Suzuki Cultus Fan Club (2000-2016)

[xzap042]

Can you share me his link

[ahmedali.kas9]

sure, this is him on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JhStMtJiS/

[ahmedali.kas9]

In different news, I'm 95% percent positive my engine is blown, so I need advice. Price estimates and a reliable tow truck service in karachi the I can use to get my car from my house to my mechanic.

Yesterday, my friend drove my car and pushed it hard, revving up to 5k RPM like a race car. Full send and everything, When I got home, I noticed excessive white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the idle was extremely rough. It would. stabilize on ac, but otherwise was struggling to maintain idle. The smoke had a sweet smell, and when I checked, the coolant reservoir was low.

I turned off the engine, refilled the reservoir to full, and then restarted the car. The smoke was minimal this time, but the engine still didn’t feel right. Still shuddery. I parked it for the night.

This morning, to go to the gym, I checked the oil—it was still full. However, the coolant reservoir, which I had topped up the night before, was low again. I also checked under the oil cap before starting the engine, but there was no foam.

When I started the car, started roughly. This time, there was no smoke, but I noticed an intermittent clanking and metallic noise coming from the engine. At idle, the noise would come and go. When I slightly revved the engine, sometimes the noise disappeared, but other times, it got louder. The engine also hesitated to rev smoothly, shaking as if it was struggling. The loud clangs kept on echoing now and then. Sounded like TAK TAK TAK, or like if you but in metal balls into the engine and imagine what that would sound like.

so not sure what to do. Please advise.

[miqdadkanani]

Can be Knocking sounds

Get the plugs checked.
Get a compression test done.

[nfsmostwanted]

I would suggest you to keep the side mirrors black. I had them in silver color on my car and one fine day i found broken right side mirror placed on bonnet of my parked car
Price for the new mirror was 350rs for local one but painter was demanding atleast 1500rs to paint single side mirror

In the end i ended up changing both side mirrors to black for 700rs

[the_mira_guy_08]

Sounds like symptoms of a blown headgasket. My mira had similar problems before the engine overhaul.

[ahmedali.kas9]

Alright then, It was indeed a head gasket and some other minor issues with the valves and other related paraphernalia. Here's the total cost of that.

All work was done by Irshad.

---

On a different note, I had some cosmetic work done too. Remember the fender bender I posted earlier? Got that sorted, new bumpers front and back, fender repainted, had the side mirrors painted too (complimentary courtesy of the Denter) entire car compound polished and front and rear chromed cleaned up, had the front grill sprayed with hardener. (Also had the lights polished (complimentary service!) So looking good mashallah. Here's the cost on that

The photos with this Chinese phone are really bad, so I might take better ones with my DSLR when I get the chance and share those later.

I might have to change the tires later this year (around 7 years old at this point), which is around another 30-40k spending, so while yes this is a lot of money for this car, so that'd be around 100k iI would have spent on this car. Is it worth it? Im not so sure, what do you guys think, should I keep it or sell it? How much do you spend on your cultuses on an annual basis?

[xzap042]

anyone has used PSO carient ultra 10w30 in their old cultus?

[the_mira_guy_08]

My father used to put in 5w30 in our old cultus back when we owned it 2016-2022. It was a zero meter car and the oil was changed every 3 months.

[aminjafer5441]

I've kept this car a long time ago back in 2019-2020. One thing I learned was that once the mechanical/electrical work starts, it never ends and will drain your pocket fast. Seeing that you've spent a lot on the mechanical work, it's not going to end here. I'm not sure about the quality of work that the mechanics have done, but if the head has suffered damage, the block (piston, piston rings, bearings, oilpump etc.) is soon to follow. I'm not hating on the car, it's just that the technology is too old and then it's suzuki Pakistan so quality is even worse.
Suprisingly, the newer suzuki cars, WagonR, alto and New Cultus are way more reliable and economical to maintain but obviously the price bracket changes. If you can afford then at least go for a second hand alto or wagonR depending on your choice for peace of mind.

[ahmedali.kas9]

If this is your view after owning a car like this for just a year, something leads me to think that your specific cultus had a lot of issues. While I still understand what you're saying, I have no other option. Our requirements are that of 2 vehicles. I simply cannot get anything else in this same price tag. After I spend money on it, I think "now it'll be set for the years to come" It's a vicious cycle. Since the vehicle is painted, accidental etc I won't get enough even when I sell it, making it not worth selling, but if Im not selling I have to keep it maintained. I don't really have a choice. I had the piston rings done too. It seems great now, but we'll have to see how long that lasts. It's been pretty reliable since we bought it in. 2011. It was a trade in with Suzukis Certified Cars. Ever since the past 2 years certain "larger" issues have shown up, like clutch replacement and a prior episode with a a gasket but that was because of an oil leak. Other than that it's pretty basic maintenance.

