This procedure covers replacement of the AC expansion valve (TXV) on a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry with 2.5L I4 engine, requiring refrigerant recovery, evaporator access, and system recharge.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• AC Expansion Valve (TXV) × 1 — 88719-06020 or equivalent
• AC line O-rings × 4 — Use OEM specification
• PAG oil (ND-11) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• R-1234yf refrigerant × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect negative battery terminal and wait 90 seconds for airbag system to discharge
3. Verify AC system contains R-1234yf refrigerant using refrigerant identifier (2018-2024 Camry uses R-1234yf, NOT R-134a)
4. Start engine and run AC on MAX cold for 2 minutes to circulate oil, then shut off (helps prevent compressor damage during service)
5. Connect AC recovery machine and fully recover all refrigerant from system following machine manufacturer instructions
6. Document amount of oil recovered for replacement calculation
7. Photograph dashboard trim and connector locations for reassembly reference

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove lower dashboard trim panels
   Remove lower dashboard trim panel on passenger side. Remove two screws at bottom edge and carefully pull panel away from clips starting at bottom edge. Disconnect any electrical connectors for lights or sensors. Remove glove box by opening fully, squeezing sides inward to release stops, and pulling down and out.
2. 2

   Remove blower motor assembly
   Disconnect blower motor electrical connector. Remove three blower motor mounting screws. Carefully pull blower motor assembly downward and out of HVAC housing. This provides access to lower portion of evaporator housing.
   Torque spec

   Blower Motor Screws7 Nm (5 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect liquid and suction lines
   Locate AC liquid line and suction line connections at firewall pass-through near evaporator. Place shop towels below connections to catch residual oil. Using appropriate wrench, loosen and disconnect both line fittings. Immediately cap all open fittings with plugs or tape to prevent moisture and contamination entry. Remove and discard old O-rings from fittings.
   ⚠Small amount of refrigerant oil will drain from lines. Wear nitrile gloves to avoid skin contact with PAG oil.
   Torque spec

   AC Line Fittings20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove evaporator housing covers
   Remove plastic cover screws securing the evaporator housing cover panels. Remove lower cover first, then upper cover if needed for access to expansion valve. The TXV is typically mounted on the evaporator inlet side (liquid line side) inside the housing.
   Torque spec

   Cover Screws11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Access expansion valve
   Locate expansion valve mounted to evaporator core inlet. It will be connected to the inlet tube with a mounting bracket. Disconnect the temperature sensing bulb from the evaporator outlet tube by carefully removing the bulb clamp. Note exact positioning of sensing bulb for reinstallation - improper placement will cause system malfunction.
6. 6

   Remove old expansion valve
   Remove expansion valve mounting bracket bolts. Loosen expansion valve fitting at evaporator inlet connection. Carefully remove old expansion valve assembly, noting orientation and position. Remove and discard O-rings from evaporator tube connection. Inspect evaporator inlet tube for damage or debris.
   ⚠Do not allow debris to enter evaporator tubes. Cover opening immediately if you need to pause work.
   Torque spec

   Expansion Valve10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

   Mounting Bracket Bolts24 Nm (18 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Install new expansion valve
   Install new O-rings onto evaporator inlet tube, lubricating with fresh ND-11 PAG oil. Position new expansion valve onto evaporator inlet tube ensuring proper alignment. Thread fitting by hand first to prevent cross-threading. Torque expansion valve fitting to specification. Install mounting bracket and torque bolts to specification.
   Torque spec

   Expansion Valve10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

   Mounting Bracket Bolts24 Nm (18 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Install temperature sensing bulb
   Position temperature sensing bulb on evaporator outlet tube in exact same location as original (typically at 12 o'clock or 3 o'clock position on horizontal outlet tube). Secure with new bulb clamp ensuring good thermal contact. Bulb must contact bare metal tube, not insulation. Incorrect bulb placement will cause poor AC performance or icing.
9. 9

   Reassemble evaporator housing
   Reinstall evaporator housing covers in reverse order of removal. Ensure all alignment tabs seat properly. Torque cover screws to specification. Verify no tools or parts are left inside housing before final closure.
   Torque spec

   Cover Screws11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect AC lines
    Install new O-rings on both liquid line and suction line fittings. Lubricate O-rings with ND-11 PAG oil. Connect both lines to evaporator tubes, threading by hand first. Torque both line fittings to specification using backup wrench on evaporator fitting to prevent tube damage.
    ⚠Always use backup wrench on evaporator fitting. Twisting the evaporator tubes will cause leaks and require evaporator replacement.
    Torque spec

    AC Line Fittings20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall blower motor
    Position blower motor assembly into HVAC housing ensuring proper sealing of housing gasket. Install and torque three mounting screws to specification. Reconnect blower motor electrical connector. Test blower motor operation at all speeds before proceeding.
    Torque spec

    Blower Motor Screws7 Nm (5 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Evacuate AC system
    Connect AC service machine to high and low side service ports. Perform vacuum test: evacuate system to 29 inches Hg (98 kPa) vacuum and hold for minimum 30 minutes. System should not lose more than 1 inch Hg in 30 minutes. If vacuum holds, system is leak-free and moisture-free. If vacuum drops, locate and repair leak before proceeding.
    ⚠Insufficient evacuation will leave moisture in system which will freeze at expansion valve and cause intermittent cooling or system damage.
13. 13

    Add refrigerant oil and recharge system
    Calculate oil charge: add same amount of oil as was recovered during discharge, plus 0.7 oz (20ml) to compensate for oil retained in expansion valve. Add ND-11 PAG oil through service machine. Recharge system with R-1234yf refrigerant to specification (approximately 14.6 oz total capacity for 2.5L Camry - verify on underhood label). Charge through low side port only with engine running and AC on MAX cold.
    ⚠️Never charge R-1234yf through high side port with engine running - can cause explosion. Only use low side port during engine operation.
14. 14

    Leak test system
    With system fully charged and pressurized, use electronic leak detector to check all connection points: expansion valve fitting, liquid line connection, suction line connection, and evaporator housing seams. No leaks should be detected. If leak is found, recover refrigerant, repair leak, and repeat evacuation and recharge process.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall glove box by aligning hinges and pushing upward until stops click into place
2. Reinstall lower dashboard trim panel, reconnecting all electrical connectors and ensuring all clips seat fully
3. Reconnect negative battery terminal
4. Reset clock and radio presets as needed

Verification

• Start engine and turn AC to MAX cold, recirculation mode, fan on high
• Allow system to run for 5 minutes to stabilize
• Verify center vent temperature reaches 38-45°F (3-7°C) with ambient temperature above 70°F
• Check that compressor cycles normally and does not short-cycle (should run at least 30 seconds per cycle)
• Verify no frost or ice buildup on evaporator housing or AC lines (indicates proper expansion valve operation)
• Listen for abnormal hissing sounds at expansion valve area which would indicate refrigerant leak
• Monitor system pressures: low side should be 25-35 PSI, high side 200-250 PSI at idle with 75-85°F ambient (values vary with temperature)
• Verify temperature sensing bulb is secure and making good contact with evaporator outlet tube
• Test AC performance at various fan speeds and temperature settings to ensure proper operation

More procedures for this vehicle