Freelander 1 Air con knowledge wanted!

Hi, I’m new here and relatively new to Land Rovers in general, but I’m just in the process of sourcing parts to put a rebuilt engine back into my 1.8 Freelander 1 (I know the k-series have a bad rep but this was my daily for a while and I love the car itself and want to save it!).

Anyway, first obstacle is a new radiator, but that’s led me to question what I should do about the air con system. Ideally I’d really like to get rid of it altogether (never even knew it had it until I took the last engine out!) I’ve always had/worked on older cars than this and so I have almost zero experience or desire for air con!! But what would be involved with getting rid of it and is it worth it? As in is there a point in the system where I could block it off for example? One of the pipes got broken upon removal, but one option is obviously I just replace that and bolt it all back in and forget again that it’s even there...but that requires a new pipe for something I don’t want and also the newfound knowledge that I’m carrying it around with me everywhere lol

Any advice or pointers would be appreciated!

The AC compressor forms part of the belt drive assembly , so you can't remove the AC compressor, without messing up the belt routing.

You might be able to find the assembly (alternator and bracket, correct belt) from a non AC car (not easy to find), but fitting that stuff, will be just as much work as fixing the AC in yours.

You can see in the picture ,how AC compressor forms the lower belt pulley, and removing it requires the alternator to be placed in a lower position. From memory, the lower mounted alternator is different, as is the bracket that mounts it. The belt is also different, and requires a different idler too. I'm sure the alternator wiring is also different, but I'm going on a distant memory here, is I've not seen a non AC FL1 for over a decade.

Non-A/C? Are you mad Sir?

Ok thanks for the detailed reply, I’m already learning! so not simple at all then! I guess I’ll be fixing mine and re-fitting it then! never encountered AC on any of my own cars before, as my car knowledge basically begins and ends with a decade of owning nothing but a succession of stripped out old Nissan track cars

just one more potentially dumb question to finish on: as I won’t be using or re-gassing the a/c, does it matter if there’s a break/leak in the line, or does it all still have to be a sealed system even when not in use?

If you ever want to use the system again in the future, then it would be best to keep it sealed and dry. Otherwise it is fine. As it already has been breached, it probably isn't even worth plugging the ends where the broken pipe fits as you don't seem to want A/C and probably won't be selling the car on.

What about just disconnecting the plug from the compressor clutch and leaving everything else as is?

If there's no gas in the system then the pump will never engage. Just leave it in place, no different than an idler pulley

As above. The AC pulley will just spin with the rest of the pulleys.

I can't see why AC isn't needed, as it's so nice to have, both in summer and winter, for clearing mist of the inside of the vehicle.

But if you really don't need it, just forget the AC is there.

As above. The AC pulley will just spin with the rest of the pulleys.

I can't see why AC isn't needed, as it's so nice to have, both in summer and winter, for clearing mist of the inside of the vehicle.

But if you really don't need it, just forget the AC is there.

AC is excellent for de-misting your windscreen on those rainy winter days. If it were mine I'd be getting all back in tip top order.

htr said:

AC is excellent for de-misting your windscreen on those rainy winter days. If it were mine I'd be getting all back in tip top order.

Click to expand...

Yes it's great when you get in the car with wet coats etc, especially if there's a few of you