[anky]

This proves that alto although cheap to buy at first is not necessarily cheap to maintain . In my 8.5 years of ownership the bill always came up to about 5k each time . Who says maruti service is cheap ?

[bullrun87]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

Check your drive shafts. How much did the car cloak?

By driveshafts do you mean the half axles and their respective CV joints? Ill have those checked. My car has done 26000kms

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by guptavis

However, your cost dont add up to 6541. Please also add whatever you have left out.

I had mentioned all the major headers, remaining amount is due to taxes ~ 800 and few misc items (~ Rs 15 each)

Did MASS supply NGK spark plugs? my Mass has only Champion plugs.
Paid service : 1220+tax!! wow maruti are really jacking up the service cost like anything.

MASS has NGK plugs, you need to specifically check with them for the same. One forum member mentioned before that it is used in old generation Swift's.
Yes, the service cost has increased. However what Iam concerned about is the 'additional charges' that creeps up along with service as you mentioned. Thankfully in general spares are cheaper for Maruti (not just for Alto) hence the overall rates are slightly on lower side.

[sada]

Originally Posted by JustCause

Yes, that is the method usually followed.However, why didn't they measure the amount? Underfill/Overfill is equally bad for the vehicle. I got the gear oil change done at an FNG nearby and hence allowed just the right amount (2.2 liters) after proper drainage to be filled. Reverse gear problem is most probably the clutch, since you mention it to be misaligned. Get this corrected outsude at an independent garage, else you will be another cash cow for the Maruti workshop.

Thanks for clearing my doubt. I will get clutch pedal play checked soon. I was billed for 2.5 liters of gear oil and I think the spillage that happened between removing the gun and putting the nut was more than 200 ml. I feel there should be a better method of filling it without spilling so much oil; the longer time the mechanic takes to insert the nut, the more the spillage. Suppose we carry the gear oil ourselves from outside, what is the procedure adopted in filling it?

[JustCause]

Originally Posted by sada

Suppose we carry the gear oil ourselves from outside, what is the procedure adopted in filling it?

I got 3X 1liter cans of Castrol Transmission oil and it was filled one can after the other using a nozzle. 200ml was measured and filled from the last can.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by bullrun87

By driveshafts do you mean the half axles and their respective CV joints? Ill have those checked. My car has done 26000kms

Yes. Any unbalance can generate the problem you have mentioned about.

[sada]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Did 40K service of My Alto last weekend at Suraksha Bommanahalli Bangalore, changed accelerator and clutch cables also as preventive maintenance. Total cost : Rs: 6541

Breakup :

Parts
--------
Spark plugs : 327
Air filter : 170
Fuel filter: 261
Accelerator cable: 91
Oil filter : 79
Clutch cable: 192
Distilled water: 8
Coolant: 206
Brake fluid : 262
Grease : 28
Engine Oil: 843
Gear Oil: 823

Labour:
------------
Brake overhaul : 180
Caliper pin greasing : 220
Break bleeding: 195
Clutch Cable change: 225

Didn't do wheel alignment since I prefer getting it done outside and also need to replace tyres in few days.

mpksuhas,
From the above, it looks like the 40k paid service labour charges (approximately 1220/= + tax) has not been charged and instead you have been charged for Brake Overhaul and Caliper Pin Greasing (both of which are otherwise covered under Paid Service), thereby resulting in a saving of Rs.850 plus! [1250 labour minus 400 (brake overhaul + caliper greasing)] So, it looks like labour charges have been missed out by MASS for changing spark plugs, changing air filter, changing fuel filter, changing accelerator cable, changing engine oil/filter, changing coolant, changing gear oil, and car wash (if it was done)!

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by sada

thereby resulting in a saving of Rs.850 plus! [1250 labour minus 400 (brake overhaul + caliper greasing)]

If MASS ever did this, I would take the SA for lunch or even dinner.

The costs do not add up to 6.5k without paid service so hence I think suhas has missed it. They would rather charge extra for brake cleaning and pin greasing, which is 'supposed' to be covered under paid service and these guys ruthlessly charge extra. Also, I feel these labour rates are too high. Recently I got my WagonRs brake system serviced from a FNG who is quite equipped and very professional. Cost was 200. This included - Brake pad cleaning, caliper greasing, brake bleeding(front) and free removal of a bend in the rim. And no extra charge for the grease

[aneezan]

Originally Posted by aneezan

I have an issue with my Alto Lxi which has developed recently. There is a lot of road that I feel coming in through the front especially when passing over bad roads or stones. But I haven't had realized any change or damage in the suspension. My wife who is my daily passenger also feels this. Even small bumps/holes seem to flow right up through the steering along with vibrations. I mentioned this to MASS during my latest service but I don't find improvements. The service attendant suggested that the front tyres be switched with the back, which he did.
Is something wrong with the tyres or the suspension? Do I need to change the tyres?
The car has run about 39,000 Kms.

