The butyl sealant between the case halves takes some effort to separate, and then the evaporator & cover can be removed forward & upward together. Obviously, even a good shop-vac can't clean the core thoroughly working only thru the blower opening. But removing the core from the case DOESN'T require opening the refrigerant system, so it can be done whenever necessary. Leaves in most trucks' HVAC systems come through the wiper valance slots ('80-86 only), or under the lower w/s trim (all years).

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I've taken several steps to reduce the quantity of leaves & grass that make it to the evaporator on my truck, but I haven't evaluated their effectiveness yet...

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Owner caption November 2009 · Photo 45 of 434