air conditioning

[noah horak]

hey all. i have a 88 jetta gli and i don't need the air because i never use it. i am thinking i am taking it out but i need some advice. the altinater is driven by a belt from the air conditioning pump. if i take the pump off, do i need new brackets for the altinator or a new pully? any body know? also, there is a aluminium-tin shield type thing under my car in the tunnel for the exaust. it rattles bad and i want to take it off, is that a bad thing? will bad things happen to my car if i take it off. if anybody has any experiance or anything, it would help. thanx
noah

[Josh S #771]

I don't know about the AC but my GTI had the same rattle in the exhaust. It is a heat shield right below the cockpit. I believe the only reason it is there is to keep heat from the catlytic converter from entering the cockpit. Not positive, maybe Bill or some of the other VW gurus can confirm this.

[73GT]

Does your AC still work? If yes leave it the extra speed you gain isn't that much.
R-12 which your system uses is going for about $80 a LB right now and your system takes at least 2lbs. I'd leave it and use it when not autocrossing. You have AC and you haven't used it lately? Wow! Your AC also is used whenyou defog you windshield when the humidity is high or it's hotter inside the car than it is outside. If you opt for removing it just go to a bone yard and get the pulley off an non AC alternator. You may need the bracket that mounts the Alt to the engine block but I don't remember it's been a while. Before you go to the bone yard make a mental note of the bracketry and/or bring your car to compare.


Lee Frisvold
Watched a 2000 Celica GTS roll at the last AARRF event luckily the driver was OK but the car OUCH! "The best speed advantage is knowledge behind the wheel"

[Jeremy Engel]

Anyone with pictures of the role?

[Jeremy Engel]

Hmmppf! ROLL...

[73GT]

Bismark or bear claw! Somebody took digital pictures after the fact but nothing while it was happening. The guys name is Brian Fetzer he's autocrossed w/MAC before, he's a member of Minnesota spor compacts.

[Bill Owen]

if i take the pump off, do i need new brackets for the altinator or a new pully? any body know? also, there is a aluminium-tin shield type thing under my car in the tunnel for the exaust. it rattles bad and i want to take it off, is that a bad thing


Noah, you'll need to convert to a "NON/AC" mounting bracket for your alternator and change the pulleys to the "NON/AC" diameter. I was lucky enough to source out a set of used pulleys off a NON/AC Golf. Try searching the bone yards for an A2 without AC and cannibalizing it. Otherwise you can order the parts through the VW dealer. I think the bracket was $91.00 When I removed the A/C condensor the Jetta's temps lowered around 5-7 degrees. Removing the A/C condensor is a pretty straight forward job if you've never done it. Take out the front grill support (thin black metal frame that holds headlights) to get at the condensor.

As for that shield, I took my off about 6 yrs ago and its staying off

[StevenMosley]

I would love to get your AC parts if your AC works/or maybe even if it doesn't. The AC in my '91 GTI has not worked since I bought the car and would love to get
all of the pieces to put it back together. (damn wrecks)

email and let me know what parts you have and I will figure out
what I need.

Thanks

stevenmosley@yahoo.com

PS: Does anyone know if the dude in the Celica is looking to sell his wreck? My dad has a thing for cars that have been on there roof and it John Boos has fell in love with the our once rolled Acura and has to have it.

[noah horak]

hey, thanks for your addvice. the ac works but i don't use it. i live next to lakesuperior, the best ac ever. when you have 90 in the citys i have 65 and breezy. when i come down to race, i just drive with the windows open. i guess it just isn't something i need. if i take it off by this weekend, i will bring it to the race if any one wants to give me some spair change for it. well talk to you all later
noah

[StevenMosley]

Well, I'm interested, but I'm not sure if I will make it up to Saint Cloud. My brother will for sure be there so I'll have him look you up. He will be driving the green Acura Integra GSR with the number 717. His name is Chris and he drives slow.

Will you be running your '88 Jetta GLI? So he knows what to look for?

[phile]

Originally posted by noah horak


hey, thanks for your addvice. the ac works but i don't use it. i live next to lakesuperior, the best ac ever. when you have 90 in the citys i have 65 and breezy. when i come down to race, i just drive with the windows open. i guess it just isn't something i need. if i take it off by this weekend, i will bring it to the race if any one wants to give me some spair change for it. well talk to you all later
noah


Not always. When I was in Duluth for the Round the World in 80 Days in 2000, it was unsufferbly hot on the North Shore and in Duluth. Good job we had AC in the Saturn or we would have died. The wind REFUSED to turn so it came off the lake.

Phil Ethier