Retro fit AC

[Sleep Envy]

Trying to go for a top three in the forum except Ted's put a sticky above <shakesfist>.

I've managed to sucumb to the charms of a certain 993 RS which I'm going to collect in Jan. The only downside being it doesn't have AC.

Now whilst it's thermals and scarf weather at the moment soon enough it will be time where we'll all be heeling and toeing like the best of them in our Birkenstocks. I'm assuming that retro fitting AC is simply plugand play as long as the relevant kit is to hand from a stripped out 993 (I know you TT boys are looking to shed weight - I'm open to offers ) could someone let me know if the wiring looms are generic. I've heard a couple of scare stories that each 993 was built with a bespoke loom which could make my endeavour more of a head scratch.

Ta muchly

[computamedic]

Riccardo,

My experience is with a 964 rather than a 993 but I think the same issues apply. To do the job properly there are a lot of things to change. The CCU is completely different, and the whole heating unit behind the dash is different since it incorporates the evaporator and two way valve. Along with all the pipes, the compressor, the engine mounting bracket for the compressor, the receiver/dryer and the condenser, not to mention the wirng looms for the condenser fan and compressor clutch - unless you can get the bits VERY cheap it's usually reckoned to be cheaper to sell the car and buy one with AC already installed.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Dave

[AJAX50]

I've got a 993 without air con, I guess your old one had it. It's not a problem really, there is no heat soak from the engine unlike most small cars with a bigish engine and the sun roof is usable at speed. Also less to go wrong. Give it a try in the summer first.

[sleep envy]

Dave - cheers for the response.

I'm assuming that the hardware to run the system is simply bolt on which souldn't be too much of a problem. The only potential for me setting fire to the car is having to muck around with the loom which I'm not prepared to do.

computamedic said:

not to mention the wirng looms for the condenser fan and compressor clutch

Did you have to modify the loom in any way or were the cable spurs already there waiting to be plugged into?

[sleep envy]

AJAX50 said:

I've got a 993 without air con, I guess your old one had it. It's not a problem really, there is no heat soak from the engine unlike most small cars with a bigish engine and the sun roof is usable at speed. Also less to go wrong. Give it a try in the summer first.

Yep, my last C2 had it and although it wasn't that efficient it worked well enough to stop me melting when the ambient temp got over 35 C on my hols.

Only problem with the RS is it doesn't have any insulating material (heat will bleed into the cabin) nor does it have a sunroof.

True about less to go wrong...

[verysideways]

Air con in all three of my 993's has been great, though admittedly i had to get the C2 recharged before it worked properly. I think it's one of those things where people don't expect it to work that well so when it doesn't work that well they're not surprised. One of my three has needed minor work to make it work well.

This year ('05) at Le Mans, with my air con on *big snowflake* i could keep the inside of my car at about 17/18 degrees, even though the ambient temp outside was about 35 degrees and i was sitting in traffic in direct sunlight!

[kevinday]

I would guess you would need to budget £2-3000 for the job, in most cars it is a major job to retrofit AC, so much of the dashboard has to be changed, plus the extra plumbing. I second the suggestion to choose a car with it already fitted.

[chim_knee]

Sleep Envy said:

The only downside being it doesn't have AC.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoah, whoa!! You didn't tell me that I was going to be stuck in a NON-AC car with you in Le Mans... do you realised just how much heat I produce burning off pies, let alone what the engine will make!

[Sleep Envy]

I know

[Sleep Envy]

I know