Need an Honest Mechanic to Replace the Evaporator in my XJS!!

So, what now? Are you just going to drive around A/C-less or, are you going to bite-the-bullet and try to find the most competant diagnostic/repair source? I ask this because I am in the same predicament! Through not going to a real specialist (or a Jaguar Dealer), I just forked out over $1,700 only to hear that the problem is a leak in the evaporator that would cost me another $4,500 to replace! I think it is a cop-out...they just did not really know what they were doing and just threw parts at it. .Although they advertise themselves as Jag specialists, they really are not properly trained or equipped. However, as someone mentioned earlier in the thread, A/C systems are nothing more than A/C systems, with much in common with all other vehicles. That makes some sense and causes me to wonder if a smart next-step for thrifty chaps such as we, is to try to find the most reputable local A/C repair specialty firm for a second opinion? Living in Canada and with Winter approaching, my resolution needs are not urgent. Having a forum such as this to discuss ideas is great. I am glad that you took the time to originate this helpful thread. I am also very interested in reading how your situation (hopefully) progresses.

William, thank you for your final advice. But, I'll just let it go and try to learn from the experience. It has been since Feb. when all this came to light and then was probably when I should have taken some action. Summing up, I think the mechanic in question probably took the "let's replace everything approach" as one gentleman suggested. Why is up to interpretation. He seemed very knowledgeable and has all the equipment plus years of experience. Perhaps, he just took the most expensive route to fix my car and had no qualms about doing it that way. As the French say "Such is Life." Jim

My next suggestion would be to contact your approprait consumer protection agency!

Gentleman, KUDOS all around. You all give sound info and advice, especially Mr. Brady. I did politely ask the mechanic based on what had happened if he would put in the new evaporator and give me some kind of reduction in the labor. He said no. Background: I have given this man several thousand dollars over the last 3 years for other repairs that seem to fix the problems I had with the Jag. This problem (ac) started last Aug. when I drove back to DC from Wilmington. He had finished putting in all the other ac equipment and said he thought it would function properly. Two hours into my trip to DC the ac when out. Once in DC I called him and told him of the situation. He said when I returned to Wilmington in Jan. of this year, he would check it out. I really don't want to pursue this matter with him any further. I am probably part to blame for not being more assertive during the whole process, which is unusually for me since I am not a shrinking violet!! Thanks, again for you help and advice. Jim

First your mechanic is NOT or, he just took the most expensive way to do the work! Usually, fittings are the most common leak cause, they can be found, simply by checking for a sign of the leak (oil traces at all fittngs), including the charge valves, and tightening/resealing likely leaks. The system is likely empty so the first action would be to pull a vacuum on the system and see if it holds. Often you can hear the vacuum leak. If you do, fix it. The system should then be charged using a dye laced oil. if the system does leak slowly than you will have the dye trace to pinpoint it. If I were you I would go back to your mechamic and discuss his method and press him to accept responsibility for the poor repair method and suggest a compromise. you pay for all parts and he donated the labour!

Somehow you have co-mingled the word honest with skilled. I do not use the dye Dick mentioned as if you have a leak in the evap. you will not see it. Your mech. could have found the leak prior to the parts swap. It only takes a little to charge the system and if you use a good sniffer tool you will find the leak--not as quick as the dye but just as good.

Each mechanic approaches a job differently. There ia an ultra-violet dye that can be put in to an A/C system. Where ever it leaks out, there is a stain from the dye that shows up under a UV light. This system is not a rare system and unless the leak is so apparent that it is audiable, the system leaves no doubt as to where the leak is occuring. I have been working on Jaguars for close to 40 years and have yet to replace a evaporator due to leakage. Somewhat of a highly overated job. Almost always at a hose junction or a rub through on the condensor. I have seen them leak though, just not as common as you are led to believe.
As mentioned by George, it is a rather involved job to replace the condensor and as such is labor intensive. Inferring that a mechanic is somehow dishonest because he charges a lot for this job is liable to get you off on the wrong foot so to speak. It sounds like you got the gunshot approach repair method. In other words, if you can't find the problem, just change a bunch of parts. When that does not work, change the rest of the parts. I find it is better to find the problem first and repair it. With changing a lot of parts, you will not know what the problem was if that method fixed it.

Thank you. Will Do. As an aside, the mechanic replaced the condenser, compressor, heater valve, drier and expansion valve, saying it was necessary to trace the leak. And, finally he found the evaporator was leaking. Does that progression sound legit? Just curious even though now it is water over the dam. Thanks, again. Jim P. S. He found the leak by putting in freon and recharging the sytem, thereby finding that the evaporator was leaking.

James I suggest you contact/ join the North Carolina Club (information is found in the club list above) and seek their guidance. Changing the evaporator as you have been told is a big and costly job. I am not sure what you mean by slack in the labor but if I read it right you want the job done for less money than you have been quoted. If so that will end up being false economy. To do that job you want someone that KNOWS what they are doing or your problems will just be multiplied. It also sounds like someone did not know what they were doing when they "replaced everything associated with the AC". Why do that--just find and fix the problem. Possibly you will find a skilled and knowledgable tech. that knows what they are doing and so in need of work they will do the job for less than their skills demand--good luck!