I have a 97 3.8 Camaro, And When I Charge The A/C I Can Hear A Leak, I Found It And Its In The Line That Looks Like It Comes Off The Front Of The Radiator, And Back To The Car, Its An All Aluminum Line Except Where It Connects To The Car, I Was Wondering If I Could Take A Hose And Put Over The Hole And Put A Few Hose Clamps Over It? As A Temp Fix, So I Can Have A/C? Or Is There To Much Pressure? On The Front Of The Line When It Comes Off The Radiator, It Has The HIGH Pressure Hook Up On It. So I am Guessing Its A High PSI Line.

 

Probably better to get the line replaced. If there's no pressure at all in the line, I'd bet that there's now some moisture in the A/C system that will kill its performance.

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=52-0

 

Is the leak in the Aluminum part or the hose part? There is no fix for the hose part but the Aluminum can be brazed. Hose clamps are good for about 30 PSI depending on diameter they will not hold 200+ PSI.

To braze the hose you should remove it. As traundog said you may have moisture in your system now but if you remove the line then you will have moisture in your system and you will need to draw the system down. It could work without the evacuation but chance those little ***** of ice will cause all kinds of issues.

 

Those hoses are all made with compression fittings and they are that way for a good reason. Even on the low side of the A/C systems pressures can get up to 60psi. Not only that but you must evacuate the A/C system before you recharge it. For the system to function properly you must evacuate it, then recharge it while monitoring the high and low side of the system. The little cans you get at the autopart store are to suppliment the system not to fully charge it after it has been opened.

Replace the hose, now would be a great time to replace the Oriface tube and the receiver/Drier. Then have the system evacuated and recharged by an auto A/C specialist.

Massey

 

You are quoting pretty much the same thing my teacher said back in 85. They setup those rule cause they know most mechanics really do not have a clue how refridgerant systems work. As long as they follow those rules it will always work.

There is no reason, with a little over $100 worth of tools, you can not do any AC repair in your driveway. I have brought back many system that had been disconnected for years. I have done them all with the little bottles from the auto parts store. Infact even when I worked at the dealer when we ran out of freon we use the little cans. You just need to know how to purge your gages.

While it nice to replace the dryer and orfice tub and buy a new primary line the cost of that repair would be what? $500-$800 depending if its a dealer or a small shop. With some white brazing rods and some small cans of Freon I can get it working again. Cost about $40 bucks