Air con removal

[brorabongo]

Is it possible to totally remove the air con, if so is there anything I should watch out for when doing so? apart from sweating on roasting hot days.

Cheers.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Why remove it?...if you decide to up-Bongo for a newer model, it is a selling point!
Cheers
Helen

[missfixit70]

I'm with Helen, why bother? I removed my rear ac as I never used it, to make room in the "well", but use the ac regularly for demisting in the cooler weather & I've been using it for the last month or so to regulate cabin temp.
If it's fubar & you really don't use it then fair enough I suppose, means there's one less belt to worry about, remove the compressor & it's a bit less weight & remove the condenser rad & you may get slightly better cooling across the rad. Make sure you recycle the gas of course. maybe stick it on ebay - "Bongo ac gas, slightly used"

[brorabongo]

Hi
Why remove it?...if you decide to up-Bongo for a newer model, it is a selling point!
Cheers
Helen

Bongos ours until either we or it dies.

I had all the reasons Kirsty said for removal ready to post when I got the message "At least one post....."

Also will there be a slightly lighter load on the engine, even when A/C is not in use?

I've never had any problems with misting screens, might be because I park with the nose up against the house in the winter.

Gas reclaiming is my only concern, although I think the reason it's not working in the first place is due to lack of gas.

[helen&tony]

Hi
The compressor free-wheels until you switch it on...it is a kind of electrical clutch, so I've been led to believe (correct me if i'm wrong), and as such, no load on engine...For my money,I'd leave it where it is, in case you ever decide to get it going, and do as suggested...cut the belt off simple matter of repairing/ servicing, and replacing seals if you ever need to...costly though!
Cheers
Helen

[brorabongo]

Expect the hottest summer on record this year, because.............my air con has been removed.
All thats left is the two elements? which are inside the ducting. Now that the compressor has gone It's going to be a lot easier for me to replace my thermostat, looks like I should be able to do it from above. Can also get a good view/feel of the bottom hose to the stat.

[missfixit70]

That's very public spirited of you Donald
Be interesting to see if it runs any cooler without the condenser in front of the rad.

[Diplomat]

The aircon radiator gives valuable protection to the main rad.

With the aggro caused to Bongos by coolant leaks, this added protection is a boon.

Frank

[mister munkey]

Do you not lose the fast idle from cold too?

[missfixit70]

Do you not lose the fast idle from cold too?

There's two triggers for fast idle as I can make out, the aircon & the cold start fast idle. the aircon just provides a trigger if the air con is on, you should'nt lose the fast idle unless you remove the vacuum actuator gubbins.

[brorabongo]

Have'nt removed any other gubbins. Started and idled great this morning with engine temp reading 5 degs.

Be interesting to see if it runs any cooler without the condenser in front of the rad.

Been to Elgin and back ( ~190 miles) and reckon 3 - 4 degs cooler, it was more noticable at "motorway speeds," it now seems differcult to reach 100 degs.

The aircon radiator gives valuable protection to the main rad.

l fitted a wire mesh behind the grill and bumper to stop stones from peppering the rad.