{"id":175522,"date":"2025-07-08T20:08:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T03:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?p=175522"},"modified":"2025-10-17T19:07:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T02:07:47","slug":"where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Is the Accumulator Located In a Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column175522_1da177-5d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column175522_1da177-5d inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-7ea5da  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-472d18\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading175522_1e849f-52\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The accumulator is located between the evaporator outlet and the compressor suction port on the low-pressure side of the A\/C circuit. It&rsquo;s typically large and easy to identify.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It removes moisture and contaminants while maintaining proper oil return and refrigerant flow to keep the compressor functioning efficiently. It exists only in fixed orifice systems.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replacing it usually requires professional service. The refrigerant must be recovered, air evacuated, and the correct oil added. Mishandling can damage the compressor or cause injury, and venting refrigerant is illegal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The air conditioning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-accumulator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"accumulator\">accumulator<\/a> is typically found between the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-evaporator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"evaporator\">evaporator<\/a> outlet and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-compressor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"compressor\">compressor<\/a> suction port, specifically on the low-pressure side of the circuit. It&rsquo;s usually easy to find because it&rsquo;s quite large.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The accumulator ensures that the compressor is fully operational. It also retains moisture and contaminants from the system, ensuring oil return and refrigerant circulation in the compressor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/diagram-showing-how-accumulator-works-in-fixed-orifice-system-794x1024.jpg\" alt=\"diagram showing how accumulator works in fixed orifice system\" class=\"wp-image-184772\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Note that only fixed orifice systems have an accumulator. See top part of diagram. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips On How to Access the Accumulator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-a-c-accumulator-function-symptoms-and-replacement-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Repairing or replacing an accumulator\">Repairing or replacing an accumulator<\/a> is a task that&rsquo;s often left to professionals because of the complexity of the air conditioning system. Here&rsquo;s an overview of what the process may entail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The refrigerant must first be pumped out of the system before the accumulator is removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the refrigerant has already leaked out, you can replace the accumulator, but the system must be evacuated of air before recharging, and the right amount and type of refrigerant oil must be added. If the air isn&rsquo;t removed, the A\/C compressor becomes an air compressor and blows things up. If the right amount and type of oil aren&rsquo;t added, the compressor will be destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind that improper handling of car refrigerant can be dangerous to your health. If you have limited experience with repairing air conditioning systems, it&rsquo;s best to leave the job to the pros.<strong><em>Caution:<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><em>Never vent the refrigerant to the atmosphere. It&rsquo;s extremely illegal. Always wear safety glasses and gloves when working with refrigerant.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>The air conditioning accumulator is typically found between the evaporator outlet and compressor suction port, specifically on the low-pressure side&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":175523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3754,1034,52],"tags":[1076],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":["post-175522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-air-conditioning-and-heating","category-auto-repair","category-diy","tag-a-c-accumulator","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Where Is the Accumulator Located In a Car? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out where the a\/c accumulator is located in your vehicle, and learn tips for accessing this component.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Where Is the Accumulator Located In a Car? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find out where the a\/c accumulator is located in your vehicle, and learn tips for accessing this component.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-09T03:08:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-18T02:07:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/air-conditioning-scaled-e1752028950723.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"CarParts.com Research Team, Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CarParts.com Research Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/where-is-the-accumulator-located-in-a-car\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1651\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. 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Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175522"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=175522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}