AC Refrigerant Leak - Thermal Expansion Valve (TVX)

See my post above. Yes you can pull the valve through the firewall.

 

Yeah, it was easy. I've included a better picture to show what the evap flange looks like with the expansion valve removed.

My helpful-hints are to
1) trim away the felt with a razor to get better visibility and reduce chance of something getting onto the mating surface
2) stuff some paper towel inside of the firewall. If you fumble an O-ring it will prevent it from falling into the netherland and avoid an additional trip to the dealer...

I had a very slight amount of metallic material in the filter I haven't re-charged yet since I found a potential leak area in the suction line from corrosion.

 

I've had several people tell me it cannot be removed through the firewall, but they were incorrect. Thank you for taking better pictures of this so that all can see.

 

Follow-up.

I went to re-charge yesterday. It held vacuum just fine, but when I added Freon it started puking Freon all over the driveway out of the suction side of the compressor flange. Turns out the Seal washer that came in the kit wasn't up to snuff, an OEM Tacoma washer was visibly better and has held the 3/4 can that I had left.
Need to start over again today, draw a long suction and add Freon....