So yeah was working on the car last night and accidentally broke an a/c line.

System was full so spent 20 minutes waiting for all pressurized freon to stop hissing.

Anyone have any experience replacing this particular line. It's the small a/c line that runs alongside the reinforcement bar that sits inside the engine. I cracked it near where the main radiator hose is.

Here are some pics.


I highlisted the broken a/c line in yellow

 

Typically AC lines are pretty easy to replace. Remember, Mazda installed a lot of the Rx-7 AC systems at the US port - they're designed to be installed relatively easily without taking a lot of stuff apart.

That said, it's probably best to get a new line - either new from the dealer (probably not too much $$$) or a good used one. The fittings at both ends aren't torqued super tight - just use two wrenches and it should come apart easily.

Get two new o-rings - one for each end. Mazda dealerships typically have them in stock, and they're cheap. Lube the new o-rings with dielectric grease to keep it from sticking/tearing, and install. Then, pull the system to vacuum and re-charge with freon.

BTW, there are two different AC systems - the Japan installed and the port installed. I believe the hard lines are different between the two systems - make sure you get the right one. Also, I would leave the bad line on until you get everything ready to replace it - leaving an AC system open to moisture is a bad thing.

Good luck,
Dale

 

I have that line sitting in my closet ....

 

Oh really? how much do you want for it?

 

It does look easy to replace being that line isn't that big, probably less than 3 feet in length. The ends look easy enough to reach, however I fear the cost of the pipe to be a little high because it looks like there is a regulator of some kind that is attached to it near the battery.

I had no idea Mazda installs the AC systems at the US port. Interesting.

Thanks for you advise, it will come in handy. I'm definitely leaving the broken line on until a replacement comes in. Aiming by end of this week.

 

R1's had port-installed AC.

Oh, and that "regulator thing" is just a pressure switch.. so your compressor won't engage on an empty system.

 

yup mine's a r1, port installed it is.

 

Batmobile recently took out all his A/C lines & junk. You might wanna check with him to see if that was the 1 thing that broke on his (which prompted him to remove the whole thing).

 

you can get the line welded up at an a/c shop for $20. also, before you go buying a used a/c line from somebody there were two types of a/c systems put in the car. they use different lines. one was mazda and one was some other japanese brand that i forgot. just an fyi.

 

Look in the yellow pages for automotive A/C parts shops, the places that supply the parts to the A/C service shops. They can fabricate a new A/C line for you to match the line that broke. Simply take out the broken line and take it to them to duplicate: length, bends, and fittings. No big deal.

 

the same thing happened to my line. I got some stuff called braze perfect or something and a torch and fixed it. I found the stuff on the web. I think it was like 7 bucks and comes with enough stuff to fix more then one line. It has worked fine since. Almost a year since the fix.

 

Ordered a replacement line from Mazda, cost was about 100. Oh well. Now I gotta look into getting the system re-filled

 

Teddy,
I just removed all my lines. If you want to give me the shipping costs and $20 I'll send you both lines.

 

Old line is out and replacement line is in.

When I removed the old line I didn't notice any o-rings???

Should I use some sort of thread sealer like teflon tape on the threads before I tighten everything down?





DAMN Ernie I just spent the 100 bucks on a new one! Too late otherwise I would have bought yours.

 

I guess you didn't get my response?

 

Double-check - there IS an o-ring there. You *HAVE* to replace the o-ring when changing the line, otherwise the freon will just leak back out.

It's probably inside one of the lines. They typically have a male and a female end, and the oring goes around the male end of the pipe.

Don't use pipe sealant on the threads - bad idea. That won't hold the kind of pressure an AC system sees - that's the high pressure line, which is a few hundred PSI!

Dale

 

Double post...

 

I just saw your post. I have a snd gen and need ac lines. Pls send more inf if you still have your lines. I have replaced from the junkyard and the line is CRAP. Mazda says they don't have AC on this model.

Thanks,

Jim

 

Hey Rip Van Winkle, you know this thread is from 9/03, right?

 

same thing happened to me when i was swapping motors once. take off the line and most likely an a/c shop can weld up the line for you for $20. no big deal...

 

...may as well do the R134a conversion now.

 

FYI- take the line off if you want, any moisture in the system will boil off when you vacuum pull it to -27inHg.

 

The thread keeps growing!

May as well ask, if you refilled with R12, how much was it going for last year, Teddy? My parents have a can or two sitting in their garage... I've been debating on whether to keep it and top off the daily driver or ebay it!

 

hey teddy let me know if you need any help

 

Oops, I re-read jbz12's post: "I just saw your post."

He's apparently aware of the age of the original post, so I guess we should give him a serious answer.

He' obviously using the search function.

jbz12, are 3rd & 2nd Gen lines even compatible?