And at 3pm i gave a call Sachin informs me that car is ready, requested him to keep the bill ready since i had to rush back to ol mans bday surprise
Reached at 5 pm and car is standing at the portico, call up Sachin and he comes and hands over the key and asks me to take a road test. Take her out and head out into Yeshwanthpur main road, unfortunately its recently relaid and silky smooth surface, so no luck with checking rattles.
Oh when i switched ON the key, the engine check light was not switching off (after the usual delay) so error codes! Anyways took the car out and WOW i could feel that car indeed has got its taut feel back (a simple suspension and steering parts tightening does wonders). Obviously the mech has done some door setting also, so no obvious rattles. Though he goofed up with rear LT door, its creaking (didnt bother since thats something i can get fixed anytime).
Biggest difference was the way she was pulling, all the filter changes seemed to have really helped. a) she was silky smooth and was revving free (read as rpm dancing at slightest provocation) b) the pull in turbo band was back!! hence the woooosshhhhhh! I suspect air filter clogging to be the culprit since the soot at exhaust pipe end had gone up by a tiny bit (last 1000 km or so).
Oh yeah even the steering column rattle has been tended to an extent after the damper tightening, though i could sense that mech didnt tighten it too much, to avoid the steering from becoming too tight (good move), its worked out well.
Brake work was excellent, bite was crisp and pedal travel and hand brake play had come down, a good job on this front also. Washing and cleaning was just about ok as usual and left oil smudge on the windshield, which Sachin offered to clean up, which i declined due to lack of time. Anyways i will be doing a thorough in-out clean up job this weekend.
So we drove back and Sachin calls up the electrician, ok this is one guy whom i have interacted previously while figuring out the fuse blow ups. One word to describe him "Temperamental" and "PMS" would be an understatement. Sachin virtually has to beg and plead on phone and finally take the car down and coax him, to just connect the scanner and erase the error code! I wish i could pick up one scanner!
I move to billing while the error codes are attended to and hand over the MUL credit card, i had some major points which i thought can redeem against the expense incurred. Sadly the card reader/bank network had other ideas in mind and wouldnt budge. Didnt bother too much since i was in a hurry to get back and paid up fully, and before anyone jumps into a conclusion its bloody expensive please go through the bill in detail. I had replaced some parts which are not really needed in regular 20,000 km service.
Bill split up:
Parts:
Air filter: 230
Exchange filter/Diesel filter: 842
Engine oil filter: 334
Oil drain plug: 57
Side turn lamp assembly * 2: 189
Wiper blade: 234 + 184 (Each side cost differs)
Brake fluid: 275
Coolant: 626
Engine oil flush (3M): 506
Engine oil (mobil delvac): 613
Windscreen wash fluid: 12
Gear oil: 689
Labor
Paid service: 750
Drum brake cleaning: 200
Battery: 20
Consumable check / replacement: 61
VAT: 600
Service tax: 124
Edu cess on service Tax: 4
Grand total: 6554 INR
So reduce approx 1200 for a regular 20,000 km bill from RNS. Please note that NO wheel rotation/balancing/alignment was done, i prefer to do it from outside on my own. In short am very happy with the mechanical service RNS has done, apart for that odd door squeak.
So now for some pics in following order:
1)Exchange filter/Diesel filter, its from Bosch and made in Spain. So once its made in India, prices should come down further.
2) Air filter
3) Side indicator and engine oil drain plug
4) 3M engine flush
A wheel alignment/balancing/rotation job this weekend + Clean up and when i get time that rear door setting.
Thats all the update for now and i LOVE the diesel turbo, for its woooooosssssshhhhhhhhh!!!!! The other day Mag was asking me "when is Pete's" and i replied "It can wait". Am very happy with the stock power delivery and in a city like Bangalore its just perfect. Yes it delivers 15-16 KMPL in stop-go peak city traffic with AC ON, and will update if i get better mileage after the service.