REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAU-
TIONS IN THE FRONT OF THIS SECTION BEFORE
PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION (Refer
to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
WARNING) and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CON-
DITIONING/PLUMBING - CAUTION).
(1) Remove the heater housing (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HVAC HOUSING - REMOVAL).
(2) Disassemble the heater housing to access the
evaporator (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDI-
TIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC HOUSING - DIS-
ASSEMBLY).
(3) Lift the evaporator out of the lower half of the
heater housing (Fig. 5).
INSTALLATION
(1) Install the evaporator coil into the bottom half
of the heater housing.
(2) Assemble the heater housing (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HVAC HOUSING - ASSEMBLY).
(3) Install the heater housing (Refer to 24 - HEAT-
ING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC
HOUSING - INSTALLATION).
NOTE: If the evaporator is being replaced, add 60
milliliters (2 fluid ounces) of refrigerant oil to the
refrigerant system.
A/C EXPANSION VALVE
DESCRIPTION
The ªHº valve type thermal expansion valve (TXV)
is mounted in the engine compartment between the
liquid and suction lines and the evaporator.
The expansion valve is a factory calibrated unit
and cannot be adjusted or repaired. If faulty or dam-
aged, the expansion valve must be replaced.
OPERATION
High-pressure, high temperature liquid refrigerant
from the liquid line passes through the expansion
valve orifice, converting it into a low-pressure, low-
temperature mixture of liquid and gas before it
enters the evaporator coil. A thermal sensor in the
expansion valve monitors the temperature of the
refrigerant leaving the evaporator coil through the
suction line, and adjusts the orifice size at the liquid
line to let the proper amount of refrigerant into the
evaporator to meet the vehicle cooling requirements.
Controlling the refrigerant flow through the evapora-
Fig. 5 Heater Housing
1 - SCREW (12)
2 - HEATER HOUSING COVER
3 - EVAPORATOR
4 - EVAPORATOR O-RING SEAL (2)
4 - EVAPORATOR GASKET
6 - VENTILATION HOUSING GASKET
7 - HEATER HOUSING
8 - WIRING HARNESS
9 - BOLT (3)
10 - HEATER CORE
11 - HEATER CORE TUBE ASSEMBLY
12 - HEATER CORE TUBE GASKET
13 - HEATER CORE TUBE O-RING SEAL (2)
VAPLUMBING 24 - 55
A/C EVAPORATOR (Continued)
