Vacuuming evap housing to remove debris.. possible?

pretty sure I've had leaves, mud, sticks, bugs, animal remnants or something of the like fluttering around my evap housing for years. Removed the blower motor and looked fine.. now thinking the debris is in the evap housing.

Wondering if it's possible to remove the blower motor and get a vacuum in there? Is there enough room or will I need a special vacuum attachment? Maybe removing the blower motor and putting the vacuum on the blower setting and blowing out the debris by blowing through the center vents?

 

Hey Mitchell,
I did what you suggested last summer. After removing the fan, I first used a air blower attachment (from air compressor) to reach in as far as I could to loosen up all the dust on the evaporator core. As you know, it's tighter than a peckers hat when have to go underneath the dash. I used a mirror extension with a light to view the evaporator core. It's amazing how dirty they are. I would imagine if you live on a dirt road it would even look worse.
Warning!! Best to wear some safety glasses and a dust mask if you have it. Dust and mess will go everywhere! I then snaked the shop vac hose in as far as I could.
To finish it up, I used a can of Lubegard Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner. The directions state to insert the wand up through the evaporator drain outlet.



Lubegard 96030 Kool-It Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner

$15 Lubegard 96030 Kool-It Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007PHD0S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

so did you try to suck the stuff out from the blower motor area, or did you blow it out? I am thinking of removing the blower motor, sticking the vac blower into the center vents and blowing crap out of the hole where I removed the blower motor, so it all lands on the floorboard. Last thing I want to do is blow the stuff further into the duct work by blowing from where the blower motor is. Unless it's easy enough to snake a vacuum attachment through the blower motor hole. I worry about blowing larger debris like leaves or sticks further into the duct.. I want to try to get that out because the foam cleaner won't remove that stuff.

 

After I removed the fan, I vacuumed that area out and then proceeded to vacuum the area where the evaporator core is located. Again, I did use the mirror to look in and I only had lots of dust caked on the bottom evaporator fins. I didn't see any leaves, etc.
Your idea above is probably a better way to go, but I didn't have the center dash removed to be able to access that way.
"If" I ever do it again, I'll do what your are suggesting....blowing it out from the vent to the floorboard.

 

Good deal. I have had a rustling/rattling at highway speeds for years. I have a strong suspicion that leaves or sticks in there are the problem. I will let you know how it goes!

 

You can also get a few pvc fittings and adapt the shop vac hose size down to 3/4 inch heater hose. Pick up 2ft of 3/4 heater hose. Makes it easier to get in there.

 

I may do that if I can't get all the crap out by blowing through the vents. I have an inspection mirror to check my progress. If no luck removing stuff I'll head to Home Depot and try to retrofit something together.

 

My fan motor, a few months back.

 

The problem is my fan motor is fine. And when I remove it and drive around I don't hear the noise. So I'm sure the debris is in the evap housing

 

or this https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...sory-for-RIDGID-Wet-Dry-Vacs-VT1407/100206293

 

Damn rodents

 

sucks that a cabin air filter wasn't implemented. Because it would stop all the crap from getting into the blower and evap housing and ruining the evap core over time.

 

Nice, I could get that and some flex hose and suck all the junk out that way.

 

Mitchell, please keep us posted on the outcome. While you are doing the "Spring cleaning" I would highly recommend using the Evaporator & Heater Foam Cleaner. The mess that comes out the evaporator drain is pretty nasty.

 

Yeah, I had it done by the dealer probably 100k miles ago.

 

You can reach up through the blower motor hole with your phone camera and snap photos of the evaporator. It helps if you can snap photos with voice activation. It sometimes takes a few tries to get the correct angles and in focus.

Then you can get an extension kit for the vacuum with the smaller hoses and vacuum it out. Then reinspect with photos.

Keep your vent on recirculate when parked to prevent rodents from crawling in. On recirculate the intake at the cowl area is closed off.

 

Good idea, but I've heard the evaporator doesn't dry out as fast and forms mildew quicker. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. FWIW i never turn if off with the recirc door closed so I never have had a musty smell, but there is obviously some kind of debris in there.

 

You have to run through the cumbersome routine of turning off A/C, opening the vent, blasting air on high to dry out the evaporator for the last 1/2 mile of your drive, then parking and closing the vent.

Edit: Works well in AZ with our dry heat anyway.

 

When the vents are at the recirculate position there are passages open under the glove box (that are normally closed when in the fresh air position). So I don't think it makes a difference one way or the other. Maybe having it midway between fresh and recirculate would be better since both passages would be open.

The reason I suggested keeping it at recirculate when parked is to prevent rodents from getting in. Even if you want to leave it open to allow the evaporator to air out you should still do it when it's cold out and you're not using the AC.

 

It's not the hugest pain to pull the dash and disassemble. But it's a half day job. It'll probably be worth the effort to do to get it all cleaned out fully.

When I parted out my donor truck (54k miles supposedly garage kept) the evap housing was full of crap.

Actually pulled the blower motor a few hours ago because it sounded like holy hell on any speed:


Goddamn rodents.

And what fell out when I opened the recirc door w/ blower motor removed:


BTW I usually keep the recirc door closed. All this crap fell in once I opened it.