Hole in A/C hose?

[jey]

A/C quit working this month - since the compressor doesn't even spin/turn on, I figured it was a relay or something. But then I read that the compressor won't turn on if there is no pressure in the system. So I started poking around looking for leaks and discovered a hole in the low-pressure hose... under the intercooler!

http://www.jeyping.dynip.com/achole.jpg

I'm kind of baffled how this happened - I stuck my finger in here and wasn't able to verify the hole had completely penetrated the hose... anyone know of a way to test the pressure of the A/C?

[ivwarrior]

There are 2 ports on the AC system for servicing it. One's probably near the compressor, and one on a line somewhere. They usually have caps over them, one red and one blue. You can get gauges designed to fit them, just for that purpose. Probably easiest if you have a friend in a shop that does AC work, ask him/her to check it quick for ya.

[dropdfocus]

You can hook any A/C recharge machine up to the fittings to see if it holds any pressure. It will be obvious right away.

[losdiosdeverde86]

based on your avatars i'd venture to guess that a stick or something got up there and tore it up

you can probably go to an advanced auto or something and they can pressure test it for you. it's just a little handpump that hooks up to the rad.

[SHOfast]

Easiest way is to get it checked with an AC machine...

A leak in the AC system will lose both the R-134 or R-12 and the charge oil. So usually you find an oily mess rather than just a hole.

Other ways are to grab a set of manifold guages, check if there is still pressure there, or pull a vacuum and see if it holds. You can inject a dye to see where the leak is with a UV light.

[NewGenSTi]

Hey just curious if you ever fixed or found out where the leak was... if it is in that hose you have pictured I have a spare one here from my parts car