A/C help....hole in line

[rb8484]

Hey guys. Finally got my a/c working good, and last week it was in the mid 90's. I got out of the Ex and heard a hissing noise, and looked for the cause and found one of my a/c lines had a hole in it. It is one of the lines that run to the rear. The line was rubbing on the frame and wore a hole in it. Is there anyone that can repair the line or put a union in where the hole is? Who should I call?? I cant afford the ford dealer......any suggestions??

[bigdaddymedic2000]

mine did the same thing last summer. my local mechanic ( elizabethton tn ) fixed my a/c at his shop. then recharged my a/c and i was set.

[rsylvstr]

i've had good luck with my A/C with Firestone....and if you go to their site, they offer coupons...

[rb8484]

Originally Posted by bigdaddymedic2000

mine did the same thing last summer. my local mechanic ( elizabethton tn ) fixed my a/c at his shop. then recharged my a/c and i was set.

If you dont mind me asking, what did it cost you?? Im trying to decide if this is somthing I wanna fit into the budget right away.

[Toreador_Diesel]

Yeah, I'm interested too. Something happened with my A/C lines and now I don't have A/C. I didn't hear an explosion, but I left the X running, ran into a store, and came back out to find fluid dripping down the front right side of my truck....

[rb8484]

Bump!!
I know someone on the forums had the same problem, but I cant find that post!! Help!!!!

[william_04_x]

I had the rear line develop a hole in it.. The leak was in the engine compartment, just where it turns down to go to the rear.. I noticed alot of water dripping from the area of the front evaporator, popped the hood, and saw green goo oozing from the insulation..

Took it to the dealer.. Replacement line and recharge was around $600...

My tech told me some X's have a 2 piece line, and others have a single long line.. I never looked to see, but if you have a problem, you might want to trace the line to see if there's a joint somewhere before you order parts..

To the OP, try getting on the phone to some local shops and see what they say about repairing it..Good luck and post back what you find out..

[rb8484]

Still havent got my AC fixed yet. Of course, its been in the 90's the last few days. I guess Im gonna do some calling around this week and see what some of the shops have to say.
I was hoping to find someone that can cut the line there and make a joint there. It wold take some specal tools, but im sure someone out there has to have them!

[BigBlue15]

I had recently replaced some a/c lines on another truck. My mechanic had told me these lines can not be repaired with a traditional flare type fitting as the operating pressures are too great to offer a reliable repair. This stuff gets very costly !

[vettdvr]

Originally Posted by BigBlue15

I had recently replaced some a/c lines on another truck. My mechanic had told me these lines can not be repaired with a traditional flare type fitting as the operating pressures are too great to offer a reliable repair. This stuff gets very costly !

Flare fittings can leak. Ferrel fittings might be better. But nothing beats silver solder if you can find someone with the skills. In the 60s I worked for a company that built refrigeration units and I did the silver soldering with "real silver solder" this holds up well on joints,, unless you have steel tubing. I only worked conventional copper.

[cbradford]

When and if this happens to my Ex the first thing I will try is a silver solder fix as vettdvr mentioned. I use 45% silver all the time on steel, copper, brass and even stainless and with the right flux and proper surface preparation it would be a permanent fix. Silver solder and the flux can be purchased at a refrigeration supply house.

[57fomoco]

Most of the A/C lines are aluminium and can not be silver soderd but if it can be reached it might be able to be welded. We have lines on some newer trucks welded when air cleaners rub thru them on the Chevy C4500 that we have. also most autoparts stores sell compression o ring repair kits that will relpace about 3 - 4 inches of line. you can also cut out a larger part and have a hose shop make you a hoes to replace the bad spot and have it conect in with compresion o ring fittings. most carquest and napa stores can make them for you.

[longjohn]

I had to have the same line repaired on one of our company Suburbans. I was able to take the line off of the truck and have it repaired at a local radiator repair shop. If I remember correclty it cost around $30. Good luck.

[nolyaw]

Originally Posted by 57fomoco

Most of the A/C lines are aluminium and can not be silver soderd but if it can be reached it might be able to be welded. We have lines on some newer trucks welded when air cleaners rub thru them on the Chevy C4500 that we have. also most autoparts stores sell compression o ring repair kits that will relpace about 3 - 4 inches of line. you can also cut out a larger part and have a hose shop make you a hoes to replace the bad spot and have it conect in with compresion o ring fittings. most carquest and napa stores can make them for you.

You can solder alum to alum with the right solder...I have some on my truck, I can look tommorrow to see what it is called...I think it is Alumacore and is made by Harris. I have repaired Car AC lines using it before, it works. If you don't know how to solder, let someone else do it. You will melt the Alum. line fast.

[jpr38057]

See if you can find a Red Dot dealer in your area. Probably going to be a place that does big trucks or off road equipement. Most likely they can repair the line. I used to work for a shop and we could repair most lines or make new ones.