Car shudders in lower gear

ajayclicks · 13th March 2007, 17:25

Hi Guys,

Have been facing this problem for a while with my swift LXI. Current reading is 19.6K kms. Lately, my car shudders in the lower gear (usually first, rarely 2nd) when I am putting it in motion from stationary. This happens irrespective of whether I am starting the car in the morning, or at a traffic light.

This usually happens as I am releasing the clutch plate (with the gear on 1st). I have realised that if I keep the cluth depressed for a few secs longer and release it real slow (as compared to what i normally do), this does not happen. I use to drive light foot initially (damn driving schools), but not in the last 8- 9K kms.

A friend who keeps good knowledge abt automobiles says that its simply becoz of the no of kms my car has run (clutch play?) and if i tell the service center abt this, the will make the necessary changes in the setting.

I wanted your opinion on whether it is something serious which requires immediate attention, or if it can wait for the next service (another 25- 30 days to go) or it is something that I have to simply adjust my driving style to.

Cheers
Ajay

n_aditya · 13th March 2007, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajayclicks

Have been facing this problem for a while with my swift LXI. Current reading is 19.6K kms. Lately, my car shudders in the lower gear (usually first, rarely 2nd) when I am putting it in motion from stationary.

I suspect clutch slippage. But at 19000 kms?

have you been doing burnouts and wheel-spins excessively?

Have the clutch assmembly and related parts investigated ASAP and demand replacement if faulty. I assume your car is still under warranty.

ajayclicks · 13th March 2007, 19:00

Thanks Aditya,

No burnouts and wheel spins here. Will get it investigated. Yup it is still under warranty (thank god i havent upgraded my headlights yet

)

Cheers
Ajay

drifter · 13th March 2007, 19:04

Do get it checked as soon as possible, because Ajmat's swift also had a clutch failure and his car was below 10000kms if i remember correctly.

Drifter

Pankaj401 · 13th March 2007, 21:20

I have the same problem with my OHC VTEC and i suspect my clutch. But i don't think I have ever noticed it slip.

Infact the more I let it slip intentionally the better shift I get (while shifting).

viper · 13th March 2007, 21:51

Hi Guys,

Swift has a known clutch issue. I have had 4 cars come to us after the service centre refused warranty where we had to replace clutch due to varying reasons. All cars had clocked under 12k kms and none of them got warranty.

@Ajay - Changing the headlightbulb cannot void warranty for your clutch. At the most it can void electrical warranty.

Viper

ajayclicks · 14th March 2007, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper

Hi Guys,

All cars had clocked under 12k kms and none of them got warranty.

Viper

Could be becoz rubber parts are not covered under warranty? assuming that i gotta change mine as well, how much wud it cost?

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper

@Ajay - Changing the headlightbulb cannot void warranty for your clutch. At the most it can void electrical warranty.

Viper

Yup. That was sarcastically directed at the dealers/ manufacturers who will go to any lengths to deny us the benefits of warranty

Cheers
Ajay

Zappo · 14th March 2007, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajayclicks

Could be becoz rubber parts are not covered under warranty?

Arrr... Uh... your clutch plates are made out of rubber?!!

Btw... I have at times felt this at lower gears in my car as well. But it has more to do with the way I release the clutch. If I hurry too much in releasing the clutch and accelerating away and the release of the clutch and the pressing of the accelerator goes a bit out of synch this shuddering happens. Releasing the accelerator immediately and then again pressing it more gently solves the issue. Check out that possibility as well.

nitroxx · 14th March 2007, 04:41

My swift had this issue at 4000kms dude its a regular thing with the swifts get your clutch checked.And yeah you dont get warranty on it coz its a wear and tear part which technically is correct but is a load of humbug coz its not just 1 car its the whole line.

goldsun · 14th March 2007, 06:30

My friend, having a SWIFT ZXi also complained of a similar issue at 6k kms and got his Clutch parts serviced / replaced.

But I have not faced this issue, and I have done 20k+ as of now in my SWIFT VXi.

nitroxx · 14th March 2007, 10:34

goldsun consider yourself really lucky

coz most of the guys I know face the same issue.

ajayclicks · 14th March 2007, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappo

Arrr... Uh... your clutch plates are made out of rubber?!!

Btw... I have at times felt this at lower gears in my car as well. But it has more to do with the way I release the clutch. If I hurry too much in releasing the clutch and accelerating away and the release of the clutch and the pressing of the accelerator goes a bit out of synch this shuddering happens. Releasing the accelerator immediately and then again pressing it more gently solves the issue. Check out that possibility as well.

I thought there was some rubber pad... but them am a big Zero when it comes to automobiles

Yup, even I am hoping that its a simple clutch- accelerator coordination issue. Maybe I will ask a friend to take a spin on a few occassions.

