A/C trouble and the good ole Orifice Tube
05-14-2007, 06:56 AM
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A/C trouble and the good ole Orifice Tube I put a new compressor on my car a couple months ago but had no luck in getting the A/C to work. Last night while beating my head on the garage wall trying to figure out what the hell was going on I remembered someone on here telling me about an Orifice Tube, a damn filter. So I look around trying to find which line this bastard was in when I remembered having a complete extra A/C set-up for an LS1 camaro. I found where it was located, pulled the line off and removed the filter. Damn! Talking about being clogged up, this thing had more metal shavings and junk built up on it than anything I've ever seen. So I go to Advance and get a new Orifice Tube, two cans of R-134A and some A/C flush, clean out the lines, re-charge the system and now I have Ice Cold A/C. Let this be a lesson to those of you that are forgetful like me. A $3.00 part made me sweat my *** off in the 80 degree weather we've been having. 
05-14-2007, 08:13 AM
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Where is the tube located? I'd kinda like to check mine as well. 135k miles, and I doubt it's ever been cleaned out. Gets cold fast when it's not hot, but when it's hot out it takes a good while to really get cold. System is full according to my meter.
05-14-2007, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by blownta00
you dont need a/c-forget all that-just take off the tops and drive faster!!!!!lol
05-14-2007, 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by taintedmeat
Where is the tube located? I'd kinda like to check mine as well. 135k miles, and I doubt it's ever been cleaned out. Gets cold fast when it's not hot, but when it's hot out it takes a good while to really get cold. System is full according to my meter.
It's in the high side line coming out of the heater box thing from the firewall, the line with the pressure switch. It wouldn't hurt to change it and re-charge the system.
05-14-2007, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by blownta00
you dont need a/c-forget all that-just take off the tops and drive faster!!!!!lol
Screw that, my car stays hot even with the tops out. I'd rather have the windows up driving fast nice and cool. I'm all about Cold A/C.
05-14-2007, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by taintedmeat
It's gonna be 92 here today and it's not even summer yet, I think I'll stick with a/c. Thanks though!
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05-14-2007, 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 98-LS1
Screw that, my car stays hot even with the tops out. I'd rather have the windows up driving fast nice and cool. I'm all about Cold A/C.
05-15-2007, 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by taintedmeat
And the part was only $3?
Yep, just tell the parts person at Advance or wherever you go that you need an Orifice Tube for your car. Just $3.00 and a two cans of Refrigerant.
05-15-2007, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by 98-LS1
Yep, just tell the parts person at Advance or wherever you go that you need an Orifice Tube for your car. Just $3.00 and a two cans of Refrigerant.
On the upside, the new line also had a new orifice tube in it. Is the orifice tube supposed to be so hard to get out?
05-16-2007, 07:26 PM
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no it should come out pretty easy.
the GM verison orifice tube is better IMO anyway. its probably a little more money but will help the life of your compressor in the long run.
by the way the "heater box thing from the firewall" is called the evaporator
the GM verison orifice tube is better IMO anyway. its probably a little more money but will help the life of your compressor in the long run.
by the way the "heater box thing from the firewall" is called the evaporator
Last edited by suprabo; 05-16-2007 at 07:32 PM.
