I'm sure this is a dumb question, but humor me anyway ...thanks !!!

The air conditioning system has a leak where it connects to the
metering valve. (flare nut connection)....because the a/c is
a closed system, the cost of repairing this connection range
from 450. to 800.00. The serviceman knows it's leaking due
to the film of oil around the connection.. He attempted to tighten
it up but says it needs replacement.

Is there something that could be wrapped around the entire connection
(like you would use electrical tape around a spliced joint) to keep it
from leaking??? There is still a sizeable amount of freon in the system
(we had it overcharged to carry us over the recent hot spell).

Boy...like everything else, the cost of having something repaired
is so astronomical, it's cheaper in the long run to replace it.

Thanks for your help...

Peter

On 08/06/2006 16:41:50 Peter <Peter@spamtrap.net> wrote:

> I'm sure this is a dumb question, but humor me anyway ...thanks !!!

> The air conditioning system has a leak where it connects to the metering
> valve. (flare nut connection)....because the a/c is a closed system, the
> cost of repairing this connection range from 450. to 800.00. The
> serviceman knows it's leaking due to the film of oil around the
> connection.. He attempted to tighten it up but says it needs replacement.

Trying to wrap it with tape or anything or the sort is not worth any effort...the A/C system in a car is under enough pressure that it will simply leak around it, and that aside, the molecular size of alot of refrigerants used in the automotive industry today allows it to seep *through* some rubber hoses...so electrical tape or anything of the sort will be of no use.

I'm curious why the quote to replace what could quite possibly be just a simple O-Ring is so high, however... Yes, you'll need to have the system evacuated, repaired, do a leak check and pull a vacuum, and ultimately recharge it...but it shouldn't cost $800.

Now, if there's more then just an O-Ring problem (Actual cracked line or a major repair outside of that) then it could easilly stretch into that dollar figure...but I'd clarify exactly what your repair guy plans on doing for that amount of money before you go any further...and if you do go ahead, ask for your old parts back and verify there are new ones in it's place.

--
Mark
http://www.oshawapilot.ca
RPASEL, Canada

Peter wrote:
> I'm sure this is a dumb question, but humor me anyway ...thanks !!!
>
> The air conditioning system has a leak where it connects to the
> metering valve. (flare nut connection)....because the a/c is
> a closed system, the cost of repairing this connection range
> from 450. to 800.00. The serviceman knows it's leaking due
> to the film of oil around the connection.. He attempted to tighten
> it up but says it needs replacement.
>
> Is there something that could be wrapped around the entire connection
> (like you would use electrical tape around a spliced joint) to keep it
> from leaking??? There is still a sizeable amount of freon in the system
> (we had it overcharged to carry us over the recent hot spell).
>
> Boy...like everything else, the cost of having something repaired
> is so astronomical, it's cheaper in the long run to replace it.
>
> Thanks for your help...
>
> Peter
You could try putting some of the aftermarket leak stop in the system.

>There is still a sizeable amount of freon
> in the system (we had it overcharged to
> carry us over the recent hot spell).

What type refrigerant, R12 or R134?

Overcharging the system doesn't accomplish what you think it does, if
fact, it makes any slight leak worse because of higher pressures. If
the 'serviceman' did this, run away/run away!

Eventually all AC systems leak. You didn't post the year of your
vehicle, but if it's more than 3yrs old it's leaking somewhere. Slight
leaks around connections are usually bad seals/o-rings. Easy/not
expensive to fix. Do Not use any 'sealer' in the AC system! Any honest
AC man will tell you that using a sealer will cost you more in the
long-run than just fixing the leak. Sealer is just about impossible to
remove from the AC system.

You should have posted the make/model/year of your vehicle....a big help
to those trying to help you.

