'06 Expansion Valve Replacement

[RammaR]

Last year the compressor failed. We replaced it, flushed the system and added a new desiccant bag. It ran fine for several months, but now the a/c system won't cool and the dash light is blinking. Based on the system pressures, we suspect a bad expansion valve

I've pulled the glove box and blower motor, but is it possible to access it without pulling the dash and evaporator? I don't have any reason to suspect the evaporator and would rather leave it be.

I've searched around and haven't found an answer on how to get to the expansion valve. Only time it's mentioned is when doing the evaporator core.

Any suggestions before taking everything apart?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eleven14]

Last year the compressor failed. We replaced it, flushed the system and added a new desiccant bag. It ran fine for several months, but now the a/c system won't cool and the dash light is blinking. Based on the system pressures, we suspect a bad expansion valve

I've pulled the glove box and blower motor, but is it possible to access it without pulling the dash and evaporator? I don't have any reason to suspect the evaporator and would rather leave it be.

I've searched around and haven't found an answer on how to get to the expansion valve. Only time it's mentioned is when doing the evaporator core.

Any suggestions before taking everything apart?

Thanks in advance.

Going from memory and the service manual, pretty sure the entire assembly comes out before removing the expansion valve.

That said, if you're replacing the expansion valve you might as well replace the evaporator core at the same time unless you find a hack that gets you enough clearance to remove the air conditioning tubes attached to the expansion valve to free it up.

 

[Buckaroo]

Replaced the evap and expansion valve on a '05 last spring. Nothing wrong with the expansion valve- just did it because I had it apart. Used Denso from Rockauto. Don't know of a way to do it without taking it all apart. Agree that you ought to do the evap core also since you're in there.

 

[OSSGuy]

I managed to replace my expansion valve by going through the glove box (I also had to take off a couple small pieces of trim). Some of the bolts were almost impossible to get off, and just as hard to get back on. It was really hard to get the servos (that control the air valves) lined up. I sliced my finger on some metal. And I wasn't able to get the white plastic cover that goes over the expansion valve to seat fully (it got a little bent when I pried it off; I couldn't reach the tabs in the back). Pretty sure it was easier than taking the whole dash apart. Definitely faster. But it's a PITA no matter how you do it.