Bypass compressor w/shorter belt??
 

Sadly, the AC compressor on my 90 E300 has “grenaded “itself. Lots of noise when engaging the unit, a less without but stil noticeable. My mechanic has concerns that there may be metal bits flowing around the system should I replace the compressor, which could lead to further faults down the road.

I was reading on another forum that folks had sourced a shorter belt and bypassed the compressor. I’m thinking it might put additional/damaging strain on either the PS or water pumps.

I wanted to know your folks thoughts on this if you’ve done it?

If you pull up the belt routing diagram, there are two. One with, and one without ac.
I don’t think the shorter belt routing will strain anything.

If you decide to replace the compressor, be sure you pull the condenser, and reverse flush it out… also, replace the receiver/dryer, as it’ll have plenty of metal in it.

unless the clutch kicks in, the compressor does not do anything right?

pull the clutch wire

frozen clutch? yea the shorter belt is a good idea.

I have been know to be wrong, let me know if this is the case.

My bad, I meant 99 not 90. I hope the above advice is true for both models. Even while running the engine without the compressor engaged there is rattling noise coming from that area. I would love to just pull the plug on it and be done with it till next spring. Just looking to be able to engage the heating system for the winter.

If a different belt cannot be fitted replacing just the clutch should work. I've no idea what a clutch costs for that compressor.

Debris in the system is a valid concern for sure.

Good luck!!!

If the noise occurs with the compressor NOT engaged, the problem could be limited to the clutch bearing. Meaning that there is no contamination of the A/C system.

Parallel flow condensers cannot be flushed reliably. Replacement is the only viable option.

I would fire the original mechanic.

If there is noise (what kind? ) without the compressor running then the problem could be the clutch bearing or elsewhere. You need to ascertain the issue. Good luck.

Thank you everybody. I think I might’ve found a solution on YouTube, the English 0M606 high-performance guys. Their modified engines don’t have the compressor and they use a PK6-2018 belt.I’ll see if I can get one in see if it works.

https://youtu.be/jewHDCzZyIg

There is definitely noise with the compressor engaged and without it engaged. Not the same amount but definitely noise. Kind of like nails in a coffee can

drop the belt, start the engine "for a short time" and make sure the noise is gone...

Well, I sourced a belt 6pk2082 but it does not clear the compressor pulley, so still spins it by running over it. Any easy way to, fuse or plug, to disable the compressor so I can get heat without the hvac calling for ac? The pulley removal looks like a enough of a chore to just so thinking just replace the whole compressor.

I did not run it without a belt on, but ran it with the and turned the hvac on and lo and behold: a loud squeal and smoke rising from the compressor area. I guess the compressor froze and locked the pulley.

I have 98 e320. I bypassed the compressor using a shorter serpentine belt. It did come close to the compressor pulley, so I removed that and the clutch. Alternative was to remove the compressor.