Found major leak coming out of port in the block where the high side line is connecting into the back of the compressor. Does this indicate that the compressor is blown? What is the purpose for this port (looks to be similar to a bleed valve or something. Hope this picture gets into this thread and is helpful. 37506)

That picture is too small to really get a good idea of the area of interest. There will be a pressure relief valve somewhere in the system though, maybe that's what you're pointing too. Having never experienced one going though, I'm not sure if they reset or need to be replaced.

-Rod

Here is a larger close up of the compressor high pressure relief valve where a spray of freon was coming from.

I have since measured the static pressure which was less than 10psi. I also went a head and replaced the orifice but the one that came out looked pretty good.

Is there anyway to check relief valve? I hooked it up to my air compressor and it did not blow through at 75psi. The dealership does carry this item at ~$12, so will go ahead and replace and do a vacuum leak check on the system next.

If this passes, my plan is to try to charge the system and test. should I be checking anything else before committing more freon?

That does appear to be the high pressure relief valve. For $12 you're probably best off to replace it, but I would be concerned as to why it was venting originally. Is there a chance that the high pressure switch is not functioning properly? Was the R-134a venting when the compressor was running, or after the A/C had been shut off? If during operation, it would seem like the high pressure switch should have cut-off the compressor before the relief valve vented (assuming both were working properly).

-Rod

It is going on a week now and the A/C is working well.

I want to add one additional observation on this case in that the orifice tube that I took out was noticable deeper in the pipe when I pulled it out than where the new one set in or where the old one went back into when I tried to check this out. Is it possible that the orifice tube got shoved in past the ridge it seats against and that this would of caused a high back pressure that would of blown the high pressure relief valve?