[pixantz]

Originally Posted by k88k

I have bought a Tigor XZA and the car has hardly done 100 kms. I am seeing small pieces of foam (grey) below the glove box compartment. Since I noticed this after a good running of AC for 25-30 kms, I guess it has something to do with it. Is there any problem with the AC or is it something else?

While I'm not a fan of TATA products and wouldn't bat an eyelid with a similar situation on a Tata car, I don't see why you would be suspecting the Ac for the foam fiasco unless maybe if it was coming out of the Ac vents or something.

That said, if I was you, I would only be concerned of the possibility that it might be a rodent taking fancy to my new ride. Now that would be a point to worry about.

[vaasscit]

Was shocked to read the below article on ineffective air con filters posing a serious threat to car occupants. If this is the case in a matured market like UK, i can't even imagine the condition in Indian cars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...toxic-air.html

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by pkulkarni.2106

Sir, it's kind of tricky in my case.
As per the FNG, AC should cut off in only two cases:
1. It has reached maximum cooling
2. ECU detects wide open throttle

FNG is again in the car maintenance trade. I was talking about an auto AC specialist. There are a lot of fly-by-night operators so watch out.

[pixantz]

Originally Posted by vaasscit

Was shocked to read the below article on ineffective air con filters posing a serious threat to car occupants. If this is the case in a matured market like UK, i can't even imagine the condition in Indian cars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...toxic-air.html

I don't see why this should be shocking. It should be remembered that car Ac's have never been claimed to be AIR PURIFIERS. They're not built to purify air but just to cool/heat, keep out dust and particles upto certain levels and also pollen(not in all cars, because the Ac cabin filters differ from car to car), odour, etc.

On further thought, it can be made a requirement by Automobile associations in future that car Ac's should have integrated air-purifiers and/or function like one. But that's not a reality. Yet. So what's the issue?

[vaasscit]

Originally Posted by pixantz

I don't see why this should be shocking. It should be remembered that car Ac's have never been claimed to be AIR PURIFIERS. They're not built to purify air but just to cool/heat, keep out dust and particles upto certain levels and also pollen(not in all cars, because the Ac cabin filters differ from car to car), odour, etc.

On further thought, it can be made a requirement by Automobile associations in future that car Ac's should have integrated air-purifiers and/or function like one. But that's not a reality. Yet. So what's the issue?

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is the difference between Air Filter and Air Purifier ?

My understanding is that the Air Filter used in cars would filter out any dust/contaminants in Atmospheric air before it enters the cabin. Every 10,000 kms the AC filter is cleaned/replaced to serve this purpose.

Air purifiers are designed to kill bacteria, molds and fungus, aren't they ?

I was shocked because it seems that the filters aren't doing their job. Technically, they should be allowing toxic contaminants to enter the cabin isn't ?

Agreed the filter used in different cars would be different (in terms of permissible size of the membrane and all) but they should filter out emissions would be my basic expectation.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by vaasscit

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is the difference between Air Filter and Air Purifier ?

Cabin air filter in your car = for normal dust, it is just a paper filter.

Air purifier = a separate box installed inside your car from eg: Panasonic, has multiple layers of filtering including electrostatic, activated charcoal etc. This deals with other pollutants, pollen etc.

Like this. https://www.sjkelectrical.com.my/web...117&pkproduct=

[Rshrey22]

Has anyone got his Swift's/Dzire's AC serviced?
Somehow in my 6 years of ownership, not even a single service advisor told me about installing an AC cabin air filter and it didn't come factory fitted either.

Now that my car's AC is no longer blowing cold air, I took it an AC servicing shop, he told me that cooling coil was choked with dust and what not.

He said, that to get to the cooling coil, whole dashboard has to be pulled out, is this true?
Is there no other way to clean the coil?

I don't want the whole dashboard to be pulled out, if something goes wrong? Or the car squeeks or rattles afterwards? What should I do?

[hserus]

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

He said, that to get to the cooling coil, whole dashboard has to be pulled out, is this true?
Is there no other way to clean the coil?

I don't want the whole dashboard to be pulled out, if something goes wrong? Or the car squeeks or rattles afterwards? What should I do?

