Audi RS3 Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(2,467)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(2,467)

Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement Service

How much does a Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Audi RS3 Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement is $489 with $185 for parts and $304 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2018 Audi RS3L5-2.5L TurboService typeExpansion Valve (Orifice Tube) ReplacementEstimate$737.63Shop/Dealer Price$862.05 - $1163.30
2017 Audi RS3L5-2.5L TurboService typeExpansion Valve (Orifice Tube) ReplacementEstimate$673.63Shop/Dealer Price$798.10 - $1099.40
Show example Audi RS3 Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement prices

What is the Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) all about?

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.

Keep in mind:

  • 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.

How it's done:

  • 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

Our recommendation:

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.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube)?

  • Air conditioning doesn’t cool sufficiently
  • Air conditioning expansion valve is frosty but the air conditioning isn’t blowing cold air

How important is this service?

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.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Audi mechanics

Real customer reviews from Audi owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(2,467)

Rating Summary
2,288
87
19
12
61
2,288
87
19
12
61

Rodney

36 years of experience
561 reviews
Rodney
36 years of experience
Audi A4 Quattro L4-1.8L Turbo - Coolant Reservoir - El Dorado Hills, California
The repairs and overall experience was great. Rodney was prompt, professional and got the job done!

Steve

15 years of experience
150 reviews
Steve
15 years of experience
Audi A5 Quattro V6-3.2L - Oil Change - Union, New Jersey
Steve called ahead of time to let me know he was running a little late, which was appreciated. He was knowledgeable and had no issues performing the requested services and diagnosing the issue I reported. He was friendly and gave tips and recommendations for other things he noticed that could use some attention. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to service their car and would definitely try to book him again for any future "yourmechanic.com" services.

Anderson

27 years of experience
91 reviews
Anderson
27 years of experience
Audi A4 Quattro L4-1.8L Turbo - Power Steering Pump - Brooklyn, New York
Very professional very dependable

Alfred

13 years of experience
519 reviews
Alfred
13 years of experience
Audi S4 V6-3.0L Turbo - Oil Change - San Francisco, California
Alfred was great! He arrived on time and was helpful explaining things when I had questions.

Excellent Rating

(2,467)

Rating Summary
2,288
87
19
12
61
2,288
87
19
12
61
Number of Audi services completed
27137+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Audi MECHANICS
700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Trunk Latch
Common signs include the trunk not shutting or locking and the trunk getting stuck closed.
How to Keep the Interior of a Convertible Looking Great
Convertible interiors need protection from the weather. Keep the top up and use a sunshade for maximum car interior protection.
How to Replace a Differential Output Seal
Differential output seals prevent fluid from leaking out of the differential, causing the differential to overheat and cause damage to your car.

My 2010 Chevy Impala won't shift into any gear

Hello there. Usually when your car will not shift into any gear, it's caused by a damaged shift solenoid or speed sensor. It's also possible that an obstruction of debris exists inside the transmission hydraulic lines. To correctly diagnose this...

Bushings are worn out, do I need to change the sway bar as well? Pls help

Generally, replacing the bushings should keep the sway bar operating properly and doing what it is designed to do. When replacing the bushings, you may want to inspect the sway bar to make sure it is not bent or damaged...

Car wont start even after new battery and new starter

Hi Joel. Thanks for contacting us today. If you can "bump start" your car, but will not start when you turn the ignition, it's possible that your root issue is an ignition or starter relay that is damaged. The first...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com