SC - air-con by-pass?

[Ben]

Is it possible to just fit a shorter alternator belt and by-pass the aircon pulley, without having to remove the aircon itself? Long story short, the aircon on the SE is making silly noises and I'd rather not have to faff around with removing it before Le Mans!

[coanda]

What sort of noises?

If you just switch the AC off does the noise go away? It's a clutched wheel, so you could narrow it down that way.

I've just been looking for pictures and it appears that there are two different arrangements for alternator and AC compressor. Some have the AC compressor above the alternator and some (like my SC) have the alternator above the AC compressor.

It looks like it could be possible to run direct to the alternator, but not sure if the idler pulley would help or hinder.

If you are serious about it I could take a look at mine as its on my engine stand, and see if it would work.

coanda

[Ben]

Yeah, it goes away as soon as I switch the aircon on, so it's obviously something wrong with/in the AC clutch that's rattling around when the clutch is disengaged.

My air-con compressor is also underneath the alternator - if you wouldn't mind having a look at yours I'd be very grateful

[coanda]

Yep, sounds like the clutch is on its way out. You might be able to get it refurbed?

I'd just leave the AC on if that works - it's far far less hassle than this! However, if you decide to take the ac comp out of the loop, then the arrangement would look like this:



I measured the belt and that (with the tensioner pulley half way up its travel) is 840mm long. Its a 5 rib belt so that makes it 5pk840.

[Ben]

I would do, but leaving the AC on for 1500 miles through Le Mans doesn't really appeal to be honest. Thanks for the pic, it outlines exactly what I had in mind, looks like it could work!

Thanks so much for your help - I'll get a belt ordered and fitted

[coanda]

No 5pk840 but there is a 5pk835 and a 5pk845.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m28b0s2591p14 ... _-_5PK835_

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m28b0s2591p14 ... _-_5PK845_

[Ben]

Closest I can find is 5pk838 - sound about right?

[Ben]

Ah, you beat me to it!

I'll order the 845 I think, give me a little bit more to play with.

Much appreciated

[coanda]

Yeah anything around that should be fine - after all, we're talking a range of 10mm between the two I found and 2mm for yours on something that hasn't been marked perfectly. That's why I made sure the tensioner pulley was half-way along it's travel, so you had some room to play with.

Let us know how this goes - could be useful for others in the future if their AC goes tango uniform. I think I'll get a belt to keep in the parts box just in case.

I think I would go short rather than long. That only increases the room for tensioning and you'll need less of it.

[Ben]

Good point...

Sod it, they're £8 each. I'll order both and try the smaller one first

[coanda]

Going wild in the aisles!

[Ben]

Ha! Eh, I'm sure a spare will be useful at some point

[kaiowas]

For future reference I've got a complete ac compressor sitting in a dark corner of my garage somewhere that I'll never use if you want to swap any bits of your pulley over.

[Ben]

Ooh, thanks Phil. I might take you up on that in a few weeks...

[BIGBOBO]

The correct belt to use without AC and a stock idler is 5PK845.

[toxo]

I would do, but leaving the AC on for 1500 miles through Le Mans doesn't really appeal to be honest.

There have been some years where I've had to do that!! Don't think the weather will be up for it this year though.

[Ben]

Thanks for confirming the belt size BB

And yes, it's tempting to just drive with the AC on, but I think I'd rather just bypass it and avoid any potential future problems. I'll just take the T-bars out instead

[Lauren]

I've been to Le Mans in that car ten years ago!

We ran the AC all the time, it can be unbearably hot. One day we just sat in the car with the AC on full blast just to cool down!

[pistol pete]

i personally hate air con
never use it, never opt for it, always window open for me

[Lauren]

Each to their own, I wouldn't have a car without it. Never tend to open windows these days.

It can be absolutely roasting hot in Le Mans, though. The last two times I've been we had to seriously stay out the sun. A car without AC in these conditions is not a nice place to be.