[pixantz]

Originally Posted by ankurbhageria

Yes, you are right. There never has been a cabin filter in this car. I enquired about the filter when I was getting the AC fixed but he said old i10 (model 2009) does not have cabin filter.

I am skeptical about his reply, but I will get the filter fixed when I visit the Hyundai A.S.S. to get the servicing done.

Your mechanic is right. Older i10s never had a cabin filter in the scheme of things. Not that it was omitted or something, but it was just not part of the system. The place where the slot normally is for the filter is sealed off and blank.

This is also the case for many older cars as cabin filters used to be found only in the premium to highly premium make cars until very recently in India. It's only now that all manufacturers are adopting the filter system.

In fact, even as of today, there are many cars which come without cabin filters. Especially the smaller cars. Like Brio, Amaze, some lots of WagonR post 2012, etc.

Also, I very much doubt your ASS will fit one for you because it will not be standard procedure which they follow and will require lots of retrofitting like cutting and splicing and additional plastic parts to accomodate the filter. Now which ASS undertakes modification jobs? The answer is evident.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by pixantz

The place where the slot normally is for the filter is sealed off and blank.

That is bad design. The conditioned air you are breathing, that is usually recycled from within the car, is probably worse than the air outside. Little you can do in this scenario except for leaving the windows open once in a while to let some fresh air in.

The new evaporator core is going to end up looking like the old one in less than a year.

[prithm]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

That is bad design..

+ 1 to that.

I too had this issue with my top end Maruti DZire. How crazy can that be !! I paid premium cost for my car and it came with no air filter for the air that I breathed, but it had filter for the air that the engine breathed. Idiocy of the things.

But mine has fixture for adding filter in. Which "I" did promptly after getting into a fight of words with them.

Grand scheme of thing often work against us.

[pixantz]

Originally Posted by prithm

+ 1 to that.

I too had this issue with my top end Maruti DZire. How crazy can that be !! I paid premium cost for my car and it came with no air filter for the air that I breathed, but it had filter for the air that the engine breathed. Idiocy of the things.

But mine has fixture for adding filter in. Which "I" did promptly after getting into a fight of words with them.

Grand scheme of thing often work against us.

Maybe your dealer played tricks. These things happen at Maruti. Because all Swift/Desire/Ritz come with factory fitted cabin filter. Its not an "optional" kind of thing. Never heard of cheating at even this level though. But it's very much possible. I would have promptly reported the dealer to the top brass at Maruti if I was you. It would get them in line.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by pixantz

Maybe your dealer played tricks.

This applies for an 8 year old Swift too. The car never came factory fitted with a cabin air filter, or, as you say, was pulled out by the car dealer before the sale. This was a relatives car. I happen to drive the car and observed a mildew kind of smell even when the aircon was non operational. This smell isn't necessarily caused by a missing cabin air filter, however, on checking, there was none. Installed one and while the mildew smell continues, there is that comfort in the back of my mind that there is a cabin filter holding back fine dust and pollutants (To some extent).

On a car like this, the damage has already been done and the evaporator core is sure to look like the one recently posted. Even the ducts will be a mess.

[prithm]

Originally Posted by pixantz

Maybe your dealer played tricks. These things happen at Maruti. Because all Swift/Desire/Ritz come with factory fitted cabin filter. Its not an "optional" kind of thing.

Unfortunately, it is.

One word "cost cutting".

[BaluJ]

Originally Posted by pixantz

Maybe your dealer played tricks. These things happen at Maruti. Because all Swift/Desire/Ritz come with factory fitted cabin filter. Its not an "optional" kind of thing

Mine is a relatively new Ritz and that didnt come with the filter. I had to purchase it when i did my first service. Did ask why it didn't come as a factory fit but they said Maruthi doesnt provide one

[pixantz]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

This applies for an 8 year old Swift too. The car never came factory fitted with a cabin air filter, or, as you say, was pulled out by the car dealer before the sale. This was a relatives car. I happen to drive the car and observed a mildew kind of smell even when the aircon was non operational. This smell isn't necessarily caused by a missing cabin air filter, however, on checking, there was none. Installed one and while the mildew smell continues, there is that comfort in the back of my mind that there is a cabin filter holding back fine dust and pollutants (To some extent).

On a car like this, the damage has already been done and the evaporator core is sure to look like the one recently posted. Even the ducts will be a mess.

It's very simple. If the removable panel or filter cover is present, then it means that model of car had a factory fitted filter or else the removable cover will not be there and it will simply be a continuous closed-off plastic.

