A/C Help please! Search didn't help me.

[AJ's 911]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I was also looking to replace a leaky long hose (driver side) and wound up ordering the rear condenser to front condensor hose. In my discussions with the PP guys, this was the part needed for my 84 911. It was also my understanding that the receiver drier hoses either connects to the front condenser or evap. Did I get this wrong?

[GH85Carrera]

As I recall....

On a stock system the receiver-dryer is in the back of the drivers side front fender. The hose from the back condenser connects to the receiver-dryer and a different hose continues the journey on to the front condenser. Then it goes to the evaporator. It would likely be smart to replace the receiver dryer while you have the system open if you don't know how old it is.

[kuehl]

On a stock Left Hand Drive 911 with deck lid condenser and front condenser, Behr system, its easier to imagine what connects to what if you follow the refrigerant flow starting at the compressor outlet:

1970-1983 911, 2 Condenser, flare fittings
Compressor to Deck Lid Condenser - 91157315002
Deck Lid Condenser to Front Condenser - 91157315303
Front Condenser to Drier - 91157315402
Drier to Expansion Valve - 91157315202
Evaporator to Compressor - 91157314902

for a single condenser system you delete 91157315402 and you
replace 91157315303 with deck lid condenser to drier 91157315100

1984-1989 911, 2 Condenser, o-ring fittings
Compressor to Deck Lid Condenser - 91157315003
Deck Lid Condenser to Front Condenser - 91157315305
Front Condenser to Drier - 91157315403
Drier to Expansion Valve - 91157315203
Evaporator to Compressor - 91157314903

There were a few systems other than the factory Behr system in the early 911's prior to 1978, for example VPC , in which case part numbers will be different and hose routing is different for a few of the hoses.

Feel free to PM if you need assistance.

[AJ's 911]

I spoke again with the PP guys and they pointed me to the PET Illustration on Section 8 Main Group

As you can see below, hose number 16 from the PET illustration shows a direct line between the rear condenser and front condenser. Part number 911-573-153-05



The illustration below shows the 2 hoses coming out of the receiver/drier which points to the front condenser and evaporator.

[DRACO A5OG]

Your 84 is set up like mine.

From the front condensor, the hose goes to the dryer in the driver side fender then routes down along the side rocker and up the rear wheel well then up the cavity between engine bay and chassis then to the rear condensor then to the compressor. So there are two short hoses and one long one.

[AJ's 911]

Draco, sorry to be dense about this topic, but now I am confused. What Mr Kuehl and Pelican Parts guys told me are consistent. I need a long hose to connect from rear condenser to front condenser. You and 85Carrera seem to imply that I need a hose frrom receiver/drier to rear condenser.

Incidentally our host only sells 2 long hoses:
1. Evap to compressor
2. rear-to-front condenser

and 3 short hoses:
1. front condenser to receiver/drier
2. receiver/drier to evap (expansion valve)
3. compressor to rear condenser

[AJ's 911]

So just an update, the long A/C hose which goes from front condenser to rear lid condenser was the right part for my 84 Carrera 3.2.

I decided to try and replace this on my own and boy was it a "PITA". I actually cut the old hose closer to the rear wheel with the "bright idea" that I would tape the new hose end to the old hose and guide it out to the engine bay by pulling on the old hose from the rear condenser. This thing was not budging at all.

I finally brought it to my mechanic and he told me that there are hard old lines that is pinching the hose so he had to use a pry bar to make room and pull the old hose out and snake the new one in.

Total time to install this long hose and attach a new receiver/drier was 2.5 hours.

I would be curious to hear if anyone else has attempted this on their own and how long it took to do it.

[kuehl]

Pry bar? lol

"Normally", for entrance into the engine compartment you just cut the old hose as close as you can near the rear shock tower (if its giving you a hard time) and yank it down from the bottom near the heater box. For up by the water bottle, ditto, cut it by the bottle and pull it down near the front condenser.

To install the new hose in engine compartment: you go up by the heater box and if it stops when you are pushing its either hitting the engine insulation or a 'hard' metal fuel line (no crow bar needed).

To get the other end for the front condenser, you slip it over the top of the water bottle adjacent to the inner fender wall, then go underneath and look up (safety glasses and drop light) and snag the end with a coat hanger and pull it down.

Done that way every day, including on an 84 sitting here now.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by AJ's 911

Draco, sorry to be dense about this topic, but now I am confused. What Mr Kuehl and Pelican Parts guys told me are consistent. I need a long hose to connect from rear condenser to front condenser. You and 85Carrera seem to imply that I need a hose frrom receiver/drier to rear condenser.

Incidentally our host only sells 2 long hoses:
1. Evap to compressor
2. rear-to-front condenser

and 3 short hoses:
1. front condenser to receiver/drier
2. receiver/drier to evap (expansion valve)
3. compressor to rear condenser

Glad you got the right part. It has been several years since I did my AC system and my memory was faulty. Kuehl had it right of course. He does this all the time and sells the parts.

Swapping the hoses is a dirty and pain in the rear job. It is nice to have a leak free system and worth the effort.

[AJ's 911]

Mr Kuehl, thanks for the tips. I am sure this is documented in the Griffith kit, but it is good to know for the rest of us for next time.

The "pry bar" thing was just as surprising to me and my immediate reaction is "what potential harm did that do?" I might have mixed up the hard fuel line for the oil line so my bad.

I appreciate everyone's help!