Refrigerant Lines

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Pickup, 2003 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2003 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2003 Ford Excursion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The condenser to evaporator tube contains high pressure liquid refrigerant upstream of the A/C evaporator core orifice.

The A/C manifold and tube is attached to the A/C compressor, is sealed with O-ring seals and has the following features:

The upstream side contains low pressure refrigerant gas.
The downstream side contains high pressure refrigerant gas.
A serviceable high pressure A/C charge port valve is located on the downstream side.
Contains the pressure relief valve.
The downstream side also contains a fitting used to mount the A/C pressure cutoff switch. A long-travel Schrader-type valve stem core is installed in the fitting so that the A/C pressure cutoff switch can be removed without discharging the A/C system.
A/C Evaporator Core

Fig 1: Identifying A/C Evaporator Core
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

NOTE: If an evaporator core leak is suspected, the evaporator core must be vacuum leak tested before it is removed. Refer to CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION .

The A/C evaporator core is a plate/fin type with a unique refrigerant flow path.
- A mixture of refrigerant and oil enters the top of the A/C evaporator core through the A/C evaporator core inlet tube and then moves out of the A/C evaporator core through the A/C evaporator core outlet tube.
- The A/C evaporator core is located in the evaporator core housing at the RH engine compartment side of the dash panel.
  A/C Evaporator Core Orifice
  
  Fig 2: Identifying A/C Evaporator Core Orifice
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  
  NOTE: The A/C evaporator core orifice should be replaced following A/C compressor failures that produce debris in the system.
  
  The A/C evaporator core orifice has the following characteristics:
It is located in the A/C evaporator core inlet tube.
It has filter screens located on the inlet and outlet ends of the tube body.
The inlet filter screen acts as a strainer for the liquid refrigerant flowing through the A/C evaporator core orifice.
O-rings on the A/C evaporator core orifice prevent the high-pressure liquid refrigerant from bypassing the A/C evaporator core orifice.
Adjustment or service cannot be made to the A/C evaporator core orifice assembly. It must be replaced as a unit.