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General => The garage => Topic started by: Myles45 on 13 December 2010, 17:37

Title: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Myles45 on 13 December 2010, 17:37
Hi All,

Any idea if it's possible to remove the aircon unit & all it's gubbins from a 95 (Jap import) 2lt 16v GTi, & if so what size belt would I need to replace the current one?

Just had a quick look under bonnet & it looks like, if the unit was removed, then the belt would snag on the waterpump pulley.

Has anyone done this?

Thanks
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Paul86S2 on 13 December 2010, 18:24
Yes it is possible.

You will need a new water pump pulley vw part number 028121031K

New v belt (power steering) part number 037145271E (or if you go to ECP or GSF size 11.5 x 685mm)

New ribbed belt part number 037903137H (or size 21.36 x 1033mm)

The new water pump pulley will put it in line with the ribbed belt instead of the power steering v belt.

Paul
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Myles45 on 13 December 2010, 21:34
Excellent, Thanks very much for that Paul,

Are there any special tools required for the job & is it fairly straight forward, any hiccups or tricky bits I can expect?

Myles
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Paul86S2 on 13 December 2010, 21:45
All straight forward. Only tricky bit is holding the water pump pulley whilst undoing the bolts. Luckily there are 3 bolts so you can hold it by putting a screw driver between the other two bolts.
If I remember correctly the existing bolts are just a bit too long for the new pulley so you can either buy new bolts or stick a washer under the existing bolts.
The new water pump pulley goes on the opposite way round to the way you would expect but it will be obvious once you fit it on to see which way round it goes to make it line up with the other pulleys.
The old pulley was a very tight fit on the water pump.

Paul
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 13 December 2010, 23:45
Has the system still got gas in it, if so you need a specialist to drain the system 1st.

Do not remove any pipes if you have got gas in the system.
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: rubjonny on 14 December 2010, 10:32
just be aware there are 2 longer belts for the tensioner pulley setup which is based on the model year. 95 is the changeover so prob best to get the pulley then use some string to help figure out which you need:
2.0 16v 92-95 (-AirCon)         6PK0976
2.0 16v 96-97 (-AirCon)         6PK1038

the pulley you need can be found on any 1.8-2.0 8v or 16v MK3, just as long as it doesnt have aircon.  to hold the pulley still I use waterpump pliers, but you can use a 2nd allen key locked up against the 1st one too

I didnt have any trouble with the bolt lengths doing this swap on my abf and a mates abf, but pinch the bolts off the donour car as well :)
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Myles45 on 14 December 2010, 15:40
Has the system still got gas in it, if so you need a specialist to drain the system 1st.

Do not remove any pipes if you have got gas in the system.

Thanks for that Wayne, hadn't thought of that, not sure if there's any still in it or not. Aircon hasn't worked for a couple of years now. Is there any way to check?
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 15 December 2010, 00:18
Has the system still got gas in it, if so you need a specialist to drain the system 1st.

Do not remove any pipes if you have got gas in the system.

Thanks for that Wayne, hadn't thought of that, not sure if there's any still in it or not. Aircon hasn't worked for a couple of years now. Is there any way to check?

Not really, switch it on an see if the compressor kicks in if so yes it still has gas.

Why do you want to remove it by the way.
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: alexd on 17 December 2010, 10:43
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 17 December 2010, 12:45
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:

You do know that it is illegal to discharge the gas to air  :huh:
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Len on 17 December 2010, 12:55
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:

Would be a very small person! 25kgs at most I would guess and that would be everything out! All pipes and second rad.
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: alexd on 17 December 2010, 13:01
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:

You do know that it is illegal to discharge the gas to air  :huh:

I'd rather do that than spend money on someone doing it, credit crunch and all that  :undecided:

I know it's 'bad', but it's a bit over hyped and something to be taxed on in some shape or form!
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 17 December 2010, 13:06
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:

You do know that it is illegal to discharge the gas to air  :huh:

I'd rather do that than spend money on someone doing it, credit crunch and all that  :undecided:

I know it's 'bad', but it's a bit over hyped and something to be taxed on in some shape or form!

