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Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement

The air conditioning system in your vehicle depends on the refrigerant that circulates in the A/C system. In particular, the evaporator core inside the passenger compartment requires a specific, metered amount of refrigerant in order to efficiently cool the interior. The expansion valve, also known as an orifice tube in some designs, regulates the pressure of refrigerant that enters the evaporator. The tube is also where liquid refrigerant under pressure converts to a gaseous form. The gaseous refrigerant absorbs heat from air passing through the evaporator core and carries it to the condenser where the heat is removed. In a situation where the orifice tube is either blocked or stuck open, the air conditioning will not cool properly. Too much refrigerant will cause frost on the core and prevent air from passing through to cool the air temperature. Too little refrigerant passing through the evaporator means not enough heat is absorbed and the interior is insufficiently cooled. In either situation, you may need to replace the expansion valve/orifice tube.

 

Air conditioning work needs to be completed by a trained and licensed professional in nearly all circumstances because refrigerants are regulated substances. | It is possible for the expansion valve to become blocked by excessive moisture in the air conditioning system, which would indicate a receiver/drier problem.

 

The AC refrigerant is removed from the system | The defective expansion valve is removed | The new expansion valve is installed | The a/c system is recharged with refrigerant | The a/c system is tested for leaks and proper operation

 

Whenever air conditioning repairs or refrigerant recharges are performed, have the expansion valve inspected for proper operation. If the expansion valve is not opening or closing properly, you may need one of our expert technicians to replace the expansion valve or orifice tube.

 

Air conditioning is a comfort item in a vehicle, not a safety issue. However, the air conditioning also removes moisture in the air for the defrost setting to clear your windows. If the air conditioning is not working properly, your vision may be impaired in humid or very cold weather.

Car Heater Blower Motor Replacement

The heater blower motor forces air through the vents. You are able to control the speed of the motor through switches, buttons, and dials on the dashboard. The motor contains a resistor which allows it to change the speed of the fan. Without this part you will not be able to change the speed of the airflow from the blower motor.

 

A bad connector can cause a heater blower motor to stop working, even if the blower motor is still in working condition. | Sometimes the heater blower motor stops working because it is jammed or stuck; in this case it can been repaired rather than replaced. | If the heater blower motor has been damaged by a fluid leak, then another component of your vehicle is malfunctioning and needs to be addressed.

 

Inspect electrical circuits to check for power and proper grounding to motor. | Remove and replace the faulty motor. | Confirm that the heater is working.

 

Due to the high amount of current, it is possible for the power connector to get too hot and melt. This will cause a bad connection and the heater blower motor will not work. Replacing the connector can fix this problem without the need for a new blower motor. Your mechanic should inspect the connector before replacing the heater blower motor.

 

In addition to providing you with hot air in cold weather, the blower motor is important in circulating air through your car.

Car Heater Blower Motor Resistor Replacement

The heater blower motor resistor is located underneath the dashboard in the heater/AC compartment. The resistor enables the heater blower motor to change the speed of the fan. Without this part you will not be able to change the speed of the airflow from the blower motor. It is also possible that the heater motor blower may not work at all. If the resistor has gone bad, it is likely that the fan will work only on the highest speed.

 

*If no air is coming out of your vents, you may have a problem with the heater blower motor as well as the resistor. * Mechanical resistance to the fan (such as when something gets stuck in the fan), can often cause damage to the heater blower motor resistor.

 

Inspect electrical circuits to verify faulty resistor. | Remove and replace the faulty resistor.

 

The air and heating system in your vehicle is a closed system, so it won’t be inspected during servicing and routine maintenance. If you notice any part of the air and heating system behaving bizarrely, however, you should always schedule an inspection. If your fan is stuck on high, you likely have a bad heater blower motor resistor, and should schedule to have it replaced.

 

To ensure proper operation of the blower motor, the resistor has to be working correctly or else you may end up with either no airflow from the fan or your fan will be stuck on one speed.

Car Heater Control Valve Replacement

The heater control valve is one of the many components that are responsible for warming the interior compartment. This valve controls the flow of coolant from the engine to the heater core. Most heater control valves are operated in three basic ways. A manual cable, a thermostat type system, or even engine vacuum can control them.

 

The heater control valve cannot be repaired, only replaced. | When the valve is replaced, a mechanic should inspect the other heater hoses, so that they can be replaced if need be. | If the heater control valve is contaminated or corroded, the coolant in the system should be flushed when the new valve is installed.

 

Pressure check the cooling system. | Test operation of the valve. | Replace the control valve if bad/leaking. | Fill with coolant. | Test operation of the heater.

