2004 Chevy Aveo Changing expansion valve

TRISHAK

MEMBER
2004 CHEVROLET AVEO
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

Hi - The A/C stopped working on our 04 Aveo. Our pal who's a mechanic knows it's the expansion valve, but is unsure how to access the expansion vlave to change it. It could be simple to go underneath the car and do it, but it could be that we have to pull off the whole dashboard. (I'm tempted to say that it would be stupid to design a car in such a way that it's almost impossible to reapir it, but I've seen it before, so I can believe that they would do it.)

Does anyone know which way we can access the expansion vlave? Our friend will know how to change it once he's in there, but he's just not sure how to get at it, and he doesn't want to start taking things apart and maybe leave us without the car if he does it wrong.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Trisha

1 Reply

BRIAN 1

MECHANIC
1,030 POSTS

Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Recover the refrigerant. Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recharging.
Remove the liquid evaporator pipe connector block retaining nut at the cowl.

Remove the expansion valve connector block retaining bolts.
Remove the expansion valve.

Discard the O-rings.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

Clean the O-ring surface areas of dirt or contamination.
Install new O-rings on the evaporator tubes.
Install a new expansion valve onto the evaporator tubes. NOTE: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.
Install the expansion valve retaining bolts. Tighten Tighten the expansion valve retaining bolts to 12 N.m (106 lb in) .

Install the liquid evaporator pipe connecting block retaining nut at the cowl. Tighten Tighten the liquid evaporator pipe connecting block retaining nut to 15 N.m (11 lb in) .
Connect the negative battery cable.
Evacuate and recharge the system. Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recharging.