I downloaded the door open symbol from Google Images and took a print of it with a black background.

BHPian Pannag recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As from my last post I got good responses and encouragement to post my DIYs, here I will be starting, buckle up

1. Door Ajar warning in the instrument cluster

A few cars (especially old Altos) did not come with door-ajar warning lamps and were bad for Alto owners, so am I. This is why I did a DIY with simple hacks.

I first downloaded the door open symbol from Google Images and took a print of it with a black background. If your printer doesn’t have enough juice for black darken it with maybe a sketch pen or something. Here is the printout

Now you have to take out the instrument cluster assy out of the car dashboard. Be careful not to tamper with any couplers or wiring as these are very fragile. On Alto, if you see the assy backside, you will notice a lot of sockets left blank for T5-type bulbs on either side of the temperature gauge and Fuel Gauge. So you can choose any of them.

Then you need to remove the complete guage (be extremely careful) safely by unscrewing it from behind and it will come off loose from the cluster bracket.

Now you need to scratch the backside of the gauge gently to scrape away black film on a part which covers the socket you intended to use for door ajar. You should be able to see enough light passes through it:

Now affix the cropped printout to the cleared area on the gauge and test if you see light masked by the door open symbol. You can use any glue as long as it doesn't mess with print ink or paper.

Also, I used the pin on the instrument cluster PCB membrane that was blank so that it would look better and shouldn’t confuse technicians with more wiring.

2. Buzzer for lock system

If your Alto is equipped with a Central lock (particularly NCS 509) then you can also get a buzzer to make you aware of any door that is not latched properly when you hit 20-25 kmph. The idea is to use a circuit from the Valet switch lamp LED connected to the security module which blinks intermittently.

Mine has been working fine (maybe I will upload a video of it) and how it works is with this below circuit diagram)

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I drove the car to Pune to get the project done by Brotomotiv and they just didn't do the work, but went the extra mile for each task.

BHPian Pannag recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

I thought of sharing my journey here about the restoration of my 17-year-old Alto. The article encapsulates the project done in collaboration with Brotomotiv, as we all know now it's popular for detailing and aesthetics.

Motive behind restoration:

I have an Alto purchased by my late father in 2007, his first-ever car. It was my dream car, I treated him (yes, the car) like a family member, and he became my DIY engineering projects companion. Since he started ageing (like a wine) it was time to give him a fresh treatment in aesthetics.

As Brotomotiv’s service has been speaking great, I being a Dharwadian (Karnataka) thought it would be worth travelling to the beautiful city of Pune as I wanted to ensure I would gift him the best looks he deserved. So I filled enquiry form from their website and Divyas from Brotomotiv reached out to me over the phone explaining the services and recommended the best. I got an appointment on September 25th 2023. I started at 7 AM in the morning and had a lot of fun driving alone, finally, I reached Pune and bam! there was terrific traffic. I somehow navigated through the Pune streets finally reaching Brotomotiv at around 6:30 PM.

Handing over the car:

As I reached that day after a thrill-filled (this was the first time I ever drove that long) and tiresome drive, Raghav was already there, I met him and we greeted each other, Further Divyas attended me and the team showed great hospitality. While sipping a cup of coffee, I as an excited kid started giving them my requirements, services, and issues like panel gaps. Alam bhai accompanied Divyas and they both assured me that all the issues I pointed out will be sorted. I would say I had such a solace for I roamed around many MAS or AAS but they were to no benefit.

I gave them the keys and headed to my hotel located just behind Brotomotiv (and it was the best decision to have a hotel near the workshop). I took govt. busses from Kharadi pass the next day changing three buses, finally reaching home. By the time I reached, I was Thankful to Cab driver Akash for helping me out on Pune streets.

Discussion and particulars:

At first, I was skeptical about changing the shade of color, but I was assured that within the same color, I could still choose different shades, which is why I went with Lamborghini Blue. But I had to change my mind which I will explain later. Other than that I was offered options on leather cushions and seat covers.

I had also asked them if they could fit the rear wiper, I had purchased the motor, and mounting parts beforehand but stupid me that I forgot them at home, Divyas then suggested me to send them through courier so that they could verify if it can be done (trust me they did more than I had asked them and you will read that soon why).

I also asked (and sort of challenged them) if they can permanently cover the antenna hole (I have no idea why manufacturers put that on one side of A-pillar, it looks odd and I never liked it), Brotomotiv ate this challenge for breakfast. I will share pictures of how it looks now.

Door pillar wraps in matt-black.

Commencement of the work:

And here comes the much-awaited moment, the vehicle was finally lined up for denting work, A social group was created where I would then get all updates, and also used for all other communications and agreements. The bonnet panel had to be changed because the paint was so thick that stripping it off would cost nearly the same as a new panel. Other than that the front windshield frame was rotten completely (poor boy) and the team told me they had to do patchwork.

