AUTO AIR CONDITIONING

(Page 3 of 3)

July/August 1987
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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4. Expansion valve. The expansion valve restricts refrigerant flow to maintain high pressure upstream between it and the compressor. As refrigerant sprays through the valve's orifice into the evaporator, it turns from a liquid into a gas, thereby absorbing heat. It evaporates because the pressure is low on the downstream side of the expansion valve. (Some systems use the expansion valve to control temperature inside the car by varying the amount of liquid refrigerant sprayed into the evaporator. In these, the valve will be connected to a thermostat.)

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Follow the hose from the outlet of the receiver-drier, and see if you can find the expansion valve. On some vehicles, it's hidden behind a panel.

5. Evaporator. This is a radiator that works in reverse; instead of radiating heat, it absorbs it. You probably won't be able to see it, because it's located inside the passenger compartment behind and under the dash. There's a fan back there that blows air over the evaporator's fins to help with heat absorption. You should be able to find the low-pressure hose from the evaporator winding its way back through the fire wall to the other connection on the compressor.

Now that you know what to look for, where to find it and what it does, sit back and wait for something to go wrong. Then arm yourself with the accompanying Trouble-shooter's Guide to Auto Air Conditioning, and take charge.

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Comments

  • elliott 3/18/2007 12:55:12 PM

    I was really impressed that you comments were so down to earth that
    the average person could understand what you were talking about.
    Most instructions come with words that the commom person wouldn't
    understand. You are to be commended. I say this, but I have about
    15 years in the field and as a Part Manager. Elliott

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