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Removing A/C Compressor from Euro-spec '88 Cabriolet

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by Il Steeg, Apr 14, 2022.

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  1. Il Steeg

    Il Steeg Formula Junior
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    Apr 15, 2017
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    PNW-In a van, down by the river.....
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    Dave
    #1 Il Steeg, Apr 14, 2022
    Hey all... I'm back again with more of the same problem.... Trying to remove the a/c compressor to get to the front timing belt cover, and I cannot find ANY way to remove the a/c compressor. I've removed the nuts holding the compressor to the belt cover, but the airbox and the bodywork strut are so close, there's no room to pull the compressor off the three studs. Someone suggested removing the 'cheese grater' and the airbox, but there's no apparent way to maneuver the airbox out of the fender well or move it high enough to get out of the way of the compressor. All the bolts I can see/reach (including #9's in the parts drawing) are all 'blocked' by some other non-removable part...The only thing I haven't tried is removing the studs from the timing belt cover.... Mine is a Euro-spec '88 Cabriolet, and the mounting looks pretty much exactly as does this diagram....I KNOW some of you have done this before, but I can't find a 'step-by-step' explanation for this anywhere. Like I said before.... It's like they started with the compressor clutch, and built the whole rest of the car AROUND it....

    Any hints, instructions, coaching, URL's of relevant instructions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!
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  2. FamilyCar

    FamilyCar Formula Junior
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    Seattle, Wa
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    Peter Goodall
    #2 FamilyCar, Apr 14, 2022
    By airbox do you mean the black fiberglass shroud behind the exterior vent? It does come off, I think it has screws holding it into the bodywork. It may take a really short screwdriver to get in there, but it certainly comes off. I recall that it comes off in two pieces, the trim right behind the vent then more of a transition to a cylinder that the duct to the air filter is attached to.

    The engine air filter housing comes off pretty easily, it has a clamp that holds it onto the air mass sensor body, and once that is loosened it lifts off. That opens up access a lot.

    I remember the first time I took the compressor out it was really hard, but not so bad the second time. Part of the issue was tool, I may have purchased an "S" wrench for the second time. I think I took off the tensioner (parts 20, 21, etc) to allow the compressor to swing down, then loosened bolt 9 and the opposite one that isn't shown, which allowed them to be pulled out far enough that the compressor dropped out. This was done from below with the fender liner removed.

    This is from memory, which I have tried to blot out. I hope it helps--good luck. Mine is an '87 American market, although I'd be surprised if it was much different.

    I see you're in Sammamish, only an hour away...
     
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  3. Il Steeg

    Il Steeg Formula Junior
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    #3 Il Steeg, Apr 14, 2022

    First off, thanks so much for your help! And yes, we're virtually neighbors here! Do you ever go to Exotics at Redmond Town Center...?

    Yes, I have the air filter housing out, and the duct between it and the 'cheese grater' air intake - no problem. Also got the 'cheese grater off, so I could try to 'attack' from that direction. I could only move the black fiberglas shroud an inch or so in any direction, and i could not get it out of the way in ANY direction... I have also removed the upper tensioner you mentioned, but I cannot swing the compressor down at all, as the refrigerant hoses run into the fender strut brace (metal bar that runs from the bottom of the frame diagonally up to the top of the rear suspension). I am attacking from below, with the fender liner removed.. I can't remove the outer Bolt 9 (the compressor fittings #3 and #4 are in the way. I can't remove the inner bolt 9 as it collides with the compressor clutch #24. It looks like, instead of rotating the compressor 'downward' (clockwise) that I might be able to rotate it up (counterclockwise) to get the a/c lines OVER the diagonal fender brace), but it will only rotate a few degrees before it binds on something and won't rotate any more. I've got every bolt I can find removed or loosened, and I can't figure what keeping it from rotating any farther upwards....

    Thanks again for your help I've about reached the end of my rope with this, and I've barely gotten started!

    Dave
     
  4. Il Steeg

    Il Steeg Formula Junior
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    #4 Il Steeg, Apr 14, 2022

    For those of you from outside the local area, "Exotics at Redmond Town Center" is a car show, not a 'Gentlemen''s Club.'
     
  5. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
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    Isle of man- uk
    #5 mike32, Apr 15, 2022
    From what i recall, 5+29 stay in place and you let the compressor off and hang out of the way on the hoses, long time since i did one.
     
  6. Il Steeg

    Il Steeg Formula Junior
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    #6 Il Steeg, Apr 15, 2022
    Thanks for the reply, Mike32!

    That was my understanding, too, but I can't remove the bolts (#9's) that attach the compressor TO the #5/#29 bracket. The outer #9 bolt runs into the #3/#4 fittings on top of the compressor, and the inner #9 bolt runs into the #24/25 clutch disk...... I can loosen them, and even remove the nuts FROM the bolts, but the bolts themselves...

    Nothing releases in any direction on this thing!

    About ready to start up my Sawzall....
     
  7. FamilyCar

    FamilyCar Formula Junior
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    #7 FamilyCar, Apr 15, 2022
    I'm afraid your solution may have to be individual to your car--no way of knowing how the A/C hoses are routed, perhaps they aren't the same as other cars. In miner the rotation of the connections 3 and 4 are such that there is a bolt I can't pull out, which would make the task much simpler.

    I'm pretty sure I could get part 29 out but left 5 in, so that may be the unique conditions for each car depending on clearances. I think I loosened the bolt in the slot to above the #6, and was able to rotate the assembly down enough to pull it out.

    This is one of those jobs that requires every odd tool you can come up with to fit in there, so perhaps one of everything from the Harbor Freight wrench/socket aisle? I know there is some odd tool that was a life saver, maybe a stubby ratcheting wrench?

    No, I've never gone to the Exotics at Redmond Town Center. My car is far from perfect and I'd be embarrassed. The one hour was a comment regarding traffic, since it isn't far but may take that long.
     
  8. Il Steeg

    Il Steeg Formula Junior
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    #8 Il Steeg, Apr 15, 2022

    At Last! Our long national Nightmare is over! The a/c condenser is off the cam belt cover, and the belts are now accessible!

    I'll NEVER get it to go back together again, but at least I CAN now get to the belts....When I got the car (in 2017) they were 'overdue' by age, but 'underdue' by mileage... The car doesn't get driven much in 'regular' years, but for the last couple of years, it's been very little. Either way, I was determined that they would get changed THIS YEAR!!!

    You should come by Exotics sometime... You might be surprised... I had the EXACT same thought as you when I got my Mondial... Mine is never going to win a Concours any time soon, and I didn't bring it to Exotics for the first two years I owned it, but attendees are surprised to learn it has close to 50,000 miles on it... I hear this a lot: "Wow! You mean you can use a Ferrari like a 'real car'?"

    Thanks again for your help and advice!

    Dave
     
  9. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,962
    Isle of man- uk
    #9 mike32, Apr 16, 2022
    If you are doing the belts be sure to find the crank direction before you start and always turn in that direction. Check on the right hand end of the cam boxes for the position indicators and the line stamped on the cam. Some cars dont have these pointers
     
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