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Where the heck is this thing?
So, A/C quit late summer 2021...foreign/imported repair shop said it was the compressor and would cost $2200 to replace. Nope.
I decided to wait till spring to bother repairing.
Finally got into it a couple of weeks ago when my garage was freed up.
Anyways, I replaced the compressor, the condenser/drier, and the radiator...which I believe would have been suggested add-ons by repair shop for lord knows how much.
Put it all back together, cleaned up...things looking good.
One last item to replace, the thermostatic expansion valve.
Workshop manual says to "Remove the instrument panel upper section." (Section 510-12)
Ok, cool...no, not cool...followed those instructions down the rabbit hole and I have gutted my LR3 interior.
And now I still can't figure out where, exactly, the thermostatic expansion valve is.
I know it's behind a cover, driver's side of center, but I find nothing that looks like the diagram in the manual.
I'm exhausted and have spent a lot of hours just removing all the interior.
So, where is it??...I can't find any reliable information online, no YouTube videos, no good forums threads, nada, zip, zilch.
The upside...interior will have never been cleaner when I'm done.
And I might just put in a new dash and audio head unit while this is all apart.
Not that either of those options is cheap, I just don't want to put this cracked, janky dashboard back in.
Also, does anyone know where I can get a new dashboard?
Does this picture help? You've probably already looked at it, but just in case.
Sounds like you're deep in it and come hell or high water that expansion valve is getting replaced. I took a chance on mine when I replaced the a/c compressor, condenser, and drier and skipped the expansion valve. I got lucky and it works well.
I also did the head unit. You'll lose the 4x4/Nav screen, clock, and I'm just now discovering I no longer have access to the "settings" that are normally available at the turn signal button. I can get to settings, but the Fwd/Rev steering wheel button no longer works with the cluster menu.
There's no turning back at this point...
Do I wish I had pulled a vacuum to see if it held first? I do.
But I'm in deep and this is the hill I will die on.
Yep, that pic is in the workshop manual and how I knew the general location.
The workshop manual is frustrating because it doesn't tell you everything in one spot, it jumps all over the place.
I've come to terms with fact that I have to now remove the instrument panel carrier.
...and apparently the front driver side seat. Sigh.
The upside...interior will have never been cleaner when I'm done.
And I might just put in a new dash and audio head unit while this is all apart.
Not that either of those options is cheap, I just don't want to put this cracked, janky dashboard back in.
Also, does anyone know where I can get a new dashboard?
A new dash would be great! I just ordered a black cover from Coverlaymfg.com, around $280 delivered. Not cheap, but I have no clue how much a Land Rover replacement would cost. I'll post some pics when I get it installed.
Looks like you're it, for educating us on the expansion valve. Keep us posted!
Ben, not sure if you were able to see the picture in the link I posted. It looks like the expansion valve is attached to the evaporator, which is in turn part of the assembly that also houses the heater matrix. I think the diagram is for a RHD vehicle, so the blower would be on the left. If that is the case, the evaporator is closer to the firewall side of the assembly.
A new dash would be great! I just ordered a black cover from Coverlaymfg.com, around $280 delivered. Not cheap, but I have no clue how much a Land Rover replacement would cost. I'll post some pics when I get it installed.
Looks like you're it, for educating us on the expansion valve. Keep us posted!
Definitely let me know how you like that dash cover...may go that route, too.
Ben, not sure if you were able to see the picture in the link I posted. It looks like the expansion valve is attached to the evaporator, which is in turn part of the assembly that also houses the heater matrix. I think the diagram is for a RHD vehicle, so the blower would be on the left. If that is the case, the evaporator is closer to the firewall side of the assembly.
I wondered about the RHD thing...has caused me some confusion in the past.
Feel pretty confident that it's located just below these vent ducts.
I'll know when I get back there...eventually...
I have been meaning to update this thread...but I've been enjoying cold A/C.
So...I gave up on changing the expansion valve because the system was holding a vacuum like a champ.
And I was exhausted.
The root cause was definitely the compressor.
I'll try to write up a much more detailed post (with pics) of my experience replacing the compressor, the condenser, and the radiator.
In the meantime, if you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me or post here...I'll be happy to help, if I can.
Also, shout out to @P-Bod for the dash cover, I love it.
A/C thermostatic expansion valve
