Taking out my AC system?

[White118]

The AC does not work in my geo and I don't use it anyways I'm a 2 /55 guy so I'm thinking for taking out the compressor and all the lines and the condenser out to lighten up the vehicle and make more room under the hod.

-Matt

[markweatherill]

I had a small Toyota with non-functioning A/C. I removed the compressor, condensor and pipework and it certainly made more room but didn't improve mpg at all noticeably.

[McTimson]

Go for it. It won't save much weight, but if it's easy enough in the Geo, then I say go for it.

Does your AC run on a separate belt, or does it run with power steering, or an alternator? If it's separate, you can just get rid of the belt and forget about it, otherwise you'll have to find the accessory belt for the non-AC version of your car.

The compressor will be the heaviest thing, but only about 15lbs or so. The lines weigh virtually nothing, and the condenser and evaporator are pretty light as well. It will make the engine bay look cleaner though, without the AC lines going through it. I suppose it helps with cooling the radiator as well, since it won't have the condenser in front of it.

Overall, I think I figured it was about 25-30lbs saved. So it's really not much, but you're also eliminating one of the belts from the engine, so that can only help.

Before you do it, get the AC discharged at a shop, to remove the freon inside the lines.

[White118]

The belt is off now, it had its own belt so no worries there. I don't think it has any freon in it but if there is I plan on taking it to a shop and heaving it sucked out. Then it will be to the drawing board to build a closed front and new clip.


-Matt

[Johnny Mullet]

You will save only about 20 lbs overall removing the A/C parts minus the evaporator (behind dash) so I would probably just pull the A/C compressor and whatever is under the hood just to open up the engine compartment some.

[busypaws]

Removed mine in a 97 Protege. Total weight 47 lbs. I did go and have it pumped dry at service station ($20) to be enviromentally correct. It was on the same belt as PS and I removed it as well. (30lbs saved). When you remove the evaporator behind the glove box make sure you put the plastic box back together so you have fully functioning air handling system. Now I want to grind off the extra pully on the crankshaft pully to remove a pound or two of rotating mass.

[White118]

Grid off the pulley, use a puller. I will be taking out the a/c system this weekend and try to get some pictures up. thanks for the advise.

-Matt

[89HF]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

You will save only about 20 lbs overall removing the A/C parts minus the evaporator (behind dash) so I would probably just pull the A/C compressor and whatever is under the hood just to open up the engine compartment some.

hey, 20 lbs is 20 lbs. On a Geo that's over 1% of the total weight of the car. Think about how much our fuel efficiency might go up if we all went on a diet! For that matter, it would be interesting to estimate the annual fuel savings of our nation if we reduced obesity...maybe Obama should put that in his energy plan, state of the union coming up

[k.civic.f4i]

Originally Posted by 89HF

it would be interesting to estimate the annual fuel savings of our nation if we reduced obesity...maybe Obama should put that in his energy plan, state of the union coming up

haha. i agree

[White118]

I don't think we would get good numbers out of people weighing less. Even tho Obama has a magic wand for everything he would have to stop enabling the people that collect of the system and sit at home and eat our tax dollars in food stamps and welfare. All the weight you and I loose will be gained by them, so it would be a wash.