Evaporator Core
The HVAC component located inside the dashboard that absorbs heat from the cabin air, cooling and dehumidifying it.
The evaporator core (often called the evaporator) is an aluminum heat exchanger located deep inside the vehicle's dashboard HVAC housing. When the air conditioning system is running, low-pressure liquid refrigerant flows into the evaporator, where it absorbs heat from the cabin air blown across its fins by the blower motor.
As the refrigerant absorbs heat, it boils and evaporates into a gas, cooling the aluminum fins. The blower motor blows air through these cold fins, delivering chilled air to the cabin vents. Moisture in the air also condenses on the cold fins, dehumidifying the cabin. This water is collected and drains out under the vehicle through a drain tube.
Because it is located inside the dashboard, replacing a leaking evaporator core is a labor-intensive repair, often requiring the removal of the entire dashboard assembly. Symptoms of a failed evaporator include a lack of cold air, a sweet chemical smell inside the car (refrigerant leak), or a clogged drain tube causing water to puddle on the passenger floor.