Hi, Looking for some advice. I have an old 2014 MKII Elegance Estate diesel with 100k miles on the clock (2.0 TDI (125kw/170bhp). My mechanic has told me the AC compressor has died and that it needs replacing. This is a second car and at the end of its life so I don't really want to spend £900 on replacing the compressor so am looking at options to keep the car running without the AC and with lower risk than relying on the clutch disconnecting if the compressor seizes.

I saw online that my car has a Compressor Clutch on the front of the pulley which is used to disconnect the pulley and compressor if the compressor siezes, and it looks like the clutch could be removed and the pulley left in place. My mechanic says that this isn't how it works and that my only option is £900 to replace it... but then he also added that he doesn't want to work like this (removing the clutch) which made me suspect that it was possible but that he was not interested in doing it ... which is totally his choice and I respect it.

So question to you knowledgeable folk. if it were you what would you do?

... I am quite handy a handy mechanic when I make the time (I have changed brake pads; replaced the clutch on my motorbike; change alternators on my dads old car when I was younger) ... is this possible or is my mechanic correct. How involved will it be (I assume wheel off, wheel arch out and then a few nuts and bolts removed to do it?) and then put it back together again?

Thanks all :-)

If you don't need A/C then just leave everything as it is.

There's no clutch that engages/disengages, but as you say, a breakaway thing that lets the pulley spin freely if compressor seizes.

Put on a shorter auxiliary belt that misses out the ac compressor. Had it done on a Mk2 Octavia 1.9 tdi PD.