On 16 Feb 2007 10:26:45 -0800, "Comboverfish" <comboverfish@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>On Feb 16, 12:50 am, "techman41...@yahoo.com" <techman41...@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>> I have a 97 Accord with a bit over 200K.
>> For the past 20K or so, I hear an intermittent hissing sound below the
>> glove box when the AC switch is activated. Cooling seems to work fine,
>> verified this summer in the scorching heat of the southwest. Other
>> than being quite annoying, I am wondering if this is a clue that
>> something is about to fail.
>> Thanks
>
>The area behind the glove box is right where the A/C expansion valve
>resides on your Accord. You are just hearing the sound of refrigerant
>changing states from liquid to gas through the expansion valve (it is
>a designed-in restriction). IOW, it's normal. If the A/C system
>wasn't cooling properly in high temps and the refrigerant charge was
>full, then an excessive hissing noise near the glove box would lead me
>to believe that the expansion valve was stuck closed - also verifiable
>with pressure gauges. You have proven that this is not an issue by
>stating that you have adequate cooling in high temp weather.
>
>Toyota MDT in MO

We recently replaced a compressor, drier and expansion valve on a
Honda CRV. Had to warranty the damn expansion valve because it made a
piercing whistle! All the while cooling just fine. Thank the good
lord Jap evaporator boxes come out in 20 minutes as opposed to 6-10
hours like on some domestic vehicles.

Don
www.donsautomotive.com