It is not over hyped, I work with air con on a day to day basis so I know how dangerious the gas is.

It is only going to cost around £25 to degas it safely
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Len on 17 December 2010, 13:34
Yea and if he is willing to spend loads of money one new belts and pulleys then another 25 quid is nothing!
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: alexd on 17 December 2010, 16:02
He's also doing it all himself so why not do that himself too   :tongue:

Na i know i'm probably coming accross as ignorant, it's probably because i've never had a bad experience to teach me otherwise!  :evil:
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Paul86S2 on 17 December 2010, 17:07
Just un-do the pipes and leave it for 10-15 mins go make a cup of tea, or if you plan on never using it again, just punch a hole in the air-con rad, did this on  my old civic, worked a treat, and removing saves you about the same weight as another person in your car... so i hear anyway.   :grin:

Would be a very small person! 25kgs at most I would guess and that would be everything out! All pipes and second rad.
Or a very very small person.

Rad and pipes 3kgs
Dryer 1.4 kgs
Compressor 8kgs
Pipes 1kg
Total 13.4 kgs

You could lose a bit more by replacing the heater box and matrix with a non air con one but its a real hassle and you could lose a tiny bit more by changing the alternator bracket to a non aircon model one. You should gain some power (very little) by the engine not running another pulley and a bit more if the aircon was switched on. I wouldn't have thought you could ever notice the difference though.

As far as venting the gas to the atmosphere its very naughty so don't do it  :evil: You should be able to check if there is gas in the system via the refill ports which have a valve like a tyre valve.

Paul
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: danny_p on 17 December 2010, 18:34
He's also doing it all himself so why not do that himself too   :tongue:

Na i know i'm probably coming accross as ignorant, it's probably because i've never had a bad experience to teach me otherwise!  :evil:

when air con gas bites it bites,    it will put you on your arse properly.      try smokeing a fag when you let the gas out,  don't worry it's not flamable  but exposeing it to heat makes it even more toxic
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 17 December 2010, 21:42
He's also doing it all himself so why not do that himself too   :tongue:

Na i know i'm probably coming accross as ignorant, it's probably because i've never had a bad experience to teach me otherwise!  :evil:

when air con gas bites it bites,    it will put you on your arse properly.      try smokeing a fag when you let the gas out,  don't worry it's not flamable  but exposeing it to heat makes it even more toxic

Thank you, it can be deadly in an enclosed space.
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Bellend on 17 December 2010, 23:08
Do what someone at work did, undo it by mistake and run like a mofo.  :grin:
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: alexd on 20 December 2010, 11:00
Do what someone at work did, undo it by mistake and run like a mofo.  :grin:

+1 I didn't mean do it indoors lmao  :rolleyes:

Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 20 December 2010, 11:11
Do what someone at work did, undo it by mistake and run like a mofo.  :grin:

+1 I didn't mean do it indoors lmao  :rolleyes:



Your still better to get a specialist to drain / degass as required.
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Len on 20 December 2010, 11:22
If your system gets a leak it degasses itself anyway.
So maybe just effect a small leak?
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Myles45 on 20 December 2010, 17:45
Thanks for all the advice peeps,
I think by the sound of it I'm not really gaining anything by removing it. 
May look instead into repairing it then if it's going to stay.
What put me off originally when it packed up was I'd been told its usually bloody expensive to repair.

When it packed up, all that happened was that when engine was running, if you turned air con on it would stall the engine. So I presume that would mean the compressor is seized & would need replacing?

Or is it something that could be taken apart & repaired DIY style?
Title: Re: removing Air Con unit
Post by: Wayne on 20 December 2010, 20:45
Thanks for all the advice peeps,
I think by the sound of it I'm not really gaining anything by removing it. 
May look instead into repairing it then if it's going to stay.
What put me off originally when it packed up was I'd been told its usually bloody expensive to repair.

When it packed up, all that happened was that when engine was running, if you turned air con on it would stall the engine. So I presume that would mean the compressor is seized & would need replacing?

Or is it something that could be taken apart & repaired DIY style?

Fit another compressor if needed, does sound like it or the clutch has seized.