DELETE OM617 W123 cold air conditioning? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300TD1982 · #1 11-17-2014, 11:00 PM

I'm thinking about deleting the cold air conditioning in my car (1982 w123 om617.952). The reasons are that it is broken, I'd rarely use it if it worked, and it seems like it takes up more space than useless equipment should.

My heater and all vents work fine.

I have no idea (yet) what has to stay. I think removing the AC pump and cooler and refrigerant hoses would be a start?

i didn't see any threads on here about deleting it.

Any thoughts or experience deleting cold air conditioning from an OM617 are welcome.

uberwasser · #2 11-17-2014, 11:06 PM

Ahh, nor-cal. I grew up in Santa Cruz, and spent a lot of time up in the mountains just inland from there. Definitely no need for A/C up that way.

The compressor (what you're calling the A/C pump) can be unbolted from the engine and tossed.

You can remove the lines.

The A/C dryer, which looks like a round can behind your passenger headlight.

The expansion valve, which resides just next to your blower motor under the passenger kick panel.

And the condensor, which resides just in front of the radiator.

http://dieselgiant.com/repairyourac.htm

Theoretically you could also remove the evaporator within the air box behind the dashboard, but that is quite likely more work than it is worth.

Everything else within the climate control system should stay.

You can use this A/C repair guide to help you identify the parts:

Junkman · #3 11-18-2014, 10:37 AM

Your car must be in good shape if you have time to be concerned about pulling the AC.

ah-kay · #4 11-18-2014, 10:48 AM

Why? Just remove the A/C belts or remove the harness at the low pressure switch of the receiver/drier. Someone may want A/C if you ever sell your car. There are other more important things in life.

vstech · #5 11-18-2014, 10:51 AM

to perform a true "delete" you'd need to remove the climate control unit, and install a manual heat control assembly...

if you simply want to remove the a/c parts, and lighten up the front of your car, taking off the compressor, and the engine bay hoses, along with the compressor mount should be plenty.
you likely would want to replace the hose grommets with grommet plugs.

Guest987 · #6 11-18-2014, 11:08 AM

There are probably lots of people on here who would like to have W123 with cold air conditioning like you have there! If it's a forever car maybe, but, if not, definitely a nooooooooooooo!

16vjohn · #7 11-18-2014, 12:18 PM

Unless there's some motivating factor, like the installation of an aftermarket intercooler, oil cooler, or a seized pulley perhaps, why would you delete it? There's no measurable mpg improvement with a weight reduction that small. AC deletes are for track cars and boy racers. I'll admit, I did an AC delete on a car a long while ago and it was a huge mistake. Even though you might not need it now, circumstances may change. What about a road trip to somewhere hot or humid?

Can you do it? Of course you can. Should you? Just leave it there, it's not hurting anything.

Graham · #8 11-18-2014, 01:45 PM

Living in Ontario, Canada, I abandoned the A/C on our 85 300D. Original lasted about 11 years. Replacement aftermarket compressor failed after 1 season. Supplier replaced it even although warranty was out, but I still had to pay for R&R. That one lasted quite a while, but it too eventually seized. Cut the belt and that was it!

Now car is otherwise in great shape and after reading DieselGiant's DIY, I am tempted to have a shot at getting it working again. Because of restrictions on R12/R134a in Canada, I would have to go to hydrocarbon based refrigerant. A couple of years back, a local shop quoted me $1200. That would be with a Chinese R4 compressor.

If I attempt a DIY, what would ballpark cost be for parts, refrigerant?

Skippy · #9 11-18-2014, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Living in Ontario, Canada, I abandoned the A/C on our 85 300D. Original lasted about 11 years. Replacement aftermarket compressor failed after 1 season. Supplier replaced it even although warranty was out, but I still had to pay for R&R. That one lasted quite a while, but it too eventually seized. Cut the belt and that was it!

Now car is otherwise in great shape and after reading DieselGiant's DIY, I am tempted to have a shot at getting it working again. Because of restrictions on R12/R134a in Canada, I would have to go to hydrocarbon based refrigerant. A couple of years back, a local shop quoted me $1200. That would be with a Chinese R4 compressor.

If I attempt a DIY, what would ballpark cost be for parts, refrigerant?

You know, a person who isn't so much into regulations could maybe take a road trip to the U.S., get their AC charged with 134 or even 12, and then forget to mention that to the Canadian authorities upon returning to Canada

I think the OP is a bit misleading. He used the term "cold air conditioning" more than once but then says it doesn't work. I don't think he has any actual cold air conditioning, just the usual (at least around here for cars of that vintage) non-working air conditioning. I've been in the same boat for nine years. It doesn't get hot enough here to motivate me to fix it, but the compressor and condenser haven't gotten in my way, so they're still there.

300TD1982 · #10 11-18-2014, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

I think the OP is a bit misleading. He used the term "cold air conditioning" more than once but then says it doesn't work. I don't think he has any actual cold air conditioning, just the usual (at least around here for cars of that vintage) non-working air conditioning.

There is no refrigerant in my car's system. Perhaps I could have more accurately spoken of removing the now useless objects that formerly were involved in cold air conditioning.

300TD1982 · #11 11-18-2014, 08:15 PM

Thanks for all the info!

I've never had cold air conditioning in any vehicle, workplace or home in my short 40 years. Same with most of my ancestors going back a few billion years. So, no big deal.

I'll start chucking parts if/when they are in the way. I'm pretty sure it'll make changing the belts easier.

MB specified different heights for the suspension spring rubber mounts depending on if cars have AC or not, which made me think it's pretty heavy.

cheers, Jon

ROLLGUY · #12 11-19-2014, 11:26 AM

Being a 617/616 Sanden A/C retrofit guy, all the equipment on the engine would need to come off anyway (compressor and bracket, hoses, drier etc) when doing a Sanden retrofit. How about removing everything in the engine bay that is A/C related, and leave just the 2 hoses going into the cabin? That way, if you ever sell the car, the only parts remaining are the only parts needed to make the A/C work again. If you do leave any hoses, I would plug/cap the ends somehow so moisture/dirt does not get in. Just a warning: if you remove the compressor bracket, you will have nothing to hold your oil cooler lines. You will need this bracket:

PM for details about purchasing one.....Rich

eatont9999 · #13 11-19-2014, 05:18 PM

Don't forget that you still need working A/C in the winter to dehumidify the cabin. Water vapor will condense on the windows and you won't be able to see out of the vehicle.

Skippy · #14 11-19-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatont9999

Don't forget that you still need working A/C in the winter to dehumidify the cabin. Water vapor will condense on the windows and you won't be able to see out of the vehicle.

Heat will clear the windshield just fine. I've had nine cars and only one of them ever had working AC. And I went and sold it after I bought my 300D