Expansion Valve
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1997 Suzuki Esteem. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
High pressure liquid refrigerant enters the expansion valve through inlet screen and passes through the valve seat and orifice. Upon passing through the orifice, the high pressure liquid becomes a low pressure liquid. The low pressure liquid leaves the expansion valve, flowing into the evaporator core, where it absorbs heat and changes to a low pressure vapor.