Author Topic: AC Removal Q (Read 6020 times)

///Motorsport · « **on:** July 07, 2006, 02:50:41 PM »

Any links on how to remove the A/C system? thanks..

EDIT: WHile i was fixing my belts, i just letf tthe AC one off. did i increase power a tiny bit? i know the AC isnt always on but doesnt it always rob a little power?

bmwman91 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2006, 04:12:01 PM »

Well, the only issue is what to do with the R12 refridgerant.

Removal is pretty straightforward. You can pay a shop to drian the refridgerant. The fill/release valve is capped and sitting on the big brass line in front of the fender. Letting it out is not only bad for the environment, but the stuff has oil in it and it will get everywhere. The hoses are usually almost impossible to remove from the compressor if they are original. THey get crusted on, and the allen bolts do not want to move. I ende dup just using a utility knife & choppnig the rubber hoses. The other tricky part is getting the hoses off of the condenser radiator. It usually will nto budge, and will bend the radiator inlet before coming off. That was why i chopped the hose. I just made the cut and removed the condenser with the hose still on it.

All in all, this should take about 30 minutes after you have a shop remove the R12 for you. Please be responsible about the refridgerant!

Berlin · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2006, 02:32:33 PM »

yup, just follow the lines and take everything out they are attached to. i snipped the copper lines at the condenser with large cutters, and sawed the rubber mounts of the aux fan in half because the bolts rusted and sheared off. undo the fan and condenser from the front (remove 3 grills first). then unscrew the radiator 2 top bolts (in the plastic tabs) and bend it back about 6 inches in its seat and pull the junk out from infront of it.... cut the cu lines at the compressor, cause its true they wont budge, and use i think it was a 13mm to take it out from its bracket (support it with a floor jack). i just cut the belt. undo some more lines and take the dryer out (behind pass. headlight)

zerofreez · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2006, 05:16:44 PM »

Quote from: bmwman91

You can pay a shop to drian the refridgerant.

Yup... and they'll charge you 80 bucks and bleed it off with a tire pressure guage anyways.

:eek:

Berlin · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2006, 07:44:33 AM »

Quote from: zerofreez

Yup... and they'll charge you 80 bucks and bleed it off with a tire pressure guage anyways.

:eek:

for real? i doubt a dearlership would do that tho, then again, might not be 80 bucks:rolleyes:

bullmand · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2006, 01:55:57 PM »

Since my AC doesn't work and I'm going to remove it anyway can I just cut the belt without causing any problems? I'm assuming that will free up the motor a little.

mgold · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2006, 03:04:10 PM »

Yes, simply disconnecting the belt will help "free up the motor", everything else will simply reduce weight. I drove my cabrio for 7 or 8 months without the idler (belt tensioner) and the motor seemed a little less restricted. Now that I've reattached the idler its noticable, especially when I turn on the A/C. That being said it helps with the 11 days of 100+ degree weather we've had here in Sacramento.

bullmand · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2006, 06:28:24 PM »

Thanks, Mark. Sorry about that "free up the motor" business. In retrospect it sounds pretty retarded. How about "reduce parasitic drag"

M42boy · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2006, 06:57:47 PM »

So, I've got R134A fittings on my car, so I just refilled with the new stuff. It seems to blow cold, but I think if the system is purged properly it can run 134A okay.. it's just not as efficient with the lower pressure R12 compressor.

Seems to be blowing cold, so I'm not gonna mess with it.

Jbrough · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2006, 12:18:23 PM »

Does anyone know if the ac compressor is the same on the E36 cars? Or if the pulley's can be switched?

Berlin · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2006, 05:00:47 PM »

check out realoem.com

it looks to me like the e36 whether m42 or m44 used a different compressor/bracket and pully

jonboy318is · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2006, 11:25:45 AM »

if any of you are going to remove everything , i might be interested in some of the parts, mainly the mounting bracket for the compressor, since after riding for 4 years without A.C. , im pretty tired of being hot all the time, and ive lost the bracket..........also i may be interested in the compressor , if the one off my 325 E wont fit..........

bullmand · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2006, 03:31:19 PM »

Speaking of that mounting bracket, what did those of you who have removed it do about the two long bolts that go through the timing case? It just doesn't seem right to leave them out, but they're too long without the bracket in place. I'm assuming that on cars without AC there are shorter bolts there. Is that correct?

Jtuner · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2006, 03:08:28 AM »

Quote from: zerofreez

Yup... and they'll charge you 80 bucks and bleed it off with a tire pressure guage anyways.

:eek:

ROFL, no no, they will use an R12 reclaimer/recharge type system.. It snaps on to your fittings, and sucks out all the R12,, they can also vacuum the AC system with the same machine, but, if you're takin it off anywayz, save the labor costs

D. Clay · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2006, 04:53:13 PM »

You're giving them some very valuable freon 12. Here they will do it for free. Some places charge you but the only people that pay are the ones that don't know. A lot of salvage yards have two containers - one for 12 and one for everything else.
Sounds like Sacramento has been hot too. This was the hottest August in history here - Austin, TX. Average high was 101. Too hot for even shade treein'.
A lot of guys in body shops go to work at midnight and leave at 8:00 or 9:00 AM.

Author Topic: AC Removal Q (Read 6020 times)

///Motorsport

jonboy318is