Team-BHP - Swift Diesel, Saga continues. The DIESEL experience! Part II 72k kms Update Page 182. Now SOLD!

Hi,
My Swift-D bought in the Summer of 2008 has crossed the 89K mark recently.
I think apart from regular servicing the only other additional expense I have had so far are 3 bearings, Tyres replaced- riding on Yoko's, Battery replaced-Exide, EGR clean-up once, some work done on front shocks- think it was bush or something.
Have had a few instances of shudders/judders of the clutch/engine on 1st gear in the last 1K. Something like 3 or 4 times.
S.A told me clutch is wearing out and tole me - run it till it runs (not sure what that meant), as it goes from this point to worse- what should I experience? Heavy Clutch more shudders & judders? Cost of Clutch & Pressure plate replacement is 6.5K, if it comes to that..what else should be changed. Is it a family of components that need to be changed?
Oh yeah the brakes, every time I think it is time to change, after servicing- bleeding, cleaning the S.A says will go for another 10K.

Any other advice from Veteran Swift-D owners is welcome.

Thanks
Kartik

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMaruru (Post 2975893)

Our car is due for 40K service, and as such called Mandovi, JP Nagar for the list of items and approximate estimate. I have been told, that the car needs engine oil, gear oil and coolant change and also fuel and diesel filter would be replaced. They quoted around 7K as approx. estimate.

Are all these warranted for 40K service? Is there anything else to look out for?
Is the approx. cost estimate reasonable?

Please advise.

please:

That sounds reasonable.
Here's the breakup of my 40,000kms service

1) Air Filter - 228.19
2) Exchange Filter - 1164.76
3) Oil Filter - 331.28
4) Mount, Front Stabilizer - 32.72 (2x16.36)
5) BG Engine oil Flush - 440.53
6) BG Cooling System Flush - 297.80
7) Coolant (SG) - 207.05
8) MGDO (15W40) Castrol - 682.81 (3x220.26)
9) MGGO (75W90) Total - 729.50 (2.4x303.96)
10) Consumable - 26.44 (2x13.22)

Labor:
1) EGR cleaning - 400
2) Nine point service - 815
3) Brakes overhaul (Complete) - 485
4) Engine System Flushing - 280
5) Radiator Flushing - 280
6) Front Suspension Arm both side R&R - 465
7) Front brake caliper assembly both side - 485
8) Stabilizer bar bush - 365
9) Interior cleaning and body polishing - free

Net amount including tax rounded to 9k

Quote:

Originally Posted by naveen.raju (Post 2976333)

8) MGDO (15W40) Castrol - 682.81 (3x220.26)
4) Engine System Flushing - 280
5) Radiator Flushing - 280

Naveen.raju

How does the car feel and sound after the system flushing? Going by the price your engine is still on mineral oil. I know the price difference is too much but a try.

Why don't you try synthetic by Shell (5W40) which is Rs 960/lt so for 3 lt it would be Rs. 2980. This is what I have been using after my 70000Kms service. Clocked 4000kms already and I still feel the engine sound to be low. Response is has gone up marginally.

Anurag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnrajdeep (Post 2975798)

Today, I plan to go to Basha Wheel Alignment and get the problem fixed.

Just came back from the alignment center, which I found after a lot of calls. Its exact address is

Basha Wheel Alignment
Opposite Colonel Hill School
Colonel Hill Road,
Near Cantonment Station
Bangalore.

Each wheel in the car had camber which needed to be adjusted. In the front, the wheels were pointing straight but angled inwards towards the car at the bottom (about 1.5 cm) (where the tyre contacts the ground). The rear were pointed towards the center (a few degrees towards the car) and the bottom was slightly tilted outwards (about 1 cm). The front was set right by centering. The rear was corrected by adding washers to the place where the brake drum is bolted to the suspension. Pretty time consuming process. I reached there at 11:45 and everything was done by 17:45. Now I feel that the car moves very freely when coasting. Due to this, I also expect my mileage to increase.

When they were working on my car, a 2009 swift came in with the exact wear symptoms on the rear left tyre. The owner did not notice it earlier and the tyre was fully worn out on the outside while steel strands were coming out of the inside edge :Shockked:!

Maruti really has some QC issues since my car was never involved in a collision which could have changed the alignment in this way. There seem to be quite a few examples of this kind of wear in Swifts and Dzires. I know of theMag, arun_josie and myself in team-bhp itself and another example that I saw at the alignment center. I now also think that Maruti deliberately chooses tyres which wear slowly in order that such suspension issues do not show up early in the warranty periods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnrajdeep (Post 2976623)

Each wheel in the car had camber which needed to be adjusted. In the front, the wheels were pointing straight but angled inwards towards the car at the bottom (about 1.5 cm) (where the tyre contacts the ground). The rear were pointed towards the center (a few degrees towards the car) and the bottom was slightly tilted outwards (about 1 cm). The front was set right by centering. The rear was corrected by adding washers to the place where the brake drum is bolted to the suspension. Pretty time consuming process. I reached there at 11:45 and everything was done by 17:45. Now I feel that the car moves very freely when coasting. Due to this, I also expect my mileage to increase.

