This is on a 1992 Lexus SC400

While replacing my Radiator today I bumped the A/C line that runs alone the bottom of the radiator and now it is leaking pretty bad right at a point where a rusty bracket holds it too the radiator! It must just have a little crack in the skinny little silver A/C Line.

Are these A/C Lines repairable or do you have to replace the entire Line????

If so, how difficult is it too replace the high pressure line that runs parallel with the bottom of the radiator??

 

there's a good chance you can find someone that will repair that, however, you should replace it - no telling how long a repair will last...

it's a fairly straightforward job if you have A/C equipment...

wait, are you sure it's A/C? I don't recall any A/C lines down there... does your A/C still work? if so, it's not an A/C line - a visible leak in an A/C line will lose enough refrigerant in about a minute or two as to keep the compressor from even turning on...

if it is an A/C line, secure a replacement line, a replacement drier, install both... next, have it vacuumed out for 30-45 minutes, then refill with 32 ounces of R12...

 

I converted to R-13 about 3 weeks ago. I replaced the drier, compressor and had the system vacuumed and re-filled 3 weeks ago. It is definitely the ac line becasue after the leak happened I put my finger on it and it pretty much turned my fingertip into a hard frozen rock! The A/C compressor no longer engages either due too the leak!

Replacing the entire high pressure line looks like a huge expensive task that may not be worth doing on such an old car!

Do you think putting JB weld on the leak and the wrapping a rubber hose around that and then putting a clamp around the rubber hose that would fix the leak??

HAS ANYONE EVER REPLACED A HIGH PRESSURE A/C LINE ON A SC400??.......just wondering how difficult it is??

 

No one else has ever broken a A/C line on there Lexus??

If you were going to repair the leak which would you use??

- JB Weld
or
- West systems G-Flex Epoxy link = http://www.westsystem.com/ss/gflex/

 

i haven't replaced that line myself, but depends on your luck if jb weld or whatnot is going to work... if it's the high side, it will fluctuate from 200-400 psi depending on outside temp and such... it's under quite a bit of pressure...

either way, any time the system is opened, it's a good idea to replace the drier again, and of course it will have to be vacuumed again and more refrigerant...

 

I looked at the line and I will have to remove alot of things to get that replaced......bummer!

1.) I am going to try putting the West systems G-flex all over the leak area
2.) Wrap a rubber hose that fits pretty tight around leaky area covered in G-Flex
3.) Then use a metal clamp around the rubber hose

I think that should hold.......at least I hope!

 

I completed the repair and it seems to be holding really good!

I went to my buddy at the local Toyota dealership and had him re-fill the system with R-13 Freon!

He put it under pressure and said it is holding pressure!

I disconnected the battery for 15 seconds to reset the ECU!

I turn on the A/C and the compressor does not turn on now????

The compressor was working perfect 5 days ago before I broke the line......I dont understand????

The clutch isnt frozen or anything.
The A/C light on the dash does not blink when it is turned on.....the light stays on like normal.

Its just the Compressor does not turn for some reason?????? any ideas???

 

anyone know if there is anything that needs to be reset??

could the fact that its 0 degrees out have anything to do with it??

 

Just checked and it appears my fix didn't hold..........there is oil all over my repair so I can only assume the A/C I just put in it for $35 is in the atmosphere by now....:-(

What do you guys think about this???
Link = http://www.autoacsystems.com/_store/...inerepair.html

 

those lines are under a lot of pressure... it's not gonna hold on a smooth section of line... the only place those temp fixes hold is for like pinhole leaks at connectors and such... edit: just looked at those line replacements - I'm sure they'll work, but for like $50... get a replacement line...

stop wasting the money and get the line - it'll be cheaper in the long run...

contact one of the vendors on this board, you can probably find the whole line for less than they want for a repair kit that might or might not work that well...

 

Replacing the entire High pressure line isnt an option....peopel are asking $200 for a used line.

My system is R-13.....I did the swap a month ago!

1.) Doesn't make sense to invest $200 for a used A/C Line on a old 92 SC400!

2.) The removal/install of the line requires way too much stuff to be removed.....its just not justifiable to wrench for hours in -20 degree weather.

I checked the system today and it still seems to have plenty of pressure in it........I think my repair just has a very very very small leak.

Has anyone ever used one of these repair kits? http://www.autoacsystems.com/_store/...inerepair.html

Its a repair kit for the exact problem I have!...........If I had know this existed last week I would have just given this a try in the first place!

 

Fixed The leaky line and got it filled up again yesterday.

Anyone else that ever has a leak in there line I suggest you save a bunch of money!

You can cut out the bad section of line and splice in a new section with "high compression fittings"!!
The fittings i used are good for 3,000 psi!

Only cost $15 for parts and another $30 for FREON................beats paying the $500-$1000 I was getting quoted from local shops!

 

I know this is an old thread but I'm also in need of the A/C lines on my 92 SC400, and seeing that you did this repair as an alternative I would like to know if it still works now after all this time.