Expansion valve location
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2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Expansion valve location
Aloha from Hawaii! I have a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8. I can't seem to find the expansion valve for my a/c. Some call it the oriphis tube, but that's not what I'm looking for. Any photo or information of it's location would be gratefully appreciated!
- harofreak00
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Re: Expansion valve location
There is no expansion valve. The oriphis tube is between the low and high side valves.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
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2005 pontiac
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- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
I appreciate your quick reply. When I check the low side it's at about 40 and the high side is about 200. Then the high side starts to up, but the low side does not adjust accordingly. This lead ne to believe that there is some type of blockage/ restriction. Am I on the right track?
- harofreak00
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Re: Expansion valve location
What is the actual problem with the system? Is it not cooling? Your numbers sound normal.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
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2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
The temperature in the car with a/c on gets cold, but not as cold since I changed the compressor. It was the reason I had changed the compressor since I had a new spare. It's just a little colder, but not where I think it could be/ use to be. It's in the range of 70-60 at the most.
- harofreak00
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Re: Expansion valve location
Did you evacuate the system? How much freon did you put in?
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
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2005 pontiac
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Re: Expansion valve location
Evac was for about 45 minutes and about 2# of coolant. If there is no expansion valve, what converts the liquid to a vapor?
- harofreak00
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Re: Expansion valve location
The system performs much better with 2.5lbs, even though the manual states 2lbs. If you notice its cooler on the passenger side than the drivers side, that is a symptom of a low charge.
Here is a link with a simple explanation of the differences between a cycling clutch orifice tube system and a thermostatic expansion valve system.
https://www.freeasestudyguides.com/ac-ccot-vs-txv.html
Here is a link with a simple explanation of the differences between a cycling clutch orifice tube system and a thermostatic expansion valve system.
https://www.freeasestudyguides.com/ac-ccot-vs-txv.html
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
-
2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
Thanks for taking the time and effort in linking me up with the site. I didn't know. I thought all vehicles with a/c had an expansion valve. I thought the orifice tube was only to filter out rubbish in the system. Thanks again.
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2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
I sure could use a diagram of the accumulator and which way the orifice tube faces. I found my orifice tube in the connecting side of the low side to accumulator.
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JEFFSSSEI
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- Year and Trim: 2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
Re: Expansion valve location
I posted pics of those in your other thread but here:
here you go this is what GMSI shows for 05 model
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KI4Tw3 ... sp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hzPCN4 ... sp=sharing
here you go this is what GMSI shows for 05 model
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KI4Tw3 ... sp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hzPCN4 ... sp=sharing
2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
)
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
-
2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
When I go to these sites, I get this.
Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.
Make sure that you have the correct URL and the file exists.
Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.
Make sure that you have the correct URL and the file exists.
- Archon
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Re: Expansion valve location
If it helps, this is what the instructions say: "Install the new expansion tube. Ensure that the short screen and arrow face toward the evaporator."
*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.
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2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
My accumulator is under the hood. One line going in and the other end is where the orifice tube goes. That line goes into the firewall. Hate NAPA guy told me the short side of the tube faces towards the accumulator faxing the front of the car. I'm confused.
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JEFFSSSEI
- SSE Member

- Posts: 133
- Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:00 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
Re: Expansion valve location
2005 pontiac wrote:When I go to these sites, I get this.
Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist.
Make sure that you have the correct URL and the file exists.
Code: Select all
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hzPCN45IfH22VIi5qFtZrymUEWCA0Voc/view?usp=sharing
Code: Select all
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KI4Tw3gjg986SDHeFGtl-rZo9KBOCl_Q/view?usp=sharing2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
)
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
-
2005 pontiac
- SE Member

- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:53 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 SE
Re: Expansion valve location
Thanks a million! It's exactly what I was looking for. Now I get it. I cannot tell you how grateful I am! Thanks again!