After the patchwork was completed, the vehicle was then sent for priming.

Meanwhile, Raghav had contacted me telling me they wanted to shoot a video on this project and I was very happy to share with him the story of the vehicle and the reason behind its restoration. By this time I also shipped the wiper parts and they received them on the third day (thanks to Delhivery for doorstep pickup).

Change of Mind:

Brotomotiv had just uploaded a video of an Ecosport painted in BMW's Snapper rocks blue (kudos to the owner as well for selection), and there we go, I started procrastinating. I was confused as hell, and the major question was will the team agree to my request for a change of color. I called Divyas and asked him, Voila, he said we could do it and that the cost would remain the same as for Lambo Blue, so I had nothing to pay extra. I also had projector lamps on my mind, which Brotomotiv tried but unfortunately, the projectors were too large to fit inside and were dropped, but there is a twist and you will see that later in the article.

The Paint:

While my restlessness and excitement was growing, I got my first glimpse of him in his new look. When I showed it to my mother, she said she did not find much difference, then I literally put his old picture and new one, and compared the colors, this color was really looking beautiful (no offence to the old one though). As days passed, all panels were painted, at last as I had asked them to fit the rear wiper, they drilled holes in the tail gate panel finally painting it. Trust me the work is simply a perfection and top-notch. There is no evidence that drills were done explicitly, it was precise cutting. Sigh those experts had their hands!

Other changes and accessories:

I was betting big on projector lamps with running DRL lamps. But as there were challenges to set them up in housing, I had once seen Twobrothers, from Delhi who happen to be customising lamps for almost every car. I checked and contacted Anil Kumar, I asked him for one specific product but also asked him for customisations like going with dotted DRL with running amber lights, and LED projectors, he was very kind and since I had requested him to expedite their work, they shipped it the second day. I informed Brotomotiv that I had ordered lamps and that they would receive them soon. When they got them delivered, Brotomotiv team liked the lamps. My selection and customisations paid off, Thanks to Twobrothers for understanding and their fantastic art on headlamps.

I also added ceramic coating, floor lamination, underbody coating, caliper paint (red), drum paint (gloss black), Sun film on front windshield, Brotomotiv themselves added the rear wiper washer pump to the cart.

They got WagonR's rear wiper fitted as well, which looks stunning.

And we had an issue with the Security module, so had to change it.

I selected Bentley white with Blue leather for seat covers (I know some of you might be thinking if I own an interior cleaning service), and wrapped the steering wheel with black leather stitched in blue thread.

Delivery of the car:

Here's my Boy:

I received the date for delivery, I asked my friend Akshay if he could join me, which he did happily, so we left for Pune on the 13th as the delivery was scheduled for the 14th Thursday. There in Pune, we were accompanied by another friend Shubadeep. We were asked to reach the workshop by 2:30 PM, so in meantime, we roamed around the city's Magarpatta streets trying some food, checking out the stuff. We three then reached Brotomotiv and God, I was astounded to see my boy looking so beautiful posing for some video shots.

Divyas, Ganesh and the team welcomed us, and took us to the office for billing and completing other formalities, meanwhile, I saw Anil's uncle, but I couldn't interact with him. We went down to check the car and observe better, my friend Akshay, a great video shooter took some crazy video shots for Insta, Shubadeep was checking around the car, while I was working with Brotomotiv's video team Harshal and Prateek for giving them my feedback for their video. I met Raghav fortunately as he just arrived, we discussed and had good conversations about their competency, we even shared humour about how other sets of brothers (Twobrothers) were also involved in this project, making it a true #BroGang.

We also presented the Brotomotiv team with our authentic Dharwad sweets called Dharwad Pedhe and it was distributed.

Anxiety after I took the car out:

Pune's traffic is no joke, none of us being localities or even used to its traffic, I was scared to take the car out in city traffic all the way to Magarpatta where we were staying. But as my two cool friends were there, we somehow managed to reach our stay safely.

Drive from Pune to Dharwad:

We had planned that we would leave the next day after delivery (15th Dec) early in the morning, as traffic will be low, so we got up at around 5 AM, freshened up and started close to 6 AM (Lol no discipline). I was a bit nervous but my friend Akshay was there to help me with navigation, we finally reached the Kharadi ghat and made our way out starting in the ghats, and the drive then was filled with thrill and speeds, we stopped in a few locations, people expressed their interest and asked about the work.

My friend Akshay's shot:

The car just handled most manoeuvres with ease. We reached home by 2 PM, and there were neighbors already waiting to take their glimpse off of my boy.

