1997 Expy A/C
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1997 Expy A/C
The high pressure side hose is leaking at the crimp nearest the compressor on my 1997 Expy (5.4L, 4WD, dual A/C). The leak is very obvious. My question is, where can I get this hose cheaply and what other parts should I consider replacing? What "gotchas" are there to a job like this? Do I need special tools? My experience with A/C jobs is that once you get things apart, you should get them back together again as quickly as possible. So I'm trying to avoid the usual tear-down, elongated quest for the right part(s), and rebuild a day or two later. Thanks in advance for your help!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: st.louis, missouri
The problem with doing this properly is you need to evacuate the sysem first. Meaning removing the charge that is currently in the system before you begin. Back in the old days of R-12 there was no Federal EPA requirement of removing and recycling Freon. Since there is and most people don't own the equipment for this task, its better if you take your truck to a qualified A/C mechanic will perform this job for you. If your system has no freon left in it you can remove the hose and have one made up for your truck. But you will still need to remove all the air in your system from you opening it up. And this requires more equipment that most people don't have. So unless you know a friend or relative in the Air Conditioning business, its a job that would be better left to a pro. Keep in mind, if the EPA can prove you removed your freon without the proper method and equipment, its a $10,000 fine. Sorry for being so long with the response. We all would like to try and save money wherever possible.
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The system is leaked out (hose is cracked right at the crimp), so there's no old R134a to collect. And I do have access to a gauge set and vacuum pump, so I was planning on evacuating it myself. I've done these jobs before on older R-12 systems, just never on the Expy. I was wondering if it's OK just to do the hose, or if you also need to replace other components like the accumulator, drier, etc.
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From: st.louis, missouri
If the leak hasn't been there for a long time, I think you can get by just by pulling a vaccum on the system. Keep in mind when you start doing this that your vaccum will start going up as in pressure. This is because there is material in the acccumulator and drier that absorbs moisture. Once you have reassembled everything and pulled a vacuum that holds, I think you will be ok. I don't think you need to replace the other components unless your leak has been there for a long time. Let us know how it turned out.
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So far, so good. I replaced just the hose assembly, evac'ed and recharged. Didn't take anywhere near the amount printed on the under hood sticker for max refridgerant charge. But it blows cold, so I'm happy. Now if it will just stay that way...
