I bought a used 1997 Accord Special Edition in 2012, the A/C did not blow very cold. I lived with it like that until 5 or 6 months ago when I had the A/C drained and refilled with refrigerant, it worked perfectly. This lasted until a few days ago, my mechanic hooked up the gauges to it, there was still some refrigerant in there but the pressure was very low. Up until this point we knew there was a small leak but had no idea where it was. He recharged it and looked around the engine and THEN said that the discharge hose (going from the compressor to the condenser) looked wet on part of the black rubber section of the hose, and that was probably the leak right there.

Only part of the hose looks "wet", this "wet" section of the hose extends along the hose until where it goes into the crimped metal end section that attaches to the condenser.

Instead of replacing the discharge hose and paying him to recharge it again I'd like to repair the hose. In my local O'Reilly they have epoxies that withstand several hundred PSI and bond to both metal and rubber. If I applied the epoxy to the hose where the rubber section goes into the metal end (assuming the leak is in the crimp of the metal end), would it hold and seal the leak and withstand whatever temperature the hose reaches during operation of the car? Is there a better material for repairing the hose?

 

Personally, I would just replace the hose. The hose is only 38.00 on ebay. You only have to remove 2 10mm nuts and its done. Just make sure the AC is properly discharged first. Amazon also has it for 37.00....

 

You can not repair the hose. It might be possible to cut end, recrimp and reuse the hose, but that would cost as much as replacement hose. As suggested, check for best bet on replacement.

You should also replace the receiver/drier as the system will have to be opened to air to repair the hose. Unless immediately covered/plugged, the moisture scavenger in receiver/drier will be compromised.

Your mechanic should have some type of leak detection equipment to be sure the hose is only source of leaks. The evaporator has orings that are prone to leakage, but can be replaced when system is down.

good luck