I now also think that Maruti deliberately chooses tyres which wear slowly in order that such suspension issues do not show up early in the warranty periods.

So how do the car feel when on the turns and over slight bad roads? Does the steering feel light and more focused than before? ow much were you charged for this job? Hope you are happy now riding your car.

Maruti looks at we customers with the "Kitna Deti Hai" concept. The tires are skinny and mileage oriented. Damn. When is it they will give us a proper car. Not that I'm asking for cars that do 0-100kmph in 5sec etc. But a decent car with good safety features at an affordable price.

They too must get their R&D right with better and wider tires. 70% of the Swift/Ritz and the newer models from Maruti either sport a 155 or a 165 section tires. Mileage yes is an important part but no on the face of safety:Frustrati

Anurag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4anurag (Post 2976729)

I had a 20 km drive in traffic and couldn't gauge much on the turns. I was going very gingerly over the bad roads as well. The steering is definitely lighter but what surprised me was how much faster the car rolls down a slope in neutral and while coasting. Steering feels more direct with small movements of the wheel have the required effect.

Have a long drive planned next weekend and will have to wait till then to observe more. I paid 4800/ for this.

Rajdeep

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4anurag (Post 2976528)

I had plans of going for synthetic oil last time but stayed away since the bill was estimated to be 9k. Car felt good, smooth after the flushing. I was completely satisfied with their service but spoiled it this time. My car is now in the workshop for repairs after the damage casued by the mechanic. It's been 3 days now and they promised that they would deliver it in excellent condition after genuine polishing. Is it true that you dont have to change the oil for quite sometime? Would last really long? This is what the SA said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG (Post 2977301)

I would suggest you pay a visit to Vasu at SAG once, to get his opinion and to ascertain the current competency at Basha's. PM psycho for further details on how to reach Vasu.

Got the work done yesterday itself. They did not touch the ABS lines and were able to complete the work without damaging anything. I have been to SAG a couple of times when I had my zen :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by naveen.raju (Post 2976983)

My car is now in the workshop for repairs after the damage caused by the mechanic. It's been 3 days now and they promised that they would deliver it in excellent condition after genuine polishing. Is it true that you dont have to change the oil for quite sometime? Would last really long? This is what the SA said.

What happened exactly that caused the car to be in the workshop since 3 days? You get polishing done in MASS?

This engine oil shift to Synthetic was a trial for checking the synthetic oils. It is OK but I have an habit of changing oils every 5K. So a synthetic oil being used only for 5K is an overkill. Will keep this till 80K and revert back to the normal ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by archat68 (Post 2977399)

MASS fills Mobil 1 in the diesel cars too. I asked one SA last time and he confirmed it. So, if anybody is going for synthetic I'd suggest to get it changed outside and fill the Mobil Delvac 1. But for cars under warranty this may not be an option.

For the new swifts, there is a different 5W40 synthetic diesel engine oil that needs to be filled in. I think it is Castrol Edge. I got this oil filled at the MASS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4anurag (Post 2977442)

I guess you didnt see the previous page. The technician banged my car when I gave it for service. A small dent with few scratches. Gave it for repairs. Got it back few hours back. Will post the pics of the work.

Even I'm planning to go for synthetic next time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnrajdeep (Post 2977620)

For the new swifts, there is a different 5W40 synthetic diesel engine oil that needs to be filled in. I think it is Castrol Edge. I got this oil filled at the MASS.

Castrol edge is predominantly a oil for petrol engines. It is rated CF-4 for diesel engines whereas Mobil Delvac 1 is also fully synthetic but rated CI-4 Plus.

Given an option I would fill regular mineral oil with CI-4 rating (such as Delvac MX, Gulf Max TD) and change the oil at lower interval rather than costlier synthetic with lower rating.

My 2007 December Swift VDi is having strange problems with its instrument cluster.

I have started noticing that my fuel gauge goes offff the full mark and returns to half tank when almost empty.

The temperature gauge is also showing very high temperature even in the winter mornings even before starting up.

The tacho is also showing approx 200 RPM more than reality.

Can this be fixed or the entire instrument cluster needs to be changed?

How much would be the cost for the instrument cluster?

Also is it possible to fit the new Swift's instrument cluster if I need to change this one?

Will visit my MAAS next week so your inputs would be of great help before December 5, 2012.