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

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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