It is obviously summer

[Peter Golledge]

Mike Arman wrote:
>
> It is obviously summer when:
>
> 80% of the list traffic is air conditioner related
>
> I start saying to myself - "I have GOT to get this goddamn air conditioner
> fixed!
>
> Car is an 86 5KS. Has a new GM A6 compressor (looks like a big, black
> torpedo), was converted to R-134 by a monkey-lad who evidently robbed
> enough convenience stores to be able to buy himself a set of gauges and a
> magnetic sign for the side of daddy's car . . . and PLEASE do not mention
> my total lapse of good sense in allowing this clown to touch my car - the
> heat does strange things to otherwise (mostly) rational people . . .
>
> It worked (!) for about a week, and the R-134 leaked out. The obvious
> question is "where"? What I'd like to do is change all the rubber hoses for
> new ones and be done with that part of the problem - it is possible that
> the condenser may leak, too, but I'm sure I'll need at least one hose, so
> I'd like to do a pre-emptive strike.
>
> My question is this - about what should these hoses cost? There's no way
> I'll buy from the dealer, so what price range am I looking at for
> aftermarket hoses?

I had each hose fabricated with new fittings for about $35 at a big
truck hose
shop.  I could not get a hose fitting with a 45 deg bend for the
compressor
low side so I went with straight and routed it slightly differently.
Make sure
you let them know it is for R134a so they put proper barrier fittings
on.

I would plan on replacing the drier and orifice tube if you are going to
pull
things apart.

Cheers
--
Peter Golledge