Infiniti FX Owners Forum (The Org)

2005 FX-35, 46k miles original owner. No AC work ever performed/recharged.
A/C hose coming off the compressor blew a hole in it this evening. Looks like a frayed belt (which was replaced about 3 months ago) must have whipped it just long enough to weaken it and finally said "I'm done!"
Was in traffic and heard a loud hissing and then steam coming from under the hood... then it stopped. The AC ran for about 12 minutes until i figured out it was the A/C (traffic and then in the parking lot). Initiall thought it was engine coolant since it had a slight odor (like coolant!) and was green oily liquid on the drivers side under and around the air filter housing.
Looks like # 13 here (Pressure hose High) http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/partloc ... atalogid=0

Someone also mentioned I would need to also change the Dehydrator??? (# 3 on link above)
I took the air filter housing off and cleaned everything off and took a look at how to access the hose - the coupling closest to the front of car looks like you need a special tool. similar to a fuel line I think.
I am not an AC person - any suggestions? DIY or dedicated AC shop? Read things about having to vacuum the system, making sure there is no air, bleed off the hoses when recharging, use AC oil blah blah blah.....

Any thoughts / suggestions?
AND... of course tomorrow is going to be the hottest day of the year so far for the DC area! Go figure.

Thanks in advance.
~Julian

I've worked with AC in cars before and it's a PITA to get it right. I don't think there have been any "advancements" or anything different in terms of how the AC works in cars. If it were me, I'd do it myself and see how it goes. I've always heard of the need to vacuum the system out and get air/water out but what I always wind up doing is to overpressurize the system and then bleed some of the pressure back off in the next day or so so I think that winds up getting rid of some of the air/water. Also, when pressurizing it, you don't want to do it on a hot day (I know, easier said than done) because you'll wind up overpressurizing it. Too much pressure and the system won't work properly. You need to fill it when the ambient is something like 70 degrees with relatively low humidity. You can still fill it but you'll wind up playing with it adding and removing some pressure to get it just right.

Get the hose, replace it, then get those refill bottles and pressure gauge from Wal Mart or an auto parts store or something. If you have, a pyrometer is a huge help too in determining outlet temp because I think you want it to be down close to 58 degrees. I'd still play with it making sure the pressure was good and checking the outlet temp every few days for the next week or two to make sure all is good and I don't need to bite the bullet and bring it to a shop.

Shoot me an e-mail and I can PDF and send you the AC section of the FSM if you don't already have it

Ahhhhhh I once again enjoy AC in the FX. woohoo!

Parts.... $210
An evening at the firehouse installing the parts ..... $0
Evac and recharging the system.... $89
chillen....... ahhhhh priceless.

Huge thanks to Kieran for the help online - I owe you a beer.... or two.....

No problem. Glad you got it fixed relatively quickly.

I would still keep an eye on it for the next week or two JUST to be sure everything is working properly and there are no leaks or other issues. I've gone down that road before too thinking it was working great until either I got in a car that the AC was REALLY working good or it was a really hot day.

But of course! We did not detect any leaks when we evac'd the system - but of course will keep an eye on it and check it every few days.