Yes the dashboard has to be stripped and then put back. If there are squeaks and rattles live with them, it is a Dzire and not a BMW

Just hope your cooling coil just needs cleaning rather than anything else (compressor out / pipe leaks etc).

Not the cheapest repair around, but definitely install an aircon filter and change it every 6 months or 5k kilometres.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

Somehow in my 6 years of ownership, not even a single service advisor told me about installing an AC cabin air filter and it didn't come factory fitted either.

I have the AC filter replaced every year (~10k Km).
Part numbers are here:link (Maruti Genuine Parts (MGP) Catalog: Post your queries here (model list on Pg 1))


*My car is a first gen Dzire

The filter can be accessed easily after removing the glove box.

The function of this filter is to cut off dust entering the cabin, so not sure if the mechanic is correct in saying the cooling coil accumulated dust because of the missing cabin AC filter.

Edit:
To access the cooling coil I think entire dashboard and steering column needs to be removed.

[Rshrey22]

Originally Posted by NPV

The filter can be accessed easily after removing the glove box.

The function of this filter is to cut off dust entering the cabin, so not sure if the mechanic is correct in saying the cooling coil accumulated dust because of the missing cabin AC filter.

The shop owner said that first gen cars were easy to work on, but for the second gen ones, the whole dashboard needs to be pulled out. Are you sure, removing the glove box to gain access to cooling coil will suffice?

[hserus]

Originally Posted by NPV

*My car is a first gen Dzire

The filter can be accessed easily after removing the glove box.

The function of this filter is to cut off dust entering the cabin, so not sure if the mechanic is correct in saying the cooling coil accumulated dust because of the missing cabin AC filter.

Of course it will accumulate dust. You step into your car with mud on your shoes - dust. You drive with the windows open - dust. All that sort of stuff.

Having no cabin air filter or a dirty cabin air filter and driving for a few months let alone six years is the sort of thing AC mechanics pray for. Enough such people and they can make a down payment on a house.

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

The shop owner said that first gen cars were easy to work on, but for the second gen ones, the whole dashboard needs to be pulled out. Are you sure, removing the glove box to gain access to cooling coil will suffice?

The COOLING COIL is a big grille of metal and is behind your dashboard. The AC filter is a rectangular paper filter and fits into a box behind your glove compartment.

Any car at all will need its dashboard stripped for cooling coil repair or replacement.

[Rshrey22]

Originally Posted by hserus

Yes the dashboard has to be stripped and then put back. If there are squeaks and rattles live with them, it is a Dzire and not a BMW

Can't live with the squeaks and it's not about being a suzuki or a beemer, it's just that one likes to keep his ride in top shape.

Originally Posted by hserus

The COOLING COIL is a big grille of metal and is behind your dashboard. The AC filter is a rectangular paper filter and fits into a box behind your glove compartment.

Any car at all will need its dashboard stripped for cooling coil repair or replacement.

I know that bit, it's just that in our old santro, the cooling coil could be accessed via removing the glove box.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

Can't live with the squeaks and it's not about being a suzuki or a beemer, it's just that one likes to keep his ride in top shape.

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

I know that bit, it's just that in our old santro, the cooling coil could be accessed via removing the glove box.

You'd access the blower motor at the most by removing the glove box, beyond the AC filter.

Look, here are some photos. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-santro-2.html

Also a dud AC isn't just a hot car - your engine operates at a lot more stress, fuel efficiency goes for a toss etc. Just ensuring that the tech is careful when putting your dashboard back should be OK to avoid most squeaks.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

The shop owner said that first gen cars were easy to work on, but for the second gen ones, the whole dashboard needs to be pulled out. Are you sure, removing the glove box to gain access to cooling coil will suffice?

For Cabin AC filter, you need to only remove the glove box.

To access the cooling coils, you'd need to remove the dashboard and possibly even the steering column.

And yes, since the cooling coil is behind/inside the dashboard, the Cabin AC filter can help reduce dust reaching the coil.

[pixantz]

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

Has anyone got his Swift's/Dzire's AC serviced?
Somehow in my 6 years of ownership, not even a single service advisor told me about installing an AC cabin air filter and it didn't come factory fitted either.

He said, that to get to the cooling coil, whole dashboard has to be pulled out, is this true?
Is there no other way to clean the coil?

