Maruti-Suzuki SX4 Zxi: Running Report

vnabhi · 5th January 2009, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

But if the ACC is set in auto mode it's supposed to maintain and hold the temperature set isnt it? It shouldn't allow the temperature to fall below the level set by the driver or are you saying that it maintains and holds the temperature by shifting into fresh air mode?

But, if thats the case, then why is this happening now when the car is 14 months old?

Sorry, Amit, I saw your response just now. I'm not sure why it is happening to your car after 14 months, but perhaps you never used that setting for an extended period and happened to notice it only now. This apart, since it is winter, it may be taking a shorter period to reach the temperature set by you.
Yes, recycle mode cools the car faster than fresh air mode. So if you allow the recycle mode to continue, the temperature may fall below your setting. That is why the AC goes to fresh air mode to maintain that temperature. Now if you ask me why does it not cut off instead, I have no answer. What I meant to say was that even a D segment car like the Embera has this issue. Owners of other cars with ACC are invited to comment on this issue.

amit · 5th January 2009, 15:20

Maruti-Suzuki SX4 Zxi: Running Report-img_0006.jpg

- The engine has fantastic mid-range. Get the car into 2200-2500rpm and from there on, it's like the car is on steeroids with no let up upto even 3500rpm. I drove to Gujarat on 26th and 27th December and the car was pretty impressive. On most Indian highways, the safest you can do is about 130kmph. At that speed the SX4 is in the meat of it's mid-range and feels great to drive. Tap the throttle and the car lunges ahead with absolutely no lag. Slow moving vehicles are despatched quickly.

- The 16 inch tyres compensate high speed stability against the absolutely pathetic EPS.

- NVH is poor. Road and wind noise is very loud in the cabin. The engine is also noisy and not in a good way.

- Engine is limp at low speeds. Starting off in first and second is very frustrating with very little torque to pull the car. Sometimes it feels like I have a flat tyre!

- After the clutch was changed, the problem of vibration while starting off has disappeared.

- EPS is rubbish. Easily the worst thing in the car and easily the worst power steering set up I have seen in ANY car! The second worst are the JK tyres.

- The boot is huge and well designed as can be seen in the picture.

Maruti-Suzuki SX4 Zxi: Running Report-img_00081.jpg

- Best fuel efficiency was obtained during the Gujarat drive. 2 people on board with minimal luggage. While going A/C was on about 40% of time. On way back, A/c on 100%. Minor traffic jams at Ghodbunder road on the way back. Tyre pressure at 29psi. On the highway the car wasn't driven to achieve good fuel efficiency. Speeds of 130-140kmph were done for extended periods. Fuel economy obtained was 15.50kmpl.

More observation alongwith pictures in a few days

.

DCEite · 5th January 2009, 15:25

Good to see Amit finally enjoying the SX4 a bit. Otherwise whenever i opened this thread, it was about the problems you faced.

So how to you compare the mid-range with the other ca.. emm Palio you drive?

spetnaz · 5th January 2009, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

- Best fuel efficiency was obtained during the Gujarat drive. 2 people on board with minimal luggage. While going A/C was on about 40% of time. On way back, A/c on 100%. Minor traffic jams at Ghodbunder road on the way back. Tyre pressure at 29psi. On the highway the car wasn't driven to achieve good fuel efficiency. Speeds of 130-140kmph were done for extended periods. Fuel economy obtained was 15.50kmpl.

More observation alongwith pictures in a few days

.

Isn't 29 psi on the lower side? I thought 32 was normal. May be you'd get 16+ with 32 psi.

Also - great to know that you've covered 25K, btw - any problems with build quality? I have to admit I've become a little finicky after coming to this forum where people equate Maruti with questionable build quality. I haven't faced anything abnormal, but would like to know when it's 25K.

neoranjit · 6th January 2009, 02:46

@spetnaz : I have just done close to 18K and see nothing really wrong with the build quaity. In the city, I get close to 11kmpl and on the Chn - Blr GQ, I get ~15 kmpl

mail4loys · 6th January 2009, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by spetnaz

Isn't 29 psi on the lower side? I thought 32 was normal. May be you'd get 16+ with 32 psi.

