Finding a new evaporator for NA6

Paolo · Postby **Paolo** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:22 pm

Hi,
My partner has had her MX5 for 8 years now. She loves that car....

Its air conditioning system recently stopped working due to a leak in the evaporator.
Does anyone know where I could buy a new evaporator?
The only one that I have been able to find so far is from a US listing on Ebay:-
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-Miata ... Desc=0%7C0

Does anyone know if this part would fit a RHD MX5?

Many thanks,
Paolo

SuperMazdaKart · Postby **SuperMazdaKart** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:52 pm

Probably should ask your local electrician/air-con servicing workshop. Someone with an air-conditioning gas license will need to re-gas the car anyway (not legal or recommended to do yourself) after fitting a new evaporator so they might as well do the whole job & find a replacement for you too.

Might possibly cost you more to have them source one for you but will be less work & be more convenient. Might even save you money too if you later found out you bought the wrong part for you car because at some point Mazda did a parts revision at some point..

Paolo · Postby **Paolo** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:05 am

Hi SuperMazdaKart,
Thanks for your reply.
My local mechanic was stumped with the system leaking. He checked the system using pressurised air...no apparent leaks...dye in (to show where leak is...if there is a leak)...regas....leakage of refrigerant over a 2 day period...called in specialist who pressurised nitrogen into the system at a much higher pressure than the air that the mechanic put in. A leak was found at the evaporator (under the dash).

No part was found available with both usual mechanic sources (like Burson) and auto-electrical/car air-con sources...none available from Mazda either.

At a bit of a dead end at the moment. A LHD application like the one in the link that I posted may or may not fit a RHD vehicle like my partner's. The US supplier couldn't comment.

I had just hoped that a fellow MX5CarTalk member had come across the same problem....

Still hopeful.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:47 am

I doubt a LHD one would fit, since the way it's mounted behind the dash is pretty snug.

Plus, I think that the US at that time were using a different standard for AC gas than Australia, so it's possible that US components arent suited to our gas (not sure if it's an issue these days, since I dont believe the old gas is allowed to be used)

As far as sourcing one, I think the simplest option is to source one from a wrecked car, or ask some of the people on here who race their MX5s.
usually Aircon and it's related components are the first thing to be removed from a racecar.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 11:28 am

1989-1993 NA6 used an R-12 refrigerant while the 1993-1997 NA8 used an R-134A refrigerant, & R-134a has been used to replace R-12 since the 1990s. This might be contributing to the NA6 part not being easily found or available. A check of the (US) big forum, ie miata.net could shed some more light on the subject.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:30 pm

Golly, I guess our cars are getting really old and parts are becoming unavailable.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:18 pm

If you know the Mazda part number for the evaporator core used in Australia in the NA6 you could probably get it from Amayama <https://www.amayama.com/en>, but would have thought a good local/local-ish automotive AC specialist would be able to assist.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:30 pm

bruce wrote:Golly, I guess our cars are getting really old and parts are becoming unavailable.

Yours (I believe) & mine are 25 in 43 days.

mx589 · Postby **mx589** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:25 pm

I can sell you a 2nd hand one from a working car or a good ac guy can prob chase you up a new one or always try mazda for one

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:38 pm

!
Buy a new one - I would personally ring around a few Mazda dealers (or buy from Amaya).
Buying 2nd hand is just that, a lottery. The second had item is already OLD.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:47 pm

Paolo says in his second post that the part isn't available from Mazda.
This is the same situation that I encountered with my quest for a Wiper Switch for my 17 yo NB8B.
My Auto Electrician could not source one either but thanks to advice on this Forum I was able to get the OE Mazda part from Amayama.

Paolo · Postby **Paolo** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:15 pm

93_Clubman wrote:If you know the Mazda part number for the evaporator core used in Australia in the NA6 you could probably get it from Amayama <https://www.amayama.com/en>, but would have thought a good local/local-ish automotive AC specialist would be able to assist.

I got a bit excited for a minute there. Mazda says that the part number is N007-61-J10. Unfortunately, Amayama doesn't list this part.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:52 pm

Paolo wrote:US listing on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-Miata ... Desc=0%7C0
Does anyone know if this part would fit a RHD MX5?

So options appear to be:
If possible, repair the old NA6 evaporator with an aluminum welding product;
Buy a used NA6 evaporator locally; or
Buy a new NA6 evaporator locally (if available) or OS.
In terms of a new NA6 evaporator, think you need to look at pics at below links as well as your old evaporator to determine if a new item from OS will fit:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Miatamecca- ... 100623.m-1
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Miatamecca- ... 100623.m-1
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Miatamecc ... 100623.m-1
About the best price:
https://www.ebay.com/p/A-C-Evaporator-C ... 100623.m-1

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 4:03 pm

Some Mazda part numbers: N007-61-J10; N001-61-J10; & NA75-61-520D:
http://do-da.co.jp/sun-mec/na61/na61_6150.html
Some aftermarket part numbers which might help with find one locally:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/New-A-C-Evap ... /537635165
NEW A/C EVAPORATOR
This is a list for a brand new replacement A/C Evaporator
The brand is Universal Air Conditioner ("UAC"), one of the top selling quality brands in the industry.
Applications:
1990-1993 Mazda Miata 1.6L
1994-1997 Mazda Miata 1.8L
OEM and Competitor Interchange:
Advance Auto Parts: T54169
Autocomp Technologies: 50939696
Compressor Works: 775109
Four Seasons: 54169
Frigette: 249571
Global Parts Distributors: 4711274
Mazda: NA7561520D
NAPA: 288331
NAPA: TEM288331
Omega: 2720181
Oreilly Auto Parts: 54169
Ranshu: 592571
Ready-Aire/Proliance: 6768
TRAD AUTOMOTIVE: E507
Visteon: 730258
Specifications:
Brand: UAC
Manufacturer Part Number : EV939696AC
Assembled Product Weight: 5.05 oz
Assembled Product Dimensions (L x W x H): 16.46 x 9.69 x 10.79 Inches

Paolo · Postby **Paolo** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:35 pm

Thanks for all of your considerable input here, 93_Clubman! Much appreciated.

I do know that part number N007-61-J10 (genuine) is the one that I need.

I am keen to locate a new one (rather than used) so I think (as you suggested) that I will need to remove the old one first so that I can at least compare it to photos of the OS ones.

Cheers,
Paolo