, a'99 Windstar heater box modsnyone here cut it?

[wiswind]

I had the evaporator coils replaced on my '96.
I had it done by my local mechanic......major labor job.
They told me much what you have found.......FORD modified this part, so you have to buy the whole assembly $$$$.
My shop located a aftermarket coil for around $125.
It was STILL a lot of labor to replace.....but $125 was better than the $450 that was quoted for the FORD unit.
3 years later, it is still doing just fine......
I figured that if the OEM system worked just fine for 10 years......If a replacement was good for another 10.......good enough for me.

HOWEVER, what my shop did was to add a dye to the A/C system.......and was able to determine FOR SURE that it was the evaporator core that was leaking before all the expense and time to replace.
It is worth the small extra effort due to the labor expense involved.

If doing the work yourself.....Rockauto lists the front evaporator core for under $100.
Make sure to be careful and get the FRONT unit......not the rear unit.

When doing this repair, make sure to maintain the proper drainage for the water that you get from the condensation from the evaporator core.....lots of water that is supposed to drain through a tube that passes through the firewall into the engine compartment.

Also read up on proper A/C system work.....involving the sealed refrigerant system.
There may be local laws regarding this type of work.
Shops are required to have a recovery system to prevent the refrigerant from leaking into the atmosphere.
In fact.....up until a couple years ago, we could not even buy the R-134 refrigerant in Wisconsin without a license for this type of work.....no DIY'er walking into AutoZone and buying it off the shelf.

[bob duggett]

I have a windstar that had a busted blend door. After getting jerked around by some shops and looking at some online DIY options, I came across this thing called heatertreater . It has done the job, you go in through the glovebox and make a cut so you don't have to disassemble the dash and it saves a ton of labor. It has been working smooth this season. Though I'm assuming busted evap coils coming up next Nonetheless thanks for the tips!

[wiswind]

Evap coils......let's hope that you don't have that coming up.
MAJOR labor.
Now, I needed them for my '96 (front blower box unit).
FORD has a improved part, that requires the WHOLE assembly be replaced......around $450.
My mechanic located a aftermarket unit that was to the old "unimproved" style that was about $125.