Swift ZXI - Braking Concern - Now Fixed with ECU Upgrade

**smarthere** · 25th Apr 2012, 21:41

I have a new Swift ZXi. I recently found a problem with its braking – dont really know if it is a problem though. While moving in slow moving traffic, with clutch half-applied, I tried to stop the car and applied brakes (not that hard, but gently). The car didn’t stop, it rolled for a few metres. I tried to replicate the scenario near my home, and the same thing happens. When the car is moving with half-clutch applied, if you gently apply the brakes, it wont stop – it will keep on rolling until you either fully release the clutch or fully apply it. What could be the reason behind this rolling of the car, even when the brakes are applied?

**MutantX** · 25th Apr 2012, 21:44

smarthere - dude I have the new SWIFT Vxi. I have the exact sample problem. I had talked to the service adviser who did a TD and found everything alright.

You have typed the exact same description as I did on my thread.

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**smarthere** · 25th Apr 2012, 22:32

So isn't there any solution to this problem? it is really dangerous if this happens to occur during traffic.

**MutantX** · 25th Apr 2012, 22:36

smarthere - which city are you from? I understand it is dangerous.. can you give more details like which batch of vehicle does your belong to?

This might be the way, how the new swift's brake system works.. I am not sure. The problem you mentioned isnt consistent for me. Happens once in a while at low speeds and also during reverse. We might have to take this up with maruti to figure out if it is a feature (anti stall mechanism forcing you to press the clutch completely to avoid stalling at low speeds) or a bug!. in anycase, I prefer the engine to stall rather than moving straight ahead.

**mclaren1885** · 25th Apr 2012, 22:44

What do you mean by "clutch half applied"? And you do understand that when you start to brake, your leg shouldn't be on the clutch right?

The clutch is to be depressed only when you've braked enough that the speeds are so less that the engine might stall. I see a lot of people first pressing the clutch and then start to brake. That is the wrong way to brake.

Also, what tyres are you running on. The rolling of the car could be because of the puny tyres "locking up". That has nothing to do with the bad brakes, just the shitty tyres Maruti gives with their cars.

**smarthere** · 25th Apr 2012, 22:46

I am from Chennai and i got my ZXI in the month of November 2011, it does happen once in a while for me too but i am just praying that it doesn't occur at the wrong moment, i did take it up with ABT maruti and they did check the vehicle and gave me an answer which you had stated above, you either need to release the clutch or press it completely for the brake to start functioning. They also stated that since these cars involves Boosters (Brake boosters if i am not wrong) we need to operate it in this fashion, earlier i owned a Maruti 800 and this was never an issue (again ABT explained that it was because Maruti 800 never had such brake boosters)...anyways looks like we will have to live with it.

During heavy traffic you certainly would be applying half clutch and brakes, there is no question of slowing down in traffic as vehicle is already moving at snails pace.

I am currently using MRF tubeless tyres

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

What do you mean by "clutch half applied"? And you do understand that when you start to brake, your leg shouldn't be on the clutch right?

The clutch is to be depressed only when you've braked enough that the speeds are so less that the engine might stall. I see a lot of people first pressing the clutch and then start to brake. That is the wrong way to brake.

Also, what tyres are you running on. The rolling of the car could be because of the puny tyres "locking up". That has nothing to do with the bad brakes, just the shitty tyres Maruti gives with their cars.

**MutantX** · 26th Apr 2012, 09:18

smarthere - ditto! I too got the Nov-2011 batch Swift Vxi. I also did talk to ABT (injambakkam) they gave the exact same reply. I had an Santro & i10 before the new swift. Have been driving for the past 8-9 years. Never had the problem with other cars. Not sure if i10 has brake boosters but the new SWIFT does have brake boosters.

Like what you said, in stop and go traffic (Bumper2Bumper), we need to brake and half clutch, cant run the vehicle just using the clutch. As of now I have adjusted my style of braking. An alternative is, we can take the cars again to MSM and get it checked as we stay in chennai, with 2 people reporting this same issue, we might get it checked as a batch.

BTW, i have upgraded my tyres to Yoko A DRive 185 70 R14 and the issue is less pronounced but it is worth getting checked.

**Babbanji Franklin** · 26th Apr 2012, 09:36

My advice would be to reduce half-clutch usage to as minimum as possible. Infact at the time of depressing the brake pedal, your left foot should have depressed the clutch completely and not half-clutch WHILE breaking !! In bumper-to-bumper traffic, where you get to move only a few feet and then stopping again, downshift to 1st gear ! You can reduce the half-clutch usage to bare minimum in 1st gear !! That is what I do.

**mclaren1885** · 26th Apr 2012, 09:41

If you guys are crawling in bumper to bumper traffic, how are you managing to "lock" tyres at speeds under 15kmph?

Or is the engine freeing up once you press the clutch thereby reducing vacuum to the boosters and also given that you no longer have engine braking assisting you to drop speeds?

**MutantX** · 26th Apr 2012, 10:56

Originally Posted by Babbanji Franklin

My advice would be to reduce half-clutch usage to as minimum as possible. Infact at the time of depressing the brake pedal, your left foot should have depressed the clutch completely and not half-clutch WHILE breaking !! In bumper-to-bumper traffic, where you get to move only a few feet and then stopping again, downshift to 1st gear ! You can reduce the half-clutch usage to bare minimum in 1st gear !! That is what I do.

Yes, that is what I do. At very low speeds, I shift to 1st gear and use just my clutch (half clutch) and brake to move forward. During reverse, it is just the clutch (half & full clutch combination) and brake to move backward. The issue doesnt seem to be consistant. Happens once in a while during low rpm & half clutch. I assumed it could be because of the antistall and got away by depressing the clutch completely to release the brakes.

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

If you guys are crawling in bumper to bumper traffic, how are you managing to "lock" tyres at speeds under 15kmph?

Or is the engine freeing up once you press the clutch thereby reducing vacuum to the boosters and also given that you no longer have engine braking assisting you to drop speeds?

mclaren, i am sure my tyres arent getting locked up. At low speeds say 5-10 kmpr, there is absolutly no lockup. Just during the above scenario i had explained to babnanji ramdev.