Just got back with the truck and here are a few observations:
- Is it a drastic difference? No, but it is noticeably better. I didn't have a thermometer with me but over the 45 min drive home in 97 degree weather, it blows colder. It's the first time I've ever had this truck have any "bite" blowing on my arm. Have I felt colder air? Heck yes. The crappy Dodge Caravan rental blows colder but if Ram had had this AC from the beginning this forum would have fewer threads (i.e. not an issue.)
- No one has mentioned the new car smell! The second I got in it was almost overpowering - all that new HVAC box plastic. Definitely one way to tell if your dealer has done the TSB or not.
- Another way to tell if the dealer actually did the work is to look at the condensate drain in the engine compartment. No way to fake that (unless they went to the trouble to clean it really good) as the only way to change that doodad is to remove the dash.
- Very happy with Autonation Spring as it took 3 days like they said and everything works like it did before with no apparent squeaks or rattles.
Overall, I'd say do it if you are on the fence. I went to a dealer another poster used (with no issues) so that I wasn't the guinea pig.
Another observation.
I had installed the heater core bypass valve two years ago and it's awesome. Before that I had noticed that when stopped at a light, when my engine shutoff (ETorque) the vent temp quickly got warmer until it was uncomfortable and the engine would restart to cool again. Maybe 45 seconds. With the bypass valve closed, the truck would sit off at a light for up to 2.5 minutes with barely any warming of the air. That showed how much heater core bleed through there was in the original HVAC box.
Now that I've had the TSB done, it acts at lights (in 95 degree weather) like the bypass valve is closed when it's actually open. The truck shuts off at a light and blows cold/cool air for over two minutes and is very pleasant.
That, combined with the fact that my cheap Advance Auto bypass valve is now leaking is why I'm removing it. It's just not needed any more.