Everyone loved it.

My Testimony:

If you care about your car and have received no concerns from service stations over bodywork, It might be worth driving to Pune because the first thing I observed was the team listens to your issues, queries and addresses them with great care. I as owner had a lot of issues with panel misalignment after a certain accident which made left fender look worse. Apart from that, I had a lot of other accessories too which were not easy to work with, and especially the closure of that antenna hole on the right side. Divyas guided and recommended me any modification with the right proportions of costs and time during process. Procurement of certain parts like a washer tank with two holes was required for rear wiper.

The drill on tailgate panel was done so nicely:

Motor fitted inside the panel (mounting bracket required no modification inside as screw/bolt holes are already available):

Brotomotiv just doesn't do the work, but they usually go the extra mile for each task, like take the underbody coating, they covered the whole vehicle taking extra care.

Here's a glimpse:

The projectors (which were dropped due to misfit) at first I was talking about had another story to it. The Item we had ordered was different from what Brotomotiv received from vendor and it was way more expensive. Yet the team was super kind because the lamps I had selected were not available and they received expensive lamps, but they still said they would charge me no extra amount.

Thanks to Brotomotiv, Twobrothers, Boodmo and all other teams for their help in this beautiful project.

What's next:

As there was a challenge in getting Alto VXI's rear wiper switch assy, Brotomotiv did a temporary wiring and provided minimal switch, but I did a research of my own and noted that Zen Estilo's combination switch has the same bracket as Alto, in fact, it is shared by probably few other cars, so I ordered and kudos to Boodmo for delivering it soon despite its stock issues.

I will need a helping hand in getting this fixed as we have to remove the steering wheel, I will then wire up everything, and if possible I will get fog lamps, lucky that in this combination switch, we have a fog lamp switch in the stick.

I am planning to add an on-top dash infotainment system that I am designing on my own using Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Probably will run OpenAuto pro or Automotive Grade Linux with some kernel development) and Waveshare 7-inch QLED screen, mounted in a custom housing that I 3D printed at home (designs and STL files will be available soon in another blog).

Printer in action:

End product:

With Screen:

I attached back the Honda City's auto-dimming IRVM that I bought from Boodmo. I did my own wiring and anyone interested can let me know, I can send them details or can write a blog. To mount it on the windscreen, I used Permatex IRVM glue. The only part that would be ugly is the bracket may be noticeable from the outside of the windshield as we ain't got no frit.

Here's the image of the IRVM:

IRVM assy and mounting bracket

I am designing the rear AC vent housing and hopefully 3D printing it for seating Dzire's rear AC vent I bought from Boodmo.

I have plans to get alloys (13' probably from HRS Taiwan) for him as many people suggested this will enhance the look, and I anyways decided to get callipers and drum painted for the same reason.

And on a side note, I changed all door pads and dashboard to a little lighter tone found in Alto K10 first gen. Even pillar trims are borrowed from Alto K10. I did this mostly one year ago by ordering parts from Boodmo. Steering is 3 spoke coming from the new Alto (without Airbag).

I have done many other modifications like a custom wiring harness for power windows, security, added door ajar warning with lamp on the instrument cluster. I am happy to share how I did it!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Alto was the car that not just taught my wife driving but it taught her being independent.

BHPian hemanth.anand recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Can't believe that it's been more than 2 years since I last updated this thread. Goes to show that both the cars have been doing their expected duties well.

Alto:

24th September 2023, the Alto left us to its next owner.

The Humble Alto, Small Alto, Cute little Alto, Lord Alto...whatever you like to call it, it will always hold a special place like any first car will have. It was the car that not just taught my wife driving but it taught her being independent.

It was used sparingly and usage had further reduced by the Pandemic. It was driven for around 29k kms in 7 years that it was with us. My Polo GT TSI which we purchased the same day has run 84k kms. Apart from the AMT, I quite liked the Alto.

Many of my friends, colleagues, neighbors and relatives had asked me multiple times if I'd sell it and if I sell it, they'd told me to inform them. When the Jimny booking was done, I informed all of them. I told that once the new car comes, I'll get it evaluated and quote a price. some of them had either bought a new vehicle, or needed more time or changed plans. Finally 3 of them were interested. After the Jimny arrived, I got the Alto evaluated and quoted a price. While two of them, backed out saying it's out of their budget, One of my ex-colleagues told he'll buy it.

There were some minor scratches here and there which I had informed. Although he had seen my car, he came one day and checked the vehicle from a buyer's perspective. He has happy and confirmed that he'll buy.

He came and drove it home on 24th September 2023; after 72months of hassle-free ownership...from being my wife's first car, it went to his home to be his wife's first car!

Goodbye...

