where can i access the evaporator for the AC?? from the engine bay?? i'm getting a nice smell from the hvac and was told to clean out the evaporator coils???

 

The evaporator is under the dash on the passenger side. I'm not sure on the 2000's but the 02 and 03's you can see it when you remove the cabin filter. Probably remove the glove box and see if there is a panel for the filter. Weren't they an option in 2000? It is to the left of the panel opening. Vacuum out any debris and spray Lisol in there.

 

aaaah.

when you open up the filter slit, it's the thing on the left, correct? i know exactly what you're talking about. i just changed my filter two days ago and saw that. but it was so dark in there, i just thought it was another screen. so if that's it, how the heck are you supposed to clean it??? i'd want to clean it off with a rag or something.

also, if that's the evaporator, wouldn't there be a drain underneath it somewhere??? can i spray some kind of cleaner in there, if it's all metal maybe even acetone, and then spray it off with a spritzer bottle and let it all drain out???

 

The drain tube runs through the fire wall. The best way to clean it would be to remove the whole evaporater but that would involve evacuating the A/C system. If you have a filter it shouldn't be too dirty. Just try Lysol. You need something to kill mold. I wouldn't use acetone. The evaporater is metal but sits in a plastic tray.