Any gain from disconnecting the A/C compressor on my '88?
 

I have an '88 Cabriolet which came equipped with air conditioning. The A/C hasn't worked in years and I don't feel the need to ever use it.

I do have the belt connected still so the compressor is still turning. I'm wondering, if I cut or remove the belt, is there any advantage in power? I suspect there is very little load from a non-functioning compressor but I thought I would ask.

Remove the belt.

Small gain. Compressor does not spin unless A/C is on engaging clutch, and when full throttle it also disengages.

The compressor should run with very little friction, but if you don't use it then take the belt off and also unplug the wires from the compressor (in case someone turns the switch in the center console). I went the whole nine yards and took the whole A/C system out ('86 Cab). Get's a little hot in the middle of the summer in Virginia, but hey, it's a Cab anyway.

Juergen

Compressor cutoff
 

Is that due to a signal from the DME?

Thanks,

Gerry

Remove the belt and it will never fail and take out the alternator belt.

Any gain would be a virtually unmeasurable and due to the friction of the belt turning over a free turning pulley. I doubt any dyno on the planet could tell the difference. You can take the compressor off and just plug the hoses to keep them clean. It would be easy to re-install the AC that way. With a Cab I doubt you are going to use it as a track whore so stripping the few pounds of AC stuff is not going to change it much.

I would assume you probably have no freon in there anyway, so the biggest gain would be to remove the compressor itself and reduce the weight of the car by ~40 lbs. Plug the hoses. The other AC components would be too much work to put back on if ever needed so probably not worth removing.

Total waste of time with no gain whatsoever.

ok now the opposing viewpoint from another 88 cab owner

If it doesn't work then fix it, you are driving a 911 cabriolet-I'm sure you will elevate a woman's temperature at some point and be glad you still have it.

remove the belt.

at the very most i would just remove the compressor but leave everything else. YOU may not want it but some day you may want to sell it and the next guy may want it.
then just put the belt/conpressor back on and give the ole "it only needs a charge" story.

This debate always reminds me of a line from the movie Blues Brothers.

After Elwood picks Jake up from prison they go back to Elwood’s place in Chicago. His apartment is right over an area were the EL has three different lines and you can hear the trains constantly. Jake asks Elwood… “How often does the train go by” …. Elwood’s answer is … “so often you won’t even notice it”

Will there be any increase in power by removing the compressor belt? ……. “So little you won’t even notice”

The gain is to remove the compressor completely. That is a big slug of weight in exactly the wrong place.

Drove the wife up to Hershey over the weekend in my 88 Cab. The wife wanted the top up for the drive there so she could read.

It was pretty warm, and the sun was beating through the windshield on her side. The A/C works, but has original hoses, and I have not done the annual recharge yet.

She says: "why are you fixing the seats and the seat heater (my next project) instead of fixing the air conditioner?"

So I ordered new barrier hoses from our host Saturday night. :D

its not a race car.
i just took the comp off my 930. the only thing i can notice is it is easier to get to plug #4.

(i have too many leaks right now. the rear condensor and the line that runs down the left side of the car). the ac WILL go back in.