From the time I've got the Alto there's one thing that has been bothering me and it is the off-idle throttle response.

BHPian ashwinprakas recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey Guys,

From the time I've got the Alto there's one thing that has been bothering me and it is the off-idle throttle response.

At times the throttle response is noticeably delayed and this only happens off-idle, say that I'm driving and face traffic so the car slows down to the point of a halt and then when I shift into 1st and try to launch the car the accelerator input is delayed which results in lugging and stalling, I have adapted to this by slipping the clutch a little too much and going on and off the throttle till it responds.

This is not consistent in the sense this happens out of the blue.

Did a lot of research and found that the reason for it is that DBW accelerators are tuned for FE and emissions and as a result there would be delays at times.

However coming from cable operated accelerators I simply cannot get over this mentally.

I did reset the throttle body via OBD a while ago and idled the car for about 3 minutes as advised by fellow enthusiast Sibun, however I was unable to drive it enough to make sure that the issue has been completely resolved.

Do share your thoughts.

Regards,

A.P.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Never noticed it in 90% of the 30 - 40 new cars I drive every year. This might be specific to Maruti's tuning of the engine / drive-by-wire. What I do hate though is the intentional rev-hang that a few cars have for emissions purposes. It is damn, damn annoying. Don't remember which car, but I did observe it in one of the Renaults.

Here's what BHPian clevermax had to say on the matter:

Some companies overdo this 'smoothening out' of the quick throttle inputs to save on fuel. This is not an inherent latency of the drive-by-wire itself. Even if you stamp on the pedal, the system will condition the input to smoothen it out in time to optimize fuel usage and to take care of emissions. This is what I had learned from some reading up and talking to the tuner during my car's tuning process. This behavior can be corrected only by an ECU tuner. You should talk to one of the reputed tuners. I think this falls into the category of "pedal tuning".

When corrected, you can expect instant throttle responses.

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say on the matter:

There is a thread on a product called "PedalTune" on this very forum. It is supposed to help with lag in throttle response this is something I feel in nearly all cars these days. Some cars are worse than others and it seems like Maruti is the most notorious when it comes to throttle delay on their DBW cars. It makes driving difficult, rev matching becomes an unnecessarily extra calculated process etc. I suppose the best way to sort it out is with an ECU tune or one of these products that tricks the system into cutting the delay and decreasing response time.

Here's what BHPian akshay4587 had to say on the matter:

I am using one of these Throttle Controllers in my Alfa Romeo 159 in Australia.
I just love this device; It does not increase the power or makes your car faster, but the way it let's you fly off the line, the moment you mash the pedal is amazing.

https://www.ultimate9.co/au/throttle-controllers

I am planning to get it for most of my vehicles on the next trip, especially for the Thar.

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The next-gen Alto could be powered by a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine.

The next-generation Maruti Suzuki Alto (codenamed: Y0M) has been spotted testing once again. The entry-level hatchback is expected to be launched in the second half of 2022.

The new Alto is likely to be based on a revised Heartect platform. It will get a large mesh grille with sweptback headlamps at the front and square-ish tail lamp clusters. The test car appears to have a more upright stance and is riding on puny tyres.

While the Alto will have a basic interior, we can expect higher variants to come equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system, a semi-digital instrument cluster and other creature comforts.

The next-gen Alto could be offered with the same engine as the current model. It's a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that makes 47 BHP and 69 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Source: DesI SpeecH

The Indian-spec Alto hatchback is expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

Suzuki is working on the next-generation Alto for their home market. Now, ahead of its unveil, brochures of the next-gen Japanese-spec Alto have leaked online.

The images reveal the design of the upcoming model, which features a boxy styling. The Japanese-spec Alto can also be seen featuring dual-beam projector headlamps, single-piece front fender and bumper, 14-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and a small set of tail lights. The new-gen Suzuki Alto seems to be taller than the outgoing model and also comes with dual-tone paint options.