Even the ASS guys remove this because lots of times customers complain of less cooling soon after buying the car as dusty condition clogs up the filters faster in some places and they have to clean it more often. Removing the filter gives everyone a year or more before cooling is effected because the evaporator takes more time to clog up and by that time free service is mostly over and they charge a couple of thousand for the evaporator cleaning and post that everyone is happy again at the cost borne by our pockets of course.

Originally Posted by prithm

Unfortunately, it is.

One word "cost cutting".

Cost cutting by the manufacturer is understood because you know what you're buying but by the dealer?? They anyway charge the "handling charges" or 'cheater charger' as I call it. That's not enough?

[prithm]

Originally Posted by pixantz

Cost cutting by the manufacturer is understood because you know what you're buying but by the dealer?? They anyway charge the "handling charges" or 'cheater charger' as I call it. That's not enough?

Agree. They just don't care. Service engineer says its an option. I know silly things like these will not go anywhere, so saved time and educated fellow TeamBHPians here on the forum of same.

[ashis89]

My '11 WagonR didn't have a cabin filter either. I got one installed in Oct '15 and it was all clogged by January. I am yet to get my evaporator checked but the cooling has been 80% restored after changing the cabin filter again. BTW, I don't live in a dusty area or frequent dusty areas, just city drives and a couple of highway runs. Such is our city living conditions.

[prithm]

Originally Posted by ashis89

My '11 WagonR didn't have a cabin filter either. I got one installed in Oct '15 and it was all clogged by January. I am yet to get my evaporator checked but the cooling has been 80% restored after changing the cabin filter again. BTW, I don't live in a dusty area or frequent dusty areas, just city drives and a couple of highway runs. Such is our city living conditions.

The irony is that no one at Maruti will even point that out to you that A/C will spoil unless filters are in place. I'm trying to demonize them, but thats just plain outright cheating. Its like they are waiting for the part to fail.

Same goes with engine oil. They have this crappy 5W-30 mineral of Total which is worse than local brands and they just dont have any other option. They dont even have Semi synth. Its just looting.

[Neonfish]

Originally Posted by ankurbhageria

Took my car to the local AC guy.

Hi Ankur, can you please tell me which car you have? I am facing pretty much the same situation with my Mitsubishi Lancer and the local AC guy I took it to suggested the same replacement but is asking for way more - in the range of about Rs. 7,000 including the new cooling coil, filling the gas and labor included.

Even assuming everything is super expensive in Bangalore, it still seems very high compared to the 4.5k you payed. Please advise.

It would be very useful if others could chime in with their thoughts as well. Thank you!

[ankurbhageria]

Originally Posted by Neonfish

Hi Ankur, can you please tell me which car you have? I am facing pretty much the same situation with my Mitsubishi Lancer and the local AC guy I took it to suggested the same replacement but is asking for way more - in the range of about Rs. 7,000 including the new cooling coil, filling the gas and labor included.

Even assuming everything is super expensive in Bangalore, it still seems very high compared to the 4.5k you payed. Please advise.

It would be very useful if others could chime in with their thoughts as well. Thank you!

Hi

I have a Hyundai i10 1.2 petrol (2009) that underwent AC repair.

Rs. 7000 for this stuff seems expensive for a local to do even if you factor in the Bangalore cost considering that the Hyundai A.S.S was ready to do the same job in 6000 with extra taxes.

I would say that you should visit other repair shops and negotiate to get the best deal.

I am pretty satisfied with the repair job. The AC is working ideally so far. It has been a month since the repair.

[ankurbhageria]

Originally Posted by Mortis

So my Beat's AC has packed up since yesterday. Very low cooling and intermittent short hissing sound coming from inside the vents immediately when I switch on the AC button and then every 30 seconds or so. This was never there before. Today cooling is even lower but the hissing sound is spaced out further, say every minute or two. First hiss always comes when I put on the Ac button.
I am taking the car to the Service centre rather than an independent AC specialist since I still have 2 months left on my extended warranty and pretty much all the AC parts are covered by it.

I am guessing that the most likely problem is a leak somewhere in the system due to a part failure. What is most likely ? Im pretty sure that the compressor comes on and is working. Will get to know tomorrow once they check. I just want to make sure they do a permanent fix that will last or else it will be a pain to follow up past the warranty.

Will keep you guys updated and check back for further advice.

That hissing sound comes from the AC when it is short of AC gas (refrigerant).

Ask the service centre folks to properly check for leaks. They might just refill the gas and give the car back to you and it may end up leaking again. And since you say that 2 months of warranty are left, the chances of this happening are even more.

Get the leaking component replaced and then gas filled otherwise you will be looking at a hefty bill sometime later.

[pixantz]

Ankur hit it spot on man!