Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Rick Fisher on Thu August 13, 2015 4:33 AM

Year: 2006
Make: Nissan
Model: Pathfinder
Engine Size: 4.0
Refrigerant Type: 134
Country of Origin: United States

I am redoing my Pathfinder A/C completely and the shop I took it to quoted 5 hours labor to replace the expansion valve. They claimed the "entire" dash had to be removed. Of course that's silly but has anyone here replaced one? How much time did it take you and what experience level do you posses? I usually double the mechanics time as I'm slow and my tools are all over the place!

Thanks
Rick

Cussboy on Thu August 13, 2015 9:15 AM

Rick - I saw your other post about your compressor going out. You didn't say whether your AC compressor failure was due to a bad electrical clutch or if the compressor itself has seized. Anyway, I would definitely not touch the expansion valve if it was just a bad AC clutch.

If the compressor seized you can get small particles in the system; oftentimes new condenser, flush high pressure hoses, replace receiver-drier will take care of it, not much chance of any particles getting through the frit in the drier to get into the expansion valve.

I wonder if that 5 hours quote included the labor to evacuate and re-charge the system too, which would be part of a compressor replacement.

Myself: it sounds like the evaporator must be pulled from under the dash to replace the expansion valve. I've only replaced one (leaky) evaporator (1988 B2200), and the entire job took me 4 hours including the recharge, but I did have my 11 year-old daughter to help attach the two fittings at the firewall.

Cussboy on Thu August 13, 2015 9:43 AM

Don't try the expansion valve/evaporator R&R unless you KNOW how to disable the passenger air bag. Be safe.

Rick Fisher on Thu August 13, 2015 2:52 PM

Cussboy
So it sounds like you vote for replace the least amount of parts?
The problem for me is I don't want to spend money twice and I am using up favors to get the freon out and recharged. So doing it again through a dealership under the radar will be tough.
Also I only paid $5000 for this Pathfinder 3 months ago. I feel like my full assault is a little crazy! But it's how I generally do things. With this vehicle I have no plans to drive it for 15 years like the last Pathfinder. I have my doubts!
So after looking at the AMA parts for a 2006 Pathfinder I see a few parts I didn't have on my list. The evaporator for example and the hoses and switches. I could guess I would be $1000 in if I did every single oring hose and coil/dryer etc. But is that logical?
Assuming the mechanic didn't do more than determine he couldn't jump start my compressor how would I go about finding the metal contaminants that may be in the system? Where is the easiest or most accurate place to look first? Is that the first step you would take?

So I have the condenser already and it came with a receiver-drier so that's out of the way. If I didn't find any metal in the system what would be the list of parts to replace? Orings, oil, freon, flush kit. That's it?
If it is dirty then what would I add to the above list?

Thanks for your help.
Rick

Rick Fisher on Thu August 13, 2015 2:52 PM

If you leave the key out of the ignition the bags can't deploy!

mk378 on Thu August 13, 2015 5:50 PM

Did your compressor seize up? Engine off, try to turn the driven plate on the front of the compressor. If it does not, then you are looking at major repair. If the compressor still does turn, but won't engage when power is supplied to the clutch wire, maybe you just need to adjust or replace the clutch.

I think the front TXV can be replaced working from the engine side of the firewall. If it has rear air that could be more difficult.

bohica2xo on Thu August 13, 2015 8:13 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: Rick Fisher
I am redoing my Pathfinder A/C completely and the shop I took it to quoted 5 hours labor to replace the expansion valve. They claimed the "entire" dash had to be removed. Of course that's silly

No, it is correct. 5 hours would be a damn fast mechanic. The TXV is bolted to the evaporator inside the cooling unit. To R&R the unit is 14 simple steps:





Little steps like removing the steering column. Remove the dash. Just quick little steps.

FYI, airbags can deploy with the battery removed from the vehicle. The airbag computer capacitor can deploy the bags in a collision.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.