VT heater core needs replacing - AC evaporator too??

[rantin'n'raven]

Hi

It seems like my heater core has packed it in (diagnosed by me here, thankyou JC) - and after chasing around every mechanic in town - the local Holden dealer is the only joint that will touch it! Which is fine, however, I am wary. So wary in fact that I normally send my other half to get works done on the car coz I feel as though they see a chick coming and go "what extras can we throw in that she doesnt really need?". Sounds bad I know, but it has happened to me too many times before. And Im a gal who works in a male dominated industry, and is no way 'scared' of blokes or chauvenism, but I'm not confident enough with the mechanical side of cars to really stand up for myself in this case...

Anyway, enough of the venting, when I asked for a quote to have the heater core replaced, I was advised they would need to purchase 4 items/parts:
1. The heater core (duh)
2. Replacement coolant
3. AC re-gas
4. AC evaporator.

All up for parts and labour (6hrs) $1125.50!!! I was guestimating maybe $800-900...

The reason stated for replacing the AC evap was that "if the heater core is had it, then the AC evaporator probably isn't too far behind". So they may as well do it whilst they are in there?

Does this sound right, or are they having a lend of me??... Any ideas?

Sorry thread is so long!

x S

[knowledge_is_power]

I would say depending on your budget and how long you think you will keep the car for, I would look at getting the evporator done at the same time. Its a really big job and the whole dash has to come out and you probably don't want to have to do this again. I've just had the whole dash and HVAC out and put back in myself, not for this problem though.

The re-gas alone, with new seals and air dryer receiver was $275 from an aircon place.

Jezz