At some point in time, maybe just before the Type 2 Swift/Desire were introduced, Maruti stopped putting in the cabin-filter as a standard part and started treating it as an optional part(one of the funniest things I came across in the Auto world, but yeah , Maruti is like that only). The fun didn't stop there, these guys didn't even think it necessary to tell buyers about their little secret. Don't know if it appears as an option in the list when you're buying.

Guess what, if I start listing gaffes like this from Maruti, this post would be so long, I'd get an infraction or two from the admins :sly: . But OK, since we're into the filters topic, just one more. This time it's the Blue-eyed-Boy, the current Wagon R. They started out by offering it with the cabin filter, but somewhere around 2012 or so, the cars started coming without one. There wasn't even an option of adding one like the Desire/Swift because the whole area was just sealed of. Within months owners would complain about cooling issues due to clogged evaporator. It didn't stop here, after they realized that they just did another goof up they started selling the Wagon R filters with the plastic piece that covers the filter so that one could cut open the area, put in a filter and then put the cover on top. What fun. This fun continues till date. Those who buy a Wagon R filter will know what I'm talking about. As of today, the cars ship with a filter installed. Very prompt, no?

As for your dashboard query, yes the Type 2 Desire has to have the dash removed to access the cooling coil, but I think it can be done by removing the clutch pedal and maybe brake pedal too if necessary. It would be easier than going for the whole dash. But I'm not confirmed about this.

Originally Posted by hserus

If there are squeaks and rattles live with them, it is a Dzire and not a BMW

Just love this line. It cracked me up the way you said it

On a serious note, don't wish to offend any Maruti owners but it's true to a good extent. You don't need to do something like a dash removal to develop squeaks and creaks in a Maruti. I know guys who just buy even a new Baleno and they got squeaks as a free deal thrown in.

BTW hserus, I think it was too harsh to compare Maruti with a BMW. Harsh on the BMW, I mean

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

The shop owner said that first gen cars were easy to work on, but for the second gen ones, the whole dashboard needs to be pulled out. Are you sure, removing the glove box to gain access to cooling coil will suffice?

All this extra trouble because Maruti added the new dashboard which complicates things whereas the older model dash had it easier to access the cooling coil. Talk about screwing things up.

It's no worry for them, instead of replacing a 400 rupee filter, they'll charge you 4-6 thousand for a whole cooling coil service job. Cool no?

Removing glove box gives access to filter, not the coil.

Originally Posted by hserus

Any car at all will need its dashboard stripped for cooling coil repair or replacement.

You're wrong. Not exactly all cars. If you're talking about something like the Honda, you never need to touch the dash for Ac Cooling Coil Service. They have made it in a special way where the coil can be removed from the side, be it a CRV, Accord, City, Civic or any other. I have huge respect for Honda because they do things like this. One of the few company's who don't think of the delight and comfort of only the passengers and driver but also of the service personnel. It's just as delightful working on a Honda as it is driving one.

Even Innova don't need dash removal. Don't know about the Crysta though...

Originally Posted by Rshrey22

Can't live with the squeaks and it's not about being a suzuki or a beemer, it's just that one likes to keep his ride in top shape.



I know that bit, it's just that in our old santro, the cooling coil could be accessed via removing the glove box.

About the squeaks, I think, logically, as of now, they're just in your head. I mean, you've not even gone ahead with the job yet and you're so upset about the squeaks as if you're sure there will be a lot of them! If you ask me, it's not so, if you have a normally good enough Ac technician, you should have zero squeaks. Maruti or Jaguar, doesn't matter. If the technician is bad, hell screw up even a BMW easily. Chew on that fact.

Santro didn't have a removable glove box as a whole, but they had provided a removable portion so that the Ac could be serviced without dash removal. That was nice. They've joined the bandwagon since though, now even the puny Eon needs dash removal.

Actually it's because of the way newer cars are designed which needs this procedure.

Originally Posted by hserus

Also a dud AC isn't just a hot car - your engine operates at a lot more stress, fuel efficiency goes for a toss etc.

Very true. Also, the life of the aircondioning system starts getting lesser the more its worked in a compromised condition.

Extreme abuse could lead to compressor failure in some cases with additional expenditures like condenser etc also giving up the ghost. Stay clean guys. All the best.