Orifice Tube Replacement Cost Estimate

When the air conditioner is going through constant cycles, the orifice tube is one of the culprits on the list. Since the entire air conditioning system is inspected and tested as a whole, the technician will rely on pressure readings from the high and low pressure side of the air conditioning system to determine the likely cause of failure. If the high pressure side is very high after running the compressor, and the low pressure side is normal or too low, the technician will likely wait with the system off to see if the pressure equalizes across the two sides. If the pressure does not equalize, or upon opening the system contamination is found, the orifice tube is likely to be replaced.

Evacuating the air conditioning system is necessary when performing any repair which involves opening a refrigerant passage in the air conditioning system. The caveat to that being if the system has lost pressure due to a prolonged or large leak. Once the system is evacuated, the orifice tube will need to be removed by using specialized disconnect tools to remove the air conditioner lines. Replacing the orifice tube is a matter of pulling it out of the line, cleaning any contamination from the line, inserting the new orifice tube, refitting the lines, replacing any removed components and recharging the system for testing.

If the air conditioner is going through fast cycles, i.e. turning on and off rapidly, especially if the air from the vents never cools, it is recommended to leave the air conditioner off until servicing is possible. This will prevent extremely high pressures from developing in the high pressure side of the air conditioning system, and remove overload from the air conditioning compressor.

Older vehicles were made with ozone-depleting, or non-environmental friendly refrigerants, and releasing any refrigerants into the atmosphere is illegal. Federal law requires contained evaporation and disposal of refrigerants, and this requires fairly expensive machinery/tooling. Federal law also states that the older types of refrigerant be replaced with a more environmentally friendly version when the air conditioner service is performed. This will likely require several components and seals to be replaced to ensure compatibility with the new refrigerant. Due to the nature of air conditioning systems, adding refrigerant is not advised without measuring the high pressure and low pressure side of the system simultaneously, as the pressures may not be affected on both sides of the system.

Air conditioner repair is seldom achievable at home, and will require expensive evacuation equipment, a manifold and gauge set, creating a vacuum in the system, and charging the system. Aside from the lack of equipment that most DIYers will face, there is a danger of harm to person, equipment, and the vehicle when repairs or diagnostics are performed incorrectly. When it comes to servicing the air conditioner, it is best left to the pros.