It might have a purpose. It might even be important. The one core engineering course I passed was thermodynamics, much of which was about the refrigeration cycle. Temperature goes up with pressure so after the refrigerant is compressed it's hotter than the outside air and can be cooled by being passed through the condenser. Then when it's allowed to expand, the pressure goes down, but the refrigerant was cooled in the condenser so it's now colder. This is what goes through the evaporator and cools the air inside the car. That little muffler thing might be the expansion tube.
From what I understand though, the expansion tube is just that, a tube. This bump might still have a purpose. Plumbing systems often have 'shock absorbers' which are nothing more than empty pipes that prevent that bang you sometimes get when the water is turned off or on.
The window washer has a similar device in the line leading to the windshield nozzles. The one on my SE was open so I glued and taped the two halves together. Then I wondered, maybe there was supposed to be something in there, like a ball, say to keep the fluid from running back into the pump. Anyone know?
Originally posted by 85 SE VIN 9: The window washer has a similar device in the line leading to the windshield nozzles. The one on my SE was open so I glued and taped the two halves together. Then I wondered, maybe there was supposed to be something in there, like a ball, say to keep the fluid from running back into the pump. Anyone know?
That's a one-way, windshield washer check valve, part #25523494. Runs around $8 - $10
[This message has been edited by DJErikd (edited 06-23-2013).]
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04:22 PM
85 SE VIN 9 Member
Posts: 690 From: Harwood Heights, IL, USA Registered: Apr 2010
One of the many things I have learned over the years is, if the manufacture spent money on research, design, development and installation, it serves a purpose. There is very few things on these cars or any car that isn't needed or mandated by law. I remember a few years back when 60 Minutes did a story on GM about some defect that would have cost them $3 per car to fix and GM figured it was cheaper to pay any potential law suits rather than fix it.
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10:36 PM
jaybug56 Member
Posts: 378 From: Cleveland Tenneessee Registered: Jan 2010
The muffler is there for only one real reason... to muffle the pressure pulses so you don't' get piston pulses in the lines.
The last AC system I worked on I had the lines off the 'muffler' assembly... so I did what any curio person would do (who wanted it perfectly clean).... I cut it in half cleaned it out with solvent then put it back together and welded it shut again. Worked great and was way easier than cleaning it. Only trouble was finding the crimp fittings to have it re-crimped.
One of the many things I have learned over the years is, if the manufacture spent money on research, design, development and installation, it serves a purpose. There is very few things on these cars or any car that isn't needed or mandated by law. I remember a few years back when 60 Minutes did a story on GM about some defect that would have cost them $3 per car to fix and GM figured it was cheaper to pay any potential law suits rather than fix it.
That empty big space absorbs some compressor "noise" on the output line. GM wouldn't spend a penny unless they thought the muffler was needed.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Originally posted by 85 SE VIN 9: The window washer has a similar device in the line leading to the windshield nozzles. The one on my SE was open so I glued and taped the two halves together. Then I wondered, maybe there was supposed to be something in there, like a ball, say to keep the fluid from running back into the pump. Anyone know?
Had two parts inside... Rubber disk and plastic part that makes that a check valve. See my Cave, Windshield Wipe
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08:26 PM
Marvin McInnis Member
Posts: 11599 From: ~ Kansas City, USA Registered: Apr 2002
That empty big space absorbs some compressor "noise" on the output line. GM wouldn't spend a penny unless they thought the muffler was needed.
Correct on all counts. The AC "muffler" acts as a pressure damper, and it probably also reduces the peak pressure in the compressor high-side manifold. Then again, its main purpose may be simply as a cavity resonator to reduce noise. Most cars built in the last 25 years have one or more cavity resonators in the intake tract to reduce noise and "tune" the remaining sound ... even my 1991 Buick Regal.
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 06-24-2013).]
I removed the a/c muffler from my 3800 a/c hoses after my first batch and noticed no difference in sound or pressure (pulsing or psi). On a quieter car, it may be more noticeable though. Dave
Originally posted by 85 SE VIN 9: That little muffler thing might be the expansion tube.
The expansion tube (orifice tube) is inside one of the A/C lines in the front compartment. The muffler is just that... a muffler. It makes compressor operation quieter.
