serp belt and ac compressor
 

My '87 190D has a long history of ac probs. Most recently the clutch pulley broke and ate my serp belt. Got a new clutch/pulley installed, but now the compressor doesn't work at all anymore (even with my jerry-rigged wiring, Klima cutout) and the compressor now has an internal rattle. Truth is, I'm sick of air conditioning. My question is, is it possible to get a shorter serpentine belt that leaves out the compressor entirely? Isn't that the way the serp belt would run for non-ac/european cars? Is it possible, you guys who know these things?

Thanks in advance.

Chip Hannay
Comfort, TX
'84 300 D
'87 190 D
'93 F-350 TurboD
Mahindra 350 DI tractor

Sure, but a good parts man will be essential. You just need to :
A) Find out the length of the stock belt.
B) Measure the section of belt from a marked spot on the PS pulley to a marked spot on the crank pulley.
C) Measure the distance the belt will travel from the same 2 marked spots, it will be much shorter due to the bypassing of the A/C pulley
D) subtract the difference from the overall length of the stock belt.
You then will need to find a Serp belt with the same width (ribs) and a length as close as you can get it to the calculated length. I don't think there will be any obstructions to cause a problem on the front of the engine, you can eyeball that yourself before you get too far into this project just to be sure.
Gilly

Thanks. I'm wondering whether the type of 190 D serp belt sold by e-vendors as "continental"(as opposed to the "United States" type) would eliminate the ac compressor from the loop. Anybody know about "continental" serp belts?
Gracias.

Chip Hannay
Comfort, TX
84 300 D
87 190 D
93 F350 TurboD
Mahindra 350 DI Tractor