[blackfire_9]

I can safely say that the clutch of Suzuki Alto is one of the weakest links. And it is worse if most of your running is with the air-conditioner switched on.

I have crossed 150K on my Alto & running my 3rd set. While our other car is a Santro that has crossed 90K & hasn't had any issues. (touchwood)

Originally Posted by Gansan

There were some clutch issues with 2007 batch Altos, where the clutch failed at 10K Km and was replaced under warranty. Look for ownership threads by Akroy and GPA. I have no idea about the expected life of the Alto clutch. The only other long term Alto owner (7 years) known to me is my BIL and I don't think he has replaced the clutch. But then his car has clocked only 27k KM.

BTW which MASS did you call?

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Its a 130 rupees cable and fitting is Rs. 50. why do you need to lubricate it. These are cheap parts but will keep you stranded for hours if snapped. Hence i recommend replacing it when ever it feels necessary.

PS: lubrication is possible. You need to remove it and spray thoroughly with WD40 or RustOff. but why take the pain.

The problem with lubrication is that it can accumulate dust and jam faster. As advised, please get it replaced, and if you want peace of mind keep another cable as spare.

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by blackfire_9

I can safely say that the clutch of Suzuki Alto is one of the weakest links. And it is worse if most of your running is with the air-conditioner switched on.

Yes its true. Because Alto's clutch linkage/springs, settings nut is at the underbelly of the gearbox. unlike 800 which is at the top.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by Gansan

There were some clutch issues with 2007 batch Altos, where the clutch failed at 10K Km and was replaced under warranty. I have no idea about the expected life of the Alto clutch.

Normally driven it can stay for around 75K. My 2007 Alto, used by my wifey for a daily commute of less than 10 Kms, has clocked 38K and is still OK.

[swarnava.m]

My alto is 2003 make, VXi 1.1
On most of the days I experience that when I leave my place at 8 in the morning, the car runs smooth as butter, extremely comfortable gear shifts, excellent drive. An example would be that on a wide stretch of road, she can easily zip past an i20 without breaking a sweat.
However, as the day progresses, I feel that she becomes sluggish. The engine seems to lag, the gear shifts offer more resistance, overall the car is not as silky as it was early in the morning. (One reason could be that while in the morning I drive alone for a small period, after that I spend the rest of the day with another 3-4 people in the car). When I get back home, the car seems to give the expression that she is tired. My daily commute is approximately 50 kms.

Any ideas?? Thanks in advance.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

My alto is 2003 make, VXi 1.1
On most of the days I experience that when I leave my place at 8 in the morning, the car runs smooth as butter, extremely comfortable gear shifts, excellent drive. An example would be that on a wide stretch of road, she can easily zip past an i20 without breaking a sweat.
However, as the day progresses, I feel that she becomes sluggish. The engine seems to lag, the gear shifts offer more resistance, overall the car is not as silky as it was early in the morning. (One reason could be that while in the morning I drive alone for a small period, after that I spend the rest of the day with another 3-4 people in the car). When I get back home, the car seems to give the expression that she is tired. My daily commute is approximately 50 kms.

Any ideas?? Thanks in advance.

Alto is relatively low power, light vehicle. With one person it zips through, with three or more it becomes sluggish, especially if AC is on.

As you rightly pointed out, you are alone in the morning the Alto feels peppy. Load three people and the Alto will slow down.

At the end of the day, you are tired and the driving experience will reflect it, unless you have three or more persons while coming back also.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Alto is relatively low power, light vehicle. With one person it zips through, with three or more it becomes sluggish, especially if AC is on.

He has the VXi 1100 cc Alto, so the power should not be an issue for it.

[blackfire_9]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Yes its true. Because Alto's clutch linkage/springs, settings nut is at the underbelly of the gearbox. unlike 800 which is at the top.

Thanks for pointing that out mate. However, is it possible for you to share some more details about how this placement makes a difference. If this information is documented somewhere you know, please share that link as well for the sake of information (just want to learn a little more).

Originally Posted by Aroy

Alto is relatively low power, light vehicle. With one person it zips through, with three or more it becomes sluggish, especially if AC is on.

As you rightly pointed out, you are alone in the morning the Alto feels peppy. Load three people and the Alto will slow down.

At the end of the day, you are tired and the driving experience will reflect it, unless you have three or more persons while coming back also.

aroy, swarnava's Alto is the 1.1 version which is in no way underpowered. What swarnava has mentioned is, I believe a typical nature of the Alto. I can very well relate to his experience because even my 800cc Alto can keep up at an easy 80-90 kmph in the morning but over time the gear shifts etc become hard. And this is despite having gone for a clutch replacement recently.

[Aroy]

Well even the 1.1L Alto has less power compared to the K10.

I never found the characteristics changing during the day. Yes the Alto feels sluggish once you load it with a couple of person. I had done a 500 km trip starting in the morning and returned in the afternoon, the K10 had the same agility through out the drive.

In fact most of the cars loosen up a lot after a day's drive, rather than become sluggish. I feel it is more to do with being chirpy and bright in the morning and feeling drained out after a hectic day, in the evening rather than the vehicle itself.

In case the car really tones down after a drive, it can be easily verified. Let some one drive the vehicle through out the day, when you have an off day, and then in the evening drive it while you are still fresh.

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by Aroy

As you rightly pointed out, you are alone in the morning the Alto feels peppy. Load three people and the Alto will slow down.

At the end of the day, you are tired and the driving experience will reflect it, unless you have three or more persons while coming back also.

That is true. I've had the same idea.

