mcfeeley1071

Since it is winter and the car is on jack stands, I think I am going to tackle the A/C evaporator leak I have.

My questions to you guys are...

1. Is there a better evaporator (more reliable) out there than OEM that I can get?

2. Where is the best place to order one?

Thanks for any help.

Stuart

95FL993CAB

Stuart, search is your friend. I am living this right now and the list has a lot of info. This is a well rehearsed subject for our cars.

mcfeeley1071

Thanks as I was posting I found the Kuehl Evaporator. I am thinking that is the way to go.

quasr

Might give this a look also. This past summer I replaced mine with this company's serpentine model and am very pleased. It also took replacing the A/C control unit in the cabin but the end result was amazing. This past summer was no problem where before the upgrade, I could not comfortably drive my 993 with a suit and not sweat it out. Conduct a search of my posts for my rebuild particulars. Best of luck!

http://www.griffiths.com/porsche/ac/964ac/index.html

Travis

Yep, that's on my to do list as well. Planning to go with the Griffiths core and other bits since everything will be apart. If I recall it's about 700 bucks in parts...

AX993

Stuart,
I replaced mine late this summer with the Griffiths Kuehl Serpentine Evaporator. So far so good !
I must say that the worst part of the job was not removing the gas tank (although a pita, it was pretty much straight forward), it was getting the airbox that contains the evaporator out. Lots of hoses and connections in and under the dash !

black ice

Did one of these in a 964 and it worked very well (improved cooling) - he's had no problems that I know of.

dave

jhummel68

Quasr, when you said that you had to replace the A/C control unit, is that necessary when going with Griffiths Kuehl or was that specific to the problem you had on your car. I've got to do the same thing. Are there any other modifications or extra parts that need to be had to do this project? I'm replacing the dryer and flushing the system (new o-rings) while it is apart.

993MAN

I used OEM, because when I saw what was involved there is no way I was going take the risk of using an aftermarket part. I might have been silly but that is one ***** of a job!
Anyway, I got a good deal on the new OEM unit from a P car specialist who ordered one for a client years ago and they never collected it.
May the force be with you on this one.

tj90

Dont feel bad 993 man - I replaced the stock unit with another OEM. I got a good deal on the 993 unit and did not want to take chances. I figured the first one lasted 12 years so it wasnt all that bad.

I believe Griffiths are reputable and stand behind their products. I dont think they have ever made wild claims about their products, but Id be suspicious if anyone claimed that the their unit was superior to OEM by more than 10%. The OEM unit is packed pretty dense. I dont see how a higher heat transfer could take place!

IIRC, the griffiths unit uses one type of alloy to minimize corrosion which eventaully rots through and freon starts to be lost.The factory unit weak spot is the type of solder they used apparently...

quasr

After replacing the evaporator, dryers, and all hoses, I was just not satisfied that the A/C was working like it should. There was not that much improvement after spending $1500 on parts and installation. I opted to replace the controller after I took it out and after fiddling with it, I screwed it up causing among other things, the bower under the wheel well to come on when I pushed the "max" A/C button. I then decided to replace the only possible weak link in the system and bingo, I hit the nail on the head. The air temperature coming out of my vents drastically improved and I can now drive my 993 with a suit (when I have to) in mid-summer and be totally cool.

griffiths

You don't have to replace the control unit to use the Kuehl unit, apparently there was an issue that vehicle's control unit and not related to the evaporator R&R.

Normal "other" R&R items when swapping out the evaporator are: o-rings, drier, refrigerant oil, and if you or your shop have access to "flushing" equipment (which can range from retail aerosol cans, a fill and pressurize with shop air canister, to a full blown automated flushing machine) it's savvy to flush the system just to insure there are no gremlins (sludge, metal particles, etc.).

There are no "major" modifications required to replace a stock evaporator with a Kuehl serpentine evaporator, however you do have to place a slight bend in the thermostatic probe (the 'meat thermometer) prior to inserting the probe into the Kuehl unit; instructions and notes about this minor tweek are included with the new Kuehl evaporator. The Kuehl unit comes with a new expansion valve attached as well as o-rings for the hose connections to the expansion valve's manifold.

Travis

Well, got the gas tank out last night. Siphoning the gas took forever, but at least I didn't spill gallons of gas...

Now on to the firewall and then on to airbox.

How often do the the expansion valves fail versus the evaporator?

tj90

Dont ask - just replace!

ZombiePorsche44

Mine was replaced with another OEM about two years ago with no install problems and more than sufficent cooling for my So Cal climate.

ZP44