Usually you do not have to replace the expansion valve, but you do if the compressor failed and sent shaving throughout the system. The valve is cheap, and not a bad idea to replace.

I had a 70's Pontiac that had the accumulator/reciever with a replacable dessicant bag. IT's part was called a VIR (Valve in Recovery) unit. The unit was on the suction side, not the discharge.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D