Well, title says it all. After my body lift, I had to zip tie my a/c line (running from the compressor the drier, under the pulleys) to hold it back from rubbing on the pulleys. Well, I didn't notice, but the top end of the line (the metal part) was rubbing up against the alternator, and it rubbed a hole in it, and now I have no a/c. I'm hoping that replacing that hose, and recharging the system will give me a/c again.

Anybody have experience with replacing this line? How involved is it? Any special tools I will need to buy/rent? With that line having a hole in it... do you think my compressor is still ok? Am I going to have the remainder


On to the pics... the hole is in the bend in that metal line to the left of the alternator. It's hard to see.




And this is the replacement line I got from a junk yard.


Thanks in advance for any help you all can provide before I dive into this.

 

Once you have the new line on you will have to evacuate the system to remove any air and noncondensables with a vacuum pump. Then you can recharge the system.

 

Good to know, thanks. I'm sure i'll end up taking it somewhere to get re-charged, i just dont wanna pay labor to put it on. Hopefully they will know to do that, and i will certainly bring it up.

 

Doing a little more research on the subject, it looks like I will probably want to replace the o-rings on the back side of the compressor when I change this hose out. And I think I read that I will need a fuel line disconnect tool to remove the hose from the drier/accumulator... it's held on by a clip and then it's round with what looks like a spring inside of it. Also, if I want to re-charge myself.. I need to either buy or rent a vacuum pump and evacuate the system myself, and then by some cans of refridgerant at pep boys, and I will need the charging hose w/ the gauge on it. Anything I'm not thinking of?

Is there more o-rings than just the ones on the back of the compressor that I'll need to replace? And I'll have to take a closer look at how to get the line off of the condenser as well.

Also, seeing as I have a hole in this line... I shouldn't need to get the refrigerant recovered at a shop should I? I would think it had all leaked out and the system is no longer pressurized? Please correct me if I'm wrong in this assumption... I have never tried to re-charge an A/C system and just want to go into it as informed as possible.

Here is the the ends of the "new" hose I got from the J/Y.

The end going into the condenser.


The end going into the back of the compressor.


The end going into the drier/accumulator w/ the spring thing.


Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

 

Also... what should I use to clean the inside of the "new" line... it looks dirty and it was sitting outside in a J/Y for who knows how long... any suggestions there as well?

 

Bump...

 

Use carb or brake cleaner and compressed air to clean it. Replace the seals for sure, then you can keep your AC.