Anybody done it?
My a/c is dead, most likely as it isn't used often enough. Are there any tricky parts in removing the system, other than disposing of the gas in a responsible way?
Does it also mean that the drive belt is simply the same as a non-ac model, or would I be looking at measuring up and buying a specific length?
I'm not chasing weight loss or better performance, but it's hardly ever used and I'm not fussed about any impact on future resale!
Watching this one...
I read a thread about it on spyderchat but could not find it later. Maybe you can.
Have never used mine. Just ballast. But
CBA to remove it.
Quote from: Ardent on May 7, 2020, 12:20Have never used mine. Just ballast. But
CBA to remove it.
The total system is 10 kg.
Had a lightbulb moment:
https://www.mr2australia.com/mr2play/tm.aspx?m=117502&mpage=9
handy saving but just cba.
Quote from: Ardent on May 7, 2020, 13:07handy saving but just cba.
Looked at it under car and thought it simple enough. It´s ten kilos; a bucket full of water. It´s the same as the whole bonnet; almost what you´d save with a carbon bonnet/rear lid. Unlike the carbon bits for the cost of a shorter belt.
Point is I dó use it. Very occasionally but then it is a boon.
It is very high time to have the gas replaced. My local independant is certified so will have a talk. Regassing is not cheap even here. Don´t want to spend 80-90€ on a system I am considering deleting.
To the OP:
Leave the in cabin condenser in situ and fingers croosed the fasteners up front don´t throw a spanner in the works. More precisely in the main rad workings.
Yeh big case of CBA. Other things I'd probably tackle first.
Actually had a compressor lock up and leave me stranded once, that is part of the motivation to ditch it.
Quote from: McMr2 on May 7, 2020, 13:56Yeh big case of CBA. Other things I'd probably tackle first.
Actually had a compressor lock up and leave me stranded once, that is part of the motivation to ditch it.
Just taking the pump off and fitting a shorter belt is easy enough. The gas is the only inconvenience as that will need a certified service.
The pipes going forward should be a doddle too. They run below the tank.
On the bridge it´s a half hour job so a garage should not charge you more than an hour. Worth avoiding leaving you stranded another time?!
Quote from: Petrus on May 7, 2020, 14:16Quote from: McMr2 on May 7, 2020, 13:56Yeh big case of CBA. Other things I'd probably tackle first.
Actually had a compressor lock up and leave me stranded once, that is part of the motivation to ditch it.
Just taking the pump off and fitting a shorter belt is easy enough. The gas is the only inconvenience as that will need a certified service.
The pipes going forward should be a doddle too. They run below the tank.
On the bridge it´s a half hour job so a garage should not charge you more than an hour. Worth avoiding leaving you stranded another time?!
I think so. Generally use the mr2 for long trips and don't like the idea of having it dumped at the nearest random garage by the breakdown service. Might have it done next time it's in for any work that I won't tackle myself.
On the car where the compressor locked (or rather, the clutch on the compressor) I resolved it with a shorter belt and bypassing the pulley. Better than the several hundred pound alternative!
Found a quote:
Quote from: m1tch on June 17, 2019, 13:42I therefore so far am finding in terms of performance:
1/4 mile time is improved by 0.1s with every 10kg removed
Perhaps more importantly it has the same effect on the stopping distance.
Also It's been what, maybe 15-20 years since most cars have been equipped with A/C as 'standard' ?
Even here in the south the Kangoo we bought in 2003 had it as part of a luxury package.
To paraphrase R&T, test driving the '94 Miata,
"A/C is now standard, but we're not sure why you would ever want to put A/C in a convertible."
Quote from: Petrus on May 8, 2020, 16:02Found a quote:
Quote from: m1tch on June 17, 2019, 13:42I therefore so far am finding in terms of performance:
1/4 mile time is improved by 0.1s with every 10kg removed
Perhaps more importantly it has the same effect on the stopping distance.
Also It's been what, maybe 15-20 years since most cars have been equipped with A/C as 'standard' ?
Even here in the south the Kangoo we bought in 2003 had it as part of a luxury package.
To paraphrase R&T, test driving the '94 Miata, "A/C is now standard, but we're not sure why you would ever want to put A/C in a convertible."
.
There have been occasions when a/c has been used with the roof down as it can get seriously hot. However, this has happened only twice in almost 4 years of ownership so hardly a necessity for me!
Over here at the southern edge of Europe it gets seriously hot in summer so I have used it. Especially when in charming company. The weirdest was a dark Cuban girl who was almost phobic about the sun; she insisted on roof closed and airco on :o
When alone I feel like an eco-criminal; airco in a convertible; almost a contradiction in terms. Now with Mongos the side windows down is more functional so I will probably now ónly use it on instruction of c-company.
Ah well, the car is 17 y.o. though so an expensive repair of the airco quite an acceptable reason for a delete O:-)
Anyway, no need to decide, just an option ;)
Granada/Málaga at least another week no relaxing of confinement :-\
So reserved the bridge for Wednesday morning and have look at the airco.
Check the dog bones, the sump plug magnet et al.
The undershield has collected a lot of weeds agaín. Don´t really understand how but the dried organic matter is not a good idea there.
Had a look.
Easy to remove but the condenser, the radiator, can only be removed by faffing with the main rad.
I have decided to regas and leave it.
The 1% weight advantage weighs less heavy than the more than 1% loss in comfort. We had 35 degrees last week already.
Quote from: Petrus on May 13, 2020, 09:42Had a look.
Easy to remove but the condenser, the radiator, can only be removed by faffing with the main rad.
I have decided to regas and leave it.
The 1% weight advantage weighs less heavy than the more than 1% loss in comfort. We had 35 degrees last week already.
Think I'll be doing the same. The temptation will be to fiddle with things that don't need fiddling.