A Bluish Black Jimny AT takes its place. It arrived home on 8th September 2023 and the ownership review is here

Our Jimny

Polo:

The Polo on the other hand completed 7 years last week The ODO is at 84.5k kms. The brake pads and rotors had worn out completely and needed replacement. I wanted something other than stock and hence contacted a few people for options. The Brembo experience was good in but life was too less. plus there are lot of fakes in the market. EBC stocks were not easily available. Then I called up Carmed and checked. they had Brembo and ATE. I chose the ATE and went there for the installation.

Brake pads and discs upgrade:

While I was there, I got the Code6 Stage 1 ECU remapping done. along with the stage 1 tuning, I got a BMC air filter too. The power has gone up from from 103 horses to 127.

Code 6 Tuned:

The change is more evident in Sports mode than D mode and the car is really quick from 40 - 80kph. Have not driven a lot after that but Starting tomorrow will drive and note changes.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Overall, it is a great car for a small family and is any day better than buying a motorcycle or scooter.

BHPian RD410 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My uncle bought a 2023 last batch Alto 800 BS6 and here are my observations. I drive a WagonR 1.1 F10D, so it will be my reference point.

What I really liked

• Heavily improved F8D engine - The first time I drove it, I was like "Where is the AC lag!?". Maruti engineers have done some black magic and completely eliminated the AC lag from the F8D 800c engine. The engine now feels way more mature and jerk-free. It revs cleanly and has strong midrange power. Overall, now It drives like a 1000cc for the most part. Unless you attempt an uphill overtake with full load. That's the only situation where it reminded me that it's still an 800cc. But on plains, 4 passengers + AC doing 90kph is effortless. You don't even realise you're doing 80-90, that's how effortless it feels. WagonR with its bigger F10D engine still has minute AC lag, but BS6 Alto doesn't have any!
• NVH control - NVH is so much better than older Alto's. Roll up all windows and it's pretty much silent inside, with very little tyre and wind noise filters in. It just doesn't feel like a budget car. Compared to this, my WagonR doesn't have even half as good NVH.
• Suspension - Ride quality is amazing for an entry-level car. It's even better than some higher-segment cars. It just dismisses regular-sized potholes like nothing happened. It's got gas-charged shocks with more suspension travel. The thick 80-profile 12-inch tyres also help in bump absorption. WagonR 1.1 with its stiff suspension is a letdown in this aspect.
• Mileage - Fuel efficiency is lovely. Consistent 18-20+kpl with AC. Whereas I rarely get more than 15 kpl with the WagonR.

What I didn't like

• Steering - It is terrible (no offence). Vague, lifeless, no feel, feedback and zero return to center action. It's not that light either. My 18-year-old WagonR's EPS is much lighter, offers a decent feel and returns to center naturally. Not only Alto, but the steerings of all recent Maruti cars are the same. I don't understand why Maruti has downgraded their steering systems.
• Bodyroll - the improved ride comfort has come at a cost. Despite being a low-slung car it has significant body roll, due to the soft long-travel suspension. Believe it or not, my tallboy WagonR has less body roll than Alto because it has a stiffer suspension.
• Handling - it understeers a lot due to those skinny 145-section tyres. Add the vague steering and body roll, it's not that pleasant in corners.
• Brakes - braking is bad. You have to press the pedal all the way in to get some braking. Maruti uses the smallest size disc brakes in the Alto 800. WagonR's braking is much better and confidence-inspiring.
• Throttle lag - BS6 Alto uses a drive-by-wire/electronic throttle. There is a split-second lag between giving throttle and engine response. This gets annoying, especially in the hills. When you stop on a steep uphill and try moving again, the car keeps stalling. My WagonR with old-school cable throttle and strong low-end torque is way better in this aspect.
• Space - interiors, especially the rear, are cramped. Ingress and egress is also hard.

What I both like & don't like

Low slung nature - I like sitting close to the ground, gives a better feel of handling. Perhaps, Alto 800 was the last low-slung budget car. It's so easy to squeeze through narrow gaps and tight spaces. But you sit so low that literally every other vehicle is taller than you. Other cars, SUVs, buses, trucks, everything come too close and try to push you away from your lane. It's a scary experience, something that I never encountered in my WagonR.

Gear shifts - Alto 800's cable-operated gear shifts are far better than my WagonR's archaic linkage-type shifter. But the shifts are still not as good as other latest Maruti cars.

Light build - it has airbags and ABS, but it just doesn't feel safe. On the flip side, its light construction and good ground clearance give it incredible bad road capability. So much so that it has earned the name 'Lord Alto'.