 

Since the air and heating system is a closed system, a mechanic won’t be checking your heater control valve during routine inspections and services. Instead, keep an eye on your air and heating system, and schedule an inspection if you notice that anything is malfunctioning. If your heater either doesn’t work or won’t adjust, then you possibly have a malfunctioning heater control valve, and you should schedule an inspection.

 

If the heater control valve is leaking then you will end up with a loss of coolant, which will eventually cause the car to overheat. A properly working heater control valve ensures the proper functioning of the heating and AC system.

Car AC Accumulator Replacement

It takes a lot of technology to make the inside of your car comfortable during the heat of summer. And while you might be familiar with most of the major A/C components, like the compressor, chances are good that you may not be familiar with the accumulator, which is a lesser known part. The accumulator’s job is to help manage the flow of refrigerant through the system, remove unwanted moisture and debris, and ensure that internal components are protected from corrosion and damage. It does the same job as a receiver/drier.

 

The accumulator is a completely sealed system, so it can’t be inspected from the outside. | Debris can accumulate just as easily as moisture, and even moisture can be a threat when it exceeds the absorption capabilities of the desiccant. | When A/C system service is required, most recommend replacing the accumulator to avoid problems in the future.

 

The AC refrigerant is removed from the AC system | The defective AC Accumulator is removed from vehicle | The new AC Accumulator is installed with new O-rings | The AC system is put into a vacuum and then recharged with refrigerant | The vehicle is road tested for proper AC operation

 

Most experts recommend replacing it during major A/C repairs or service. Because the accumulator stores moisture and accumulates debris from the A/C system, it will need to be replaced eventually. If you suspect the accumulator needs to be replaced, have one of our expert mechanics change it for you.

 

Without a functional accumulator, your A/C system will not work properly. Additionally, if the system is left open during repairs or replacement (compressor replacement, for example), additional moisture can penetrate the system and saturate the desiccant in the accumulator. This in turn will lead to further corrosion within the system. Have one of our expert mechanics replace the accumulator with any major A/C system part replacements.

Car AC Compressor Relay Replacement

In order to operate, your air conditioning system needs to compress refrigerant to pressurize it. The compressor is both electronic and belt-driven. The AC compressor relay controls the supply of electricity. The AC compressor relay acts as a control, turning the compressor on and off when necessary. It may be located close to the compressor (under the battery tray, for instance), but it may also be located in the under-hood fuse box, or somewhere else depending on the make and model in question. However, like all other relays, this one is subject to wear and tear, and eventual failure over time.

 

The AC compressor relay is not inspected during normal maintenance, but a serious malfunction | will be noticeable during AC system recharges or other similar work. Without a working relay, the AC compressor will not operate.

 

The AC compressor relay is verified to see if it needs to be replaced | The defective AC compressor relay is removed | The new AC compressor relay is installed | The AC compressor relay is tested for operation | The vehicle is tested to ensure proper operation of the AC compressor relay

 

The AC compressor relay is an integral part of the system. Without an operable relay, electricity cannot be sent to the compressor, and it will not function despite having a good belt, good clutch and other components. If your compressor does not function, have one of our expert mechanics diagnose the system and replace the AC compressor relay if required.

 

Having a functional AC compressor relay is essential to air conditioner operation. While the blower motor will still circulate air in the cabin, that air will not be cold because the compressor isn’t pressurizing refrigerant. This isn’t critical for vehicle operation, but it does affect driver and passenger comfort and the ability to clear foggy windows. If the AC compressor relay has been diagnosed as faulty, have it replaced as soon as you can.

Car AC Compressor Replacement

An AC system has many components: compressor, condenser, receiver dryer, evaporator, and hoses. The compressor, the “heart” of the car’s air conditioning system works like a pump taking refrigerant, (R-12 in older cars, R-134a in 1995 and newer cars) and pressurizing it, passing it along to the evaporator. The AC compressor has several moving parts (including pistons and valves). These internal parts can fail, causing the AC compressor to stop working. It is common for the internal parts of the compressor to come apart and disperse metallic debris throughout the system. Consequently, it is a requirement to replace the orifice tube and the receiver dryer when replacing the compressor since some of the debris may have ended up there. For an AC compressor to work, it needs a clutch, bearing, and an electrical connector. The clutch is driven by a drive/serpentine belt, which engages the compressor when you switch on the AC. The clutch can burn or the bearing can fail. If the bearing or clutch have failed, it is recommended that the compressor be replaced. Sometimes replacing the entire compressor with a remanufactured one can be cheaper than replacing an individual clutch or bearings. It is also common for the seals in the AC compressor to go bad. The compressor may start leaking refrigerant and/or the AC oil. If the seals no longer hold, you will need a new compressor, as the seals cannot be replaced. A compressor may also fail if there is sludge or debris in the air conditioning system. If there is sludge or debris, the hoses, evaporator, and condenser should be flushed to get rid of the contaminants. When it is not possible to flush the parts, you may need to replace those parts.

