The a/c popped a tire!

joshuabrown · Post by **joshuabrown** » 23 Jul 2009, 15:21

well...it sure sounded like it...
I started the car ('02 s60).
Drove about 10 feet...and..."psssssssssss". It sounded like someone stuck a knife in my tire!
Pulled over. tires fine. but there's a hose hanging out of the bottom of the car. nothing leaking on the ground.
Turns out to be one of the a/c hoses. the one that runs directly under/across the fan shroud thingy. well it came undone and all the freon (or whatever they use for that year) escaped. hence "psssssss"..
I've heard mixed opinions so i thought i'd ask the forum, but the guy wants $600 to "evacuate" and refill the system and install the new hose!!
That sounds really pricey and i'm just wondering if there's ANYWAY around that? I would like to have it professionally "evacuated" and refilled. But perhaps i could install the hose myself?... And a cheaper shop could refill it? Is the freon (for that year) really THAT expensive?..

Sorry for the long post!
Any help is SUPER appreciated.
THANKS!

-Josh

Post by **Brucebo** » 23 Jul 2009, 16:21

joshuabrown wrote: I've heard mixed opinions so i thought i'd ask the forum, but the guy wants $600 to "evacuate" and refill the system and install the new hose!!
That sounds really pricey and i'm just wondering if there's ANYWAY around that? I would like to have it professionally "evacuated" and refilled. But perhaps i could install the hose myself?... And a cheaper shop could refill it? Is the freon (for that year) really THAT expensive?..
-Josh

$600 bucks?? You can get a new HVAC vacuum pump on EBAY for about $100. HVAC manifolds are all sub $50. Check out the search below. R134 refrigerant you can get at Walmart. If it's an R-12 car you may want to consider Duracool http://www.duracool.com/ . It's 100% chemically and mechanically compatible with R-12 systems and oils. Only rub is it's flammable and some states ban it's use in auto-ac's (but not purchase or possession) for that reason. It's an anhydrous propane/butane blend. But nobody's going to investigate a private mechanic in the privacy of their own driveway. Depends on what you're comfortable with.

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=%22vac ... &_osacat=0

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=manifo ... &_osacat=0

joshuabrown · Post by **joshuabrown** » 23 Jul 2009, 17:44

Brucebo wrote:$600 bucks?? You can get a new HVAC vacuum pump on EBAY for about $100. HVAC manifolds are all sub $50. Check out the search below. R134 refrigerant you can get at Walmart. If it's an R-12 car you may want to consider Duracool http://www.duracool.com/ . It's 100% chemically and mechanically compatible with R-12 systems and oils. Only rub is it's flammable and some states ban it's use in auto-ac's (but not purchase or possession) for that reason. It's an anhydrous propane/butane blend. But nobody's going to investigate a private mechanic in the privacy of their own driveway. Depends on what you're comfortable with.

YES! I was hoping someone would say something like that!

My buddy said that if i hooked up the hose myself, which i imagine would be pretty simple (unless these are some crazy hoses?) that a shop might charge me around $100 to fill and test the refrigerant. Does that sound right? Cause I'm down to pay that!
And since the car is a 2002, wouldn't it HAVE to be filled with R134??

Your pretty close to me. I've got friends in SF. Do you get your parts local or online? got a suggestion for a hose?

thanks!
josh

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 23 Jul 2009, 18:16

R134A has been used exclusively since 1993, so that is what you would need for your car. Good thing, too, because R12 is about $50 a pound now.

joshuabrown · Post by **joshuabrown** » 23 Jul 2009, 19:52

vegasjetskier wrote:R134A has been used exclusively since 1993, so that is what you would need for your car. Good thing, too, because R12 is about $50 a pound now.

Thats a relief!@!