Inside the cabin, the next-gen Alto features a new dashboard layout with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system at the centre flanked by AC vents on either side. There is also a semi-digital instrument cluster, steering-mounted controls and a few other new pieces of equipment as well.

Closer home, Maruti Suzuki is also working on the next-gen iteration of the Alto for the Indian market. However, the Indian-spec version will be completely different from the one in Japan. The Indian-spec Alto hatchback is expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

Source: SuzukiGarage/Instagram

The next-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto is expected to be launched around mid-2022.

The next-generation Maruti Suzuki Alto has been spotted testing in Noida. The car is expected to be launched next year.

The latest spy images reveal some exterior details of the upcoming hatchback. At the front, the test car is equipped with close-to-production headlamp clusters and a large mesh grille. At the rear, the new Alto gets square-ish wraparound tail lamps.

The 2022 Maruti Alto retains its classic hatchback design but looks slightly larger than the outgoing version.

The current model is offered with a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that makes 47 BHP and 69 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Technical details of the new Alto (codenamed: Y0M) are still unknown.

Source: Wanderlust Shashank

I personally will not, but the only reason for the same is that as a car buyer, my preferences and expectations have evolved over a period of time. My first 3 cars were Marutis, and now I have reached a point where there is no Maruti car that meets my needs and expectations.

BHPian chethan.ram recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Based on the recent thread by GTO on Maruti and also the poll on what cars BHPians own where Maruti tops the list, I thought it would be nice to know, how many of us would still buy a Maruti today? If yes, what model would you buy from their current line up and why?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Voted for yes, would definitely buy a Maruti if it suited my requirements & budget. I like cars like the WagonR (for practicality), S-Presso (cheap city runner), XL6 & Ertiga (2nd-gen is very good), S-Cross (miss the 1.6L diesel though), Ignis & Baleno.

Would never hesitate to buy an Eeco for my business as it offers some real estate for the money, and can handle abuse.

On the other hand, I don't like the Vitara Brezza at all or even the Ciaz which was nice when introduced, but is quite old & boring now.

Sucks that Maruti has a limited range of crossovers / SUVs, no real premium cars for 20-lakhs and no diesel. A weak product portfolio which will hurt them in the longer run. The new Celerio is coming up, but does it excite anyone? Will be the same formula of cheap + light + NA petrol etc.

Here's what BHPian Rajeevraj had to say on the matter:

I personally will not, but the only reason for the same is that as a car buyer, my preferences and expectations have evolved over a period of time. My first 3 cars were Marutis, and now I have reached a point where there is no Maruti car that meets my needs and expectations. The point of GTO's thread on the topic was also similar. Maruti is not doing much to evolve their products to a point where they can still attract buyers who have moved up the chain with respect to budget, features, safety etc.

Having said that, numbers do not lie. Maruti still has 40% market share, way ahead of everyone else. Yes, the Hyundais and Tatas have been slowly chipping away. Even considering that, for the foreseeable future, a majority of people will still buy a Maruti.

Here's what BHPian abhishek46 had to say on the matter:

It depends on which segment & price range.

Maruti has some very competent products in the below 10lakhs range.

They are tincans alright.

However, the engines on duty are super smooth, highly reliable workhorses.

I replaced the old i10 that my father was using in city, with an Ignis.

It ticked all the boxes for him:

• Easy ingress & egress.
• Slightly higher seat position & good allr ound visibility.
• Peppy & efficient engine.
• Absolute reliability & fuss-free after sales.
• Affordable price (VFM factor).

Here's what BHPian TorqueMonster had to say on the matter:

I would buy a Maruti today. But just a few models.

Firstly, the Brezza. It is safe and has a decent set of features. I'm used to Maruti's interior quality and even though it could be better, it is not a downer for me. Even if the Nexon and Sonet are better packages as a whole, but I won't mind having that 1.5L N.A crossover in my garage.

Then comes the S-Cross. The S-Cross is an anomaly as it is an actually well built Maruti. I feel it is slightly overpriced but in the end, you get a safe choice for a crossover, a Maruti that has that required premium touch too.

