How to make Old Zen's A/c more effective ?

Praneet71 · 6th March 2009, 14:20

hey guys! a lot has been written about the modifications being done to a zen does anyone have a problem with the airconditioning not being too effective? Though i love my 1.3 zen but come summers i begin to wonder whether it makes sense to retain this car. The a/c is very ineffective. i would appreciate if someone could help.

Technocrat · 6th March 2009, 14:46

Praneet even I have onserved that the ac in Zen is not as effective as an Alto. I think you should try to see if the plant from Alto could be used in the Zen, that should help.

Lets see if some one has already done anything.

esteem_lover · 6th March 2009, 15:05

Is yours a e-zen ?

@Techno... putting in a Alto AC would make very little difference for a whole lot of trouble & expense. The AC systems in both are vastly different using different refrigerants. I would suggest getting a after market compressor like National or Superking.

Technocrat · 6th March 2009, 15:07

Oh Ok I thought it would be a relatively easy job. As for the difference it should be substantial because there is a noticeable difference in both car's ac with similar area to cool.

p.s. his is a 1.3 zen but not e-zen

simply_sunny001 · 6th March 2009, 15:16

Its is not bad either,get your AC serviced

in 4.5 yrs of ownership of Zen i have naver faced any problem with AC,its always been chilling.

Got it serviced last year though and paid around 1100 Rs.

vasudeva · 6th March 2009, 15:32

I also had a Apr 1999 Zen that was sold off in May 2004. Initially the AC was quite effective (though Santro had a better one even then), but after 4 years, lost its cooling. Had it cleaned in summer of 2003 (for perhaps less than 1K) and it again became quite effective.

esteem_lover · 6th March 2009, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat

p.s. his is a 1.3 zen but not e-zen

Don't tell me he has plonked the Ikon 1.3 into it. Or is it a S(Swift)-Zen ?

dushmish · 6th March 2009, 16:19

I didn't understand the 1.3 Zen? I only know Zen - the old and the new. And then came the Eestillo.

Praneet do you have front windshield sunfilm installed? And for the rest of the windows which sunfilm do you have? One trick that works is once a week the heat exchanger should be cleaned with water on gentle pressure from hose. Washes away the dust which reduces the efficiency of heat exchanger. This can be done by aiming water from the front grill and the air dam under it.

Get your aircon serviced as suggested by simply_sunny. Also keep the vents pointed towards your nose. That where a human being's temp sensors are located. :-)

Finally, let me tell you, the aircon just brings down the car temp by around 10 degree celcius (max) from the ambient temp. So in 44 degree celcius burning hot summers, there is not much the little aircon can do to make you feel cool.

ksethuram · 6th March 2009, 16:44

Zen's A/C plant is not as powerful as todays cars.. If u paln to have the car for a few more years try changing it as suggested by esteem_lover.

Else have your A/c checked for the drive belts, refrigrant level and the temperature of cold air. If the temperature is right then you try having sunfilm in the car which would help around 3-5%. If the blowing air temperature is not in the recommended range, not good news.. changing the unit is the only way.

Praneet71 · 7th March 2009, 16:00

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. i did get the a/c serviced though it has improved but still isnt quite effective.

Simply sunny any recommendation of the place to get it serviced?

Esteem lover.. its a zen engine bored to 1.3 and does not run an esteem engine therefore, not a e-zen. What would be the cost of an after market compressor incase, i need to change it?

Appreciate your help

frankmehta · 7th March 2009, 17:22

outlandish idea!!!! why not get the blower of an esteem and get the compressor off a a baleno from your local chor bazaar ? that way you can get them cheap ! but the only question is, whether the esteem blower and baleno compressor fit in the zen's bay?

kpzen · 7th March 2009, 18:55

Get the cooling coil of Wagon R for your Zen.

Praneet71 · 8th March 2009, 00:31

kp.... would changing the cooling coil help? If it does will it be a straight mount or do i need to get some modifications done? Secondly, would the changing of coils be a better alternative to changing the compressor? Also please let me know the estimated expense.

devrajman · 23rd September 2009, 11:33

praneet,
did you come out with any solution? Is your AC back to its glory days?

kpzen,
Any replies to praneet's queries?

