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I couldn't find any information about the a/c system in the online manual. Today I was a dumb--- and (while pulling out my air intake to clean it up), I caught ahold of the a/c line, and split it (the one line that connects to what I am assuming is the filter, and to another piece near the battery). So I got it to not leak as much (bending it back), but I need to get that line (anyone have a part # for it? or something I can use to tell advance auto/napa?), and I just didn't know the correct procedure for charging the a/c (never done it before and don't know if this is something that I can't do on my own).

but yeah.. long story short:

was dumb, ruined an a/c line that goes around the coolant reservoir/intake, and need to know what that part # is called (or any info so i can go to advance auto or napa to get it) as well as if I can charge the a/c myself.

Thanks everyone!!!

which part is it?

An AC shop can just install a new piece of piping no problem.

it is the pipe that travels underneath the intake and connects near the battery.

and i found that the hole is VERY small.. you have to look real close to see it..

so now i'm wondering if it can be fixed.. like.. can you weld it? or is there something you can use like JB Weld that will secure it.

Like I said, take it to an AC specialist, they have piping just for that cause. All he will do is replace the segment with re-bent piping.

If you crimped the piping while puncturing it you might be out of luck on repairing it yourself.
If you had access, I would pull the piping yourself at some junker and replace it for a few bucks.

However, a shop shouldn't charge you an exhorbent amount to replace a small portion of the piping.

yeah I might take a road trip up to the junkyard and see if they have the pipe. it was just so tiny that it made me question how good it still was..

A short discussion on how A/C works is in order....

The compressor increases the density of the refrigerant by...uhhh...compressing it. It remains in this compressed state until it passes through the small orifice you're referring to at which time it expands. The expansion is what actually does the cooling. Allow me to explain.

Boyle's law says that the pressure and temperature of a gas are related proportionately. That means that as the pressure of the gas rises, so does the temperature. So by compressing it, we are increasing the energy stored in the gas, which manifests itself as an increase in temperature. That orifice is the point at which the gas is trapped and at is passes through, it expands very quickly. The same law applies in reverse. As it expands, the pressure decreases rapidly and so does the temperature of the refrigerant.

So the refrigerant becomes very cold as it passes through the orifice and then travels into the condenser under the dash. A fan blows air over the condenser, distributing cold air to the environment of the cabin.

I realize that this has nothing to do with your question...I just felt like typing. I'm a little drunk. I think I may have also just mentioned that in another thread as well. I'm not sure....cuz I'm drunk.

Impressive that you can still explain the workings of AC while intoxicated.

You forgot the most important detail though: The refridgerants boil at a temperature below 0. When the compress it, the partial pressure becomes so high that it cannot boil. When allowed to re-expand it boils at its low temperature.

Wow wytbishop you're full of interesting knowledge! You an engineer or something?

I'd go with Superk's advice, and pull it up at a junkyard. What you need is the discharge (or low pressure) line. Advance Auto parts doesn't have it (I work there), and my guess is neither Autozone nor Napa will have it either.
Anyways, after replacing the line you'll have to go to an AC shop to pull the vacuum in the system (that is, unless you have a vacuum pump), but it's gonna be much cheaper to go there to pull the vacuum than to go replace the line.
Just make sure your car already has an R-134a system (only '94s and up) or it has already been properly converted to R-134a. If not, now would be a good time to take it to a REPUTABLE ac shop to make the conversion.
If that's the case, make sure they replace the compressor for an R-134a unit (R-134a is not as efficient at cooling as R-12, so the compressor needs to be bigger, or else it won't cool properly), and the accumulator-drier.

wytbishop wrote: A fan blows air over the condenser, distributing cold air to the environment of the cabin.

You mean the evaporator coil?

Inodoro Pereyra wrote:I'd go with Superk's advice, and pull it up at a junkyard. What you need is the discharge (or low pressure) line. Advance Auto parts doesn't have it (I work there), and my guess is neither Autozone nor Napa will have it either.
Anyways, after replacing the line you'll have to go to an AC shop to pull the vacuum in the system (that is, unless you have a vacuum pump), but it's gonna be much cheaper to go there to pull the vacuum than to go replace the line.
Just make sure your car already has an R-134a system (only '94s and up) or it has already been properly converted to R-134a. If not, now would be a good time to take it to a REPUTABLE ac shop to make the conversion.
If that's the case, make sure they replace the compressor for an R-134a unit (R-134a is not as efficient at cooling as R-12, so the compressor needs to be bigger, or else it won't cool properly), and the accumulator-drier.

oh woah it has R-12 and not R-134a? (I have the '92).

damn.. even more expenses .

So that's what I'm going to have to do...

thanks a lot!

Yep, a '92 is R-12. Sorry.
But look at the bright side: at least you found out before you replaced your line.

Either way, converting your system to R-134a should cost you about $400-$500. Just, as I said, make sure you take it to a reputable shop. Some will just clean up the old compressor and drier and put them back on, and tell you they replaced them, and then, when your ac is not as cool as it should be, they tell you that's normal with converted systems. It's not. A properly converted system will be just as cool as the old one.

Anyways, I don't mean to make you feel bad, but R-134a is scheduled to be banned in 2011, due to it's incidence in global warming, so, if you convert your car now, make sure you stock up enough cans for a few years...

_-Night-Shade-_ wrote:Wow wytbishop you're full of interesting knowledge! You an engineer or something?

I am. Here's today's insight...

Don't drink and type. They don't teach that in school. They ought to.

We've all been there dude....and at 2:30 am teaching about boyle's law....quite the trooper. When I'm drunk I can't even remember my name, kl-or is it clr-nope, fudge it.

only the EU is going to be banning r 134.

It'll be around americar and canadia for a wHile. A wHile.