A/c Accumulator / Oriface Tube (expansion Valve) Questions

[turbomoose]

Am I correct in thinking the expansion valve goes inside the threaded part of the accumulator??

And would you recommend getting an automatically adjusting expansion valve, or the original valve?

The description of the auto adjusting valve says:

Automatic adusting oriface tube (expansion valve) for any 93 240, 93-95 940, 93-97 850, 93-97 960, S/V 90 all, C70 98-04, S/V 70 98-00.

Installation & Technical Notes:

Automatically adjusts to hold temperature at idle.

I've never noticed, that I can remember, my A/C getting warm if I'm stuck in traffic for a long time. But is it better to have the auto adjusting valve?

Here's the accumulator, that I managed to pin prick puncture when I hit a pot hole last month:

Here's the OE expansion valve:

Here's the auto adjusting expansion valve:

[Ozark Lee]

As you kinda figured out that is actually an orifice tube, not an expansion valve. They serve the same function but they operate differently.

The orifice tube is located on the low pressure side joint going to the evaporator coil.

If you detonated a compressor you need to remove the orifice tube and the accumulator, flush the system, and then replace the orifice and accumulator with new parts.

...Lee

[ferrariwagon]

Iwould think if the auto adjusting orifice tube was better volvo would have used it.i would say go oem.

[turbomoose]

Well I took the car back to the dealer today. They're the ones who repaired the subframe and other stuff when I hit the pot hole... They're just making an amendment to the insurance claim and replacing the accumulator and oriface valve. They warned me about the evaporator being a weak link in the system. I told them I knew about it. They said that if they detected any leaks they'd have it replaced too. They'd claim damage from impact. I love them sometimes. I wont get my car back till Wed. :rolleyes:

[Chilled man]

a sinlge point orifice works perfect in our cars, and all cars unless they have a multiple point evap system in the car

we dont so stick with the OEM on this one .

[turbomoose]

If the evap needs to be replaced, should I have them install the volvo evaporator, or is there a known aftermarket part that's less prone to leaks?

The evap was replaced under warranty on this car in 2000 with 38K on the clock. The repair receipt said evap update kit. I doubt it's leaking. But who knows.