Your car or truck's AC system is under extreme pressure and the thermal expansion valve or orifice tube monitors the amount of pressure and the temperature of your A/C system. It calculates the precise amount of refrigerant that can safely go into the evaporator. A failing expansion valve or orifice tube often causes a vehicle's air conditioner to blow hot air.
Replace or Repair
- Expansion Valves: Too much refrigerant causes your evaporator to get too cold whereas too little refrigerant would result in inadequate cooling. The expansion valve is a complex valve that regulates refrigerant flow. This process of metering the refrigerant adjusts the flow according to the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator coil. Talk to one of the pro mechanics at Triple A Automotive, as this part can be replaced on its own and does not require the entire replacement of the AC assembly.
- Orifice Tubes: Unlike the expansion valve, the orifice tube is a simple fixed device with no moving parts. It therefore cannot vary the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, but rather causes a permanent restriction in the system. However, like the expansion valve the orifice tube regulates refrigerant flow through the system and filters debris which may come through in its screen. Often fixing a "bad orifice tube" requires replacing the entire evaporator assembly.
Partners
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
I found the service was honest, professional, and fair. This place will be my go-to auto repair shop for services in the future.
Doug and Triple A Automotive are awesome! As my wife and I were driving home to Los Angeles from Yosemite with our trailer in tow, my truck had a major breakdown. We were in Coarsegold on a Friday afternoon, and most auto shops couldn’t even look at the car for at least a week. As we were waiting for a tow truck, one of my wife’s friends recommended that we try Doug and Triple A Automotive. I called Doug, told him the situation, and he said that he couldn’t look at it until Monday morning but that I should bring it in. On Monday morning, I had the truck towed to his shop and left it there for Doug to work his magic. It wasn’t an easy fix, but the entire time Doug was always communicating with me and letting me know what they were going to do to get my truck back on the road. It took a few weeks, but that was mainly due to issues with parts. I finally got my truck back, drove it back to L.A., and even took another long road-trip with it this past weekend and it is as good as it ever was. I have a local mechanic that I trust and have been going to for years in Los Angeles. Now I have another mechanic that I trust in Clovis! If I lived closer, Doug and Triple A Automotive would be my go-to. Communication was awesome throughout and Doug was honest and forthright with his estimates and what they planned on doing to get my truck back on the road. Highly recommended!
