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#1
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Expansion valve?
Has anyone experienced an open stuck AC expansion valve?
My AC holds charge, no leaks. The compressor runs continuously when required, but does not cool. No codes, the control valve solenoid gets correct current during the diagnostic run. The low side pressure is high and high side low. So it's either the compressor or an expansion valve stuck open. Thanks, Tapani |
#2
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Re: Expansion valve?
Those are the symptoms of an open expansion valve or a bad suction valve on the compressor. You can test it by running the engine at 1500 rpm and watching the gauges. Increase the rpm upward to about 2500 RPM. If
the low side pressure drops slightly, the expansion valve is bad. If the low side pressure increases slightly, the problem is in the compressor. Good luck!
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Father of 5 sons and 1 daughter Subaru SVX for fun Hyundai Veracruz for the wife. Susuki SX4 for my older son Ford Ranger for work Mercedes Benz Sprinter for vacation trips, EZ GO Golf cart for driving kids around gated community. |
#3
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Re: Expansion valve?
Ok, thanks for your response !
110 PSI engine not running, but hot. Ambient only 15C.... some kind of mixed juice in the R12 system. Was the same with R12 though. High side 150 PSI, low side 54 PSI @ idle and 1500 rpm High side 130 PSI, low side 60-65 PSI @ 2500 rpm. Interestingly enough the low side never went down below 60 PSI again. I will order a new compressor - do you know if the later compressor fits my 1992 for sure? I will charge with R134a. I know the expansion valve should be replaced with one with correct calibration, but it is quite a hassle... oh well. Any thoughts? Tapani |
#4
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Re: Expansion valve?
Quote:
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Current Stable: 1992 SVX 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1956 Plymouth Belvedere - Daisy 1967 Chevy C20 1953 Chevy 210 1969 Plymouth Satellite 1949 Chevy Thriftmaster 1959 Chevy Apache 1951 Chevy Stepside 1969 Chevy Camper Special 1978 Ford F150 w/ stroked 460 1986 Volvo 740 turbo wagon 1999 GMC 2500 Creep Van 1994 Impreza Outback |
#5
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Re: Expansion valve?
Well, the pressure of R134a is different from R12 at a given temp - so I've been told that the valves are calibrated differently. An R12 valve in an R134a system will hold the evaporator at a higher temp, so it won't cool as effectively. i was told that in an opposite situation the evaporator might freeze if the conditions are right. I swapped the valve in my Range Rover when the system was converted. This is all I know :-). The juice is supposed to be something to be used in a converted system. They are mixes of different stuff - the ingredients are the same as in R134a - only the %:ages are different. I forget the details. The symptoms were exactly the same with R12 - I just recharged it to check if it was low. Thanks, Tapani
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#6
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Re: Expansion valve?
i was told the same thing in ac class in school about the valves. however the person i talked to at the manufacturer claimed it wouldn't matter because the different characteristics of the refrigerants would cause the valve to act differently. i would personally just continue to use r12 or change the valve if i converted but the guy did make a very technical argument.
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Current Stable: 1992 SVX 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1956 Plymouth Belvedere - Daisy 1967 Chevy C20 1953 Chevy 210 1969 Plymouth Satellite 1949 Chevy Thriftmaster 1959 Chevy Apache 1951 Chevy Stepside 1969 Chevy Camper Special 1978 Ford F150 w/ stroked 460 1986 Volvo 740 turbo wagon 1999 GMC 2500 Creep Van 1994 Impreza Outback |
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