A/C Orafice tube orientation?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
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A/C Orafice tube orientation?
Can anyone tell me the way the Orafice tube goes in? I have a 1997 and the tube goes in the section of tube toward the evaporator and from what I can see later cars had the tube go into the tube section "Away" from the evaporator. The joint is in the same place but the widening for the Orafice tube is on one side of the joint for my car and the other side of the joint from a picture I saw on a writeup for a 2000 car.
The Orafice tube was totally dry and when I pulled it out it had what looked like little flakes of aluminum powder all over. Completely clogged and no oil at all in the system, nothing in the compressor or the accumulator.
I know what orientation it was in wnen I pulled it out. I'd like just an objective opinion of how it goes since it may not have been placed right in the first place.
Maybe if someone just says "The little end toward the evaporator or something. Pics welcome!
I'll get a pic of the old tube up soon.
The Orafice tube was totally dry and when I pulled it out it had what looked like little flakes of aluminum powder all over. Completely clogged and no oil at all in the system, nothing in the compressor or the accumulator.
I know what orientation it was in wnen I pulled it out. I'd like just an objective opinion of how it goes since it may not have been placed right in the first place.
Maybe if someone just says "The little end toward the evaporator or something. Pics welcome!
I'll get a pic of the old tube up soon.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
Here is the old one and the new one.
Does the new one look to be the right one? It is the one from the NAPA counter lookup.
Which way does it go in? Direction of the flow I am asking.
Looks like the old one was not letting anything through at all.
Had an A/C temp of 85F at full on A/C so hope to do better with the fix!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,329
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Can anyone tell me the way the Orafice tube goes in? I have a 1997 and the tube goes in the section of tube toward the evaporator and from what I can see later cars had the tube go into the tube section "Away" from the evaporator. The joint is in the same place but the widening for the Orafice tube is on one side of the joint for my car and the other side of the joint from a picture I saw on a writeup for a 2000 car.
The Orafice tube was totally dry and when I pulled it out it had what looked like little flakes of aluminum powder all over. Completely clogged and no oil at all in the system, nothing in the compressor or the accumulator.
I know what orientation it was in wnen I pulled it out. I'd like just an objective opinion of how it goes since it may not have been placed right in the first place.
Maybe if someone just says "The little end toward the evaporator or something. Pics welcome!
I'll get a pic of the old tube up soon.
The Orafice tube was totally dry and when I pulled it out it had what looked like little flakes of aluminum powder all over. Completely clogged and no oil at all in the system, nothing in the compressor or the accumulator.
I know what orientation it was in wnen I pulled it out. I'd like just an objective opinion of how it goes since it may not have been placed right in the first place.
Maybe if someone just says "The little end toward the evaporator or something. Pics welcome!
I'll get a pic of the old tube up soon.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
#3 is correct. Judging from the amount of trash I see in the picture I would say that it is likely you have a siezed compressor or one that will sieze once pressure builds during operation. A minimum service will include the replacement of the accumulator and solvent (dura) flushing of the evaporator and all liquid and vapor lines once disconnected from the compressor. Depending on the severity of the compressor failure you may need to replace the condenser as it canot be flushed due to the small passages used in R134A systems. BTW, the metal you see is from the pistons and cylinder walls of the compressor due to lack of lubrication. Good luck...!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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#3 is correct. Judging from the amount of trash I see in the picture I would say that it is likely you have a siezed compressor or one that will sieze once pressure builds during operation. A minimum service will include the replacement of the accumulator and solvent (dura) flushing of the evaporator and all liquid and vapor lines once disconnected from the compressor. Depending on the severity of the compressor failure you may need to replace the condenser as it canot be flushed due to the small passages used in R134A systems. BTW, the metal you see is from the pistons and cylinder walls of the compressor due to lack of lubrication. Good luck...!
I changed the compressor and flushed the lines, changed the accumulator. I'm going to try it to see if it will work. BUT I want to be sure I place the Orafice tube in the right way. BTW I want some outside info on the orientation of the tube because I'm not sure it was put in right based on the looks of the rest of it.
The issue is on different cars the tube went on one side or the other of the connector so it is not completely clear.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
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From: Dyer, IN
Thread Starter
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I catch the sarcasm Lucky! In the end I got it working great and as usual need to thank the forum for helping. I did get a set of manuals too, trying to figure things out for myself more!
BTW: I did need to clip off the two plastic extensions on the end to have the Orafice tube fit all the way in like it should in my 1997 and go in the right way.
1997 was the first year and many things are better since then.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Silver Spring MD
I used some compressor oil on mine
I catch the sarcasm Lucky! In the end I got it working great and as usual need to thank the forum for helping. I did get a set of manuals too, trying to figure things out for myself more!
BTW: I did need to clip off the two plastic extensions on the end to have the Orafice tube fit all the way in like it should in my 1997 and go in the right way.
1997 was the first year and many things are better since then.
BTW: I did need to clip off the two plastic extensions on the end to have the Orafice tube fit all the way in like it should in my 1997 and go in the right way.
1997 was the first year and many things are better since then.
Added about 1 oz of compressor oil, vacuumed, and recharged
BIGHANK
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Safety Car
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[QUOTE=minitech;1574374597]
Ok so it works now perfectly. Air as it should, continues 42 degrees at lowest. I'm definately pleased with it now that it is warming up here.
Question regarding the orafice tube removed. What is the best thing to do?
1. Don't change anything, drive it and use it until there are any further problems.
2. Drive a couple hundred miles or so, evacuate and change the orafice tube again, recharge. Thinking maybe some aluminum flakes down the line in where I couldn't flush are now caught on the orafice tube.
3. Monitor gauges from time to time to try to catch a restriction (Blocked orafice tube.)
4. ?
Ok so it works now perfectly. Air as it should, continues 42 degrees at lowest. I'm definately pleased with it now that it is warming up here.
Question regarding the orafice tube removed. What is the best thing to do?
1. Don't change anything, drive it and use it until there are any further problems.
2. Drive a couple hundred miles or so, evacuate and change the orafice tube again, recharge. Thinking maybe some aluminum flakes down the line in where I couldn't flush are now caught on the orafice tube.
3. Monitor gauges from time to time to try to catch a restriction (Blocked orafice tube.)
4. ?
