Maruti Suzuki A-Star Auto - Road Test

[condor]

One scrape. But I could not make out if it was metal or fibre - also, The wind deflector is already dis-engaged partly and is literally hanging by a thread.

[rajathv8]

All the more reason for it to scrape

[condor]

But rubber should not make a sound that's audible through the traffic sounds

[jinojohnt]

Originally Posted by mvadg

I had my ATF changed at Surakhshaa Bomanahalli about a month back. It was quite simple, come to think of it. (It was not a flush and fill, just drain and fill with a filter change). A-Star was at 53K KM. (2011 model)

Why didn't you do a flush and fill? I see a lot of horror stories on the avoidance of flush, on the internet.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by jinojohnt

Why didn't you do a flush and fill? I see a lot of horror stories on the avoidance of flush, on the internet.

I did not want to risk a flush with inexperienced (wrt. AT and fluid change) mechanics. I had spoken to a Hyundai mechanic who also said they only drain, not flush.

As my AT did not have any problems, I felt a drain and fill was enough.
Also, I don't think any MASS has a flushing machine. I was not too comfortable with the idea of flushing using the transmission fluid pump on the car.

[smartcat]

Two minor issues with my A-Star AT:

1) Strange smell inside the car when AC is turned on. Similar to the smell you get when somebody is burning dry leaves and twigs.
2) The fuel lid does not open!

Because of these two issues, I have realized that:

1) Pickup improves noticeably when you switch off the AC
2) I need to take the car to a garage before I run out of fuel!

[KK_HakunaMatata]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Two minor issues with my A-Star AT:

1) Strange smell inside the car when AC is turned on. Similar to the smell you get when somebody is burning dry leaves and twigs.

Did you try cleaning AC vents (inside & outside) with AC sanitizes. It has worked for me, but the smell was not of burning, it was of a filthy smell, may be of bacteria.

Originally Posted by smartcat

2) The fuel lid does not open!

Even my BIL's Punto has the same problem, it does not open by the lever given under the driver seat, but there is a small piece of wire to pull and open, which is accessed from the boot just near the place where is fuel lid is located outside.

May be you can check out once.

KK

[smartcat]

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

Did you try cleaning AC vents (inside & outside) with AC sanitizes. It has worked for me, but the smell was not of burning, it was of a filthy smell, may be of bacteria.

This might be an electrical issue. Got the AC duct & vents cleaned last month during servicing.

Even my BIL's Punto has the same problem, it does not open by the lever given under the driver seat, but there is a small piece of wire to pull and open, which is accessed from the boot just near the place where is fuel lid is located outside. May be you can check out once.

Did not find any exposed wire here. When I opened the boot, I found an old potato with things growing on it though. It was hiding behind the speakers.



The red wire you see in the pic goes to the speakers. Maybe the wire to remove the fuel lid is hidden behind the grey piece of plastic. Anyway, the guy who did the installation has nailed the speaker casing to floor of the boot. Can't move it.



Because of which I can't even access the jack & spanner. Access is blocked by the right hand side speaker!

[jinojohnt]

Originally Posted by smartcat

2) The fuel lid does not open!

Here is a picture of the fuel lid:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post2492300

I have seen a technician open a stuck fuel lid by slipping in a steel scale to press the black button inside. He used his right hand between the parallel and perpendicular position (the position of the hour hand of a clock at 1:30) to slip in the scale. Once opened, use grease to free the black button.

[vigsom]

Originally Posted by smartcat

2) The fuel lid does not open!

With the K10 3 cylinder engine, the increase in pick up is noticeable when the a.c compressor is cut off.

The fuel lid problem is quite common in all Marutis and I have experienced this with my Toyotas too.

While someone pulls the lever, have another person open the fuel lid. Just apply some boroline or silicone grease to the black actuator pin which helps hold the fuel lid locked. That should solve the problem.

[condor]

Is the fuel-lid problem because of a faulty cable ?

[smartcat]

Fuel lid problem fixed at Maruti service center with the help of screwdriver, fingers and two men. One guy's job is to keep yanking at the remote opener below the driver's seat.

Step 1: Open the fuel lid with the help of screwdriver or car key.

Step 2: Use the screwdriver to 'push' the metal latch inward. This will help the lid to pop open easily



Step 3: Fiddle with the black rubberized clip with fingers or screwdriver. Not sure what exactly he did there though.



AC burning smell problem could not be replicated there. We switched it ON for 30 minutes.

[condor]

Next time I open those panels in the boot, will check if we can create an emergency opener (using cable) - something like how the Safari has.

[avi550m]

My A-Star's Michelin XM2 got punctured recently. When I took it to the tyre shop, the owner showed me small cracks in the grooves due to the car not having been driven much and been parked for a long time. The tyres and the car are around 5 1/2 years old. He rotated the tyres, but told me to change them soon.

I am dissapointed as the tyres have covered less than 10k in 5 years over mostly Bangalore city roads. I want to know is there really an urgent need to change the tyres or can I keep using them for a few more months. I never drive fast or on the highway and take the car out 3-4 times a month.

Also, if I have to change the tyres (no upsizing), what would be your recommendation. I am wondering whether to got for a sturdier (but not too hard) tyre instead of the XM2, but don't want to compromise too much for ride comfort/noise.

The Prices I got from a couple of dealers here in Yelahanka were:
1. Bridgestone B290: Rs. 3,850/-
2. Michelin XM2: Rs. 4,250/-
3. Yokohama Earth-1: Rs. 4,100/-

[condor]

Originally Posted by avi550m

I am dissapointed as the tyres have covered less than 10k in 5 years over mostly Bangalore city roads. I want to know is there really an urgent need to change the tyres or can I keep using them for a few more months.

That's the nature of rubber. It will harden with age, irrespective of use. However, considering your running, you can use it for a little more time.

For size, you can go for 175/65 R14 also ( you will need new rims / wheels). or 175/70 R13 ( if you will use original wheels). Michelin or Earth-1. You can get more info in the A-Star Tyre upsize thread (Maruti Suzuki A-Star : Tyre & wheel upgrade thread).