YACT: Can I bypass my AC belt?

[Lithium381]

1988 Toyota 4Runner v6. 3 independant belts. I'm going to replace all my belts this weekend. Can i simply not replace the one on the AC since it doens't work anyway? Would that give me any benifit at all in terms of slightly less stress on the engine, or should i put the belt on just cause?
on a side note, how much would it be to recharge the AC?

edit - while i'm in there i'm considering the spark plugs, how long do SP's last? I've never replaced them since i've owned the vehicle, i bought it 4 years and 40k miles ago. And then since i'm doing that cap and rotor too!

 

[Zenmervolt]

It's fine to leave the A/C belt off, but there's no benefit to it other than not having to buy the belt. The pulley on the A/C compressor is un-coupled if the A/C is off and the drag is the same as a freewheeling pully, which is to say so incredibly minute that it doesn't make any real difference.

ZV

 

[Willoughbyva]

Is there anything else that needs to be run by the belt like emissions or anything?

 

[EagleKeeper]

It cost my daughter around $100 to get her A/C system checked/recharged last year for her Pathfinder.

You should replace the plugs according to the owners manual - I would suspect that 40K is to long to go

 

[natto fire]

You should go ahead and pull a spark plug or two out to check the condition. Use this site to see if your plug has a specific problem. They are so cheap that it doesn't hurt to replace them anyways. Although Toyota was messing around with Platinum tipped plugs in those days. That can get a little pricey, and plats will last longer under normal use.

As for your A/C question, has the system been retrofitted for R134a? If so it would not be too much to recharge, but who knows how long it will last as there is a leak somewhere that should be fixed before recharging.
If it has not been retrofit, it is probably not worth the money, unless it gets REALLY hot where you live. R12 systems that have been retrofit never blow as cold as when original, but finding R12 these days is extremely expensive.