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Car and bike questions? We have the answers
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I have an eight-month-old Honda Eterno, with about 8,000 km on the clock. It used to give an average of 62kpl, but in the last month, this has dropped to just 45 kpl, for no apparent reason. I have tried using different petrol pumps and using high-octane petrol, but this hasn't helped. I took it thrice to an authorised service centre, but they couldn't find the cause. Now, along with the poor efficiency, I'm experiencing thick, black smoke from the exhaust, a sound like an exploding cracker when I go off the throttle, and black deposits on the spark plug. The bike runs smoothly, but I'm quite worried.
Akhilesh Agrawal, via email
These are very serious signs: there should be no deposits on the plug and no smoke from the exhaust. These are lethal signs of engine damage. Give it back to the service dealership and make them attend to it - only take delivery of the bike after making sure it does not smoke even a bit.
I've heard of `Chery Automobiles' in China, which makes a copy of the Chevrolet Spark — but for only Rs 1 lakh! Do you think this car could come to India? I've heard GM is likely to launch the real Chevy Spark here; what will happen if the Chery makes it here as well? Will it be a real problem for GM India?
Vikas Luthra, via email
The Chery QQ is a clever copy of the Chevy Spark/ Daewoo Matiz. In China, Chery can get away with it and sell it really cheap, but it shouldn't worry GM India too much - producing even a small, inexpensive car in a new country requires massive investment and commitment, so it won't be cheap. Chery would also have to compete with the might of Maruti and Tata, who are difficult to beat on price. GM will launch the all-new Spark once it acquires a new factory to make it in — and this won't be before 2007.
I use a Ford Mondeo petrol and a last-generation Honda Accord. I notice a slight vibration in the steering wheel of the Accord above 160kph, but not in the Mondeo, even above 200kph! Why is this? Should I get it checked?
Anish Chilkuri, via email
The Mondeo is definitely more stable at high speeds than the Accord, so it'll feel better planted. However, the vibrations you're sensing in the Accord are likely to be due to unbalanced wheels. Get the wheels balanced, and the vibrations should disappear.
Write in with your queries to wheels@thehindu.co.in
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