The side door sticker says that it should be 33 psi for all four wheels.

mdesai_1981 · 6th January 2009, 20:26

hi amit,
i just wanted to know if you can provide me with some details regarding the clutch problem in SX4. my friend has a sx4 and has the same problem the rpm falls down to 500-600rpm when you release the clutch and also the cars judders. however if you rev the engine to 1500rpm+ and then release the clutch the judder is not so much.
also if he goes to sai service will they entertain him? also if you can forward the copy of the circular(if u have) from maruti regarding the replacement of the clutch i would appereciate it.

amit · 7th January 2009, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdesai_1981

hi amit,
i just wanted to know if you can provide me with some details regarding the clutch problem in SX4. my friend has a sx4 and has the same problem the rpm falls down to 500-600rpm when you release the clutch and also the cars judders. however if you rev the engine to 1500rpm+ and then release the clutch the judder is not so much.
also if he goes to sai service will they entertain him? also if you can forward the copy of the circular(if u have) from maruti regarding the replacement of the clutch i would appereciate it.

Full details of how my problem was solved is on page 17 of this thread. There is also a scanned copy of the invoice showing engine mountings, drive shaft and clutch replacement. Do note as per S.K.Maruti, Maruti's circular mentions about replacement of drive shafts and mountings but this didn't solve the problem in my car. It was the clutch replacement that eventually solved it so in case your friend still has the juddering after change of mounts and shafts, ask him to insist on a clutch change. Also, ask him to be firm as Maruti dealers first response will be to tell him that he doesn't know how to drive!

Quote:

The side door sticker says that it should be 33 psi for all four wheels.

As per Ratan Maruti, Chembur, Maruti has issued a circular changing tyre pressure to 30psi. I always keep pressure at 28 or 29 psi as I find it comfortable at that level. Anything higher and the rudimentary suspension of the car ends up jarring my bones over rough patches!

sukrit7 · 7th January 2009, 12:39

Very late, but i just saw the first page. The sx4 zxi doesn't have a dead pedal. What's that supposed to indicate. My baleno altura 2001 has a dead pedal.
A great review btw

amit · 7th January 2009, 13:51

Quote:

The sx4 zxi doesn't have a dead pedal. What's that supposed to indicate.

Poor ergonomics and lack of attention to detail.

mail4loys · 8th January 2009, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

As per Ratan Maruti, Chembur, Maruti has issued a circular changing tyre pressure to 30psi. I always keep pressure at 28 or 29 psi as I find it comfortable at that level. Anything higher and the rudimentary suspension of the car ends up jarring my bones over rough patches!

I'm suprised at this! Maruti should have communicated to the customers or atleast they should have corrected the sticker that is there on the car.
I gave the car recently for 3rd service and none of them talked about it

.Let me check with them about this!

wowguyhi · 8th January 2009, 13:39

Hello All,

Could anybody who bought the SX$ recently pls confirm that these problems are still existing or were limited to the earlier batches/some series of cars?

Thanks

amit · 8th January 2009, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by spetnaz

great to know that you've covered 25K, btw - any problems with build quality?

First rattle appeared somewhere around 2xxx kms.

I think one rattle was solved by the dealer at time of service too.

Currently there is an irritating rattle somewhere from the driver's side dashboard. Haven't managed to pinpoint it yet as sometimes it feels like it's coming from near the quarter glass and sometimes it seems like it's from somewhere lower down the dash.

There was also a rattle from near the driver's seat belt but it miraculously disappeared in a couple of weeks and hasn't re-appeared since then.

Door panels vibrate if stereo volume is cranked upto and over level 32.

Besides these not much to complain about.

gopinathann · 8th January 2009, 20:49

If the rattle is from the dashboard problem could be behind the stereo, they have to remove the stereo and check if there are any loose pieces. Or it could be from the additional rear mirror if you have installed parking sensors.

