Thread: Possible clogged expansion valve?

so today i made my first attempt since getting my gtp back in april, to get the ac to work. previous owner left both caps off both the high and low side, so all the refrigerant leaked out.

well today i hooked up my gauges and static pressure showed 25psi lowside and 50psi highside in 95* weather.

so i start charging the system, and i find out my compressor works, yay! right? no.. now low side spikes up to 130-140psi, then compressor kicks off, high side stays at 150 with compressor off, 200 with it on.


im thinking clogged TXV or accumulator?


edit: i have the digital automatic dual zone climate control, if that makes a difference. car is a 1997 GTP in case you do not see my sig below :-p

Leaving the caps off shouldn't let the r134a leak out.

it leaks out of those spots. use a sniffer, use a dye test, it will leak every time.. ask any hvac tech.

I've seen those caps off for years with no problems

weird.. at UTI in my HVAC class i have seen and tested for leaks, every time we had refrigerant leaks from the fittings without the caps on.

anyways, back to my high pressure reading on my lowside. TXV clogged?


EDIT: just realized my system uses a evap mount orifice tube. thats weird thought accumulator systems used TXV expansion valves and receiver/drier systems use orifice tubes.

Sounds like it could need an orifice tube replaced