This problem has been solved after the latest service. I don't know the exact details of what was done, but the SA said they changed some bearings were changed.

[swarnava.m]

My car has been in storage for the past 5-6 weeks. The battery was anyways on its last legs, so first thing I did yesterday was to get a new battery. With a new battery initially it was only cranking up but not starting. I suspected an electrical issue, even rats. However, after repeated attempts, it started up fine.

The problem is that whenever I just blip the throttle, a whole lot of white smoke billows out of the exhaust. I tried putting the car in gear and moving it, but trying to release the clutch causes huge resistance. The car hardly seems willing to move even an inch. Upon providing throttle input along with this, it does start inching ahead. But again this causes a whole lot of white smoke which is hardly encouraging.

The thing is that the last time the car was used, it was running perfectly fine. No issues whatsoever. Thus it is very confusing as to what may have happened. Any help would be really appreciated.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

The problem is that whenever I just blip the throttle, a whole lot of white smoke billows out of the exhaust. I tried putting the car in gear and moving it, but trying to release the clutch causes huge resistance. The car hardly seems willing to move even an inch. Upon providing throttle input along with this, it does start inching ahead. But again this causes a whole lot of white smoke which is hardly encouraging.

Hello swarnava,

Sad to know about the problem. Cars can emit some white smoke esp. in cold/ rainy seasons, during a cold start. But this should subside as the engine attains the operating temperature. A thick white smoke else can mean the coolant being combusted by finding its way into the cylinders. It can happen due to a blown out head gasket. More serious issues can be cracked engine block or damaged cylinder head, which can be expensive to repair.

Regarding the other issue of resistance, I think your handbrakes have jammed the rear wheels due to prolonged non-usage. Try pumping the brakes and also the engaging & disengaging the handbrake lever repeatedly. If you are lucky, it may free itself. Anyway, a service will be required.

Regards,
Saket

[saket77]

My edit time expired and wanted to add something to my previous post.

Is there a possibility of getting water mixed in the fuel? It can give out white smoke too.

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by saket77

Hello swarnava,

Sad to know about the problem. Cars can emit some white smoke esp. in cold/ rainy seasons, during a cold start. But this should subside as the engine attains the operating temperature. A thick white smoke else can mean the coolant being combusted by finding its way into the cylinders. It can happen due to a blown out head gasket. More serious issues can be cracked engine block or damaged cylinder head, which can be expensive to repair.

Regarding the other issue of resistance, I think your handbrakes have jammed the rear wheels due to prolonged non-usage. Try pumping the brakes and also the engaging & disengaging the handbrake lever repeatedly. If you are lucky, it may free itself. Anyway, a service will be required.

...My edit time expired and wanted to add something to my previous post.

Is there a possibility of getting water mixed in the fuel? It can give out white smoke too.

Saket. The issue was with the left rear wheel which was jammed due to handbrake. It has been solved now.

As for the white smoke, it was a lot when the car was started initially but has reduced subsequently. I believe it was due to water vapor in the exhaust system. Anyways I will get a thorough inspection done soon.

Water in fuel is not quite a possibility, as it was running fine when I last used it and it has not been refueled since.

Thanks for the reply. Appreciate it.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

Saket. The issue was with the left rear wheel which was jammed due to handbrake. It has been solved now.

Did it free itself or some service was required to get it right? If yes, please let us know if the brake piston was replaced or repaired and the associated costs. I think many A & B segment Maruti's would share this part and hence will benefit a lot of users.

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

As for the white smoke, it was a lot when the car was started initially but has reduced subsequently. I believe it was due to water vapor in the exhaust system. Anyways I will get a thorough inspection done soon.

Water in fuel is not quite a possibility, as it was running fine when I last used it and it has not been refueled since.

Looks like it was no issue at all. The incomplete combustion during a cold start and the water vapour formation in the exhaust system (as you mentioned yourself), both can result in white smoke.

Regards.
Saket

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by saket77

Did it free itself or some service was required to get it right? If yes, please let us know if the brake piston was replaced or repaired and the associated costs. I think many A & B segment Maruti's would share this part and hence will benefit a lot of users.

Regards.
Saket

No part was replaced. I called over a mechanic who took the wheel off and knocked the drum with a hammer a few times. That's it.

Post that I just completed a 600km drive yesterday and the brakes are doing perfectly fine.

I have another question here. Yesterday's drive was the first long drive where I have been the sole driver and needless to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I noticed that on the 4 lane highway (part of GQ project) with very sparse traffic, the car was building revs very freely and was always between 2.5k-3k when I was maintaining a constant speed of about 85-90km/hr. Is this normal? I thought cruising on the open road at that speed in 5th would be more in the range of 2k or so. In the city the car drove just as I am used to and speeds were matching the approximate RPM in each respective gear. Shifts were perfectly normal.

Can someone clarify if this is completely normal or something to worry about?