i just got my a/c running for the first time and had my gauges hooked up checking pressure. they were holding steady for a few minutes when all of a sudden the reading went crazy high and was possibly jumping irradically, (don't remember exactly due to the next thing getting my focus) and i noticed fluid spewing up. turns out my lower rad. hose blew.
why would this affect my a/c?
the coolant is not even coolant, i am leaking pure brown fluid. how bad is this?