No orifice tube on a 93?

[Jason94sport]

I took apart my AC system. I do not see an orifice tube. Would there be a reason to not have 1? Did a 93 with R12 have them installed? Is it possible it disintegrated into the condenser & lines?

What color one should be used to replace? Keeping R12. I found a blue one & a red/orange one. Or does it matter?

 

[Maniak]

You most likely do have it, But its not where it is supposed to be. I've had two evaporators that had weak crimps that hold the orifice tube in. On both of them, the orifice tube blew into the evaporator. On both times I just said screw it an put another one it.

If it was easier to pull/replace the evaporator I would have done it. I have since learned to add some crimp to spot that holds the orifice tube so it doesn't blow in.

As for color, I use variable Orifice Tubes (VOR) to get the increase of pressure differential at idle which we really need here in Az. They even make an extreme one which gives us even more cooling at idle.

~Mark

 

[Jason94sport]

hmm, ok where should it be located? The top line or bottom line to the evaporator? I only have the top line off.
How do you remove the bottom line?
It was not in the accumulator.

 

[Maniak]

Its in the high pressure line. That's the lower line going into the the a/c box. If you look closely at that line you will see a small crimp on the line (the side that is coming out of the a/c box). That is what holds the orifice tube. You should find it between the fitting and that crimp.

As for how to take it apart, you just use 2 wrenches. One to keep from twisting the line and the other to turn the connection.

~Mark

 

[Tshark299]

You most likely do have it, But its not where it is supposed to be. I've had two evaporators that had weak crimps that hold the orifice tube in. On both of them, the orifice tube blew into the evaporator. On both times I just said screw it an put another one it.

Having 2 orifice tubes won't affect system performance? I'm also trying to replace mine and it also doesn't seem to be in that bottom evaporator line, yet the system was working well before the compressor clutch quit. Should I just install the new one where the old one is supposed to be and leave the old one in there?

 

[Maniak]

Yes, it "can" affect performance since its blown through the tube and into the evaporator. In our case, both times the a/c still worked great using the VOR.

I did ask a mechanic friend what he would do, and he said since I can evacuate and recharge my own system, just throw a VOR at it and evac/recharge it. If it was a customers he would advise them to replace the evaporator since they would be paying for the evac/recharge unless it was expensive to r&r the evporator which it can be on some vehicles.

~Mark

 

[Tshark299]

Yes, it "can" affect performance since its blown through the tube and into the evaporator. In our case, both times the a/c still worked great using the VOR.

I did ask a mechanic friend what he would do, and he said since I can evacuate and recharge my own system, just throw a VOR at it and evac/recharge it. If it was a customers he would advise them to replace the evaporator since they would be paying for the evac/recharge unless it was expensive to r&r the evporator which it can be on some vehicles.

~Mark

I went back and took a closer look (actually more like a closer feel since I can't see anything down there) and it seems like the orifice has not gone all the way to the evaporator, but is still in the tube about 1.5 inches back from the disconnect. I guess I'm going to try to find a removal tool and pull it out since I've already gone through this much trouble, rather than leave it and have it eventually get blown all the way through.

 

[txpkrdad]

I went back and took a closer look (actually more like a closer feel since I can't see anything down there) and it seems like the orifice has not gone all the way to the evaporator, but is still in the tube about 1.5 inches back from the disconnect. I guess I'm going to try to find a removal tool and pull it out since I've already gone through this much trouble, rather than leave it and have it eventually get blown all the way through.

Autozone carries the orifice tube removal tool on rental.(put down deposit,use tool and return it,get deposit back) The question i have for someone a little more experienced is,is the orifice tube suppose to be in the line itself or in the line part of the evaporator core?

 

[Tshark299]

Autozone carries the orifice tube removal tool on rental.(put down deposit,use tool and return it,get deposit back) The question i have for someone a little more experienced is,is the orifice tube suppose to be in the line itself or in the line part of the evaporator core?

I tried the tool... mine is so far in and stuck that it barely reaches it and wont grab it at all. I'm going to try one of those evaporator repair kits since they're so cheap... if that doesn't work I'll either be replacing the whole evaporator or just returning the parts I've already bought and driving with the windows down for the rest of the summer.

 

[Maniak]

If you do get a new evaporator, use a set of pliers and make those crimps a little deeper so it doesn't happen again..

Use the pliers that have the jaws shaped so they grab "around" a nut. That way you can crimp around the pipe without crushing it.

~Mark

 

[Tshark299]

If you do get a new evaporator, use a set of pliers and make those crimps a little deeper so it doesn't happen again..

Use the pliers that have the jaws shaped so they grab "around" a nut. That way you can crimp around the pipe without crushing it.

~Mark

Yeah in my searching I saw that suggestion in a couple of your other threads, so I'm definitely planning on doing that, thanks.

 

[Jason94sport]

I will not have time to mess with mine till sat. I'm hoping it's not in too far. Is there any metal on the orifice tube? I have a small telescopic wand magnet, that will fit in the tube.
Will a coat hanger pull it out?

 

[geosnooker2000]

I will not have time to mess with mine till sat. I'm hoping it's not in too far. Is there any metal on the orifice tube? I have a small telescopic wand magnet, that will fit in the tube.
Will a coat hanger pull it out?

Even if it were metal, a magnet wouldn't do it. I used a pair of needle nose pliers, and was surprised at the force it took to pull it out.

 

[Jason94sport]

That was simple. It was in the lower pipe & was right there at the end. Needle nose pliers took it out in 1 pull.

 

[Tshark299]

That was simple. It was in the lower pipe & was right there at the end. Needle nose pliers took it out in 1 pull.

You're lucky yours worked out the way it supposed to. After cutting the evaporator tube off I discovered that the previous tech to work on the system installed the orifice tube BACKWARDS. That's why it seemed like it was so far in and why the removal tool couldn't grab it. So I had to install an evaporator tube repair kit to replace the part I cut off, in addition to the compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube itself that I was already planning on replacing. The good news is that everything seems to have worked out because I have cold air again. There don't seem to be any leaks but time will tell.