Repair A/C Hose

[Glemon]

I am a DIY guy for about everything, but I have never worked on A/C systems beyond repair of simple switches or relays and charging from a parts store can. I have an old car that I want to fix the A/C on. Have verified it works (blew 38 degrees) but won't hold a charge for more than a few days.

Started to diagnose, it appears I have at least one hose leaking. I want to replace all of them, car is 35 years old. A few of the hoses are available new, most are not. Are there shops that crimp new hose on old fittings? Google isn't turning up much, not sure if that means it doesn't exist or I am not looking in the right place or asking the right question.

We have a local hydraulic line and brake shop, have a message in to them but haven't heard back. Are the high pressure lines more likely to leak than the low pressure?

Thanks for any info.

 

[The Cobbler]

when I was in auto parts many years ago, there were several local shops that crimped new AC hoses. we sold them the hose & fittings

 

[Glemon]

Thanks, I will ask around more. Although I suspect like most everything else "replace" has become more community n than "repair".

 

[Jack_K]

For the cars I work on the only option is to crimp new hoses onto the old fittings so yes it can be done.

 

[The Cobbler]

quick google search

Air Conditioning Hoses and Lines | Summit Racing

High pressure to low pressure and back, Summit Racing Equipment has the air conditioning hoses and lines you need to keep your vehicle’s A/C working.

www.summitracing.com

 

[Glemon]

Thanks, are the fittings prettyuniversal? car is 80s Porsche, but I believe the A/C system is Denso.

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't remember, it's been a long time

 

[Glemon]

Thanks for the info, I can research a bit more from what you have given me.

 

[FredWanaker]

NE huh. I was going to look to see if I could find you a shop but searching 5 states is too much trouble. Look at the companies who service refrigeration trucks. They make the hoses. That is who did one for me.

 

[Glemon]

Will check that out, thanks. NE is for Nebraska, were you thinking NorthEast?

 

[Glemon]

Checked out, lost art, doesn't sound like anybody around here does it anymore. The old school hydraulics and brake shop with good old boys that know everything suggested a shop in Omaha, as the shop in Lincoln was closed, and maybe the shop in Omaha too. Perhaps I need to go full Garage Journal and figure out the tools I need to DIY it.

 

[Cane]

Checked out, lost art, doesn't sound like anybody around here does it anymore. The old school hydraulics cable me shop with good old boys that know everything suggested a shop in, as the shop in Lincoln was closed, and maybe the shop in Omaha too. Perhaps I need to go full Garage Journal and figure out the tools I need to DIY it.

Call ap air. Send them the old hoses and they'll send you back new ones....usually next day. We buy all our ac stuff from them.

 

[Dave Carney]

Arizona Mobile Air ( www.ackits.com ) replaced the old leaking hose and used my old fittings, this was back in 2004 or so though. They have a pretty good forum that's worth checking out.

 

[rlitman]

On a 1980's vehicle, that had to have originally been an R12 system. Was it converted to R135a? R12 systems used rubber hoses, and yeah, they leak over time, but back in the 80's, nobody cared about ozone. R134a systems (real ones, not converted ones) would use barrier type hoses that are less permeable than rubber (less losses to the atmosphere over time), but the barrier is a VERY thin layer on the hose's interior, and they do fail over time. Mastercool makes an affordable system for crimping ferrules onto replacement barrier hoses (the wrench crimp is cheaper than their hydraulic option, but if you really want to go cheap, there are knockoffs too). There was also a system that works with Oetiker clamps in a plastic frame. Regardless, because the barrier layer in hoses is fragile, only crimp them with systems made for them and don't risk other types of clamps.

From what I've seen, barrier hoses fall into two categories. Standard diameter, and reduced diameter refers to the OD, and I made this table up years ago to figure out which crimp die I needed to use with which hose.

 

[FredWanaker]

Will check that out, thanks. NE is for Nebraska, were you thinking NorthEast?

yes. Nebraska is still a big area. I would call a local nearby truck service facility and ask their parts counter where they buy custom hydraulic and AC hoses.

 

[Glemon]

Still R12, plan is to keep it R12. I have enough for a couple full charges or more. My understanding is R12 is better at heat transfer and also a little less "Leakey" than 134a. Since the system is probably marginal for cooling my old car was planning to stay with R12.

 

[Jack_K]

Still R12, plan is to keep it R12. I have enough for a couple full charges or more. My understanding is R12 is better at heat transfer and also a little less "Leakey" than 134a. Since the system is probably marginal for cooling my old car was planning to stay with R12.

If you have R12 stay with it, definitely less leakage and also meant to be more efficient.

Apparently since they use lower pressures some vehicles used fancy screw type clamps.

 

[fitter30]

Ebay ,Hemmings product catalog. Type of car and look for forums.

 

[98ssuck]

Eaton aeroquip. It’s all in the red dot catalog

WD_2021

REDDOT has been designing and building heating and air conditioning products heavy-duty vehicles and equipment since 1965. Our catalog represents the industry’s most comprehensive selection of mobile HVAC units and replacement parts.

user-qqe34dh.cld.bz

 

[Glemon]

Call ap air. Send them the old hoses and they'll send you back new ones....usually next day. We buy all our ac stuff from them.

Somehow I missed your comment--found a place called Ap Air in Humboldt IA, that it, sound like just what I want.

 

[Cane]

Somehow I missed your comment--found a place called Ap Air in Humboldt IA, that it, sound like just what I want.

That be the one