Anyone tell me the location of the AC expansion valve and best way to remove it?
Looks like #19 to me! Best way to remove it would be with wrenches!!! You should have a workhop manual. That's R-12. Of the system is pressurized have an A/C person extract the freon so you can reuse it. Some are getting as much as $90.00/lb! Make sure you save it. Are you sure the espansion valve is the problem? What are the symptoms? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Assume a couple of things...with guages installed, you are hitting high on one side, and pulling negative on the other side-correct? If so, the the dessicant bag within the rec/drier has-almost certainly-ruptured. This spreads boogers though out the system and has likely clogged the-you guessed it-the expansion valve.... Now it gets really gnarly....those have-to the best of my memory-NEVER been available as a separtate item...You must disassemble the entire interior of the car and I mean the ENTIRE shooting gallery. The box-as we call it-is the last to go...if it is an early car, it is even more expensive as there are NO EARLY boxes available since around 1994!!! There are additional items required to bring the rest of the system up to snuff...BIG job, BIG bucks too... Sorry to har of your misfortunes...I hated doing this job-hated it. You may wish to consult with Sal/Sheldon, TP, Brian C., John B.,in MTY-try Steve Fremgen
your telling me what i was afraid of, I have checked the system out and everything points to the expansion valve. I think I can get the valve as a independent part but the manual looks like the removal would require removing the interior. Had hoped someone might know an eaiser way.
I looked for a valve for a month...crapped-out...that's when they told me it was NEVER available separately! Be careful you don't break the widshield-I was lucky, but have been told it is an easily broken windscreen when doing this job-I did it once, so I can only tell you it didn't break for mine. It was really expensive, the box, like 4-5000.00 in 1992 or 3...a LONG time ago.. The 335s guy reminded me of the other stuff that FNA said we had to buy... we threw out all old receipts 10 years ago-sorry can't help you on that account. good luck!
It's an R-12 expansion valve. How complex can it be? Certainly you should be able to find a replacement. There are a few makers and I am certain there should be a Xreference somewhere.
Couple A/C parts sources http://www.omega-usa.com/home.asp http://www.atcomail.com/customerservice/default.htm I have purchased exp valves/ reciever/driers/ & 'o' rings from these guys..not sure what from who, but if you need more I have it at home & can post later. find out if the testarossa uses the same exp valve as the 328...I have the model # for the 1 1/2 ton Mike
Dear Ferraristi, Courtesy of Jimbo..... I took a chance and brought the drier and expansion valve to Car Quest here in Bradenton. It took about 10 minutes to match up the expansion valve and 30 minutes to research the drier, but they had replacements in stock! Expansion Valve CTC207349 $38.39 (this is a GM piece) Receiver Drier WPC R104056594PAR $65.54 (this is a Parker unit) You should post in the TR section for specific TR questions. This information is posted in our cross-reference thread. I helped Jim Derespeteo disassemble his dash and change the expansion valve in his 94 TR. You don't need to buy the Evap box. The valve bolts on the outside of the box but in the dash area with access only once you remove the dash. But hey....no $3000 -$4000 borletti evap box needed. OK, you owe me a hot, tall, thin blonde. Shamile Freeze....Miami Vice !
It's a nasty, time-consuming job that requires disassembly of the dash to access the expansion valve, and even with the dash out you are on your back with a crowfoot wrench turning the nuts 1/8 turn at a time, then you have to take the wrench off and move it back, etc. Call Joe Citelli (www.polarbearinc.com). He has the knowledge and parts you need at prices you can't beat. I ended up taking the drier and expansion valve back to Car Quest because Joe had them at half the price. I paid just over $300 for a new compressor, expansion valve, drier and trinary switch (the one that comes off the drier), along with insulation, instructions, oil and all O-rings needed to complete the project. I also flushed out the evaporator and condensor and all lines. I refilled with Freeze-12 (www.freeze12.com) and the AC is so cold it hurts. I have to turn the coldness dial half way to neutral to be comfortable. If you are going to go to the trouble of replacing the expansion valve, then you might as well go the whole 9 yards, spend $300 and get a whole new system. I'm glad I did, but I don't want to do it again. It also helps to have a friend like Shamile who is thin and sinewy and can fit in tiny spaces.
