Need help....some kind of leak
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: north carolina
clk
Need help....some kind of leak
What's going on guys. Today I notice this hose was leaking some kind of oil. 
I traced the hose to the firewall. Can someone tell me what the part in the pic is and what the hose is connected to.
Thanks.
I traced the hose to the firewall. Can someone tell me what the part in the pic is and what the hose is connected to.Thanks.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'03 E55 (My Daily), '01 ML 320 (Wifey), Twin Turbo '69 Camaro (In Progess)
AC system leaking
That aluminum cannister looks to be your AC dryer/accumulator...a component of your AC system. It prevent liquid refrigerant from being drawn into your compressor and contains a dessicant to attract moisture in the prevention on corrosive acid formation in the system. It also serves as a holding tank for your refrigerant. Enough education...whats wrong........
If the line is leaking, it is most likely a dye that is put into the system to help detect where leaks can occur. Looks to be leaking from one of the crimp points where the hose meets the fitting. The fix it to put a new hose on and have your AC system recharged since your refrigerant has leaked.
If the line is leaking, it is most likely a dye that is put into the system to help detect where leaks can occur. Looks to be leaking from one of the crimp points where the hose meets the fitting. The fix it to put a new hose on and have your AC system recharged since your refrigerant has leaked.
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haters crazy
Originally Posted by bbearden
That aluminum cannister looks to be your AC dryer/accumulator...a component of your AC system. It prevent liquid refrigerant from being drawn into your compressor and contains a dessicant to attract moisture in the prevention on corrosive acid formation in the system. It also serves as a holding tank for your refrigerant. Enough education...whats wrong........
If the line is leaking, it is most likely a dye that is put into the system to help detect where leaks can occur. Looks to be leaking from one of the crimp points where the hose meets the fitting. The fix it to put a new hose on and have your AC system recharged since your refrigerant has leaked.
If the line is leaking, it is most likely a dye that is put into the system to help detect where leaks can occur. Looks to be leaking from one of the crimp points where the hose meets the fitting. The fix it to put a new hose on and have your AC system recharged since your refrigerant has leaked.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: north carolina
clk
So the stuff thats leaking is the liquid refrigerant? I didn't know refrigerant was oil base. Learn something new everyday. Thanks... Do you guys think the hose replacement is a DIY job?
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The refrigerant carries a small amount of lubricating oil, which lubes the compressor, along with it, and when you have a leak, oil and refrigerant both leak out of the hose connection, only the oil is visible. This is NOT a DIY job. High pressures are involved and a high efficiency vacuum pump is needed to draw down the system to remove the air and moisture which contaminates the system if allowed to stay in the AC system after the hose is replaced.
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More than likely, when the proper AC pressures can't be maintained because of a lack of refrigerant (leak), the compressor will not be allowed to engage, this prevents possible damage to compressor until the AC system can be repaired.
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There are a few good reasons to let a qualified repair shop replace the hose and evecuate & recharge the system. First, if you are not sure of what you are doing as far as replacing the defective hose, you can seriously injure yourself. The residual pressure HAS to be relieved first or you will risk a serious type of "freezer burn" on your hands or if the escaping freon happens to get in your eye, blindness.
Also, if any small amount of grit or dirt gets in the system while replacing the hose, the system can fail. There might be O-rings involved that have to lubed with refrigerant oil only, prior to assembly and lastly, an AC repair shop probably will not guarantee their work because they would have no way of knowing if you contaminated the system when you replaced the hose yourself or if it was installed wrong and not leak proof.The possible problem would not show up until after the work was completed. The risks are not worth it. Having said that, it is your Mercedes and you're free to do with it as you please. Part # for the hose is determined by the model year and engine size of the car.
Also, if any small amount of grit or dirt gets in the system while replacing the hose, the system can fail. There might be O-rings involved that have to lubed with refrigerant oil only, prior to assembly and lastly, an AC repair shop probably will not guarantee their work because they would have no way of knowing if you contaminated the system when you replaced the hose yourself or if it was installed wrong and not leak proof.The possible problem would not show up until after the work was completed. The risks are not worth it. Having said that, it is your Mercedes and you're free to do with it as you please. Part # for the hose is determined by the model year and engine size of the car.
