Air conditioning retrofit

Introduction

If your vehicle already has air conditioning installed from the factory, you don't really need to read this article. Just read the chapter "Benefits of having air conditioning" and enjoy life.

If you don't have air conditioning, you might consider installing it, either by buying a ready-to-fit kit from Suzuki, or by transplanting all the required parts from a dead Jimny in a local vehicle junkyard.

Benefits of having air conditioning

1. It cools and dehumidifies the air on hot weather (obviously).
2. It rapidly demists foggy front window and front side windows on cold or humid weather, even when you set the air conditioning to heating mode.
3. It can provide additional significant engine braking power when descending very steep hills, either on road or off road.

Since Jimnys have small engines, the engine braking assistance of the air conditioning is significant indeed. In other words, the air conditioning soaks up a relatively large percentage of energy which the engine has to handle. This "air conditioning braking" skill needs some technique to master, because you need to time it right with the on-off operation of the air conditioning compressor.

Buying an entire OEM kit

If you want it to be simple and professional, Suzuki does sell complete OEM air conditioning kits for Jimnys which don't have it.

A kit contains all the required parts (and there are a lot of small parts).

The needed kit depends on your Jimny edition and revision, so you must consult with your local Suzuki dealer.

Beware that the prices for these kits are very high (four digits in EUR currency).

Transplanting air conditioning system from another Jimny

It isn't yet known of anyone who has actually performed a DIY air conditioning system transplantation from one Jimny to another.

Therefore, the actual details on what all the parts to transplant (and how) are unknown. Be the first one to try it and report your experience here.

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Page last edited on 26/12/2016 by user Bosanek