Expansion Valve Replacement

HFREE1057

MEMBER
2006 PONTIAC G6

Air Conditioning problem 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 52000 miles

A local technician diagnosed my less than adequate AC problem as a bad expansion valve. He is telling me that the evaporator must be replaced with the expansion valve. Is this true?

Total repair cost of $800. The expansion valve costs between $60 - $80 from on-line stores.

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Unless the evaporator is damaged in some way like where the expansion valve bolt's up or he say's there is some kind of restriction in it then i don't see why those would be a matched pair to have to replace both of them at the same time.Ask him why he has to replace the evaporator core and let me know his reason and i will tell you what i think about it.

Usually you need to replace the compressor with the expansion valve is that what he meant?

Here are some guides to help see whats going on.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system]

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-air-conditioner-compressor

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers,

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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 2:14 PM

HFREE1057

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the fast response.
I spoke with the technician again and the story changed somewhat. He stated that the receiver/dryer assembly must be replaced when the system is opened to replace the expansion valve. He also stated on the Pontiac G6 the receiver/dryer is integral to the condenser which costs approximately $200. He stated that parts/refrigerant for this repair are approximately $270 and the remaining $500 is for labor at approximately $73/hr. Must the receiver/dryer assembly be replaced? He stated that if it were not, trash would likely flow into the new expansion valve.

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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 3:12 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

General rule of thumb is when you replace a bad compressor you would want to replace the dryer because debris from the compressor get into the dryer. But for a expansion valve replacement I think that is a good idea as well.

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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 6:52 PM