Thanks for scaring the %$#@ out of me about removing the expansion valve. I was so worked up about it from what I read here, that actually getting it off, drilling it out and re-installing it turned out to be nowhere near as hard as I'd expected!!

That's not to say it was a breeze, but not nearly as tough as I'd anticipated.

I also think I found my leak -- the top two lines barely needed any force at all to break free.

Tomorrow to my mechanic's to flush; install new valve, dryer and compressor; add oil and r12 charge; and hopefully that's that.

Oh yeah, changed out my sieve-like primer pump also. Yeah!

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K