Abstract: A refrigerant expansion valve for an air conditioning system is combined with a solenoid-actuated closure device in a common housing. The housing provides for placement of the solenoid valve in a position to shut off fluid flow across the expansion device, with a plunger being placed to come into sealing contact with a piston bore of the expander or with a sealing surface defined in the housing proximate to the piston. Shutting off flow across the expander prevents loss of pressure differential during “off” portions of an operating cycle, thus providing a saving of energy costs.