my 82 240d is equipped with air conditioning. However, it is not operational at the moment. Probably been like that for years.

my question is...is it ok to remove the fan belt that drives the A/C?
my concern is that by doing this, assuming the compressor is functional and just out of freon, will i be ruining it by not running the belt? i may want to get the A/C running next summer.

rodsob

__________________
$500 1982 240d owner "Gunter"
125k miles,4 speed manual
crank windows, MB Tex, all original
no a/c, daily driver
Scorecard so far....
$230 Maaco paint job
$27 dimmer switch, $40 shutoff valve, $45 brake MC, $260 calipers, $40 brake hoses, $40 side fender trim, $20 balancing, $109 lifetime alignment, $10 fuel return lines, $115 oil&fuel filters for next 30k miles

It won't ruin anything, since the pump only turns when the A/C is turned on anyway. The pump has a magnetic clutch in the pulley that is engaged only when you turn on the A/C.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

It is quite safe to remove the belt but you'll have to replace any of the others that you may need to have remove to get to the AC belt and tension them properly.

Really the only external belt you really need to worry about is the Alternator belt as it also drives the water pump so the engine doesn't overheat. This is one of the most important things that all too often gets overlooked even if it is still there if you have to remove it check it for cracks or any sings of wear if there are any replace it! Another thing be careful with these things and never kink them as they will break very soon after wards most likely at the worst possible time for you as well.

You have never lived until you have replaced a set of belts on a red hot motor on the side of the road in the middle of the night.

It is something you just have to experience to understand.

Col

My A/C is failed....but the clutch would vibrate, so I sawed off the A/C belt (with a little pocket knife saw), vibration gone.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

If your other belts are in good shape, there is no need to remove them to get rid of the A/C belt. Simply cut the A/C belt and take it off. You will need to remove them if you ever plan on putting one back on though.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

Col,
The other VERY important belt to replace is the PS Pump belt. on our 300Ds, there are 3 belts, from the radiator to the engine they are:
A/C compressor drive belt
PS Pump drive belt
Water Pump and Alternator drive belt.
Unfortunately the one most likely to stop the vehicle is the hardest to access.

__________________
Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

Yes I know but while not the easiest thing to drive a Merc without power steering it is possible to at least get you home even if at the end of the trip your arms feel like that are about to fall off and the shirt you are wearing has split up the arms through your muscles straining to turn the thing particuarly while stationary.

I've seen far too many cars left on the side of the road for minor problems that wouldn't stop you driving them like the CD player has stuffed up so I had to leave the car there so someone could come out and repair it. For some reason Mercedes Benz and Range Rovers seem to fall into this category as the owners have more money than sense. But on the other hand I've also seen things that should have caused the person to immediately stop and get a tow drive the thing home and then complain that it needs a new crankshaft because the thing has been flogged out and is unrepairable. I've seen far too many motors where a flex plate has let go part way and been driven until it stops driving or the woodruff key on the front pulley gets flogged to bits taking the crankshaft with it. Some people just do not deserve a decent car!

Now if I remember correctly the front belt is the AC belt a long one which isn't all that easy to tension correctly then the PS belt and the one closest to the engine the Alternator/water pump belt which for some unknown reason always seems to be the first to fail {well for me anyway} and I always replace them with a new set anytime one shows the slightest sings of wear so I've for some reason never had anything but an alternator belt actually break and even then it has always been on a long run in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere.

But as the guy has already posted that he had a wobble in the AC pulley at the very least the bearing has gone south for the winter and needs replacing on the AC clutch.

I was working on a Ford today and I was just told by my son I might add that a belt had broken the Alternator naturally and when I got there I found that the Harmonic balance was about 1/4 of an inch out of alignment. New Harmonic Balance and then I started the car up and heard the most God awful noise coming out of it on cranking so I had a deeper look and decided that either the Torque Converter had come loose or the flex plate was loose neither one particuarly appealed to me particuarly as the Auto has just been rebuilt and only fitted 4 days ago. I was also worried a bit about the Water Pump as there is only a very short run between it and the crankshaft pulley but he has bigger worries than a simple little water pump even if it is a nasty job. But I loved him I need you for a 5 minute job and 6 hours latter I was still there talking to the guy who rebuilt the Auto and since I was there when it went in I knew it had been fitted properly but I just know where the problem lies it is the space between the drivers seat and the peddles or more correctly the person driving the thing!

Right at the moment my wife and myself are demanding DNA tests to prove he isn't our son as he destroys things with alarming regularity but 20 KM's to take out a flex plate is a record even for him!

Col