I am trying to make sense of my aircon installation in my 1988 carrera. Behind the passenger footwell board is a radiator type item (it really eats the legroom). What is this and is it installed elsewhere on earlier cars? I check my Bentley Service manual but can find no reference to this item.

 

My 87', a US version, has nothing like that behind the footwell. Is yours a US or ROW version? A/C was standard on the US versions but I think it was optional on the ROW's. If ROW, perhaps your A/C is aftermarket but I can't imagine what this part would be. The device closest to this description and location would be the evaporator but this should be located in the smugglers box inside the front luggage compartment. Does this "radiator" get cold or hot when you run the A/C? Can you provide a picture?

JP

1987 Carrera Targa - 17K miles

 

Its a RoW car and a RHD. I do not have a 'smugglers box' big enough for an evaporator. I wonder if the RHD installation/under bonnet configuration is different?

 

Sounds like the "radiator" is the evaporator. It should get cold when the A/C is on and therefore has to sit in or near the passenger compartment. I'm not sure if there is any other place to put this. How well does this arrangement work? The standard setup is somewhat marginal as it is. You may just be better off without it. At least you'd gain back your passenger legroom.

JP

1987 - Carrera Targa - 17K miles

 

Hi,
FWIW - on my 1980 SC (Australian delivered, so RoW spec) with factory installed air, the evaporator and its associated fan is in the passenger footwell as described above. The "smugglers box" is filled with other stuff that's nothing to do with the A/C.

Regards
David Grainger
Canberra, Australia