[coolkurt]

That's a valid point. But I guess 3-4 years hence, as the numbers dwindle, things will start getting a little difficult.

I've paid around 15k for a regular service, which puts me in a quandary. Should I continue going to the service centers for the peace of mind or visit independent garages for big savings? My car is going to be 7 years old soon. The older the machine, the more unwilling one gets to spend a fortune on it.

Really hope we see the next gen civic in India by 2015-16. Reliability wise no competition. I'd rather have a great machine with average service support than the other way round

[sgiitk]

@coolkurt; If you are going twice year for service do what I did (for my Hyundais'), alternate between independent and the HASS.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by Safeer

This advice from HASS is part of proactive maintenance, and possibly you could hold on to next 5K interval. If you feel that there is something wrong with clutch functioning as such or sense of vehicle not 'moving as earlier' in hi-revs, then yes, you could think of the work.

Thanks

In fact, last time (during the 50K service) itself the HASS folks informed me that they are feeling that the clutch has become a little "hard" and that they would take a closer look next time (i.e., during the current 55K service). So much for consistency. They have informed me now that the flywheel is in good shape, so they are NOT replacing that - they are replacing only the clutch mechanism.

They are also replacing the lower arms.

I'm paranoid about safety so I've asked them to go ahead.

By the way, which is the best battery for Civic ? Thanks.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

By the way, which is the best battery for Civic ? Thanks.

I am using an Amaron Pro 55B24LS which is with a five year warranty. This is the only Amaron model for the Civic. Bought is just over a month ago.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I am using an Amaron Pro 55B24LS which is with a five year warranty. This is the only Amaron model for the Civic. Bought is just over a month ago.

Thanks. This is the background for my question: HASS says that Exide Supersonic (Rs. 6800/--) is the Honda approved battery; whereas Exide says that it is Exide Matrix (Rs. 7300/--). Hence the confusion.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Thanks. This is the background for my question: HASS says that Exide Supersonic (Rs. 6800/--) is the Honda approved battery; whereas Exide says that it is Exide Matrix (Rs. 7300/--). Hence the confusion.

Forget the HASS. I got mine from the open market for about Rs.5400. In any case Honda also approves of Amaron.

[sarathlal]

For batteries, any respectable brand like Amaron or Exide will do. Just that the electrical specifications should match that of the Civic.
We anyway would need to replace it in 3-4 years.

The more 'year warranty' we get with the battery, the more money we get back as buy back when replacing, isn't it that way the battery warranty works?
For eg; in case we buy a battery with 4 years warranty, you will get 40% of the money as buy back in the 4th year, whereas if it was the one with 5 year warranty, you would get that 40% in the 5th year as well.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

We anyway would need to replace it in 3-4 years.

Is it normal to replace the battery in 3 years? My Exide is just about 3 years old, and the HASS says that it has become weak and that it needs replacement.

[manim]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Is it normal to replace the battery in 3 years? My Exide is just about 3 years old, and the HASS says that it has become weak and that it needs replacement.

The oem exide may be of bad quality.
Mine failed in 2.8 years.

My present Amaron is still good at 3.5 years.

[gaurav_diavolo]

I get the same Amaron for 3700/- as my cousin is a big battery dealer in Jaipur, many friends buy through me. If any one is in or around Jaipur, do let me know and I will arrange for the battery.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by gaurav_diavolo

I get the same Amaron for 3700/- as my cousin is a big battery dealer in Jaipur, many friends buy through me. If any one is in or around Jaipur, do let me know and I will arrange for the battery.

I'm in Whitefield, Bangalore !

Thanks, though.

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Is it normal to replace the battery in 3 years? My Exide is just about 3 years old, and the HASS says that it has become weak and that it needs replacement.

Originally Posted by manim

The oem exide may be of bad quality.
Mine failed in 2.8 years.

My present Amaron is still good at 3.5 years.

I guess, normally the battery lasts longer if its a regularly run vehicle. If there is too much idle periods, then the worn out may be little accelerated. With personal experience, 3-4 years is where a battery would last in its prime form.

[spadix]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

For batteries, any respectable brand like Amaron or Exide will do. Just that the electrical specifications should match that of the Civic. We anyway would need to replace it in 3-4 years. The more 'year warranty' we get with the battery, the more money we get back as buy back when replacing, isn't it that way the battery warranty works? For eg; in case we buy a battery with 4 years warranty, you will get 40% of the money as buy back in the 4th year, whereas if it was the one with 5 year warranty, you would get that 40% in the 5th year as well.

:groan:

I let HASS replace my (then) 27 month-old OEM battery (a Standard Furukawa if I remember correctly) with an Exide SMF. I remember paying around 5400-5800 on a battery that cost around 6300 +/- 100. Definitely nowhere close to even 20%, leave alone 40%. In fairness to them, the hygrometer density reading was 12. At least, that's what they showed on me a chart, but I didn't see the instrument in action myself. The SA said even 5 year-warranty batteries go out in 2 years. I never recharged the battery, so I asked him if that could be done to prolong the life. He said there's no point with severe winter around the corner (this was last Nov.).

I still don't know if I was taken for a ride.

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Is it normal to replace the battery in 3 years? My Exide is just about 3 years old, and the HASS says that it has become weak and that it needs replacement.

I expected 4-5 years but got only 2.25 out of my OWM battery, like I said above.

Regards,
spadix

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by spadix

:groan:


I still don't know if I was taken for a ride.

Regards,
spadix

Oh, the numbers I had put there were for relative purpose only and are not actuals. Sorry for the confusion.
When we buy the battery, the warranty card will have these figures written with the exact % one would get back. That's the warranty they say about, and not the number of years, it will hold.

Normally this would be divided into two periods. One is a free replacement period, and then the pro rata period.
During free replacement period, the replacement will be free for the same spec battery.
In pro rata period, the amount you have to pay for the replacement battery will increase as the number of months from the date of purchase increases.
It is the combination of these two periods, they publish as n year warranty.

[Derezzed]

I had my Civic undergo a General checkup yesterday at HASS, Pune. Cost me around Rs. 500 and came back with 1 comment : hydraulic engine mount needs to be replaced soon. There was still some gap between the mounts and I plan to get it replaced by the year end. (Rs. 8k approx.)

On my way back to office after taking delivery of the car, the A/C suddenly stopped cooling. Only the blower was working and despite changing the A/C settings no cold air would come through the vents. Sweating in the afternoon sun I reached my office and called up the SA at HASS to tell him about this problem. He asked me to bring the car back immediately, but I had some meeting lined up and I told him that I would bring the car next day morning.

In the evening the A/C started working normally again and I reached home.
This morning I took the car to the HASS, with the A/C working fine again but I had them change the relay for the A/C.

I had read in a lot of forums that fuse and relay are the most common culprits of a non working A/C. Since the A/C was working, a blown fuse was ruled out. So I told HASS to change the relay first and then see what happens next. The relay cost Rs. 1000 and after an extensive road test the A/C was working fine.

I have my ears and sweat pores open to listen to any A/C issues from now on.