Lastly, it is the Ignis. The WagonR is a good car, but for a slight bit more, the Ignis makes more sense than the WagonR. I actually like the styling of the Ignis and coupled with 1.2 petrol, it makes sense to get one for a slightly higher premium over the WagonR. The WagonR is a good car, but once again, a bit too common and has the personality of a bottle of water, when compared to the unique looking Ignis.

All these cars which I mention are Marutis that I am willing to consider buying, but they are not top contenders, and that has Maruti to blame. The lack of bringing well-built products, and not bringing their international portfolio (Where is the Jimny and the Vitara Maruti?) makes Maruti not a top contender for me, as I prefer better engines and tech over reliability and service networks. But these are a few cars I will put into consideration.

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Maruti Suzuki Alto sales dropped by 8.26% in September 2021 to 12,143 units.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto was the best-selling passenger car in India during September 2021. The Ertiga took the second spot, while the Kia Seltos was the third highest-selling model.

Maruti Suzuki sold 12,143 units of the Alto last month. That's 8.26% less than the previous month. Ertiga sales increased by 80.90% to 11,308 units. 

Kia also registered an increase in sales of the Seltos. The carmaker sold 9,583 units, up from 8,619 units in August 2021.

Hyundai sold 8,193 units of the Creta, while 8,077 units of the Baleno were dispatched last month. 

The Hyundai Venue (7,924 units) was the 6th best-selling car, followed by the Eeco (7,844 units), WagonR (7,631 units) and the i20 (5,153 units). The Toyota Innova Crysta (4,724 units) completed the top 10.

Source: ET Auto

The new Alto is expected to be based on the Heartect K platform.

A heavily camouflaged prototype believed to be of the next-generation Maruti Suzuki Alto has been spotted.

The next-gen Alto is expected to debut sometime next year. It will be positioned below the Celerio, which is also set to get a major update.

The new Alto is expected to be based on the Heartect K platform. The proportions of the car don't seem to have changed much. The test car seen here is riding on steel wheels shod with rather puny tires, which isn't surprising as the Alto is the entry-level model in Maruti's line-up.

When it comes to features, the new model could get an updated instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system.

Under the bonnet, the Alto is likely to get an all-new 800cc engine featuring a start / stop system. A CNG version could also be on the cards.

Source: Gaadiwaadi

There is no specific pattern of this issue cropping up, sometimes there will be no problem even after driving long-distance and sometimes the issue may surface even when I am out running some errands nearby.

BHPian amit_shimla shared this with other enthusiasts.

I decided to reach out to you all here in order to discuss a strange issue with my 2005 Maruti Alto LX. Sometimes the car refuses to start after being driven and the engine check light starts glowing. No matter how many times you turn the key, it refuses to buzz and there is no activity with the starter motor. The car does fire up when given a push in the second or third gear, the engine light at this time keeps glowing which goes away after a few hours/days.

There is no specific pattern of this issue cropping up, sometimes there will be no problem even after driving long-distance and sometimes the issue may surface even when I am out running some errands nearby. Here, I must also say that it never stops or dies out of the blue when being driven. The problem only happens once the engine is switched off.

This vehicle has been my daily driver for the past 15 years and has reached a milestone of 2.5 lakh kilometres. I have maintained my car immaculately and it gets serviced regularly at a reputed MASS here in my home town Shimla but even they have failed to identify the root cause.

The following troubleshooting has been done so far to probe to isolate the failing component but there was no success:

• Battery replacement done
• OBD scan done, but no error found
• Distributor replacement done
• The entire lockset including the ignition key was replaced
• I had installed an Autocop car security system about 10 years ago, which had the engine immobilizer too, got that completely removed
• Starter motor servicing, which by the way is working fine as per my car electrician
• Complete wiring checks for any cuts, rat bites or any fraying

So far there has been no success and I am not sure what to do. I am emotionally attached to it and I want to keep it for a longer period of time but this problem is really spoiling my experience. With COVID and some tough times going on, I really do not want to spend on a new car.

