AC line leak advice

I tried searching but can't seem to find anything. I have a 02 C2 that recently started leaking freon from the low pressure (larger) line inside the clamp closest to the rear jackpoint on the passenger side of the car. I was able to find the part and it's not terribly expensive...but the install is a bit of an unknown. https://www.getporscheparts.com/oem-parts/porsche-front-suction-tube-99657309101 My gut tells me that it should be easy to replace assuming I take the front wheel off and remove the fender liner but over never had the car apart to know. I got a quote from an independent AC shop that wanted 2-300 to weld in a new line and refill. Otherwise I'm looking at 200 for the part shipped and an unknown amount of labor for install and another 100 for the charge. Is anyone familiar with this section of the car that can estimate the time needed to swap the hose with an OEM....if it's a similar cost id rather go OEM. Lastly...anyone else had a hose leak at these clamps? AC guy said it was common but this is a california car that up until 2 years ago had never seen winter and even when it does it's not like I'm driving through accumulated snow.

First, it is illegal (as well as environmentally damaging) to release R134a freon. I just had work done on an ac compressor replacement. System evacuated and measured. Components replaced, ac compressor, condenser, receiver/dryer and dessicant, O-rings on connecting hoses, then system flushed with nitrogen to remove any humidity/water, then system recharged with the correct weight of freon and compressor oil. AC work is not a DIY in the garage/driveway work. It takes some pretty sophisticated equipment to make this work. Take it to a professional.

While I appreciate your comment in the general sense I can't help but wonder what about my post made you think I was attempting to do this diy??? I was simply asking for someone more familiar than me if the AC line is easy to swap so I could make an educated decision on if I should have the pipe simply welded where it's leaking or have a whole new pipe section installed. I am not doing the job either way and I didn't want to ask my Indy since his only option is pipe replacement and parts purchased at list. Either way it will be handled by a dedicated AC shop.

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^Yup, I just had the same done to my 04 RAM a couple weeks ago...Not cheap! If you can get the pipe, O-rings and DIY yourself, just have a pro empty and refill the system as needed.

I do lots of Automotive AC work here in the Houston area. ( At least 2 dozen complete AC systems this year alone) You need a reclaim machine or a recycle machine. My reclaim machine cost me around $600, plus a $100 reclaim tank. I have also evacuated peoples systems for them and then recharged them when they�re done. Recharging is cheap, and an easy DIY if you have gauges. Most vehicles use less than 2 cans of refrigerant. That�s less than $20 DIY. Just make sure to have the system vacuumed first. Harbor Freight has a decent, and cheap, vacuum pump.

Guys, I'm not doing any AC work. I'm just asking if anyone has ever replaced the front/sill/side low pressure line and if it's an easy replacement or an absolute nightmare (think plugs with the exhaust on and no lift). The picture was linked in my first post. Surely someone has had thier front passenger wheel off and the fender liner out and has an idea of if this is a 4 hour job or a 1 hour job. I don't mind paying the shop the 1 hour and the oem pipe, but any more than that and I might as well just have the section welded and move on. The shop said weld it because "you never know how long it's gonna take me to get that new pipe in."

Which line...#6 or #10? http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=813-25 My guess? To have a shop do it right...remove wheel, remove wheel liner, car up on lift, evacuate system, replace line and seals, recharge system, reinstall wheel liner, reinstall wheel, test drive and check system, 4 hours labor plus parts does not seem out of line.. As I said, I just had a shop do an AC job. For what I stated earlier, out the door at $2,877. AC was only blowing hot air. Now it works.

NYChase, To resolve the drama about any existing R134a in the system, simply find any local shop that has R134a recover and recharge equipment, this is very common to find. Pay them to recover the refrigerant in the system; can't cost you more than 1 hour of their hourly rate. The line you are noting is used on many models from 1997/98 up through 2013 (and imagine its found on the GT class !) I have never R&R'd this line but its not rocket science. If you got 4 jack stands or a friend with a lift I'd say worse case its a 1 day job, 1/2 day if you don't debate baseball or football stats; 2 days if you have a few cases of Becks. You could contact a local Porsche shop and simply give them PN and ask them how much they would charge to replace it and evacuate, charge, leak test (sniff all the normal suspects), and do a quick go around of the system; you'd be replacing the line, 2 o-rings, the drier and its 2 o-rings, tossing in an ounce or two of PAG oil and the refrigerant. Go for it, have some fun. And, take a few pictures of what you do along the way and post your experience here on forum; that is what Rennlist was created for. Griff