Difficulty and trick to replacing A/C expansion valve

[crhenkel]

Can anyone give me any insight on how difficult it is to get at and replace the A/C expansion valve on my 1986 190E 16v? I am going to evacuate the system and replace some seals and the drier and a few of the sensors and thought that enough people mentioned the expansion valve that I might go ahead and repalce it also. I am guessing that the $25 part is going to be alot more expensive to have someone at an indy do the work, but I have not dealt withone before. Any hints of ideas? I have the tools and skills, I just have never done one or even messed with the A/C in the evaporator area on this car.

[E150GT]

I know on the W126 it really sucks, but I bought a set of metric and standard line wrench crowsfeet and had the job done in no time. After three days of trying

[crhenkel]

I am guessing it is bad on the w201 cars too. I am guessing they are close to the same concept and location. Do you go at it from the engine bay? I figure it is either the engine bay or under dash, but I have not really looked at it yet. Sort of afraid to...I am tired of simple jobs being difficult...LOL

[E150GT]

In my car it was under the dash above the gas pedal. It could be in the engine bay in your car, I'm not sure. It will give you a sore back and fingers and it gets hot down there and there is no light.

[97civicdx]

On the 16 valve 190's, the a/c expansion valve is located just under the wiper arm/motor. If you follow the ruber wrapped a/c lines along the driver side fender, thru the hood prop strut, and goes to the left of the fuse box towards the firewall then under wiper arm

[crhenkel]

I found it and it is closer than I thought to get at...have you changed one and it is a decent job or impossible?

[97civicdx]

Not personally, I had my Benz mechanic do it. I had the car converted to R-134 and it was one of the components not replaced after the line flush.
The system doesnt cool very well so I thought the A/C expansion valve was one of the culprits.

[crhenkel]

did it fix the problem?
mine cools well, just looking to fix a few samll leaks, it is losing freon over time

[slk230red]

Originally Posted by crhenkel

Can anyone give me any insight on how difficult it is to get at and replace the A/C expansion valve on my 1986 190E 16v? I am going to evacuate the system and replace some seals and the drier and a few of the sensors and thought that enough people mentioned the expansion valve that I might go ahead and repalce it also. I am guessing that the $25 part is going to be alot more expensive to have someone at an indy do the work, but I have not dealt withone before. Any hints of ideas? I have the tools and skills, I just have never done one or even messed with the A/C in the evaporator area on this car.

I've replaced the expansion valve on my '93 2.3 a couple of times. It's not very difficult. Remove the plastic screen under the wiper arm, locate the expansion valve on driver's side, remove nut holding on A/C hose bracket and pull straight out, then you will see 2 recessed small allen head bolts holding the expansion valve in place.

Below is a reference photo I found that shows the expansion valve just past the wiper arm on the driver's side.

[crhenkel]

excellent news, I might consider doing it after all. I checked it and it is easier to get at than i had first thought. It would be the ideal time to do it when the system is open anyhow.