We have a lot of intellectuals here on the forum having in-depth knowledge about automobiles so I am sure someone might be able to help me out here and guide what to do in order to fix this problem.

Here's what BHPian Tgo had to say on the matter:

With the age, mileage and starter not responding symptom, I can only think of checking for a corroded starter motor earth point on the chassis or a damaged power / earth lead of the starter.

In the next such situation, you should also check if your starter is getting activated by connecting battery to the starter directly (with use of the correct sized cables and a mechanic who knows what he's doing).

Your ASC has gone ahead with replacement of some parts but has not tried replacing the related wiring harnesses, relays and cables which could be problematic.

Here's what BHPian vigsom had to say on the matter:

If I've understood the problem right, the starter won't engage when you turn the key on, but the car will always start when push started.

If so, please check for the following:

1. Do you hear a click click noise when you turn the key to the starter position, but the starter doesn't engage? If yes, then there is a continuity issue in 12V supply from the starter solenoid to the starter. If the click click doesn't happen, then the main 12V supply to the starter solenoid isn't ok.

2. Have the main 12V supply connection to the starter solenoid , the 12V control supply to the starter solenoid, and starter solenoid to starter continuity checked. It could be a simple issue of the contact points oxidized, as @Tgo says.

This starting issue occurred in a Nano - starter was serviced, battery changed and the issue persisted. It turned out that there was an issue in the main 12V cable to the starter.

In any case, I wouldn't persist with this car as 2.5 lakh kms is a lot of kms for an Alto. I think it is time to say goodbye to the car and look at a younger Alto in the same colour perhaps.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Since the wiring exists, the project is straight forward. Order the part, open the body panels, install the switch, connect the wiring, put panels back and test.

BHPian Reinhard recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Recently completed a useful & very easy mod in the Alto K10 (last generation). Documenting it for reference as usual.

Why?

• I hate missing items / dummies for utility or safety components. Especially the ones that directly read as "CHEAP".
• The last gen Alto-K10 and I believe the Alto-800 also - do not have the rear door position sensor switch in the body frame - in some variants!
• Even in the TeamBHP Official Alto K10 pictures - it can be seen that the AMT car has dummies Exhibit-A while the MT one has door sensor switches Exhibit-B. I mean really Maruti...Charging us a nice premium for AMT variant and giving unpainted mirrors, door handles and removing Rs 95 switches!
• That someone at MSIL actually went on to design & order this specific cap of no other use - is depressing.
• This means - the cabin roof light is linked only to the front 2 doors! And doesn't turn ON when any of the rear doors is opened.
• Not only is it inconvenient - it is a safety issue also. There is no way to know if the rear door is properly closed or not since there is no indication. I don't know if this is done on purpose to link with how the AMT behaves in case of door-open scenario etc - but sure doesn't make sense regardless. Seems like cost cutting to me.
• Now to the keen eye & ear - it is possible to notice that the door didn't close properly by sound OR by seeing the crooked edges in the ORVM. But is that best as a standard operating procedure? And should the missus (the car belongs to her) have this added stress to check?
• So I needed this connection to be made and the switch to be installed, in place of the stupid Rs 2.00 cap provided by MSIL.

How?

• Thankfully though, MSIL seems to have shared the side harness in across variants.
• Meaning - the pig-tail and connector for the rear door sensor switch is existing! (Further shocking that still Maruti decided to save a total of INR 190 in cars that cost over 5 lakhs OTR.)
• Of course - before you try to implement this project as it is - do first check that the wiring pig-tail & connector exists in your car. If not - this will need some more custom wiring to be done. I started off thinking I'll need to do the wiring. Was surprised to see the connector tucked away inside the body panels. Well - happy that some effort was saved.
• Since the wiring exists, the project is straight forward. Order the part, open the body panels, install the switch, connect the wiring, put panels back & test!

