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 Darrell's Firestone, 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.
Partners
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
By far the best car repair shop I've used. Great communication, car experts, great listeners, courteous, and great customer service. Dakota and Darrel truly made me a believer that real car repair services DO exist, and right here in Farmington. Darrel's Firestone is what car repair should be like! From the moment I called, I explained my circumstances. I was welcomed to drop off my car, no waiting for weeks for an appointment. Very quickly, I had a diagnosis for my car which made sense. Within a short amount of time, the required part was ordered, received and repaired. If you have had bad experiences with dealerships, (we all know what those experiences feel like) Please try Darrel's Firestone! You'll feel like you won the lottery, you'll feel liberated from the stranglehold that dealerships seem so entitled to place on customers. And you'll get great, confident service! Like a lot of people, I've experienced horrible service at the hands of a dealership. If interested, see my review of Feldman Kia in Novi and the inexcusable service/non service I experienced there.
Great service, fair prices