Rust inside the A/C line
 

The A/C on my W126 has never worked and I've never investigated to find the cause. However, while I've got the front end apart I disconnected the A/C lines. I noticed that the inside of the larger line is rusty, not just a little rusty either. Does this mean I need to replace the lines?

YES. Moisture got into the system and is a killer. You need to break open every line connection and look inside. You may end up replacing lots of stuff. If you dont, then the rust particles will destroy the new compressor.

Alrighty then, that brings me to the next question. How do I take up the slack in the belt after permenantly removing the A/C compressor? :D

A/c
 

The 300SD has a separate belt that just controls the A/C compressor. If that's not true on your car, then just get a smaller belt.

If you have a serpentine belt system then the car will be disabled.

Do you think the shorter belt would work? I do have a serpentine belt.

You can permanently disable the compressor by pulling off the electrical connection.

Danny

Why would you want to remove the A/C compressor? It is not actually turning, only the pully on the front is turning - there is an electric clutch that must engage for the compressor itself to actually turn.

If you just disconnect the electrical connection to the clutch, it can not engage. You probably don't even have to do that, as engagement is controlled by a number of other sensors too. The idling pully doesn't really take any horsepower away from you, and you need the A/C compressor to be there to use the stock belt.

Ken300D

Here's a radical idea, fix the AC system.

Well, for a lot of us, to fix the A/C system is the same as total-lossing the car.

:)

Ken300D

Hey, that is radical, but not as radical as the concept of money. But since money is obviously not an obstacle for you, please send the money to fix my A/C system to:

P.O. Box 3028
Ann Arbor, MI
48108

Just send a blank check and I'll let you know the total after I purchase everything. Thank you for being so generous.

Well, if you're not going to fix it, at least leave the compressor in place. The more you hack up the car, the more work the next owner will have to make it correct. That way you don't even have to buy a new belt. :rolleyes:

I'm not sure why everyone thinks that leaving the compressor in place is such a great idea other than the fact that they have no idea how to get around not having that pulley there to take up the belt slack. Taking off the rusty useless A/C compressor is not hacking it up, adding that dead weight at the factory was hacking it up. Maybe if I lived in Arizona I would care, around here all I need is heat.

Removing the compressor in favor of a shorter belt isn't a bad idea in itself. Just store the compressor and all the brackets in case you do sell the car.

However, first check the path of the belt and the path of the intended shorter belt. It's entirely possible that you can't get a good route without that pully there.

Guys, it has a serpentine belt, only one belt!
ONLY ONE BELT, how can you remove the AC comp? There is NO alternative you have to have the compressor there to support the belt and to my knowledge,there is no shorter belt :silly:

Sheesh! people think every car is like theirs! :(
300SDL = OM603 engine = serpentine belt
AC issues? read this: http://skinnerbox.steaky.org/Service/W126/Index/Misc.htm
find AC