The Car -This mod will be suitable for the Alto-K10 of the below generation OR the Alto-800 based on this same chassis but with different face. At least on the VXi trims that come with company provided central locking. I don't know whether the required pig-tail will be present in lower trims. Depends on how Maruti decided to share parts.

The Product:

Ordered 2x Door switches from the MSIL part-bin on Boodmo.com.

The Implementation:

Explaining the steps on RHS. Replicate for LHS the same way.

Open the rear doors & you'll be greeted by this dummy cap near the latch mechanism. Use a plastic spatula or trim removal tool to gently push it from the side & remove.

Once removed - you'll notice how MSIL is saving every possible penny in car design. Commendable. There is a simple small punch-hole in the metal - a self-threading screw will make room for itself in this. No threading / no welded nut here.

Now remove the plastic trim covering the lower edge of the footwell first. Use gentle force with plastic trim remover tools. Its installed with delicate clips. They tend to break if forced.

Now fold the seat-back forward to get working room around the lower C pillar where we need to locate the wiring inside body-trim panels.

Gently push/leverage out the grey body trim towards the inside of the cabin to expose the cavity inside. Apply gentle force along the direction as shown by the red arrows. Be careful not to bend / break it. Once deformed - it will not come back to shape. The top U shaped edge of it - needs to be pulled forward (towards front seat) for easy removal.

Now gently push it towards the inside of the cabin and take a peek. You'll see a white coupler tucked away and taped to rest of the wiring. On RHS you'll also see the black tube that carries the steel wire to open the boot lid. Red box is the coupler we are looking for. Blue box marks the white tape by which this pig-tail is secured with the main harness. Yellow box marks the hole in the body from where we want to connect this coupler with our newly acquired switches.

Carefully with a blade / paper-cutter, make a slice in the white tape OR remove it by bare hands if you can safely reach it. Take care not to break / tear any of the actual wires. No - I have not cut the seat - its just an illusion in the image!

Now bring the wire & coupler towards the hole in the body & push it outwards through it - from where we removed the cap in earlier step.

Connect the coupler to the switch

Push the switch's back-side into the hole safely & fit it in place securely with a self-threading screw.

Repeat the same process on LHS.

Test that things are working as expected by checking the roof lamp coupled with door opening & closing.

Gently pull-back the removed body panels into place. Take care not to hurt yourself - the panels as well as the metal edges are quite sharp!

Install the foot-well side panel back into place.

And we are done! About INR 200 & 20 minutes - spent well. I was attending a rather drab workshop on phone with BT headset while I implemented most of this.

Quick test video.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It cost me Rs. 649, plus Rs 8 as delivery charges. I received it after a few days and installed it in his car.

BHPian BoneCollector recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My father-in-law's Alto has the SmartPlay Studio dock integrated into its music system. He wanted his mobile to be fixed for navigation etc., but after trying different mobile docks, he was not satisfied. He asked me for something that would hold the phone properly. I searched for the SmartPlay Dock, but couldn't find it anywhere.

Then I contacted the encyclopaedia of Maruti, D-BHPian Leoshashi. He got me the part number in just a few minutes and I was able to place an order on Boodmo. It cost me Rs. 649, plus or minus Rs 8 as delivery charges. I received it after a few days and installed it in his car. It's really good, considering it does the job. I couldn't download the SmartPlay Interface, but will be doing it at a later date. Adding some pictures for better understanding:

Part number.

Order details.

Packet. Product is made in Malaysia.

Parts, along with the Do's and Don'ts.

Installation guide.

Parts before assembly, neatly packed.

Parts before assembly.

Parts before assembly.

Parts before assembly.

From top after assembly, you can see the button on left side.

From front.

Button on top to open up the holder.

It opens up once you press the button on top.

Before installation.

To install it, you need to remove the central cover and then push the rod part inside and then rotate clockwise, while keeping it pushed. You'll hear a locking sound and that's it, the dock is installed.

This is after installation. We can rotate the holder as per our choice of phone orientation.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.