I have owned two older Mercedes, neither of which had working AC. So I have been thinking that I don't need it anyway... Has anyone heard of taking off the ac unit as well as the cooler for it? I had to take my radiator out today and found no fluid at all in the ac cooler. So if it doesn't work, why carry the extra weight? Does anyone know of somewhere I could purchase/special order a serpentine belt that would fit a 1989 3.0L without an ac pump? I had been reading articles about reducing weight before i got this crazy idea. Thanks for any information or thoughts.

 

If you have the radiator out, why don't you just replace the A/C condensor and refill the system and have a working A/C again. You even can switch to the new A/C-fluid R134a.
Better then ripping half the car apart and possibly ruin something attached to the A/C and regular functions and cause more trouble than benefit. Do you think 5-10 pounds will help to save you fuel? Just don't eat too many X-mas cookies and you'll have the same effect :-)

 

Is this a "take off/bolt on" fix or am I going to end up fighting with it or draining out the oil/antifreeze again. I just put the new pullies/bearing and radiator back together today so I hope that this part can be replaced without taking it all back apart. Can I expect some rediculus price for a new ac condenser or is it actually resonable to do this to my car?