Fluid Damper, AWM and Air Conditioning

[WagonGuy]

I ran into an unexpected problem today, I finally got my car running after two months of work, rebuilding the engine, new 240 mm S4 clutch, new suspension parts, etc. I knew that going with a SMF would increase vibrations, but before adding a fluid damper I wanted to drive the car a bit, so that I could appreciate any improvement that the fluid damper might make later. With a 16 pound spec 1 flywheel I could notice some new vibrations in the car compared to the old DMF. The vibrations are not bad but noticeable over stock.

Looking forward to the fluid damper I put the car in service position, and happily unpacked my shinny new damper, only to notice that there was no provision for the AC belt . After a little research I found that others had noticed this in the past, but I did not see any definitive solution in all the previous posts.

Does anyone make a solution to allow the AC to be retained with a fluid damper on a AWM engine? If no one makes one, I am tempted to try it myself, I definitely do not want to give up my AC and I would really like to keep the fluid damper. I have a lathe and a big chunk of aluminum bar in the garage, I was thinking of a three grove setup that will slide over the front if the fluid damper and have four holes that line up with the existing timing pulley holes.

What do you think? is this possible? Other alternatives?

Edit: It looks like one solution is to swap to the B6 single serpentine belt system, has anyone done this? Which parts need to be swapped? It seems like I would need:

From a B6 1.8t
AC compressor and mount
AC lines
Condenser?
Power steering pump and mount
Power steering hoses?
Alternator and mount?

Edit 2: I went ahead and fabricated a Billet pulley to solve the problem. I am very happy with the fluid damper, it noticeably reduced vibrations and harshness Overall well worth the effort!

IMG_0671.jpgIMG_0676.jpgIMG_0682.jpgIMG_0666.jpg

[Joe Jr.]

i'm always impressed when someone can make their own part. Looks great and seems to have solved your problem.

[mysman]

Here's a thread about this. Search is your friend:

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...t=fluid+damper

[WagonGuy]

Thanks for the link, that was where I got the idea of using a 3 rib belt. But I did not see a definitive answer to my question about the issue with the AWM AC compressor location, also much of the information on that thread appears to be lost to photo bucket .

From what I could find, no one makes a pulley to use the fluid damper with the AC compressor on the passenger side. Maybe there are not many AWM engines in B5's?

[V70R]

So I am in the process of mocking up everything necessary to run a single serp setup from an AMB in my 01.5 Avant. I will have more pictures tomorrow, but here's one showing the alignmnet of our stock AWM power steering pump bolted to the AMB accessory bracket. I think I used a Mk4 VR6 pulley, but I'll double check tomorrow

[walky_talky20]

So you'll be converting to AMB alternator as well?

[V70R]

Yep! AMB alternator and either the matching AC compressor, or 30V compressor. I need to look at which wiring is plug and play with the AWM ECM, and that's what I'll end up using.

[walky_talky20]

Hmm. In the B5, the A/C compressor magnetic clutch is directly controlled (12v, on or off) by the HVAC control head. The B6 A/C compressors are "variable displacement" (swash plate) type which are driven by PWM (duty cycle). So you may have trouble driving one of those with a 12v on/off type signal. Or it might just work ok.

[V70R]

Good point, I remembered there was a reason why it was not compatible. I have the '01 S4 that I will be using for a few parts, and the AC comp and receiver/dryer lines will route perfectly with this location. Tossed everything on today for a mockup- AWM PS pump needs to be installed after the alternator, found that out afterwards and forgot to take a picture.



Fans will be up next and that will be OE B6/B7 fans. Probably time to make a thread about my 2-year journey saving this car and all of the interchangeable parts that swap to our little B5's.

[walky_talky20]

That's super cool! 2.8 compressor stuff should also work, yeah?

So great to see new developments on the beloved B5 platform.

[V70R]

Just checked ETKA and yep, same part numbers for the S4 and 2.8 30V compressor but the hardlines to and from receiver/dryer are the different. B5 S4 routes the AC hardlines from AC compressor to the dryer underneath the motor (tucked in between oil pan and subframe) while the 2.8 30V routes them in front of the serpentine belt and over the snub mount.

Ben I am surprised you didn't notice the oilpan/crossmember setup- That's all B6 stuff (oilpan, snub mount, crossmember) and it fits without any modifications. I'll show more in-depth tonight when I post a thread; we'll see what I can do to help update our cars with the newer components and improve our B5 platform.

Tyler

Edit- speeeeeling +|- no grammEr

[PZ.]

Good info. I am looking at dropping an B6 2.0 stroker with Fluidamper into my B5 and the a/c was one I had to figure out. I have a 2.8 a/c compressor (my car started out as a 2.8 Tip). I am hoping the 2.8 front mounting plate will line up with the B6 oil pan and snub since I will be running an FMIC and it's much lighter than the crossover tube. I have the full 2.8 radiator carrier, I just have to check the 1.8T radiator for fitment issues.