If the rattle is from drivers seat,it should be from the seat belt clip or from the driver seat levers, it has to be lubricated.

mdesai_1981 · 8th January 2009, 21:09

thanks amit i will tell him to go to sai service as before once they found a problem with his throttle body which was replaced under warranty. anyways thank you for your support.

5th January 2009, 15:20	#362
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 450 Times	- The engine has fantastic mid-range. Get the car into 2200-2500rpm and from there on, it's like the car is on steeroids with no let up upto even 3500rpm. I drove to Gujarat on 26th and 27th December and the car was pretty impressive. On most Indian highways, the safest you can do is about 130kmph. At that speed the SX4 is in the meat of it's mid-range and feels great to drive. Tap the throttle and the car lunges ahead with absolutely no lag. Slow moving vehicles are despatched quickly. - The 16 inch tyres compensate high speed stability against the absolutely pathetic EPS. - NVH is poor. Road and wind noise is very loud in the cabin. The engine is also noisy and not in a good way. - Engine is limp at low speeds. Starting off in first and second is very frustrating with very little torque to pull the car. Sometimes it feels like I have a flat tyre! - After the clutch was changed, the problem of vibration while starting off has disappeared. - EPS is rubbish. Easily the worst thing in the car and easily the worst power steering set up I have seen in ANY car! The second worst are the JK tyres. - The boot is huge and well designed as can be seen in the picture. - Best fuel efficiency was obtained during the Gujarat drive. 2 people on board with minimal luggage. While going A/C was on about 40% of time. On way back, A/c on 100%. Minor traffic jams at Ghodbunder road on the way back. Tyre pressure at 29psi. On the highway the car wasn't driven to achieve good fuel efficiency. Speeds of 130-140kmph were done for extended periods. Fuel economy obtained was 15.50kmpl. More observation alongwith pictures in a few days . Last edited by amit : 5th January 2009 at 15:28.
	() Thanks

5th January 2009, 15:25	#363
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,532 Thanked: 3,112 Times	Good to see Amit finally enjoying the SX4 a bit. Otherwise whenever i opened this thread, it was about the problems you faced. So how to you compare the mid-range with the other ca.. emm Palio you drive?
	() Thanks

6th January 2009, 02:46	#365
neoranjit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 588 Thanked: 196 Times View My Garage	@spetnaz : I have just done close to 18K and see nothing really wrong with the build quaity. In the city, I get close to 11kmpl and on the Chn - Blr GQ, I get ~15 kmpl Last edited by neoranjit : 6th January 2009 at 02:47.
	() Thanks

6th January 2009, 20:26	#367
mdesai_1981 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 188 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	hi amit, i just wanted to know if you can provide me with some details regarding the clutch problem in SX4. my friend has a sx4 and has the same problem the rpm falls down to 500-600rpm when you release the clutch and also the cars judders. however if you rev the engine to 1500rpm+ and then release the clutch the judder is not so much. also if he goes to sai service will they entertain him? also if you can forward the copy of the circular(if u have) from maruti regarding the replacement of the clutch i would appereciate it.
	() Thanks

7th January 2009, 12:39	#369
sukrit7 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: delhi Posts: 723 Thanked: 185 Times	Very late, but i just saw the first page. The sx4 zxi doesn't have a dead pedal. What's that supposed to indicate. My baleno altura 2001 has a dead pedal. A great review btw Last edited by sukrit7 : 7th January 2009 at 12:40.
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 13:39	#372
wowguyhi Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 4 Thanked: 0 Times	Hello All, Could anybody who bought the SX$ recently pls confirm that these problems are still existing or were limited to the earlier batches/some series of cars? Thanks
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 20:49	#374
gopinathann BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 765 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	If the rattle is from the dashboard problem could be behind the stereo, they have to remove the stereo and check if there are any loose pieces. Or it could be from the additional rear mirror if you have installed parking sensors. If the rattle is from drivers seat,it should be from the seat belt clip or from the driver seat levers, it has to be lubricated.
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 21:09	#375
mdesai_1981 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 188 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	thanks amit i will tell him to go to sai service as before once they found a problem with his throttle body which was replaced under warranty. anyways thank you for your support.
	() Thanks