re: F150 ac

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Most reputable shops also use a Freon “sniffer” for evaporator coil or areas that aren’t readily visible. I’d pay someone $850 to do an evaporator in a heartbeat, and I’m a former tech and shop owner. Dash work will have your hands looking like you knuckle-checked a strand of barbed-wire.

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Ford and GM both ought to be run out of business over this issue - probably dodge also but I am not familiar with them.

I was able to replace mine in my Tahoe without removing the dash but it required some judicial use of a finishing grinder and some fabrication to replace the pieces cut out but when done it couldn't be seen and the dash was as sound as the day it came from the factory....and the next time it needs replacing, and it will, it can be removed in about an hour.

There is a method to their madness....a lot of consumers will buy a new vehicle instead of forking over the $2000+ to replace a $100 part. Given that most of them fail at about 7 years or so its about time that most people are thinking about a new one anyway, especially among buyers who don't buy a new one every 2-3 years.

I know it isn't a popular idea but I drove that Tahoe for 2 years in New Mexico without AC and never really missed it. It wasn't as nice as having AC but most of the trips made in the vehicle were either short commutes where the AC wouldn't have cooled the vehicle any way OR long road trips where traffic was non existent. Admittedly the humidty in New Mexico is non existent but it wasn't nearly the nightmare my family made it out to be. I still run around town with the windows down and the AC off about as much as I don't. I was about 26 years old before I had a vehicle with AC anyway....in Georgia with humidity...and I survived.