I consider Four Seasons a good brand of a.c. parts. Have used several of their a.c. parts on both Concordes I had with no problem. Spectra may also be good - I just don't have any experience with them. Wouldn't be surprised if they are the same part just different branding/box.

I don't know the diff. between 93018 and 98018 heater cores - tried to find out, but no luck. Applications list for both are the same. Eenie meenie minie moe.

I'd go with Four Seasons or Spectra to save $75. Other brands unknown.


Other parts to consider replacing:
• Receiver/drier (especially if system had leak and sat discharged for any length of time - IOW, air and moisture entered the system)
• Expansion valve Four Seasons 39080
• Get the Four Season 26807 seal kit just to get the o-rings to replace any whose joints are opened (some o-rings may or may not be included with related parts, but better to have and not need than need and not have).

 

Peva - thanks as always! 8 months ago I changed the dryer and expansion valve - along with the compressor and the condenser - The systems been open from the leak so I see replacing the dryer, but what about the expansion valve?

 

I had forgotten the previous a.c. work. Don't see a reason to replace exp. valve again.

 

Thanks!

 

Quick question - should change any hoses while we are in there? Can the hoses be reached under the hood latter if they go bad?🔦🔧🧰👨🏼‍🔧

 

Not even sure the a.c. hoses are available for purchase any more (unless you have custom ones made up). Unless you see an obvious deterioration in a particular hose, probably let sleeping dogs lie. The most common failures on the a.c. hoses are corrosion pin holes on the metal liquid line running inboard of the passenger-side fender where the clamps attach them to the body - moisture gets trapped between the clamp and the liquid line - you might see some corrosion (IIRC, greenish) on the metal line right at the clamps.

The lines are accessible for replacing if they should go bad later.

But your thinking is correct in that if you had a crystal ball to predict if a line is going to fail before the car goes to the scrapper, it would be a good idea to replace it now as there is a not-insignificant fixed refrigerant (maybe some PAG oil too) cost and labor/time to open, re-seal, pump down, and re-charge the system.

 

Thanks- what about the heater lines - should I swap them while I am changing the heater core? Any bend doors or foam I should do too?

 

Up to you about replacing the heater hoses depending on what you know or don't know when/if they were last changed. If you don't know and they look rough, maybe replace them. However factory heater hoses last much, much longer than most aftermarket heater hose.

If you're asking about the HVAC blend, mode, and recirc. doors and actuators, no need to replace unless they currently have problems. If you can buy the evaporator or HVAC foam rubber kits, might as well replace it.

 

thanks as always!