What can cause a stuck expansion valve?

What can cause a stuck expansion valve?

THE PROBLEM. The expansion valve is an advanced and fragile device. As it operates under high pressures and is temperature sensitive, improper working conditions as well as impurities inside the loop can cause it to malfunction. If the expansion valve is stuck open or clogged, the A/C system will not cool properly.

How long does an expansion valve last?

There isn’t a specific lifespan of the valve, it’s more just a wear and tear kind of situation. Obviously the more you use the air conditioning, the quicker it will wear down. Here’s a look at some of the signs you can watch for that can signal the end of your expansion valve’s lifespan.

What is a common symptom of a severely restricted filter drier?

A starved evaporator from the liquid line (filter drier) restriction will cause high superheats. High compression ratios from the low evaporator pressure will cause high heat of compression, thus high discharge temperatures. This is assuming there’s still some mass flow rate of refrigerant through the system.

Should I flush the evaporator?

Unless your system has debris in it from the compressor coming apart, or if the system has been open for an extended period, skip the flush. The evaporator doesn’t hold much oil, so I wouldn’t worry about flushing it just to remove oil.

How do I know if my AC evaporator is contaminated?

4 Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Air Conditioning Evaporator

1. The cool air is weak or no cold air is blowing at all.
2. You notice a strange odor when using your AC system.
3. The AC compressor will not activate.
4. The AC temperature will vary.

Can you flush AC evaporator?

When flushing the evaporator( only do it in extreme cases of serious contamination) you have to remove it from the vehicle so that the component can be manipulated to move the solvent throughout and allow for complete draining of all oil and flush solvent.

How much does an AC flush cost?

For most cars, the cost of an AC recharge will be about $200 but can go as high as $280. It’s a simple procedure, but it can take a while to check everything out and ensure that there is no further damage, so expect to pay about $120 for the labor costs.