Maruti Suzuki Swift: Technical Issues & Solutions

[Kichu]

just the botton of the windshield just above the dash was fogging from outside. I was able to resolve that by reducing the aircon inside

The wipers are still leaving water residue. Basically like when you wipe a table with a moist cloth. I have asked for new wipers

Fogging from outside can be avoided or minimized
1)By not reducing the temperature inside the car too much. OR
2)By directing the ac vents air flow away from the glass surfaces. So the glasses wont get cold easily.
3)When the rain stops, just open and close your door windows so the fogs will be wiped off ;)

Fogging from inside can be avoided or minimized by .
1)Wiping it with a clean cloth or with a newspaper.
2)By reducing the Temperature inside the Cabin.
3)With the help of anti-fog solution applied all over the glasses. It does wonder. Fogging inside the car happens especially when we park the car in rain. We will see, every glasses are fogged up from inside.
If we applied this anti-fog solution on to the glasses then there wont be any more fogging up issues

A good set of wiper itself makes the rainy days easy to drive.

 

[ameyam]

Hi,


the fogging on the inside was due to remanants of the polish I had used. I finally got fed up and cleaned that with a moist handkerchief to begin with and then with Colin


The fogging on the outside was at the base of the front windscreen. I put the car in defogger mode but couldn't get rid of this. Then the wipers cleaned it.


But the wipers don't clean the glass spotless, there is a layer of water left that results in lines on the screen. Guess that means they are done and need to be replaced.
The side glass didn't clean by the window down- window up method. The felt lining was already saturated with water I think, so I had trouble seeing my mirrors. Finally, I got out and cleaned off the side glass with a cloth.


It didn't rain more, so I didn't face more issues but next time it does, I may end up with visibility issues


Ameyam

 

[ameyam]

Some before & after photos after light rain

 

[ameyam]

You can see the fog like effect in the second picture? It rained heavily as we left from office yesterday at dusk and the wiper just kept making that white finish as it moved across the screen. Also, it seemed to be juddering as it moved and it kept making a rubbing sound like rubber squeaking. I was so concerned I was actually using it in manual mode. Guess that means its done and needs to be replaced

Another concern- after initially using 90/100w bulbs on my car in October to January, I realised it seemed to be heating the headlight housing quite a bit, so shifted to 55w Philips xtreme Vision. But now, that seems to be giving less light, especially when its raining. There is good illumination when there is something infront but as soon as the road is empty, I feel the headlight is Off. I had a couple of times with no car in front where I actually had to toggle the headlights On & Off to ascertain if they were working. Even my colleague remarked the same. Should I go back to 90/100 bulbs just for the rains?

Ameyam

 

[goldenfox7]

The fog like effect is due to difference in air temperature inside and outside the car. The fog happens inside the car known as condensation. Due to cold atmosphere inside the car the moisture sticks to the window and appear like fog. You could wipe the inside of your windshield as well as windows when this appears. Alternatively, you could open your car windows for a few minutes. This effect reduces after a while when the temperature difference subsides.
The issue with 90/100 W setup is that the bulb and reflectors heat up considerably thereby generating more light/output. Some car reflectors are not meant for these bulbs as the chrome and plastic starts disintegrating. Check the reflector as well as the plastic coating to ascertain any damage/darkening. Also, after using 100/90W setup you would certainly feel the difference when switching over to the OEM setup. Its a matter of perspective as well as that your eyes have adjusted to the aditional light output your headlight generates.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

My swift's alignment was checked at 2000 km on odo,now it has clocked 3500 km,i feel a slight right side pull (5-10 degree towards right),when i drove today at speed 75 kmph,is this normal (Aignment next check up after 2 nd service by 5k km) or is should be checked immediately.

 

[goldenfox7]

I would suggest getting the same checked at a tyre alignment shop rather than at a service station. For one, its cheap and most of them do a good job. Best to get it checked.

 

[ameyam]

Goldenfox


That "fog" was not condensation. That was problem with the wiper. As it moved across the screen, it was not able to clean the water fully, leaving a thin coating which was causing the fog feeling. Day before yesterday, it rained heavily and I had a lot of trouble with the wiper. I put in new MGA wipers


But the driver side one still squeaks a bit when there is light rain. When I used the spray nozzles to wet the screen and then used the wipers, it stopped squeaking but it started again a bit later. Guess it still needs to break in a bit.


