My 97 Accord has had a leaky receiver pipe (high pressure pipe joining receiver and evaporator) for 2 yrs or so. I'm replacing the pipe. Do I need to replace the receiver too?

Also, I remember a good write up in this forum on dealing with a/c leaks. Does anyone have a pointer to it (sorry, the "Search" feature is not working)?

 

the site crashed not too long ago, and the search is messedup. Go to the top link on this forum, and there is a google search of threads in this site.

 

I found the following section from ebay "Reviews and Guides" :-

WHAT DOES A DRIER DO- DRY? Why Replace the Receiver-Dri
by: aircoparts

WHAT DOES A DRIER DO- DRY?
IT'S NOT THE FREON!! It's the oil in the refrigerant that absorbs moisture and holds debris in the system. Replacing the drier / accumulator, in addition to evacuation, will assure better performance.

Why Replace the Receiver-Drier?
The receiver-drier must be changed each time a system is empty regardless of the reason for loss of refrigerant. It should also be changed every three years, because the desiccant pellets will break down and clog the expansion valve. This will in turn cause the system to become inoperable and May damage the compressor.

The receiver-drier is strictly a disposable item and is thought of in the same terms as a fuel, oil, or air filter. In fact, if any component fails or is replaced for any reason, the receiver-drier must also be replaced to prevent corrosion and moisture in the system.

The receiver-drier performs three functions:

-It filters the system of non-condensables.

-It receives the liquid refrigerant and maintains a certain level of liquid at the bottom at all times in a properly charged system.

-It contains a stack of pellets called desiccant (drying agent) to trap and absorb moisture. NOTE that moisture is the most harmful enemy of the air conditioning system. If any moisture is in the system, it will combine with the refrigerant to form hydrochloric acid which is extremely corrosive to metal components.

Replacing the receiver-drier is essential when servicing the A/C system. Whenever you replace a component of the A/C system you must also replace the receiver-drier. If you do not change the receiver-drier there could be serious damage to the other parts of the system, which could be very costly. You must also have proof of changing the receiver-drier in order to receive a compressor warranty.

Guide created: 05/17/06 (updated 04/30/08)

 

Yes, replace receiver/drier for reasons above and it's relatively cheap.

Leaks express themselves under the hood w/ dirt/oil accumulation at the leak site and UV dye (if in the lube). However, a leak in the evaporator is not uncommon and difficult to track. Best way is w/ a sensitive R134a detector and sniffing at the condensate drain tube for refrigerant.

Another must is vacuum evacuation before charging. This removes moisture that invades when you open the system.

good luck

 

If the system has been open for awhile, the receiver/dryer will have collected moisture from the air. It's usually cheaper to replace vs. holding it under vacuum for days to get all the moisture out from the dryer.