6th March 2009, 14:20	#1
Praneet71 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 42 Thanked: 2 Times	How to make Old Zen's A/c more effective ? hey guys! a lot has been written about the modifications being done to a zen does anyone have a problem with the airconditioning not being too effective? Though i love my 1.3 zen but come summers i begin to wonder whether it makes sense to retain this car. The a/c is very ineffective. i would appreciate if someone could help.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 14:46	#2
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,770 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Praneet even I have onserved that the ac in Zen is not as effective as an Alto. I think you should try to see if the plant from Alto could be used in the Zen, that should help. Lets see if some one has already done anything.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 15:05	#3
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 513 Times View My Garage	Is yours a e-zen ? @Techno... putting in a Alto AC would make very little difference for a whole lot of trouble & expense. The AC systems in both are vastly different using different refrigerants. I would suggest getting a after market compressor like National or Superking.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 15:07	#4
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,770 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Oh Ok I thought it would be a relatively easy job. As for the difference it should be substantial because there is a noticeable difference in both car's ac with similar area to cool. p.s. his is a 1.3 zen but not e-zen
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 15:16	#5
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,338 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	Its is not bad either,get your AC serviced in 4.5 yrs of ownership of Zen i have naver faced any problem with AC,its always been chilling. Got it serviced last year though and paid around 1100 Rs.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 15:32	#6
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	I also had a Apr 1999 Zen that was sold off in May 2004. Initially the AC was quite effective (though Santro had a better one even then), but after 4 years, lost its cooling. Had it cleaned in summer of 2003 (for perhaps less than 1K) and it again became quite effective.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 16:19	#8
dushmish BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 418 Thanked: 83 Times View My Garage	I didn't understand the 1.3 Zen? I only know Zen - the old and the new. And then came the Eestillo. Praneet do you have front windshield sunfilm installed? And for the rest of the windows which sunfilm do you have? One trick that works is once a week the heat exchanger should be cleaned with water on gentle pressure from hose. Washes away the dust which reduces the efficiency of heat exchanger. This can be done by aiming water from the front grill and the air dam under it. Get your aircon serviced as suggested by simply_sunny. Also keep the vents pointed towards your nose. That where a human being's temp sensors are located. :-) Finally, let me tell you, the aircon just brings down the car temp by around 10 degree celcius (max) from the ambient temp. So in 44 degree celcius burning hot summers, there is not much the little aircon can do to make you feel cool.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 16:44	#9
ksethuram BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chennai , London (now) Posts: 233 Thanked: Once	Zen's A/C plant is not as powerful as todays cars.. If u paln to have the car for a few more years try changing it as suggested by esteem_lover. Else have your A/c checked for the drive belts, refrigrant level and the temperature of cold air. If the temperature is right then you try having sunfilm in the car which would help around 3-5%. If the blowing air temperature is not in the recommended range, not good news.. changing the unit is the only way.
	() Thanks

7th March 2009, 16:00	#10
Praneet71 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 42 Thanked: 2 Times	Hey guys, thanks for all the input. i did get the a/c serviced though it has improved but still isnt quite effective. Simply sunny any recommendation of the place to get it serviced? Esteem lover.. its a zen engine bored to 1.3 and does not run an esteem engine therefore, not a e-zen. What would be the cost of an after market compressor incase, i need to change it? Appreciate your help
	() Thanks

7th March 2009, 17:22	#11
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,029 Thanked: 3,668 Times View My Garage	outlandish idea!!!! why not get the blower of an esteem and get the compressor off a a baleno from your local chor bazaar ? that way you can get them cheap ! but the only question is, whether the esteem blower and baleno compressor fit in the zen's bay?
	() Thanks

7th March 2009, 18:55	#12
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,609 Thanked: 1,882 Times View My Garage	Get the cooling coil of Wagon R for your Zen.
	() Thanks

8th March 2009, 00:31	#13
Praneet71 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 42 Thanked: 2 Times	kp.... would changing the cooling coil help? If it does will it be a straight mount or do i need to get some modifications done? Secondly, would the changing of coils be a better alternative to changing the compressor? Also please let me know the estimated expense.
	() Thanks

23rd September 2009, 11:33	#14
devrajman BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 505 Thanked: 119 Times View My Garage	praneet, did you come out with any solution? Is your AC back to its glory days? kpzen, Any replies to praneet's queries?
	() Thanks