How important is AC compressor? 85 300TD W123
 

I was driving the other day and noticed a rattling in lower left part of the engine. I pulled over and inspected and saw it was a part of what looks like the tensioning/stabilizing bar for the belt driven AC compresser? (I think thats what it is)

It was still connected at one end and was rattling against a part of the body on the loose hanging end

There was nothing I could do at the time and had to drive on. Since then it seems to have fallen off completely. The belt is now loose of course.

Two questions I have.
One, how difficult is it to either make or obtain a new stabilizing bar?

And Second, would there be any good reason for not removing the belt in the meantime so as to not have it flap off out of control and possible cause more damage?

Thanks all

Running without the belt is a good idea and absolutely fine.

Um... Don't start your car until you repair the damage already done there...

Your belt has snapped, and it's taken out your transmission cooler line... Fix that.

Crazy, it appears like the ac belt is on the compressor, but there is a chunk of belt behind the clutch... Old damage from a previous failure? Power steering line? Where is all the oil from?

I am not seeing what vstech sees. It appears your AC belt is still intact and the tranny cooler tubing is fine. It is quite an oily mess though. It appears that one of the AC compressor locking bolts fell out.

If the AC belt is jumping around, I would just cut it off for now. Otherwise, to remove it you must first remove the pwr steering belt, and best to replace the AC belt later anyway.

It isn't hard to get a whole new AC bracket. I have 2 spares, one from a spare engine and one from changing to a Sanden compressor w/ brackets (Rollguy here). A good time for you to consider the later. Personally, I find the R4 compressor reliable and acceptable.

I think the clutch power connection is what I saw...