Expansion Valve Replacement

So my 07 needs the valve replace also and shop quoted me 3k for it along with compressor so im going to give it a shot myself, got into it a bit last night, Did you just cut the black tape like stuff around it? Did you do anything to wrap it with insulation? Did you actually replace the valve without removing the dash or just in hindsight, realized that you could?

They already evacuated the system for me, so i just have to order the parts and get her done.

 

I cut the insulation back and reused it. Once it was time for it to go back on I wrapped it with the insulation I cut off and wrapped it with Tessa tape. You do not need to remove the dash; i did that due to #1 It’s what was said to do from my searches on the internet and #2 I found some loose wiring so I’m glad I did pull the dash. If you lift your hood you’ll see a a/c connection just outside the firewall. Undo that connection then undo the two bolts on the inside at the expansion valve. Once the bolts are taken off remove the section of a/c line and you’ll see the expansion valve

 

how long did it take you to put the dash together? debating on tackling dash removal for hvac unit case change.

 

Approx 2 1/2 hrs. Definitely didn’t want to miss anything putting it back together. Removing it is what took the longest cause there’s bolts and clips everywhere