A/C hose repair question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

donbryce · #1 11-26-2007, 06:26 PM

The hose assembly pictured is leaking a clear, gummy liquid from a leak at the joint where the steel pipes go into the little barrel shaped canister. I'm assuming that the substance is compressor oil of some sort, or what ever R12 in liquid form looks like.
The A/c on the car doesn't work, as someone has removed the compressor drive belt. There is very little, if any, pressure in the system, as pushing in the schrader valve only makes a faint, barely audible hiss.
I'm wondering if this can be fixed with a careful brazing around the leak, which I can better id later when I pull the entire hose off the car? Would the heat hurt anything inside (besides the obvious rubber parts, but they appear to be well away from the leaking spot)?
This is an expensive hose that I'd like to save.

slk230red · #2 11-26-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donbryce

The hose assembly pictured is leaking a clear, gummy liquid from a leak at the joint where the steel pipes go into the little barrel shaped canister. I'm assuming that the substance is compressor oil of some sort, or what ever R12 in liquid form looks like.
The A/c on the car doesn't work, as someone has removed the compressor drive belt. There is very little, if any, pressure in the system, as pushing in the schrader valve only makes a faint, barely audible hiss.
I'm wondering if this can be fixed with a careful brazing around the leak, which I can better id later when I pull the entire hose off the car? Would the heat hurt anything inside (besides the obvious rubber parts, but they appear to be well away from the leaking spot)?
This is an expensive hose that I'd like to save.

I you are going to remove the hose assembly and braze the leaking area, then I would say go for it. Then, I would flush out the hose assembly, put on new o-rings, re-install the hose assembly, replace the drier/receiver and pull vacuum on the system and see if it holds.
*NOTE* If it maintains a good vacuum, then I would add R-12 refrigerant oil to the system, vacuum for at least 1 hour (some prefer to do it longer), then add R-12.

I'm sure someone else will reply with their opinion.

Dave

donbryce · #3 11-26-2007, 07:49 PM

Where I live, R12 is ILLEGAL to use! Never mind that refrigerators and home air conditioners use the stuff....but I'm off topic. When repaired, that is, all components are leak-free and working properly, the system will be recharged with some environmentally-friendly substance like 134A instead. Do you know what that canister thing's function is? Some sort of damper? That's what I'll be heating up, but is there anything inside it, except refridgerant?

slk230red · #4 11-26-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donbryce

Where I live, R12 is ILLEGAL to use! Never mind that refrigerators and home air conditioners use the stuff....but I'm off topic. When repaired, that is, all components are leak-free and working properly, the system will be recharged with some environmentally-friendly substance like 134A instead. Do you know what that canister thing's function is? Some sort of damper? That's what I'll be heating up, but is there anything inside it, except refridgerant?

Yes, it's a muffler...not sure what's inside. Good luck with the R134A conversion.

Anyone else know?