Maruti Suzuki Baleno Hatchback: Technical Issues & Solutions

[ameyam]

Sandeep,


you have an alternator failure, just like mine. If you have not stalled already, drive to the nearest service centre and show them this. When they accept its an alternator issue, give them a piece of your mind regarding this kind of failure on a new car. Be careful while you drive there because if the car stalls while driving, the controls will lock and you may end up in the wall


Ameyam

 

[chsrdeepu8]

I feel the battery was down.
Was your car parked for a long time?

@ Abhinav,
The car was parked last night around 11:45 and I started it again today morning 11:15. So all in all it was parked for about 12 hrs which should not be an issue even if it was my 11 year old Alto also.

And also i drove around 20kms before the thing happened. So by this time the battery should have recharged also.

Sandeep,


you have an alternator failure, just like mine. If you have not stalled already, drive to the nearest service centre and show them this. When they accept its an alternator issue, give them a piece of your mind regarding this kind of failure on a new car. Be careful while you drive there because if the car stalls while driving, the controls will lock and you may end up in the wall


Ameyam

@ Ameyam,
The car might have stalled due to low rpm or the famous 1st gear problem that all Baleno owners are facing. But what i don't understand is, the battery icon stayed ON for 3 mins or so and it went OFF on its own.
Since then the car was normal and i don't see any icon lit on the MID. Even after reaching office I parked it for about 4 hours and then went again to check if its fine or not. And i don't see the battery icon now after the car got started.

Not sure, Its strange.

Sandeep

 

[chsrdeepu8]

Regarding Mileage checks shown on MID vs Actual, I tried to test it and did 4 tank to tank refuels. The MID Vs Actual difference is 1Km AVG.

Example: The latest refuel Stats with 24 Deg AC.

MID shows - 19.4 kmpl
TRIP ODO - 615 Kms
Fuel consumed by tank to get full - 33.62 lit

615/33.62 = 18.3 kmpl

This was the case in my last couple of refuels also. The difference is coming to around 1.2 avg.

Earlier Honda Amaze used to show the fuel consumption exactly. Difference used to be 0.2 Avg. Would have been nice if Baleno would also show closest figure.

Eitherways, I am happy with the mileage figures because I was expecting Baleno to return 18kmpl AVG with AC ON

Sandeep

 

[Suryaputhra]

After referring baleno service manual, baleno's alternator is 50AMP only where as swift is 70 AMPS. Maruti seriously downgraded alternator in baleno, which may be the root cause for dimming the lights, improper battery charge and less provision for after market accessories. My 17 year old carb zen carries 50AMP alternator what a pity.

 

[ameyam]

After referring baleno service manual, baleno's alternator is 50AMP only where as swift is 70 AMPS. Maruti seriously downgraded alternator in baleno, which may be the root cause for dimming the lights, improper battery charge and less provision for after market accessories. My 17 year old carb zen carries 50AMP alternator what a pity.

That makes sense. No wonder they dim. However, there was another Zeta (or Alpha) next to me yesterday and its lights didn't dim when he released the clutch. I am not sure if it was my perspective or whether his lights definitely didn't dim. I couldn't ask him to ask. later on, while driving in traffic with the lights ON, I did feel that the car wants to stall more often (browns out) with the lights ON

Discussing the issue with the ASC, they have no idea what I am talking about. My car goes tomorrow for a alternator check though.

I smsed the Maruti Territory Sales manager of the issue along with the part numbers. Like with my complaint regarding the car in December and my communication with him regarding the issues observed at 1st service, there is no response from him. Looks like MS doesn't really care regarding customers unless it hits their business even if the issue is open on social media

Ameyam

 

[Suryaputhra]

That makes sense. No wonder they dim. However, there was another Zeta (or Alpha) next to me yesterday and its lights didn't dim when he released the clutch. I am not sure if it was my perspective or whether his lights definitely didn't dim. I couldn't ask him to ask. later on, while driving in traffic with the lights ON, I did feel that the car wants to stall more often (browns out) with the lights ON

Discussing the issue with the ASC, they have no idea what I am talking about. My car goes tomorrow for a alternator check though.

I smsed the Maruti Territory Sales manager of the issue along with the part numbers. Like with my complaint regarding the car in December and my communication with him regarding the issues observed at 1st service, there is no response from him. Looks like MS doesn't really care regarding customers unless it hits their business even if the issue is open on social media

Ameyam

You can upgrade alternator but engine rpm should suit and ecm mapping should be done.

suryaputhra

 

[Suryaputhra]

MASS and Maruti no longer good at customer point. Their strategy changed in technical as well as customer support. If they follow same technology and CS they will pay off near future. They themselves feeling their technology improving but at the cost of reliability and customer satisfaction, I do not have same feeling with my dzire compared to my carb zen.

 

[Abhisheksinh]

Dear Suryaputhra & Team members,

I am reading your posts and other team members post on this forum. It seems you have good knowledge regarding baleno reliability. Please go through below query of mine and help me out.