 

This service comes with receiver dryer and orifice tube. It is very common for metals from the compressors to go throughout the system and get caught in different components. If the compressor is replaced without the dryer and the orifice tube, it will ruin the new compressor and it will not be covered by the warranty from parts manufacturers.

 

Check for pressure in the AC system. | Check for power and ground at the compressor. | If compressor is found to be faulty, remove all of the refrigerant. | Remove the compressor, receiver drier, orifice tube, and/or expansion valve. | Flush all foreign materials from the AC System. | Install new compressor, receiver drier, and orifice tube. | Evacuate and recharge the AC system. | Leak check for any system leaks. | Check for proper operation of AC system.

 

The most common reason for an AC compressor to fail is leaky seals and inadequate lubrication. It is good practice to turn the AC on periodically so that the seals don’t dry up and stay lubricated. If you notice a change in the temperature of the air through the AC vents (not as cold as it should be), get it inspected.

 

In addition to your comfort, air conditioning systems add value to your vehicle. You should keep your AC fully operational. In some systems, the hot and cold air are blended to achieve the desired temperature setting. In these cases, when the AC system fails, you will not only NOT get any cold air, but the entire temperature regulation is thrown off.

Car AC Condenser Fan Replacement

The AC condenser converts the AC gas (refrigerant) into a liquid form. In this process, it generates a lot of heat in the AC system. The job of the AC condenser fan is to remove the heat from the AC system by blowing air across the condenser. By removing the heat from the system, it keeps the pressure in the AC system down allowing the AC to provide the coolest air possible.

 

If you use the AC when the fan is not working, the AC will generate hot air. It will severely damage the major components in the AC system.

 

Use the gauge to measure the pressure. | Verify fan is not turning on when AC is on. | Check for power and ground at AC fan. | Check AC fan relay and fuses. | Remove and replace faulty fan assembly. | Check for proper operation of the fan.

 

The AC system is a sealed unit. It is not something you will inspect or service unless you notice a change. If you notice a change in the temperature of the air through the AC vents (not as cold as it should be), schedule an inspection.

 

In addition to your comfort, air conditioning systems add value to your vehicle. You should keep your AC fully operational. In some systems, the hot and cold air are blended to achieve the desired temperature setting. In these cases, when the AC system fails, in addition to not getting any cold air, the entire temperature regulation can be thrown off.

AC Condenser Replacement

The AC system has many key components: compressor, condenser, receiver dryer, evaporator, and hoses. For an AC system to work, it needs a gas or liquid substance called refrigerant (R-12 in older cars, R-134a in 1995 and newer cars). The job of an AC condenser is to convert the AC gas into a liquid form by cooling it. There are two common causes of condenser failure. The first scenario occurs when the condenser starts leaking. The condenser has tubes and seals, both of which can leak with normal wear and tear. Since there is no way to replace these tubes and seals, you will need a new condenser. Keep in mind this can also be caused by physical damage as the condenser is mounted near the front of the car and as such is susceptible to rocks or other road debris. In the second scenario, the condenser is unable to circulate the refrigerant due to metallic debris blockage. This debris is often the result of a failing or defective AC compressor where internal parts of the compressor come apart and disperse metallic debris throughout the system. If this is the case, you will not only need a new condenser, but also a new AC compressor, orifice tubes, and receiver dryer.

 

When the AC condenser is replaced, the compressor, orifice tubes, and receiver dryer often have to be replaced as well. | Any refrigerant that has not leaked out will need to be vacuumed out.

 

Install an AC gauge set to measure the pressure. | Inspect the condenser for leaks. | If condenser is bad, remove all of the refrigerant. | Remove and replace condenser. | Evac and recharge the AC system. | Leak check for any system leaks. | Check for proper operation of the AC system.

 

The AC system is a sealed unit. It is not something you will inspect or service unless you notice a change. If you notice a change in the temperature of the air through the AC vents (not as cold as it should be), schedule an inspection.

 

In addition to your comfort, air conditioning systems add value to your vehicle. You should keep your AC fully operational. In some systems, the hot and cold air are blended to achieve the desired temperature setting. In these cases, when the AC system fails, you will not only not get any cold air, but the entire temperature regulation is thrown off.

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