Author Topic: AC problems on NA 81 diesel rabbit. (Read 3775 times)

gamblephillip · « **on:** March 13, 2009, 08:32:09 am »

hey, guys.
I just joined the site and have an immediate question with my little rabbit. i've only had her for about 4 months, and i was having problems with the drive belt squealing. i replaced the alternator/AC belt (tiny damn thing) and she did okay for awhile, then started squealing and this time louder and more frequently. so i bought a new belt for the drive and AC, and while installing it i noticed that the AC unit was only being held in place by 2 bolts and i could move it easily with my hands. the bolts are not the right ones to hold it in place also, and i can't replace the other bolts that should be there because they are not in the right place. it's the wrong damn AC unit for the car, and somehow the guy who had it previously crap-rigged it to get it to work. i don't want the AC unit in the car, as i never use it, and now need to figure out what i need to do and/or get to convert it to a non-AC, single belt. any help/suggestions would be great.
thanks,
~red

vanbcguy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2009, 08:45:20 am »

You need to find a set of non-AC brackets and a non-AC alternator pulley for your car... Unfortunately they're pretty hard to find from what I've heard. I've seen the brackets for sale a few times in the $100 - $150 range which is a bit steep if you ask me.

I'm kind of in the same boat... I've got an '88 TD in my '94 Jetta that has an AC compressor bolted on to it. That's the only thing on the car in any way AC related so it's really just a big heavy idler pulley for the alternator.

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2009, 03:49:26 pm »

Yes you have to find the bracket from a non-A/C one. When I got my 81 Rabbit it had an aftermarket A/C system on it which I don't know worked ornot as the motor was blown to begin with but it had an aftermarket bracket on it which was cracked all to hell and I switched brackets and got the right alternator. A/C slows them down too much anyway and you only have one belt to contend with and a whole lot more room. Also if you start noticing wet carpet or the fuse box getting wet it's the windshield rubber leaking, almost all of them do it eventualy, among about 1,000 other things as well :lol:

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2009, 03:50:06 pm »

at $100-150 for the non a/c setup, you might as well spend another $100 and get the serpentine setup. at least thats the way i'd want to go.

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2009, 04:46:30 pm »

Quote from: "gamblephillip"

hey, guys.
I just joined the site and have an immediate question with my little rabbit. i've only had her for about 4 months, and i was having problems with the drive belt squealing. i replaced the alternator/AC belt (tiny damn thing) and she did okay for awhile, then started squealing and this time louder and more frequently. so i bought a new belt for the drive and AC, and while installing it i noticed that the AC unit was only being held in place by 2 bolts and i could move it easily with my hands. the bolts are not the right ones to hold it in place also, and i can't replace the other bolts that should be there because they are not in the right place. it's the wrong damn AC unit for the car, and somehow the guy who had it previously crap-rigged it to get it to work. i don't want the AC unit in the car, as i never use it, and now need to figure out what i need to do and/or get to convert it to a non-AC, single belt. any help/suggestions would be great.
thanks,
~red

If you don't have access to some junk parts why don't you give Parts Place a call, they seem to have everything under the sun in re-cycled parts and I know they would have that. You are probably going to have to get the whole alternator though unless you can find an old one. I got mine at Autozone and I think it was around $100 with the Lifetime Warranty which I already used.

gamblephillip · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2009, 11:21:04 am »

if any of you guys would be willing to send me a pic or post it of this bracket, i can have it fabbed for free by a buddy. it would be handy. thanks for the help, and i will find a solution quickly.

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2009, 06:30:23 pm »

Quote from: "gamblephillip"

if any of you guys would be willing to send me a pic or post it of this bracket, i can have it fabbed for free by a buddy. it would be handy. thanks for the help, and i will find a solution quickly.

Don't waste your time tring to make one from a picture, you will end up with aignment problems and more than likely it will crack too. That aftermarket one I had evidently didn't last very long. I doubt if Parts Place would want more than $25 for one to begin with. But if you insist on making one then make one for an older style GM alternator, they are dirt cheap, put out more current, last longer and you can get them anywhere. Just as an afterthought don't forget that a couple of those bolts also hold a big coolant fitting to the block too and it will definately leak if it is not tightened flat, it's sandwiched together.