REPLACING THE AC EVAPORATOR ON 2007 TUNDRA 4.7

Truck just went over 230,400 miles and the AC started blowing warm air. Took it to Firestone and the replaced the Freon, and place some tint inside to find out if there was a leak. Use the truck for two months and it went out again. Took it back and they found out that the evaporator was leaking.
To replace the evaporator (according to ASA and Chilton Labor guides) it take 9 hours to replace the AC Evaporator. Firestone and the Toyota dealer has it at 9 hours. All because they have to remove the dash in order to replace the evaporator. Took it to Firestone because I know the mechanic and the Branch Manager. It took them 3 days to replace the evaporator and a total cost of 860.00 (employee price). Particular customer price would of been 1209.00. cant complain, Dealer wanted 1400 and some change.

Here are pics of the dash assembly:


This is what the truck looked when they removed the whole dash:



After all that, i had a minor problem with the interior dome lights (but they corrected it) they forgot to plug in a couple of things but the mechanic knew exactly which plug.

Been working fine since. AC at full blast no issues. Cold as new. Replaced the in-cabin air filter and smells like new again.

 

Wow! That's labor intensive! As much as I like to do my own work, I would have gladly paid someone to do that!

 

Holly CRAP, thats some major dash surgery.

 

Honestly guys, Living in Texas you need the AC. Especially on those days that the temp goes above 100. I would of never remove the dash, and I only trusted the mechanic who did it because he has already done 4 in dash removals on 2nd generation TUNDRAS.

I asked the mechanic how many miles on those vehicles that he worked on, he said that all of them had over 200 thousand miles on them before the evaporator went broke.

 

I have 55xxx miles on my 08 Tundra and the Evap went out on me... I feel that I got the lemon of the bunch. Evap bad, rear wheel bearings bad, bed rot, radio glitching, air injection pumps went out... all this when it was under 50k and some under 30k miles. I've owned the truck since brand new. Bought Dec 2008 with 20 miles on it.

A/C I am attempting myself. Took Auto Main. Tech at Rankin Tech and worked in shops for a few years before I realized its not what I want to do for a living. Took a hobby and turned it into a job and just got burned out. SO it looks like I'll save myself the $1200 but add a headache to my weekend.

 

I shudder when I think of repairs like that.....

 

Sorry but i would faint like a ******, thwn beat up someone if I saw my truck like that!!!!!! Even if I am paying you to fix the evap......

You have the privilege to knock my ass out after, then when am up the job is complete

 

Just think...lots more cabin space................