Overall, the Alto 800 BS6 is a great choice for a small family. It's any day better than buying a motorcycle/scooter. It's fun, peppy, comfy, efficient and extremely reliable. Sad that it's no longer available.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

You can buy the AC cabin filter in Boodmo or the Maruti Suzuki Genuine Parts website.

BHPian chandrus03 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After every 5000kms it is recommended to change the AC cabin filter which will keep the air quality in a good condition. Recently I had to change my AC cabin filter after completing 17000kms and I decided to make a post about how to do it.

Prerequisites:

• Any waste cloth or tissue
• New AC Cabin filter

You can buy the AC cabin filter in Boodmo or in Maruti Suzuki Genuine Parts website…

Step 1

Get in the co-driver seat and push back the seat all the way.

Open the glove box and keep everything inside the glovebox aside, maybe on the driver seat.

Step 2

If you lean down slightly you can find two plastic pieces on the both inner sides or glovebox. Push them inside simultaneously and the glovebox will sag down.

Just pull the glovebox carefully to completely remove the glovebox. Clean the glovebox with the tissue or cloth.

Step 3

Now that you have access to all the parts of the AC blower and filter… find the AC Filter on top of the AC Blower

Carefully pull out the lid from both sides

Step 4

Take the AC cabin filter out carefully. Replace with the new Cabin filter by checking the Top marking on the filter as shown in the image

Close the cabin filter as how it was removed. Check for the UP marking on the lid.

Fit the glovebox in the reverse order of how it was removed…

Hope this post helped you with changing AC filter of your car . Most of the Maruti Suzuki cars have similar setup of AC cabin filter. It’s good to change the cabin filter on every 5000kms

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

These cars are like timeless classics, enduring the test of time and still cruising on our roads.

BHPian MotorDev recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Oldest running nameplates that are still on sale in India | Timeless classics on the roads

Introduction

In India, some cars have been around for a very long time but are still available for purchase. These cars are like timeless classics, enduring the test of time and still cruising on our roads. Let's take a closer look at these oldest running nameplates that continue to be sold in India, showcasing their lasting charm and popularity among car enthusiasts.

Mercedes Benz E-Class: 1995

Partnering with Tata, Mercedes Benz introduced the E-Class sedan as their first official car in India, marking 28 years of its enduring legacy. This vehicle redefined luxury, setting a benchmark for all upcoming premium vehicles. Remarkably, it still stands out for its comfort to rear passengers, making it a prominent choice in the market.

Honda City: 1998

In 1998, Honda made its Indian debut with the City. The first-generation model, equipped with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine producing 102PS, became an instant hit for its looks and performance. It quickly became one of the most sophisticated sedans of its time, capturing the hearts of many enthusiasts. However, over the generations, some argue that the car's premium quality has diminished, with the first generation being the pinnacle. Nevertheless, the City, now in its 5th generation, still holds a special place in the hearts of many, retaining its charm despite the changing times.

Mahindra Bolero: 2000

The Bolero is the most outdated model on this list because it hasn't seen any significant updates in the last two decades. This rugged workhorse, primarily favoured in the commercial market, has maintained immense popularity. Surprisingly, it sells well, securing a spot in the top 25 best-selling cars list. Additionally, the Bolero later gave rise to a highly successful pickup truck variant.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R: 1999

The Wagon R, an icon in the Indian market, is beloved for its tall-boy and practical design, a sentiment shared by many even today. Its spacious interior and practicality have always been standout features. Currently in its fourth generation, the Wagon R continues to be a no-nonsense practical car with impressive fuel economy and a roomy cabin. Its popularity remains evident as it consistently ranks among the top 3 most sold cars in India every month.

Mahindra Scorpio: 2002

When SUVs were a fresh concept in the Indian market, Mahindra introduced the Scorpio, instantly winning hearts with its muscular appearance. It marked Mahindra's inaugural global venture and gained popularity in numerous international markets. During its early days, it featured rear-wheel drive, a single-din stereo, roof-mounted AC, and power windows. Surprisingly, even after decades, it remains one of Mahindra's best-selling cars. Despite the launch of the successor, Mahindra Scorpio-N, the first-gen Scorpio is still available as the Scorpio Classic, despite its outdated features and higher price tag. It continues to hold a deeply emotional place in the hearts of its loyal fans.

Toyota Camry: 2002

After the successful launch of the Qualis, Toyota introduced the Camry as its second product in India. Despite Toyota’s global reputation for reliability and long-lasting cars, the Camry didn't perform exceptionally well in India initially. During those years, sedans were very popular in the country, and the Camry, being a premium car, was seen as an affordable choice compared to luxury sedans. Even though it struggled in the beginning, the Camry has stood the test of time and is now known as a highly reliable vehicle, often used as a chauffeur-driven car.