I haven't used windscreen fluid (the MGA one) in my washer bottle for some time. I put in the last one I have today. For next time, can I simply use a little bit of the Amway shampoo I use to pressure wash the car?


With respect to the headlight, I shifted back from 90/100 to 55W bulbs a couple of months back, so its not about not being used to it. When I made the move back, I checked the reflector and there was no degradation. The problem has started suddenly since its started raining here. Firstly I perceived it while cornering left and downward at good speed. When I was looking into the corner, there were no street lights and I could as well have been looking down a empty well. I switched to high beams but that made things worse because I couldn't see the patch of road I was about to drive. What made it worse was that I had just turned off a decently lit road and there were no cars next to me to add illumination. Then, a couple of times I was driving down a straight road which had no streetlights and I suddenly began to wonder if I had my headlights ON.


The perceived illumination is less, even though the light is clearly ON. A couple of times yesterday, I switched off the headlights while driving at low speed to check and it was bad- I wouldn't have been able to drive at all if there was no headlight and I drive down that road everyday. That bulb is working and it is having effect. Only due to the water droplets on the screen and may be on the housing, effect of it feels less than before the monsoon. Since I still use low beams mostly, I know high beams produce more illumination but I am concerned they will simply blind oncoming drivers. Have driven in the rain with the Wagon R before with those 90/100 bulbs but this is the first time in the Swift with the 55W bulbs. So I am thinking going back to the 90/100w bulbs just till it rains. I use low beams in those anyway and switch to fog lights if things come to a complete halt

Ameyam

 

[ameyam]

Any suggestions on which brand of relay to get?

Ameyam

 

[Sidd7hartha]

Is there any liquid additive that can be mixed with windscreen washing water? Even after cleaning the car the surface becomes a bit dirty after long drive. If such additive can be mixed in water reservoir screen can be cleaned instantly while driving.

 

[ameyam]

Guys,

am sure everyone who owns the lower trims of the Swift have experienced its lower initial brake bite and that sudden intermittent feeling that the brakes didnt apply when you press the pedal. I also noted yesterday (when it had rained cats and dogs) that when the calipers and rotors are wet, a little pressure gives a very good braking effect. Is there some way of getting around this?

If there is a fix for this- hardware or software - changing brake discs, calipers, pads etc, I would like to get this done

Ameyam

 

[goldenfox7]

I didn't get your point. Is it that after the rains your brakes have become better or worse?
Ideally when you brakes wade through water, water is accumulated on the surface which reduces friction (more friction is key to good braking). You should pump the brakes a couple of times away from water to ensure the brake pad heats up and the accumulated water evaporates away. This should be done ensuring that there is no motorist behind your vehicle.
I was wondering if anyone has done the 50k service of the new Swift, I have one which is due for 50k service and would like to know the approx. cost as well as parts to be changed.

 

[ameyam]

Hi,


The brakes get sharper after it rains but only on the rolling speeds. So, basically, I took my car out from the kerb where a little water was pooled and then had to brake gently while I was at 10kmph or lower, the brakes just grabbed and it just ground to a halt as if I had stomped in the pedal. But after I drove just a bit and then had to soft brake to modulate my speed, it didn't have the same effect.


Seperately, I noticed that the braking effect is lowest when the car is in neutral (I tend to do that inadvertently while rolling to a signal or down a ramp etc), lower when in gear with clutch depressed and (obviously) highest when braking in gear without depressing clutch. But even the highest normal braking deceleration is lower that what I used to get in the Wagon R with the clutch depressed


Ameyam

 

[goldenfox7]

The brakes being sharper might be due to the brake dust being washed away by rain. With no brake dust on the disc and pad, the brakes might have performed better. Alternatively, it could also be due to engine braking. If you are in gear and slowing down, the friction within the engine itself slows the car down. Its prudent that we slow the car using engine braking and stop the car using clutch and brake for effective braking. Engaging the clutch prematurely disengages the engine (along with the benefit of engine braking), which translates to more input force on the brake pedal. WagonR has a comparatively lower kerb weight than the Swift hence would require less force. With the same amount of force, the distance would be lower.

 

[VISHNUCARCRAZY]

The brake overhaul costs as per Maruti app is 465 +410=Per5 rs.
Service for 50k km is 2082 as per Maruti app.
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