'99 bUICK CENTURY A/C blows warm air

ORIFICE TUBE AND LOCATION IN VEHICLE

If you are not somewhat mechanically inclined you should let a professional do this as the AC coolant will be released. You will have to re-charge the system upon completion. Here are some quotes from on-line mechanics to give you a better idea what you are looking for. The Orifice tube can be determined as faulty when your AC doesn\'t cool properly in the summer or heat well in the winter. Often you will smell antifreeze inside your car\'s interior.



"It\'s buried pretty good. It\'s in the liquid line that runs along the left inner fender well, under the brake booster. If you look closely at the line, you will see a connection and dimples in the line where the tube is located." Quote from ASE: Wrenchtech Aug 2011.

The liquid line is located in the area of the abs pump.

"The fixed orifice is located in the inlet tube to the evaporator core, this is where the small high pressure AC line from the compressor connects to the tube sticking out of the engine firewall, u will most likely need a special tool to remove it," below is an example of the tool, "don\'t damage the evaporator core by trying to remove the orifice tube without this if it is stuck down in the tube." ---Dennis Weid

The tool comes as a single apparatus or you can get the kit. Here are some examples of manufacturers who make these parts. I have removed the sales information because there are literally hundreds of choices out there including your local parts stores:



Mastercool 92311 Deluxe Orifice Tube Repair Kit This 5 piece universal kit will remove and install any style orifice tube.



Another suggestion comes from Ronnie Bennett Sr.: "The orifice tube will be on the small line joining the evaporator, the ac line will be swelled where the orifice tube is at, you may not see it, but use needle nose pliers to remove it, and to install it."



But I would look at YouTube for a better understanding of what you are looking for, how it works and how to remove and replace it, so try this site to start with and look further. You\'ll be surprised the amount of data available and a video is worth a zillion words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae3zQQOhkDY

Dennis

If you haven\'t seen pictures of the part, this is what it looks like:

look between master cylinder and brake booster if the little pin is there in the middle. you definitely have a booster problems or vacuum
hope it helps

The orifice tube is located inside the liquid line where it connects to the condenser. This line is located on the passenger side of the car and has the low side charge port on it. this line unscrews right where the orifice tube is located... Hope this helps

The orifice is located at the inlet tube to the evaporator core on the firewall, just suction the system out and remove the pressure line to the evap core, it is right there.

on the thin line near the evaporator were the two couplings are joined together

nope you have to replace them.when brake booster diaphram leaks you cant plug them.i have bought one at salvage yard in good shape.until i got a new one.get your brake booster from inside salvage yard where they stock them inside out the weather.dont take any brake booster off old outside cars been in all kinds bad weather. there vacuum diaphram probably dried up will leak also.

not exactly sure but using info below you can find it.

Remember the flow for the a/c system is :
1. From the compressor a high pressure (HP) gas goes to the condenser in front of the radiator.
2. From the condenser a HP liquid goes to an expansion device (orifice tube or expansion valve)
3. From expansion device the low pressure gas enters the firewall to the evaporator.
4. From evaporator the low pressure liquid/gas mixture goes through the dryer back to the compressor suction.

There will be about a 1" nut on the low pressure line between the firewall and the compressor. Remove nut and on the male side use a pair of kneedle nose pliers and remove orifice tube. Note orientation of tube.

Replace tube, reassemble, evacuate air from system, recharge with freon.

I followed the liquid line from the evaporator , back towards the condenser & quickly lost it it behind the power brake vacuum booster . The line was cold , with the A/C running .

I followed the liquid line forward , from the high pressure service port , towards the evaporator . I lost the line under the ABS module / assembly .The line was warm .

The orifice tube had to be some where in between , under the other stuff .

I finally found a crude picture of this entire liquid line . I could see , in the picture , where the orifice tube was .

I bought a little round mirroe on a telescoping handel . With it and a flashlight I finally could see the V orifice tube . It is tucked away to the right of the vacuum brake booster ( looking straight at the booster ) in the corner formed bu the fire wall , fender and wheel well .

It is going to be a huge pain to get to .

Thanks ,
Wyr

Some are in the inlet to the evaporator and some could be in the condenser line. You can get a new orifice tube on autozone for $5 - 20

http://www.autozone.com/N,16301861/shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

There's a little rust making the wheel stick to the rotor. Just give it a kick to the tire and it'll break it loose.