parts

[Chookie316 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Chookie316]

Hi I know this is quite an old post however I have a 2007 prado gxl and the aircon has gradually died although it’s a bit colder on the drivers side to passengers and apparently the back is still quite cold. I’ve been told they can pressure test it re gas it and see how it goes but there is a high chance of it being the evap cooler and if it’s dual zone will need to remove dash can go through glove box etc if it’s not though
I guess the question is can this be done through the glovebox

[Goldprado2007 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Goldprado2007]

Hi All, Looking for the air conditioning condenser temperature switch/sensor on a 2007 gxl with dual zone. Where is it located? Checked everything else, motor, fuse and relay work fine but the fan doesnt come on when idle. Thanks

[campbell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close campbell]

Mine's the same, fuse and relay OK, fan works if I connect it to 12v but won't come on when it should. See my photo with the yellow arrow. Do you also have that unused plug? What is it for?