How to Bypass 1.8T A/C Compressor?

[TMeschke]

Hey all,

A while back my A/C stopped working, and now my compressor has just started screaming like a banshee when the car is idling. Can't decide if I want to try to fix to A/C system or just delete it. For now I just want to stop the squealing, so I was planning to bypass the A/C compressor.

I searched through forum and found some information on doing this, but nothing detailed. From my understanding a Dayco 450K6 (Click) is the belt that I will need. What I'm not entirely clear on is how to actually route the thing. If anyone has any pictures or info on this, that would be terrific.

[TMeschke]

Finally found a good picture of the serpentine belt. Pardon the horrible drawing, but would this be the new route of the belt? Can anyone confirm?

[old guy]

Yep.

[Gosser]

x2 just did this using this belt:

Got it from ebay.

[IndoReef]

I've had this done for about 5 years and it works just fine, i removed the entire system up to the firewall port.

belt i use is a GoodYear Gatorback 4060420 6pk1065

[TMeschke]

Just realized I never updated this post.

Got the new belt put on a while back. Only took about 20 minutes, mostly just getting the car raised on the belly pan off. I tried rotating the A/C compressor by hand while I had the belt off and it felt terrible. It made a nice grinding noise and put up a fair resistance. Car definitely seems to idle a bit more smoothly now and the grinding noise is gone. Who needs A/C anyway .


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[lowlife89]

ETKA says this is the belt for non AC 1.8T B6: 06b145933. It should be the same for all years and VINs. It has a length of 1080mm and its equivalent is Gates 6PK1078.



LE: The Gates 6PK1078 is too short. I think it's because cars without AC didn't come with this big roller:



The problems stems from me not being able to find that Dayco belt over here. I've hopefully ordered a matching Gates and will report back.

[Puddin Tane]

Front drive pulley bearing failure is the #1 cause of "screaming compressor" and is fixable by only replacing the bearing cartridge, as detailed here. This avoids the major hassle & expense of opening the refrigerant circuit and replacing the compressor, the latter being very often 100% okay. That pulley bearing is an Achilles' heel of an otherwise very durable compressor. Also discussed is a bypass belt any U.S. parts store will have in stock.