Maruti Suzuki Alto: 2000

The Maruti Alto was introduced as a step up from the 800 and 1000 models, offering a more premium and modern option. Priced similarly to the WagonR, it came with features like power steering, AC, and an improved instrument cluster, setting it apart from the other cars in its segment. Even after being in the market for 21 years, the Alto remains one of Maruti’s best-selling cars. People appreciate its compact size and user-friendly features, making it a popular choice among car buyers.

Hyundai Verna: 2006

The Hyundai Verna has become a beloved choice among sedan enthusiasts. Introduced as the successor to the Accent, the Verna quickly captured hearts with its attractive design and impressive features. It emerged as a strong competitor to the City and has maintained its position over the years. Now, in its fourth iteration, the Verna has successfully secured the top spot in the C-segment sedan category.

Toyota Innova: 2005

Toyota achieved remarkable success with the Qualis, and its legacy continued with the introduction of the Innova as its successor. The Innova proved to be a highly practical and spacious car, a reputation it still maintains today. It holds the title of India's most beloved MPV. The reliability of a Toyota was evident in the Innova, known for its ability to run for thousands of miles, making it a preferred choice not only for families but also for fleet customers. Even in its third iteration, despite its higher price compared to competitors, the Innova continues to enjoy significant success, consistently performing well in the market.

Continue reading BHPian MotorDev's compilation for more insights and information.

The Ecosport is the primary car and Ford service has also been top notch. I don't see it as a problem for the next 4-5 years.

BHPian fiat_tarun recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My garage today consists of 2 cars:

My car : Ford Ecosport S TDCI (Wolf Stage 1+ remapped)

• 2018, 65k km run

Wife's car : Suzuki Alto K10 AMT

• 2018, 26k km run

Both cars are 5 years old, in perfect condition and I foresee no major problems coming up.

The Alto is wife's car and the city runabout and never sees the highway (apart from the highways running through the city) and hence the low running. Being a Maruti, there is no risk in keeping 'Lord Alto'.

The Ecosport is the primary car and Ford service has also been top notch (in fact I think it's gotten a little better here in Pune after they stopped retail !) and I don't see it as a problem for the next 4-5 years.

Then why this thread you might ask ?! - Well, it's the Jimny

There is something about the Jimny that tugs at the heart, and the inner child in me is getting excited at the prospect of owning a 4x4, venturing into some casual off-roading on the weekends, the Leh / Spiti trail, etc. I've been on quite a few OTR's with friends with a Gypsy and more recently a Jeep Compass which was quite good fun.

The other reasons I am giving myself is since the Jimny will replace the Alto, it's a proper upgrade for wife and also safer, especially since we are expecting our little one later this year.

So what is stopping me with going ahead with this plan ?

Well, the other scenario is that we keep the Alto for city duties and upgrade the Ecosport to something under 25 Lakh so we have a proper 'premium' vehicle in the garage. For the record, the Ecosport has been flawless over the past 5 years with just regular service requirements. I love the drive experience (even better with the remap now) and the negatives of space and the stiff suspension are not deal breakers for me.

The points in favour of this scenario are;

• The Jimny craving is just a passing fad !
• We will need the space of a bigger car once the baby arrives ?
• A nicer ride than the stiff Ecosport
• Of course the Ford situation with the service / spares situation bound to deteriorate with time

The biggest problem here is that no vehicle under 25Lakh really appeals to the heart which I see as a proper 'drivers car' upgrade to the Ecosport. The one that appealed to the heart - The Compass is now out of reach.

• The VW-Skoda twins are not a real upgrade, especially for the price. My biggest gain will be power with the 1.5TSI but I'm content with my Wolf remap (running ~130hp, 295Nm) and the amazing diesel FE
• The Koreans, especially the Seltos is a brilliant package but I'm not a Hyundai - Kia guy (yes I have a bias !)
• The Maruti-Toyota sisters are just too underpowered & bland to replace an Ecosport diesel
• That leaves me with the Harrier / XUV700 which honestly is just too big for us and my heart isn't really pulling me toward them if you know what I mean !

So this brings me to my predicament - Replace the Alto with the Jimny and have 2 sub 4m cars in my garage. The Jimny will stay as the permanent 2nd car for a lonnnnng time OR keep the Alto for a lonnng time and replace the Ecosport with a ~25Lakh replacement that will give the same smiles per drive

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

Go for it, Tarun . Pull the trigger & get the Jimny home. I would anyday have a 2-car garage with an EcoSport + Jimny (both excellent cars), rather than a 25-lakh car + Alto. The Alto is too bare & basic, and has an AMT which I personally hate.