I want to get my new car which will be in place of our old Maruti Esteem. We also have Maruti SX4 with us. I am in confusion since last 19 days about which car to buy. The option are Swift Zxi, Dzire Zxi and Baleno Zeta petrol. I liked Baleno looks and rear leg space it offers which is stronger points than both swift and dzire. However i am getting mixed review about baleno high speed stability, steering, brakes and quality of metal sheet being used.

I will be keeping my car for 6-8 years. How is ride quality & handling of swift and dzire when compared to Baleno. Which car will age better and is baleno wiser choice above both swift and dzire ?

I am also looking forward for Volkswagen Polo petrol but worried about its maintenance and costly spare parts.

Thanks.

 

[Suryaputhra]

Dear Suryaputhra & Team members,

I am reading your posts and other team members post on this forum. It seems you have good knowledge regarding baleno reliability. Please go through below query of mine and help me out.

I want to get my new car which will be in place of our old Maruti Esteem. We also have Maruti SX4 with us. I am in confusion since last 19 days about which car to buy. The option are Swift Zxi, Dzire Zxi and Baleno Zeta petrol. I liked Baleno looks and rear leg space it offers which is stronger points than both swift and dzire. However i am getting mixed review about baleno high speed stability, steering, brakes and quality of metal sheet being used.

I will be keeping my car for 6-8 years. How is ride quality & handling of swift and dzire when compared to Baleno. Which car will age better and is baleno wiser choice above both swift and dzire ?

I am also looking forward for Volkswagen Polo petrol but worried about its maintenance and costly spare parts.

Thanks.

Dzire ride and handling, pick up, high speed stability( I have crossed 150+kmph in my dzire zxi) comfort levels are excellent in Dzire. Rear leg
room may be problem in dzire but back seat is well inclined to give you good sedan seating which is not there in baleno, baleno back seat is not well inclined and not comfortable for long journeys. Dzire back seat gives you good comfort in long journeys, suspension is good. just read my dzire ownership review below link

http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...re-zxi-2015-sangria-red-ownership-review.html

There I mentioned "Did I miss baleno not at all", reasons given there.

suryaputhra

 

[Abhisheksinh]

Dzire ride and handling, pick up, high speed stability( I have crossed 150+kmph in my dzire zxi) comfort levels are excellent in Dzire. Rear leg
room may be problem in dzire but back seat is well inclined to give you good sedan seating which is not there in baleno, baleno back seat is not well inclined and not comfortable for long journeys. Dzire back seat gives you good comfort in long journeys, suspension is good. just read my dzire ownership review below link

http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...re-zxi-2015-sangria-red-ownership-review.html

There I mentioned "Did I miss baleno not at all", reasons given there.

suryaputhra

Read your ownership review "Did I miss Baleno not at all"

Is Baleno structural integrity very weak ? Or is it same as Swift Dzire. Good handling and structural integrity is more important than rear leg space for me.

Thanks,
Abhishek

 

[Suryaputhra]

Read your ownership review "Did I miss Baleno not at all"

Is Baleno structural integrity very weak ? Or is it same as Swift Dzire. Good handling and structural integrity is more important than rear leg space for me.

Thanks,
Abhishek

I am writing info regarding baleno body structure in two days with the pictures and details from baleno service manual. Check that and decide yourself.

 

[owaiskhan]

Guys, after initial scrutiny of service manual, even through it is K12M engine there is a lot of difference between swift k12M engine and baleno k12M. Pity is that baleno body is extremely weak, I will post details regarding its body structure with photographs from service manual where they have used High tensile strength and where not and experience with that HT steel.

Hi,
Now that we have bought this machine and inview of your quoted post what precautions do you suggest to mitigate the extremely weak body of Baleno.

 

[Suryaputhra]

Hi,
Now that we have bought this machine and inview of your quoted post what precautions do you suggest to mitigate the extremely weak body of Baleno.

Do not overload, follow traffic rules simple. Even my dzire is lighter than esteem, what do i do. Simply follow traffic rules and keep its limitations in mind always. My zen jumped over very high speed brakers over the speed of 90kmph, no structural damage, with seven people on board car jumped on road craters at 100kmph speed, all these things happened couple of times in the span of 17 years, no damage , no structural integrity problems and alignment problems. No swift, dzire and present baleno can't handle like this. So simply follow traffic rules and keep its limitations in mind always.

 

[ameyam]

I agree to what Suryaputra says. MS quality is suffering towards cost cutting. What with the thin sheet metal, underrated parts & lack of syncroniser in 1st gear. Even my year old Swift was hardy. Baleno is not bad, just more delicate & to be driven caringly.

Ameyam

 

[ameyam]

Baleno Zeta is giving me a nice ride now. Checked air (and petrol) after two weeks of driving from a tankful. FE is 10.6 for a month old car being driven in bumper to bumper traffic all the time. Tyres were at 27-28psi warm and I put them all at 28psi

Ameyam