Replace Your Car's AC Thermal Expansion Valve or Orifice Tube
Your car or truck's AC system is under extreme pressure and the thermal expansion valve or orifice tube monitors the amount of pressure and the temperature of your A/C system. It calculates the precise amount of refrigerant that can safely go into the evaporator. A failing expansion valve or orifice tube often causes a vehicle's air conditioner to blow hot air.
Replace or Repair
- Expansion Valves: Too much refrigerant causes your evaporator to get too cold whereas too little refrigerant would result in inadequate cooling. The expansion valve is a complex valve that regulates refrigerant flow. This process of metering the refrigerant adjusts the flow according to the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator coil. Talk to one of the pro mechanics at Wicke Auto Service and Body Co., as this part can be replaced on its own and does not require the entire replacement of the AC assembly.
- Orifice Tubes: Unlike the expansion valve, the orifice tube is a simple fixed device with no moving parts. It therefore cannot vary the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, but rather causes a permanent restriction in the system. However, like the expansion valve the orifice tube regulates refrigerant flow through the system and filters debris which may come through in its screen. Often fixing a "bad orifice tube" requires replacing the entire evaporator assembly.
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Joe Born, 05/16/2024My daughter’s Chrysler was stalling. They diagnosed it, researched the issue, figured out it required the dealer, gave us an assessment that it was ok to drive home, which was a huge relief, because my daughter was graduating and would have been stuck without the car to get home. Total charge? Zero. Now they knew she was going home, they’ll never see her again. What motivation did they have for not charging her anything? Just one as best I can tell: they are honest decent people. Thank you, Jeff, from the bottom of my heart. You go to the mechanic, hoping they’ll repair your car, but sometimes they restore your faith in humanity.