Qx4 AC Hoses

[loudgazelle]

Our 2001 QX4 AC system has been leaking refrigerant so we had the shop put dye in the system to see where it's leaking. Their diagnosis says that it's the High and low pressure A/C hoses. They want $395 for both hoses and then $187 for two hours of labor. I found both hoses at O'Reilly for $207.98 so I'm inclined to do it myself and save the $190 parts markup and $190 labor.

Has anyone replaced the high-pressure (discharge) and low-pressure (suction) hoses on a Qx4 or Pathfinder before? Anything I should know before doing it? Will I need anything in addition to the hoses (valves, connectors, gaskets, etc)?

I have the FSM but it doesn't say anything about replacing the hoses- just about how to diagnose a leak.

Thanks in advance!

[Towncivilian]

How are you going to evacuate the refrigerant and compressor oil out of the system prior to replacing the hoses (I'm assuming that's necessary)?

Welcome to NICO.

[loudgazelle]

I think the refrigerant has evacuated itself via the leaks in the hoses - at least, that's what I think has happened because the system is no longer cooling and it was just recharged within the last month.

I'm not sure about the oil- that's one of the caveats I was hoping to learn based on some other forum members experience.

Do you have any recommendations for how to do that? the info I saw in the FSM was very brief and didn't cover anything on replacing the high or low pressure hoses.

[Towncivilian]

I know very little about HVAC systems, sorry. I have no idea how to go about evacuating or filling the system.

I am also wary of the potential quality of the O'Reilly hoses - what brand are they? OEM hoses can be obtained for approximately $230 before shipping online.

[loudgazelle]

They're Murray brand:
https://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/deta ... vi=1432946

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... vi=1432946

[loudgazelle]

Anyone on here have experience with replacing these hoses? Should I just pay the $190 markup for the hoses and the $190 labor and have the shop do it?

[909QX4OWNER]

I'm in the same boat brother... I bought the $45 can of RF134a ( I think thats the #). I'm wondering if I should replace the lower hose my self ? Pep boys want $80 for hose replacement and $195 to charge... I'm assuming the lower hose is the discharge line ???