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 Woodard Automotive, 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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What our clients are saying about us
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I can’t say enough good things about Woodard Auto in Fredericksburg. The service is truly professional and top-notch. After several bad and expensive experiences at dealership repair shops, I finally found a shop I can trust and rely on for my Volvo XC90. Lori at the front office is a true professional—friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. She takes the time to answer all my questions about the repairs and costs and makes the whole process easy and transparent. Andy is an amazing technician who clearly takes pride in his work. He makes sure the job is done right, takes the time to diagnose the actual problem, and genuinely cares about resolving the issue rather than trying to upsell or take advantage of the customer. I had a check-engine light that had been on for almost two years. I took my Volvo to the dealer three times and spent around $1,800, but they never figured it out. I eventually gave up and assumed I would just have to live with it. When Andy asked me about it, I told him not to worry about it because the dealer had said it was a computer issue that couldn’t be fixed. Andy took it as a challenge. He diagnosed the problem and fixed it by replacing a part that cost only about $180—and the check-engine light is finally gone! I cannot thank Woodard Auto enough, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an honest, professional, and trustworthy auto repair shop. If you have a Volvo, I especially recommend giving Andy and the team at Woodard Auto a try. You won’t regret it!
Lori was great with the sunroof repair. She kept the details clear, handled everything professionally, and made sure the process stayed easy to understand. I appreciated how helpful and steady she was through everything. Lori made the service experience feel fair, smooth, and taken care of the right way.