Cheers
Ajay

emkay456 · 14th March 2007, 10:52

reading this thread I fear I have also joined the bandwagon. For last few days at low speeds there has been voilent shuddering on quick clutch actions. It happened too today morning, and the engine stopped. !! That this problem happened within a week of 2nd service is a matter of concern

anarchist · 14th March 2007, 13:36

hey guys my Swift has run 29k and I am facing this problem of shudder since the last free service which was at 20k on the odo. I asked the engineer to check the issue but he said the clutch plate has worn out due to my oversize tires (I was flabbergasted) he suggested that I might require a clutch overhaul and imagine this at 25k on the odo. So I am due for overhaul in the next service. The costs indicated was 6k, as we need to replace the entire clutch assembly??? and not just the plates as in Swift this is what's to be done. Now that you guys have highlighted this issue on cars which have run much lesser than my car, I will have to do some shouting to see if Maruti will do something about this!!!!!.

Any suggestions senior BHPians??

ajayclicks · 14th March 2007, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by anarchist

since the last free service which was at 20k on the odo.

The schedule that i followed was 1K, 5K and 10K. After the 3rd free service (@ 10K), I was told my next would be at 20K or 12 months from 10K. I doubt there is a free service at 20K.

I use stock tyres. In all probability they will blame it on my driving style.

Cheers
Ajay

13th March 2007, 17:25	#1
ajayclicks BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 613 Thanked: 423 Times	Car shudders in lower gear Hi Guys, Have been facing this problem for a while with my swift LXI. Current reading is 19.6K kms. Lately, my car shudders in the lower gear (usually first, rarely 2nd) when I am putting it in motion from stationary. This happens irrespective of whether I am starting the car in the morning, or at a traffic light. This usually happens as I am releasing the clutch plate (with the gear on 1st). I have realised that if I keep the cluth depressed for a few secs longer and release it real slow (as compared to what i normally do), this does not happen. I use to drive light foot initially (damn driving schools), but not in the last 8- 9K kms. A friend who keeps good knowledge abt automobiles says that its simply becoz of the no of kms my car has run (clutch play?) and if i tell the service center abt this, the will make the necessary changes in the setting. I wanted your opinion on whether it is something serious which requires immediate attention, or if it can wait for the next service (another 25- 30 days to go) or it is something that I have to simply adjust my driving style to. Cheers Ajay
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 19:00	#3
ajayclicks BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 613 Thanked: 423 Times	Thanks Aditya, No burnouts and wheel spins here. Will get it investigated. Yup it is still under warranty (thank god i havent upgraded my headlights yet ) Cheers Ajay
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 19:04	#4
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,488 Thanked: 75 Times View My Garage	Do get it checked as soon as possible, because Ajmat's swift also had a clutch failure and his car was below 10000kms if i remember correctly. Drifter
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 21:20	#5
Pankaj401 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 215 Thanked: 7 Times	I have the same problem with my OHC VTEC and i suspect my clutch. But i don't think I have ever noticed it slip. Infact the more I let it slip intentionally the better shift I get (while shifting). Last edited by Pankaj401 : 13th March 2007 at 21:23.
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 21:51	#6
viper BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 20 Times	Hi Guys, Swift has a known clutch issue. I have had 4 cars come to us after the service centre refused warranty where we had to replace clutch due to varying reasons. All cars had clocked under 12k kms and none of them got warranty. @Ajay - Changing the headlightbulb cannot void warranty for your clutch. At the most it can void electrical warranty. Viper
	() Thanks

14th March 2007, 04:41	#9
nitroxx Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: DXB Posts: 816 Thanked: 31 Times View My Garage	My swift had this issue at 4000kms dude its a regular thing with the swifts get your clutch checked.And yeah you dont get warranty on it coz its a wear and tear part which technically is correct but is a load of humbug coz its not just 1 car its the whole line. Last edited by nitroxx : 14th March 2007 at 04:43.
	() Thanks

14th March 2007, 06:30	#10
goldsun BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 230 Thanked: 48 Times	My friend, having a SWIFT ZXi also complained of a similar issue at 6k kms and got his Clutch parts serviced / replaced. But I have not faced this issue, and I have done 20k+ as of now in my SWIFT VXi.
	() Thanks

14th March 2007, 10:34	#11
nitroxx Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: DXB Posts: 816 Thanked: 31 Times View My Garage	goldsun consider yourself really lucky coz most of the guys I know face the same issue.
	() Thanks

14th March 2007, 10:52	#13
emkay456 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 388 Thanked: 7 Times	reading this thread I fear I have also joined the bandwagon. For last few days at low speeds there has been voilent shuddering on quick clutch actions. It happened too today morning, and the engine stopped. !! That this problem happened within a week of 2nd service is a matter of concern
	() Thanks

14th March 2007, 13:36	#14
anarchist BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago / Namma Bengaluru Posts: 372 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	hey guys my Swift has run 29k and I am facing this problem of shudder since the last free service which was at 20k on the odo. I asked the engineer to check the issue but he said the clutch plate has worn out due to my oversize tires (I was flabbergasted) he suggested that I might require a clutch overhaul and imagine this at 25k on the odo. So I am due for overhaul in the next service. The costs indicated was 6k, as we need to replace the entire clutch assembly??? and not just the plates as in Swift this is what's to be done. Now that you guys have highlighted this issue on cars which have run much lesser than my car, I will have to do some shouting to see if Maruti will do something about this!!!!!. Any suggestions senior BHPians??
	() Thanks