The Jimny is the kind of car that will make you smile. This breed punches way above its weight in terms of the "feel-good" factor. For more of this preaching, check the ownership review of my own 4x4 out. A BHPian who owns an S-Class & a Porsche 911 seems to be having a blast in his Jimny. The Jimny will make you laugh, giggle & provide you sheer joy. All backed by Maruti's dependable reliability & service. It also has a smooth AT, 4 doors & isn't bumpy, unlike other offroaders. A rare enthusiast car that appeals to the head as well as heart.

Get a Jimny and start modifying it. Don't worry about Ford etc. The EcoSport is a fantastic car and has sold in such high volumes that there will be ample spare parts support for it in the market (even without Ford).

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

I’m going to go against the tide here a bit and purely because you have a baby coming on the way. I’d say go for the XUV 7OO as your 25L upgrade car - sacrifice the Alto for it and let the Ecosport fill the Alto’s current role.

This way you’ll have a powerful, super comfortable and safe car for your family - one that can take some adventurous trips too and even the Alto in which you might do city runabouts - sometimes with a baby - will be substituted by the relatively safer Ecosport.

Small babies also increase your luggage requirements when doing road trips so the extra internal footprint of the XUV will check that box too.

The Jimny can always follow suit in a few years when its time to replace the Ecosport, perhaps even a sparingly used one from someone who may want to sell early. These super niche cars often hit the used car market within a couple of years when some buyers realise it wasn’t really fit for them once they live with it.

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

The Jimny AT is ideal then as a second car at home to OTR over the weekends and for your wife too as an easy-to-drive urban compact SUV. It may lack the torque that you are used to with the diesels you own and have owned. But there's nothing like the Jimny today (compact 5-door 4x4) and probably no rival too for the next couple of years or decades ! The fact that it's always sold out across the world is enough proof. Besides, we get theore practical version in India.

However, the Ford will eventually have to be replaced in a few years and you have time to decide on the right vehicle that way. So, if I was you, I'd get the Jimny now and then wait and replace it with a premium SUV in a few years, by then there may be a machine that matches Paprika's heart appealing character!

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

You never need a Jimny, you want it. And you most certainly do.

Get the Jimny. It’s a huge step up for the wife, and will keep you happy as well. Far superior ride quality than Alto, and it is spacious enough for the 3 of you + all the paraphernalia a baby needs. Just make sure she is comfortable with the non height adjustable driver’s seat.

Upgrading the Ecosport will be far trickier. They don’t make cars like that anymore, unfortunately. The closest like for like replacement is the Jeep Compass. Everything else is either nowhere as nice to drive or two sizes too big. And costs big money, either way. So, let’s leave that for another day.

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

Keep a good highway car - that's safe, comfortable and fun to drive. Ecosport is a very good car. Don't get carried away by the bling or horsepower and waste your money on cars that don't drive as well as Ecosport. Manufactures are getting really clever at packaging and window dressing cars without a soul. It would be better to hold on to your Ecosport till you find the right car as an upgrade/replacement instead of rushing the decision.

Jimny is a niche expensive car and in my very honest opinion, makes sense only to:

1. city dwellers who are romantic/passionate about a car of this category willing to put up with it as a daily driver.

2. folks in rural/hilly areas that need a 4x4

3. folks looking to add a hobby/weekend car to an already well stocked garage

At the moment, there is too much hype going on about Jimny and it's better to avoid any impulsive purchase. If you are not one of #2 or #3 above, sleep on it for few months and see if you still feel so strongly about buying it.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Alto was introduced in India back in the year 2000.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has become India's highest-selling car with over 45 lakh units sold in over 2 decades.

The Alto was introduced in India back in the year 2000. In 2010, Maruti launched the Alto K10 and Alto CNG. By 2012, the carmaker had sold over 20 lakh units of the hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki rolled out the Alto 800 in the year 2012, followed by the second-generation Alto K10 two years later. In 2016, the carmaker celebrated 30 lakh sales of the Alto. Sales surpassed the 40 lakh unit mark in 2020.

Last year, the company introduced the third-generation Alto K10 in the Indian market. The car is available with a 796cc, 3-cylinder engine that puts out 47 BHP and 69 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and also comes with a factory-fitted CNG option.

The Alto K10 is powered by a 998cc engine that puts out 66 BHP and 89 Nm and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The K10 also gets a CNG option.

The cabin unit was already clean so it didn’t need to be serviced. Most of the plumbing is done in flexible pipe.

BHPian Ovais recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Time for the latest updates on the project.

