a/c smugglers box fan

[amersbell]

I have a smugglers box fan that is making alot of noise. I also have another one from a fellow pelican head. Can I just seperate the top half of the old one, so I don't have to pull the whole thing out, and replace just the top half with the new one or will that mess up the whole fan?

[amersbell]

anybody???

[cmonref]

You can separate the top half of the evaporator box, but it is tedious work. The alternative is to recover the refrigerant, open the system, and take the whold unit out -- then reassemble and vacuum and recharge the AC system.

First, pull the temperature sensor probe from the evaporator box. Mark how far it was in the hold. Do not crimp the "wire" in the process. Then remove the four wires (make a diagram of which one goes where).

The top part is held on to the bottom part with four clips. The clips move laterally, and when they come lose, they might fall to the bottom of the smuggler's box. One end of the clip has a small hole in it -- just right to insert a piece of wire to hold on to the elusive rascal when you slide it off.

After removing the four clips, remove the top. Replacing the motor is a simple process from there.

Put the top part into its position. Hook up the wires. Run the motor to make sure it clears the evaporator. Adjust if necessary.

Now the tedious part -- getting the four clips back on. Use the wire to hole the clip during installation -- you will lose ALL of them in the process if you don't! I use a long pair of needle-nosed plier with a 45 degree offset to do this. Then reinsert the temperature sensor probe in the hole to the same depth as when you took it out. Should be about 3-3-1/2".

[amersbell]

Brian,

Thanks. I am replacing the compressor due to major leak. Therefore I don't have any freon to recover. I am replacing it and the dryer. Also possibly replacing all the hoses.

[cmonref]

If your system is empty, then by all means remove the whole evaporator box. Before you lift it out, remove the passenger's footboard and remove the return duct that is in the bulkhead behind the footboard. You cannot remove the evaporator until you remove this duct.