
Your car or truck's AC system is under extreme pressure and the thermal expansion valve or orifice tube monitors the amount of pressure and the temperature of your A/C system. It calculates the precise amount of refrigerant that can safely go into the evaporator. A failing expansion valve or orifice tube often causes a vehicle's air conditioner to blow hot air.
Replace or Repair
- Expansion Valves: Too much refrigerant causes your evaporator to get too cold whereas too little refrigerant would result in inadequate cooling. The expansion valve is a complex valve that regulates refrigerant flow. This process of metering the refrigerant adjusts the flow according to the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator coil. Talk to one of the pro mechanics at In and Out Auto Care, as this part can be replaced on its own and does not require the entire replacement of the AC assembly.
- Orifice Tubes: Unlike the expansion valve, the orifice tube is a simple fixed device with no moving parts. It therefore cannot vary the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, but rather causes a permanent restriction in the system. However, like the expansion valve the orifice tube regulates refrigerant flow through the system and filters debris which may come through in its screen. Often fixing a "bad orifice tube" requires replacing the entire evaporator assembly.
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a very honest and trustworthy shop! Pricing is very reasonable and I would argue very affordable compared to other places. The efficiency in getting our vehicle in and out each time was impressive.

Can’t say enough about In and Out Auto Repair. My KIA Soul was getting to where periodically it wouldn’t start. Since we’d taken our Dodge Ram in to be serviced before and they did a great job at a reasonable price we took the KIA in. After they couldn’t get it to mimic the problem we were having and after putting it on the diagnostic scanner with nothing showing up. They had to dig deeper. Long story short they had to go through and check everything manually. They finally found it was the crankshaft censor that was going out. They fixed it and we haven’t had a problem since and it runs much smoother. The biggest surprise was the cost. The diagnostic, the crankshaft censor fix and a complete check up of brakes, tires wiring and top off of fluids. The cost was less than we had expected. And on top all that, they really listen to you and treat you with respect. Really nice guys! We will be taking our vehicles to them if need be in the future.