The car was now ready for its first test drive. I took the car for a short test drive, it didn’t have the hood and the bumper on though. The car is very stable, even though there is a slight change in the dynamics with the engine being slightly heavier than the previous one and the allied parts also make it a little heavier on the front, but it doesn’t feel that way, feels very even. There are no odd vibrations at all, the car drove very smoothly. I have to say, the power to weight ratio makes for a very quick car! There’s worlds of difference between the performance now and back when it had the F10. The best part is, you don’t have to rev the bolts off the engine to gain speed, it accelerates effortlessly. There were some little tweaks that needed to be done though, and a couple of errors too but nothing major, only minor ones.

Next up is the air-conditioning. Originally, the condenser installed was about 60% of the width of the current radiator. While it worked great for the original ac setup, it wouldn’t be enough for the volume of gas moved with the new compressor and the heat dissipation requirements now. So, I looked around for a condenser that would fit and finalized the ac condenser from a Swift. It has a built-in filter so I didn’t have to worry about making space for fitting the filter. I just needed to remove the brackets on it for it to fit in the space that I have.

Since the original condenser wasn’t as wide, there was enough space for the bonnet lock in the center and its support to be installed. Now that the condenser and the radiator are wider, the hood lock could not be installed in its original configuration. I had to modify the lock itself and make a new support for it so that it clears both the radiator and the condenser.

Originally, the spring mechanism is on the back of the lock. I had to cut off the mechanism and build the mechanism under the lock and towards the front in order to clear both the radiator and the condenser.

This is what the lock looks like after the modification, along with the custom support that I’ve made. The springs are all installed on the front as well. I had to do multiple iterations of this setup for it to work correctly. Now I have enough space behind this to install the condenser.

The condenser fits perfectly with the new hood lock mechanism and its support. There’s about 30mm of space between the closest part of the lock and the condenser. Enough for it not to foul with the condenser.

The car was then taken to the A/C shop to plumb the air-conditioning system to the original evaporator inside. The cabin unit was already clean so it didn’t need to be serviced. Most of the plumbing is done in flexible pipe. About 30% of the plumbing are aluminum hard pipes, the rest are flexible pipes. The reason for this is, there is very little space in the engine bay, in case something needs to be removed, it would be a lot easier to move the flexible pipes around without damaging them compared to hard pipes.

The system is charged and the cooling is excellent. The original ac of the PKDM HA12 Alto was already very good in the smaller vehicle category, now, the original internal unit combined with the Honda Compressor and the bigger Condenser made for some very effective cooling.

The hood lock was then painted. I wanted to have it zinc plated but with the busy schedule, I had to settle with paint. The support is also painted.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It has already been repaired twice & I have been advised to not get it repaired again.

BHPian pramodpk recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a 2006 April model Maruti Alto. The car's ECM failed and hence the car does not start. The engine check light does not glow. The part is not available anymore. It isn't there even on Boodmo.

Hence, got the ECM repaired twice in the past 2 months. As per the people who repaired the ECM before, it's not advisable to repair it again.

The only option now is to source it second-hand. I am based in Kochi, Kerala.

Has anyone faced a similar issue before? What are my options?

The Part number is - 33920M79GS

Here's what BHPian Ravindra M had to say about the matter:

Any OE is responsible to provide parts for 20 years from the date of manufacture. ECM should be available with the Maruti-Suzuki service. It may not be in stock but should be ordered. Altos were produced in millions.

Here's what GTO replied:

These are all urban myths. There is no law forcing OEMs to provide 20 years of support for any product. The fact is, the market decides the support. If there are enough cars on the road and the demand is there to make a business case, the aftermarket will support that model. E.g. 1st & 2nd-gen Honda Citys, 1st-gen Innovas etc. Plus, if a model has been popular globally, you can find plentiful parts support from international resources (case in point = 8th gen Civic).

But there is no hard & fast rule on supporting old cars. And even if the govt introduces one, good luck with its implementation. Hell, there are so many ~5-year-old cars that suffer from long wait periods for parts.

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say about the matter:

Just curious, why do you think the ECM failed? Failure to start is rarely due to the ECM. Contrary to popular belief, failure of ECM is actually very rare. It is almost always something else.

There is no fault code that indicates the ECM is faulty and needs replacing. In most cars, it takes quite a skilled electronic diagnostician to actually come to such a credible solution.

You might have a case of an actual failed ECM. I can’t tell from a distance, without hearing why you think it failed. But before you incur any cost, a simple test is to plug somebodies else ECM into your car and see if that solves all the problems.

Good luck

Here's what BHPian Leoshashi had to say about the matter:

Please place an order with your nearest distributor. The production for the part at the vendor end has surely been discontinued but they can still place an order for the same and source if Maruti has it in their mother warehouse. Just checked, and the part is in that condition.

PN: 33920M79GS1

Also, request the distributor to do a "LIVE LOCATION SEARCH" from his DMS and you will surely be able to locate it at some location. Let me know if you need any help regarding this.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.