Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Ultimate Subaru Message Board

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Don't use A/C, can I take off the belt permanently?

Featured Replies

I’m about to replace my alternator belt on my EA82 Subaru L Series and it turns out the A/C compressor belt needs replacing too. I never use the A/C though, so is it possible to just take of the A/C compressor belt and leave it off, and just have the alternator belt in place? Or does this belt
serve some other purpose besides running the A/C compressor?

 

The car has A/C but NOT power steering.

It probably serves no other purpose however simply look at how it is routed off of the crank pulley to see if it spins anything else. Won't hurt anything to leave it off though and possibly give you a half of a horsepower to boot haha.

The water pump is also run by that belt

 

But should be fine. Cars without both power steer and A/C only run 1 belt.

Just had a rethink.

 

cars without power steering or A/C run a different alternator that sits further back & has a double pulley so they still run 2 belts for the water pump still.

So considering the small expense of a belt, may be worthwhile replacing that belt also to ensure the water pump remains working.

I took mine off. My ac is on the outer side. It made it run smoother and more quiet

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.