MC721

Hello AC forum members!

My wife has a 1995 Lexus GS300 with about 150,000 miles.

About 4 months ago, the A/C started to not cool as it should and over the course of about 3 weeks it gradually lost most of its charge.

I added 3 cans of refrigerant with no apparent issues and the system has been working fine.

About 3 weeks ago, it began loosing it's charge again.

Last week, shortly after I started the process of adding refrigerant, I detected the slight smell of refrigerant.

After some investigation, I found that the plastic valve on the charging hose had a crack just above where the refrigerant can screws into the hose valve.

I removed the hose and checked the A/C.

The compressor cycled off and on every 4-5 seconds. When the compressor clutch engaged, it made a (for lack of a better term) "farting" sound at the back side of the compressor, with visible gas coming from the back side of the compressor, until the clutch disengaged.

I didn't have a chance to do any more with it until yesterday.

Now, when the compressor clutch engages it makes no noise, or cold air, and still cycles every 4 to 5 seconds.

Is it possible that the crack in the refrigerant hose allowed air into the system along with the refrigerant, over-pressurizing the system and causing a leak in the compressor?

If so, would it most likely be leaking at one of the compressor seals, or where one of the A/C hose o-rings mates to the compressor?

Also - I have been told that some auto A/C compressors have a high pressure or pop-off valve on them in case of over pressurization. Does anyone know if this is the case with a 1995 Lexus GS300?

Any insight or suggestions would be greatly appreciated by my wife (We live in Florida).

Thanks!


BTW - I now have access to A/C manifold gauge set and vacuum pump.