Taking AC out

[GTIchris]

Hi

Anybody know how to take the ac out of a mk3? What parts i need etc i know ill need a new belt but is there anything else?

Also how easy is it to replace a cat with a straight though piece? is there any sensors that need seeing to?

cheers

[Paul86S2]

Depending on your pulley and belt layout you might just need a new belt, or you might need a new water pump pulley and two new belts.

If your water pump and power steering are run off the same belt, and the ac and alternator are run off the other belt you will need the new water pump pulley and a new alternator and new power steering belt.

Replacing the cat with a straight through pipe is easy, 3 bolts at the front, one bolt on the sleeve connector at the rear. You will need to remove the lambda sensor from the cat and put it in your new straight through pipe. Depending on how long the sensor has been in the cat they can be tough to unbolt. Remember you will need a cat on cars after 1992 to pass the strict emmissions tests associated with cars supplied with a cat. Its not illegal to remove the cat as long as the car passes the emmissions tests.

Paul

[GTIchris]

cheers
the car is a r plate (98 i believe) passed its mot a week ago with no faults

im not the best mechanical person so how would i know which layout it is (however suicidal this sounds my mates a mechanic who will be able to help out if anythings wrong etc)

[Wayne]

Have the system drained / degassed 1st before touching any pipes.

Why do you want to remove it btw.

[Paul86S2]

cheers
the car is a r plate (98 i believe) passed its mot a week ago with no faults

im not the best mechanical person so how would i know which layout it is (however suicidal this sounds my mates a mechanic who will be able to help out if anythings wrong etc)

Have a look at the first small belt, how many pulleys does it go round. If it is 3 including the crank pulley that means it is running the water pump and power steering and you will need to change the water pump pulley, power steering belt and alternator belt. If it is going around two pulleys including the crank pulley that means it is only running the power steering and you will only need to change the alternator belt when you remove the ac compressor.
Hope that makes sense.

Paul

PS As Wayne says be responsible and get the gas drained properly, don't just vent it into the atmosphere. Think of the ice melting in my drink!

[GTIchris]

cheers.

1 the ac is crap (probably needs regasing)
2 its added weight.
3 the cars getting striped and tracked so wont be used

[Wayne]

cheers.

1 the ac is crap (probably needs regasing)
2 its added weight.
3 the cars getting striped and tracked so wont be used

No worries, I would still get it drained / ungassed 1st however.

[rubjonny]

you will always need a new waterpump pulley and a belt, assuming its a 1.8-2.0 engine. not sure how the vr works, or the smaller block engines, if they even had the option.

[Len]

Remember the second radiator then!