Greetings --

I've a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins with 52,000 miles, and I have had no
A/C for about a month.  The compressor cycles on and off every 6 seconds
or so, so I figured I lost some R13a coolant.  Bought a small 12oz can
recharge kit, recharged as directed on the only connector the can would
connect to (NOT the line that is leaking, which is the line running high
in the engine compartment on the passenger side next to the fender, that
fitting was too big).

1) Did I refill at the wrong line?  I refilled at the fitting behind the
air filter, which was the only fitting which was small enough to accept
the fitting on the refill can.

2) After refilling, I immediately got cold AC but when I turned the
engine off, I heard a hissing.  The leak sounds to be coming from under
the air filter where the assumed high pressure line runs to the dryer
from the front of the truck.  A lot of water droplets had accumulated on
that line and there was a puddle inside under the air filter.  I
couldn't feel gas escaping but the hiss was definitely coming from under
the air filter from the line that's covered with aluminum foil.  I'd
like to know if that's the high or low pressure line.  Nothing blew up,
so I assume I filled at the right port.

3) I assume I'll have no AC in the morning what with the leak -- or is
there perhaps an overflow fitting under the air cleaner which will
release enough refrigerant until the system is stabilized?  Rather, I
bet the metal line is pinholed underneath the aluminum foil and dumdum
that encapsulates the line under the air filter.  Pisses me off, I've
got a 1980 Mercedes 240D which still blows cold after 26 years.

4)  Assuming that line is holed, and assuming that line is the
high-pressure line, I'll probably have to take it to a shop to be
replaced, the system evacuated and tested for leaks and recharged.  I
figure around $200.  Is this common for that metal line to hole itself?
 I don't do any off-roading and just drive on flat paved roads.  Why
would an aluminum pipe like that get a hole?  Is there another
bridge-connector under the air filter, and is it possible that
connection is leaking?

Thanks for any info regarding this matter.  Please respond to:
ramac[nospam]opsimath.org and replace the [nospam] with @

Thanks again.

    -K