Changing AC expansion valve

[komichal]

Hi guys,
As I am troubleshooting some unpredictability of my AC, I will replace my AC pressure sensor (http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60645). I will take it to the AC shop to make sure they evacuate the freon before doing this. Denso sensor is on it's way to me.

I am currently thinking about having them changed the expansion valve too, just to be sure that it is not the troublemaker. The new valve is is about 40 USD here (some FRIGAIR brand I never heard of) and it would make sense to change it all at once when the system is evacuated. by "All" I mean AC pressure sensor, expansion valve and probably the dryer too as it has never been changed in the past 10 years and it is actually a cheap thing.

So the guestion: can the expansion valve be changed just from the engine compartment or is there a need to dismount the dashboard too? The AC shop I go to does not have much experience with Yaris so I would not trust them with taking apart half of the car, you know.

Thanks :wink:

[B.B._07]

The expansion valve is located inside the AC unit which is buried deep in the dash. Only way to access it is to remove the whole dash, to get the AC unit out is a 75 step procedure for the hatchback according to the Toyota factory service manual (only 68 steps for the sedan :smile:). I'd want to be absolutely 100% sure the expansion valve needs to be replaced before going ahead with the job.

[komichal]

B.B., are you sure?
I can see this under the hood, I guess it really is expansion valve and with some swearing it should be possible to mount it off....

http://www.imagehosting.cz/?v=img201vtv.jpg

[WeeYari]

Appears to be a broken image link...

Sent from my Elite_5_5_Octa using Tapatalk

[komichal]

Hmm, strange, link works for me. Uploading ZIP with that image....

[B.B._07]

Komichal it looks like your right, I re-read the section in the manual and the expansion valve is mounted through the fire wall as shown in your picture. You can remove the AC lines running to the valve with one bolt, swing the lines out of place and then have access to the two Allen (or Inbus) bolts securing the expansion valve to the AC unit.

[komichal]

Thanks B.B. for confirmation. It sounds quite easy but it will be PITA to do this as the room in there is really limited. I may leave the valve as is, even though its certainly better reachable comparing to the "under-the-dashboard" scenario...