How much should it cost to replace a 2001 Nissan Sentra expansion valve?
Is this even what I should be replacing? I have a 2001 Nissan Sentra that has under 85000 miles and as of this summer the AC has stopped working. Air still blows out, but it is not cool as the compressor is not turning on. If you open the hood and take a listen, you hear no difference from when the AC is on or not. Innitially, I tried using an AC charger kit and obviously that was not the problem. Then I thought that the compressor needed to be replaced, but I think it is much too early for that to go on the car. I brought it to a mechanic that specializes in foreign cars and he said that it was the expansion valve that needed to be replaced and that it would cost $440.00. I've found the part online for $40 - does labor really need to be that high?
Always get a second opinion, but it really could be that high. Depending on your location (hourly labor charges vary) the labor could be something like $65 and hour. On many cars this valve is located in the dashboard, in a box, connected to the a/c cooling lines.
So this basically means, taking the coolant out of the lines with a recovery machine, taking apart the dash (in the area around the glovebox) and taking the part out, replacement of the part, pumping the system down to a vacumn to get any air out, and then refilling the coolant.
This is a pretty intensive procedure, but I really cant figure out how the mechanic would determine that it was the expansion valve from what you wrote. If you tried a recharge kit, did you disconnect the battery for a while? There is a low pressure switch that keeps the compressor from starting, some of these have a memory. If you disconnect it the bat, and then try starting the a/c it should work for a minute, and then you might see if recharging makes a difference.
Items Recently Purchased From This Site:
6.0L Diesel 6.0 Ford Powerstroke EGR Valve / Cooler Delete Kit , Sinister Diesel 2007.5-2009 Dodge Ram Cummins 6.7L EGR Valve Cooler Delete Kit, Sinister 6.0L Ford EGR Delete Valve / Cooler Kit 03 04 05 06 07 Powerstroke 6.0, 6.4L EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD RIVER CITY DIESEL VALVE 2008-2010 FORD F250 F350, 6.0L EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD RIVER CITY DIESEL VALVE 2003-2007 FORD F250 F350, 6.4L EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD VALVE 08-10 FORD F 250 F 350 6.4 09 2009 E G R, 6.0L EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD VALVE 03-07 FORD F250 F350 EXCURSION 05 04 DIESEL, 6.0 EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD VALVE 03-07 FORD F250 F350 EXCURSION DIESEL 05 04, 6.0L EGR DELETE KIT COOLER RCD RIVER CITY DIESEL VALVE 2003-2007 FORD F250 F350, H&S Performance EGR Cooler Only Delete Kit 07.5-08 Dodge Ram Cummins 6.7L Diesel, Ford 6.0 Powerstroke EGR Valve and Cooler Bypass Kit Delete 6.0L Turbo Diesel, Ford 6.0 Powerstroke EGR Valve Cooler Bypass Kit Delete Ford 6.0L Powerstroke, Duramax EGR Valve/Cooler Delete Kit, 2007-09 6.7 Cummins EGR Valve/Cooler Delete Kit w/ Trans Dipstick Bracket, aFe Power EGR Cooler Delete Kit 09-11 Dodge Ram Cummins 6.7L Diesel 24 Valve, H&S Performance EGR Cooler Delete Kit 09-11 Dodge Ram Cummins 6.7L Diesel 24V, Ford 6.0 Powerstroke EGR Valve Cooler Delete Kit, Arp, Black Onyx Gaskets, SCT, Ford 6.0 Powerstroke EGR Valve Cooler Bypass Kit Delete, Arp, Black Onyx Gaskets, aFe Power EGR Cooler Delete Kit 07.5-08 Dodge Ram Cummins 6.7L Diesel 24 Valve, FORS DIESEL EGR VALVE COOLER GASKET KIT 3C3Z-9T514-AG, Ford Excursion Pickup Truck Van EGR Valve Cooler Gasket Seal & Hardware Kit New, Ford Excursion Pickup Truck Van EGR Valve Cooler Gasket Seal & Hardware Kit New, NOS POLARIS XPEDITION 325 REMOTE VALVE OIL COOLER HOSE KIT 2873660, 6.0L Diesel 6.0 Ford Powerstroke Complete Solution EGR Valve/Cooler Delete Kit , H&S EGR Cooler Only Delete Kit 09-11 Dodge 6.7L Diesel, H&S EGR Cooler Delete Kit 07-08 Dodge Ram 6.7L Diesel, NOS MOPAR Transmission Cooler Bypass Valve Kit Caravan, 07-08 Dodge Cummins 6.7 EGR Cooler/Valve Delete Kit, ISX CUMMINS CM870 \ CM871 EGR COOLER + VALVE PLUG KITS!, Ford 6.0 Powerstroke EGR Valve Cooler Bypass Kit Delete, Oil Cooler Valve Kit Detroit Diesel #23503626 V71 & V92,
