AC Question: Hoses

mtelliott · 08-16-2007, 06:18 PM

So, I took my car to Firestone (don't laugh), to find out why my AC wasn't working. They charged it, found that it worked properly, identified one hose and some seals on another hose that needed replaced.

Quoted me something like $600+ to fix it. Cost me only $20 (I had a coupon) to get this diagnosis.

So, I'm in the process of ordering the hoses and seals (and new dryer).

My question is, how hard is it to replace hoses? I'm guessing (since my system has been evacuated) that I just unbolt, install hose, install new dryer, then take it to someone to charge.

How tight do you make the fittings? Any tricks that I should be aware of that anyone knows about?

Michael

Tcannon88 · 08-16-2007, 06:37 PM

Michael,

This is a loaded question. Which hoses are you replacing? Some of the hoses are pretty easy, others are much more difficult. The hoses to the rear condensor are pretty easy, front condensor hoses are not very fun.

Not sure how to describe how tight the hoses should be. Be sure and use some oil on the seals, so they don't bind.

mtelliott · 08-16-2007, 06:55 PM

What type of oil?

Yeah, one should be easy to get to, the other will be tougher but not horrible. Just paitence and a double jointed wrist.

Michael

BReyes · BReyes's Garage

I would replace all the hoses with barrier hose. About $400 for the hoses (If you remove and take them to hydraulic hose shop to copy. Make sure you label them). Takes considerable labor, but otherwise they will leak again (that is the way they were designed). If you chose to replace just one, that is fine (they can make you one hose easily enough) but you will need to service your AC annually. Have you searched here for your options for upgraded receiver/dryer/condensor?

Since they say the compressor, expansion valve,evaporator seem ok, hoses and receiver/dryer and new evac/recharge may be ok.

Good luck.

Regards,

ljowdy · 08-17-2007, 04:40 AM

I changed all the hoses and the receiver dryer and it took me about 5+ hours. There is approximately 40 feet of hose in your car.

khamul02 · khamul02's Garage

+1 on change all of the hoses. Those old hoses are worthless for r134. It's about a 6 to 8 hour job. I think there is a sale on Rennaire for 329 er something like that. You can spread that over 2 days. There are several threads on this. Do some research. Also pick up some nylog ($6) to seal the contact surfaces of your hoses. Make sure to use two wrenches when taken the hoses off and putting them back on. It would also be a good time tho spray some fresh undercoating where the hoses go once they are off. ALSO I would strongly suggest changing out the expansion valve. You can pick up a kit for $40. If you are change the hoses out this will take few a few minutes more to do and this part fails often. that is my understanding from talking to Ron at rennaire. It's a cheap part so why not.

I would say if you can connect garden hoses you can handle this job as long as the car is up on stands. Have fun! We are here to help.

Barrpete · 08-17-2007, 06:41 AM

The hardest part will be snaking the hoses that go to the front condenser over/ around the bumper shock mount in left front fender area. Tie a cord to the old ones it make it much easier to pull the new ones back through. You will need to remove the windshield washer reservoir as well which is kind of a PITA.

The other difficult part I had was getting the hose from the compressor that snakes through the right (passenger) side of the engine bay out. On mine the hose had some kind of protective sleeve on it, both inside & outside the engine bay. The sleeve was about 6" long & made the OD just a little to big to slip through the hole. So I just cut it off & voila, out it came.

One other tip is if you are replacing with reduced diameter barrier hose get some of those loop straps from McMaster Carr or someplace, because the OE clips will be a little too big to for the new hoses.

scottb · 08-17-2007, 07:20 AM

Take a look at the hose kit offered by Rennaire (I think our host sells it). It's about $400 for all of the hoses.

Replacing the hoses is a very do-it-yourself-able job, it's just dirty and time consuming. Go for it!

While you're at it, you might consider adding a Pro Cooler.

Tim Hancock · 08-17-2007, 07:22 AM

[QUOTE=khamul02;3431055]+1 on change all of the hoses. Those old hoses are worthless for r134. QUOTE]

Not entirely true. While the old style hoses when new will not do a very good job of containing 134, 20 year old r12 hoses that have soaked up the r12mineral oil do indeed retain 134 quite well. My '79 SC with original hoses running 134 for two+ years is proof of that.

Barrpete · 08-17-2007, 07:23 AM

+1 on the Rennaire stuff. I bought the whole kit + the upgraded front condenser & I now have cold air in Arizona in the summer when it's 105+. I think the whole kit runs about $1500. Not exactly cheap but it does work and very DIYable.

khamul02 · khamul02's Garage

Another thing to note is to make sure you keep all of the caps on the hoses while you are running them. Don't want to get any debree in them. And there is a lot ins those hard to reach areas.

scottb · 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrpete

+1 on the Rennaire stuff. .... I think the whole kit runs about $1500. Not exactly cheap but it does work and very DIYable.

The whole kit includes, IIRC, a compressor and condenser (or evaporator). If all you need are hoses, they're available from our host or directly from Rennaire. Rennaire currently has the hose kit on its website for $339.

scottb · 08-17-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khamul02

Another thing to note is to make sure you keep all of the caps on the hoses while you are running them. Don't want to get any debree in them. And there is a lot ins those hard to reach areas.

Good advice, but I'd take it a step farther. Use some duct tape to keep the caps in place while you're running the hoses. The last thing you want is debris in your new hoses.