Aftermarket Evaporator Core for G2 Spyder?

[OneDopeRide]

Heya! My AC has been busted for a few years now so I finally decided to get it fixed. Two independent shops have determined that the evaporator core will need to be replaced.

A mom and pop shop quoted me $1450 parts and labor for an OEM one. They quoted me about $850 (p+l) for one with an aftermarket core. The dealer quoted me $1550 for an OEM one (p+l).

I have a couple questions:

• Has anyone replaced the evaporator core in a G2 Spyder GS and if so what is the part number and manufacturer? How long have you used it, how well has it worked? The mom and pop place is concerned that aftermarket ones might not even fit correctly.
• There is quite a price difference between the OEM and aftermarket cores. Why is this? Is the aftermarket one going to be a flimsy piece of junk that will break in a year?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[GofaST4life]

that seems like a A LOT of money for the core, you could always try a junk yard for a used one...IMO i wouldnt even bother with it, i took my A/C out...whats the point anyway, its a Spyder

 

[OneDopeRide]

Yeah you're right, it is a ton of money. The number of labor hours I have got so far is between 6.75 and 9. Once I find a good aftermarket core I'll start shopping around for a better price on the labor.

My concern about taking whatever I can find or grabbing a junkyard one is that the labor is the bulk of the bill. If I get a bunk one then I'll be spending a ton of $ just to get another one.

More ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[fatherbubble]

&^$% that $%^&&!!!!! I just redid my hole AC system for under 800. A AC compressor should run you 200 - 300 the evaporator should only cost you 50-100 the condenser should only be about 150 at the most. The filter thing should cost you 50 bucks. Its not hard to do it yourself. Just pull everything off. And when you get it together just goto a shop an have them charge the AC. Napa has some good parts that are OEM equipment if not go with $- season AC compressor the other stuff for the AC is all generic. Labor for doing all that should be about 4 hours or so. The going rate here for that is 60 - 75 hour. Another thing when you buy from a shop like that they get there parts for your car at a discount. the AC compressor I was going to have a shop use was a 4-season but he wanted like 350 for it. I found out it was costing him 200. Thats the same price I seen abounch at Autozone for. So dont let them get you over. Cost is up on everything so everyones trying to get as much as they can for nothing.

 

[icekilla126]

You should do it yourself... But if your car still has freon in it dont take it apart untill you have someone empty it. Dont worry about an aftermarkert evaporater theyll last just as long as your stock one if the fit right.

 

[fatherbubble]

Heres what I'm saying
NAPAONLINE®
NAPAONLINE®
NAPAONLINE®
NAPAONLINE®

 

[OneDopeRide]

Exactly icekilla126, I want the aftermarket parts, but because I will be paying most of the $ in labor costs I want one that I *know* works.

Fatherbubble: I appreciate the advice. Just to clarify: the Napa one you linked is the one that you used in your 96 (G2) TSI? If it worked well then I think I can assume it works in the 1999 Spyder GS as well and grab that one. Your info is much appreciated.

Anyone else have any evaporator cores that they have personally used in a G2?

 

[OneDopeRide]

I took at look at prices over at JNZ and what's going on here? The evaporator for the turbos and 2.4L is more than twice as much as the one for the 2.0 and non-turbo models.

What gives?

 

[Defiant]

Before you dig that hole, I say it's not the evaporator. It's the control unit.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/problem-diagnosis/269945-c-control-unit-ecu-ac-ac-ac-ac-ac-ac.html

 

[OneDopeRide]

Yeah, it's definitely the evaporator core, they said it was leaking.

Any more ideas on working, aftermarket cores for the G2 2.4L cars are much appreciated!

 

[Defiant]

Check 1-800-RADIATOR

 

[clarkandrew45]

I took at look at prices over at JNZ and what's going on here? The evaporator for the turbos and 2.4L is more than twice as much as the one for the 2.0 and non-turbo models.

What gives?

That was pretty much costly. The turbos 2.4L has twice more the price for evaporator than 2.0 and non-turbo models? I thought they only has the same or not much higher price difference.

 

[ktgurl87]

You do realize this thread is 2 years old right? And even so, your response doesn't make much grammatical sense to me.