[aminjafer5441]

I hear you brother. The market here has made small car prices creep up to what luxury cars once were at. Basically the car I bought was in fact needing repairs already and that is why I said that when the major work starts, it becomes a white elephant quickly. Being an older vehicle, there is very little to none option of replacing your engine transmission with Kabli one. Engine repair only lasts as long as the quality of work and parts, which you and I both know is subpar at most places. It is never going to last as long as a factory assembled engine or transmission, period. I remember having spent more than 100K on the car back then at some of the most reputable shops in Islamabad. This included electrical and mechanical work. But there was no end.
For comparison, I bought a used wagonR local assembled right after selling this and still all original mechanically with only brake pads and shoes changed at regular intervals and rear wheel bearings changed once in entire ownership. It's driven 198000 km now whereas the cultus I had bought back then was driven around 145000km.

Now if buying another car is not an option, then to get the most life out of the car you'll need to proactively maintain and inspect he car to avoid costly repairs like having head gasket issues due to a simple coolant or oil leak and such.
The expense you mentioned on the tires is one that is necessary if you intend to keep the car for a much longer period, else you'll never make that money back on the car if you sell it. The body work is also something that can happen with new cars too in case of a mishap so not really a routine maintenance thing. The major costs that will start to recur now are the engine, and power train in general. So as long as that cost stays manageable it is worth keeping the car.

[brownrose78]

Can u post pictures of head light before and after treatment/ repairing.
100 K maintenance charges inclusive of cosmetic is not bad after such time.

Tyre costing will go at least 45K for new ones.

[ahmedali.kas9]

Tyre costing will go at least 45K for new ones.

This is why I won't be getting tires for now. Will make do as is, this car isn't used as often as the other one, so we can hold back on those in the meantime.

Can u post pictures of head light before and after treatment/ repairing.

I didnt quite take before pictures of the headlights before, even at the. time of the accident, the headlights were lightly polished already.

but here's what I do have.

[ahmedali.kas9]

Anyone know how to adjust the headlights on these cars? One is upwards while on low beam, any leads?

Also any idea about the new number plates, I have applied for the new ones, but I really like these old ones and want to keep them. I have applied, how will ik they are ready and whats the collection process? Do I have to return these? I like these yellow ones

[Thinking]

There are 2 knobs on each head light, one is to adjust its angle up and down and other one to adjust its angle left and right. You can adjust its head lights as per the guidance on you tube for right hand cars with normal reflective head lamps

[ahmedali.kas9]

where are these knobs per se? I cant seem to find anything as such, can you point them out?

here ive attached a photo, which is which?

[Thinking]

the long bolt in the below left corner is the adjustment knob for up and down

and similarly in the top right of light there is a knob/similar bolt for left right adjustment

[ahmedali.kas9]

Ive screwed with it a lot, but while the up down did shift, the left to right is barely making a difference even though the screw is turning, any ideas?

[ahmedali.kas9]

After 8 wonderful months of my auto choke working again after 11 years. It has gone again. Idk what it is. Last time it was disconnected and missing levers, but I got all that fixed now. I used to start the car with two pumps on the gas when the ignition ON. It used to start up immediately on half a self at exactly 1.4k rpm. I would wait a little and then hit the gas again and it would disengage. Eventually it started to go up from 1.4k rpms to 2k rpms as the engine began to warm up, so I would hit the gas a little and it would come back down to 1.4 then I would hit it again and it would come down to idle rpm. Sometimes I even forgot to pump the pedal twice and started as is, it started fine on idle rpms and then I would nudge the pedal a little bit and the autchoke would engage and hold the idle at 1.4k rpms. Which was fine. Now even if I press the pedal twice before starting, it still starts at one self but starts at idle rpms and stays there. I hit the gas a little to try to get it to engage but it maintains idle and does not go up to 1.4k rpms. So what should I do now?

Not sure if this is relevant, but a while ago, when I came back from. a trip to Bahria and as I was parking at home the car just died. Stalled. I started it up again and it stalled, idle rpm was 200-300. I used the white mixture screw and opened it up until it maintained idle and shut it off. Not sure how this could affect it.

Any ideas on what to check ad troubleshoot? How to fix? Already spent 3k when I got it fixed to begin with.