Dave S(Texas)

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:41:50 -0400, Peter <Peter@spamtrap.net> wrote:

>
>I'm sure this is a dumb question, but humor me anyway ...thanks !!!
>
>The air conditioning system has a leak where it connects to the
>metering valve. (flare nut connection)....because the a/c is
>a closed system, the cost of repairing this connection range
>from 450. to 800.00. The serviceman knows it's leaking due
>to the film of oil around the connection.. He attempted to tighten
>it up but says it needs replacement.
>
>Is there something that could be wrapped around the entire connection
>(like you would use electrical tape around a spliced joint) to keep it
>from leaking??? There is still a sizeable amount of freon in the system
>(we had it overcharged to carry us over the recent hot spell).
>
>Boy...like everything else, the cost of having something repaired
>is so astronomical, it's cheaper in the long run to replace it.
>
>Thanks for your help...
>
>Peter


Oops, sorry... it's a 1994 Buick Regal 3800
with only about 45K miles on the odometer.
The alternator and intake manifold plenum have
already been replaced, so I don't know if this is
typical of 12 y/o car with low useage or not.

I think the service person was trying to be helpful in
slightly overcharging the system. He was trying to
give me some additional time to see if the repairs
would be worthwhile.... he couldn't guarantee that
something else wouldn't fail (i.e. compressor) after
the repairs had been made.

Well, wrapping the connection won't work... Thanks for
providing that information..... I guess the best thing is
to see how long it will take for the freon to leak out and
then bring it in for repairs.

What is involved with evacuating and recharging the
system..... this seems to be the bulk of the work...how much
time would something like that take ??.

Thank you for your help and assistance !!!

Peter

>What is involved with evacuating and
> recharging the system..... this seems to
> be the bulk of the work...how much time
> would something like that take ??.

Pulling a vacuum on the system and recharging would take anywhere from
30min to 1hr....depending. If the compressor is 12yrs+old, you are on
borrowed time...that is about twice the lifespan of compressors.

Everything depends on how reliable you want the system to be and for how
long. If you just want to get the leak(s) fixed and the system then
holds a vacuum, you might be good for a short time. Eventually, that
compressor is going to throw up and you will have to have a new or
rebuilt compressor/new accumulator/orfice tube and then
evacuate/recharge again.

Dave S(Texas)

<putt@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:14170-44D7D907-910@storefull-3275.bay.webtv.net...
> >What is involved with evacuating and
>> recharging the system..... this seems to
>> be the bulk of the work...how much time
>> would something like that take ??.
>
> Pulling a vacuum on the system and recharging would take anywhere from
> 30min to 1hr....depending. If the compressor is 12yrs+old, you are on
> borrowed time...that is about twice the lifespan of compressors.

The shop is most likely going to convert you to 134a refrigerant. R-12 is
very expensive so it may be cheaper to have the conversion kit installed.

FWIW, my '91 Regal lasted about 11 or 12 years (but 130k miles) and the
compressor went. Then the rebuilt went under warranty, then it went again
after the warranty so it has not been fixed. Not worth it at this point.

Dittos Mark. The system is under enough pressure that there would be no
tape that would be able to hold it in.

Peter <Peter@spamtrap.net> wrote in
news:9ikcd2lama402q1s59u0a5f2iqc0cos5i1@4ax.com:

>
> I'm sure this is a dumb question, but humor me anyway ...thanks !!!
>
> The air conditioning system has a leak where it connects to the
> metering valve. (flare nut connection)....because the a/c is
> a closed system, the cost of repairing this connection range
> from 450. to 800.00. The serviceman knows it's leaking due
> to the film of oil around the connection.. He attempted to tighten
> it up but says it needs replacement.
>
> Is there something that could be wrapped around the entire connection
> (like you would use electrical tape around a spliced joint) to keep
it
> from leaking??? There is still a sizeable amount of freon in the
system
> (we had it overcharged to carry us over the recent hot spell).
>
> Boy...like everything else, the cost of having something repaired
> is so astronomical, it's cheaper in the long run to replace it.
>
> Thanks for your help...
>
> Peter
>
>
No replace it, or dont have air. It will never hold freon...




--
1984 RZ350