Originally Posted by blackfire_9

aroy, swarnava's Alto is the 1.1 version which is in no way underpowered. What swarnava has mentioned is, I believe a typical nature of the Alto. I can very well relate to his experience because even my 800cc Alto can keep up at an easy 80-90 kmph in the morning but over time the gear shifts etc become hard. And this is despite having gone for a clutch replacement recently.

Okay, that is news to me, especially as you mention that it is the typical nature of an alto. I have seriously been anxious whether there is something wrong with my car. Hearing that this is alto's characteristic doesn't make me feel happy, but at least now I am worry free.

Originally Posted by Aroy

Well even the 1.1L Alto has less power compared to the K10.

I never found the characteristics changing during the day. Yes the Alto feels sluggish once you load it with a couple of person. I had done a 500 km trip starting in the morning and returned in the afternoon, the K10 had the same agility through out the drive.

In fact most of the cars loosen up a lot after a day's drive, rather than become sluggish. I feel it is more to do with being chirpy and bright in the morning and feeling drained out after a hectic day, in the evening rather than the vehicle itself.

In case the car really tones down after a drive, it can be easily verified. Let some one drive the vehicle through out the day, when you have an off day, and then in the evening drive it while you are still fresh.

Thanks for sharing that experience. You are probably right, whenever I travel alone, it actually is an altogether different experience, the car does keep up pretty well.
What impresses me most is the agility from this 8 year old vehicle, which can still give most hatches a good run for their money, on a good open stretch of road. I don't think I am gonna let this baby out of my hands anytime soon. (My dad has really been pressurizing me to sell this car and buy something new).

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by blackfire_9

aroy, swarnava's Alto is the 1.1 version which is in no way underpowered. What swarnava has mentioned is, I believe a typical nature of the Alto. I can very well relate to his experience because even my 800cc Alto can keep up at an easy 80-90 kmph in the morning but over time the gear shifts etc become hard. And this is despite having gone for a clutch replacement recently.

Yes, that is precisely what I am trying to imply. The most prominent issue is the change in the feel of the shifts. While in the morning the shifts are silky smooth, in the evening they seem much harder and seem to have a lot more resistance. I am not sure whether this has something to do with the wear and tear of the gearbox, although I can vouch that I have never abused the transmission.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

Thanks for sharing that experience. You are probably right, whenever I travel alone, it actually is an altogether different experience, the car does keep up pretty well.
What impresses me most is the agility from this 8 year old vehicle, which can still give most hatches a good run for their money, on a good open stretch of road. I don't think I am gonna let this baby out of my hands anytime soon. (My dad has really been pressurizing me to sell this car and buy something new).

If you are happy with the Alto 1.1, you will even more pleased with Alto K10. Better performance, Excellent AC and of course way better FE. I feel that this the best buy for use by a single person especially if you visit a lot of congested areas, the Alto just squeezes through where others would not dare.

With its high revving engine, you can zoom past most of the traffic in the second gear (I have gone regularly all the way upto 100), some thing just not possible in most of the sub 6L cars. You run out of steam by 140 though.

[UB_007]

Originally Posted by rkguru

To check the condition of the clutch yourself, o n a level surface put the gear on 3rd and gently release the clutch with leg off acc pedal. If the vehicle stalls and goes off then the clutch is ok if not you need a replacement.
No one can tell the condition of the clutch inside how much more it will go. It may even go 20k km, who knows.

Is this right? I think its other way round. The car should stall and engines shuts down if the clutch is worn out. If the clutch is good then you have high friction between plates and cars moves. Correct me if I am wrong.

In Addition to the above, if you experience the following then you can be sure that you shortly need a clutch replacement.
-The clutch pedal is too tight engaging and disengaging .
-The gear shift is hard in spite of fully depressed clutch pedal.
-Uneven rise and fall in the engine RPM during gear shifts.

-UB

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by Aroy

If you are happy with the Alto 1.1, you will even more pleased with Alto K10. Better performance, Excellent AC and of course way better FE. I feel that this the best buy for use by a single person especially if you visit a lot of congested areas, the Alto just squeezes through where others would not dare.

With its high revving engine, you can zoom past most of the traffic in the second gear (I have gone regularly all the way upto 100), some thing just not possible in most of the sub 6L cars. You run out of steam by 140 though.

Well how does the performance of the engine change when the AC is switched on? Especially in lower gears, in the city. As per my experience, the 1.1 is a free runner when you drive without AC. The moment the AC is switched on, the lag is immense and the engine becomes so sluggish. That would be the only negative point about my car.

[blackfire_9]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Well even the 1.1L Alto has less power compared to the K10.

Can't really comment much on this as I have only extensively driven the earlier 1.1L Alto & it always seemed powerful enough to tackle most cars on the highways.

Originally Posted by Aroy

I never found the characteristics changing during the day. Yes the Alto feels sluggish once you load it with a couple of person. I had done a 500 km trip starting in the morning and returned in the afternoon, the K10 had the same agility through out the drive.

In fact most of the cars loosen up a lot after a day's drive, rather than become sluggish. I feel it is more to do with being chirpy and bright in the morning and feeling drained out after a hectic day, in the evening rather than the vehicle itself.

In case the car really tones down after a drive, it can be easily verified. Let some one drive the vehicle through out the day, when you have an off day, and then in the evening drive it while you are still fresh.

Well, that could be the case, however it still doesn't explain the harshness of gear shifts after some kilometers of driving. And all this has been true with the Alto, not just mine but even my friends who own them. Hence, the statement that it seems to be the character of the car rather than anything else.

Drive safe.