Thanks to all for the advice. I had hoped for some easy way to get at the expansion valve but it looks as if my fears were well founded. Can I expect to R&R the dash in a Day? Les
That's me ! ....and 18 year old cheerleaders still find me hot. Umm...have you done one before? Honestly, it will still take you way more than a day....just to remove it. Shamile Freeze....Miami Vice!
This is GREAT! This sort of cross reference/availability trolling is a benefit of Internet Freeway speeds which, simply put, weren't available in the period when these cars were new/in service life cyle at the Dealership level. People tend to forget...this was still the era of the thermal paper FAX machines, telephone-on hold please-calls, and trans oceanic was an easy-link teletype if you could justify the cost! Access to cross references were a closely guarded secret within the parts supply lines...OEM and secondary markets. As in ALL business, these sorts of informational "books" used by suppliers and vendors, were closely guarded, and not frequently shared with ANYBODY affair, lest it cost you in a revenue stream/supply chain bottom line fashion! Last coment-The Fluching procvess which he described as nearly painful-while just that-is really neccessary if you are going to go to all of the trouble involved with this repair. GREAT stuff..really.....
And this aids those of us with more contemporary cars to store the info the wizards come up with so that in the future when it's needed it is available. The early year Ferrari folks did not have this benefit, and probably as a result few attempted thier own repairs. What is available today is incredible, and all the wizards have debunked the myths that only Ferrari service people can repair Ferrari's. Ceratinly the professionals who do it for a living have this advantage as well, and we are lucky when some of those good guys share their knowledge.
Check this thread. The search feature is a wonderful thing. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58351&highlight=Expansion+valve
From the other thread, excerpt from Ferrarioldman: "I have cleared these blockages many times. You will need a flushing agent (solvent) made for A/C systems and a device for which to introduce the solvent into the system. I use a flushing tool that is available from NAPA. I can get you numbers next week if you need them. A quart of the solvent is poured into a high pressure aluminum bottle, sealed and charged with about 130 lbs. of compressed air. On the bottom of the bottle is a fitting with a hose and rubber tipped air blower. Remove the lines on the receiver/drier and throw the drier away. Attach a hose over the end of the output hose of the receiver/drier with a hose clamp and run the other end into a bucket or suitable container. Remove the low pressure hose from the A/C compressor. Be sure to wear eye protection. Now using the blower on the hose of the solvent tank, sealing the nozzle tip into the end of the hose, you will blow the solvent into the system. After you have emptied the tank of solvent, use compressed air with reduced pressure, about 40 - 60 lbs. to blow through the system until nothing else come out of the other end. Sometimes you may have to do this a second time to remove the old oil and desiccant from the system. Install new receiver/drier, evacuate and charge system then check for leaks. The first TR that I had to clear the blockage, I removed the expansion valve. BIG job. Quickly figure out that this way works just as well."
I would appreciate the information for the AC solvent, this sounds like it could be the miracle I was looking for. Thanks: Les
This solvent works pretty good: http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S(wuztsy55cn3bm3qntik02m55))/Detail.aspx?R=TEM409889_0136825471 Or like JIMBO said, contact Joe at Polarbear. His solvent works really good. He has the receiver/drier with shrader valve that you need also.
I've some trouble with my AC as there was a poor cooling. I flushed the system of the old R12 and tried to fill the system with duracool. But I'm not able to fill the system as on the low pressure side I could read 73 PSI and on the High pressure side only 55 ! I've checked the compressor clutch and it is able to engage, also the condenser fan is working. What could I try now ? Thank you Louis
Did you get ANY refrigerant in there at all after you flushed the R12 out? A little hard to understand your post Louis.
