Hi, I have a 96 dodge ram with some A/C problems and the person working on it is wondering if I have a picalo tube or a expansion valve. I have plenty of freon in the system but I'm still getting warmer air. The Temp will not go below 90 degrees. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated as I live here in Arizona and it's a 110 degrees outside. lol Thanks again.

Ken Heyd

 

As far as I know we have an expansion valve. Shouldn't the A/C tech already know that? Why is he asking you? To start off with he should have hooked up gauges to both high & low and checked your pressure on both sides. That alone would tell him if you have enough freon or if there is a blockage. If this person doesn't have any real answers for you, I would find another shop, pronto! He could possibly make a simple problem worse (and you will be stuck with the bill).

 

He actually works on aircraft and wasn't completely familiar with the dodge, but he does have the gauges hooked up and said I have plenty of freon. He was thinking the expansion valve was possibly stuck open and so I was getting hot air mixed with the cold.

Ken

 

Is the compressor cycling on and off? Or does it keep running and you still have warm air?

 

I think it stays running with the warm air.

 

So is it difficult to get to the valve? Do I need to go through the engine compartment or under the dash?

 

You don't have an expansion valve, it has the whatchamacallit tube.

 

Orifice tube. Which can be replaced on it's own, without having to purchase the whole line like on later models.

 

That's the word! Thanks zman.

 

So is it difficult to replace the Orifice tube? Can that be purchased at the auto repair store?
Thanks for the help!

Ken