Best Prices for Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement

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

It depends on the type of car you drive and the auto repair shop you go to. Our mechanics are mobile, which means they don't have the overhead that repair shops have. They provide you convenience by coming to your home or office.

Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement pricing for various cars

CarsEstimateParts CostLabor CostSavingsAverage Dealer Price
2015 Volvo XC60$990$216.09$773.74-25%$785.84
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata$964$175.69$788.34-27%$756.19
2011 Chevrolet Equinox$764$238.37$525.56-22%$625.37
2014 Mercedes-Benz CL600$620$240.02$379.57-19%$519.52
2009 Audi Q7$660$251.57$408.77-19%$552.57
2016 Porsche Cayenne$906$175.69$729.95-26%$713.19

Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement Service

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.


Recent Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) Replacement reviews

Excellent Rating

(47)

Rating Summary
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Jean

16 years of experience
157 reviews
Jean
16 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz ML350 V6-3.5L - Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) - Tampa, Florida
Jean was timely, very professional and explained all aspects of the repairs being carried out. Highly recommended

Greg

23 years of experience
624 reviews
Greg
23 years of experience
Volvo S60 L5-2.5L Turbo - Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) - Phoenix, Arizona
Greg is great! You can tell he absolutely cares about his work product and his professionalism. Really refreshing.

Manuel

33 years of experience
590 reviews
Manuel
33 years of experience
Chevrolet Suburban 2500 V8-6.0L - Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) - Laguna Beach, California
Mr. Sanchez showed up at the expected time, worked for about a half hour, and discovered he needed another part. He offered two solutions. He would go get the part and finish today or he will get the part and do the job Friday. I opted for today. The vehicle was left clean with all promised work done. I cannot comment on the actual repair because nothing has had time to break, but everything is very much as I expect it. Mr. Sanchez took the extra time to talk with me about future needs for the vehicle, and was forthcoming with answers and suggestions. This was my first experience with an "at home" mechanic, and based on this experience it will not be the last.

Jacob

13 years of experience
329 reviews
Jacob
13 years of experience
Nissan Altima L4-2.5L - Expansion Valve (Orifice Tube) - Coppell, Texas
He came to fix my ac and my quote was $240..He tried something else first to see if it would work and it did saving me $100..great job and ty

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