[nairrk]

Originally Posted by shajufx

I was in a bad state sunday morning, something of the dinner didnt go well with me, a head freezing AC in the room added to that cutting my sleep to just 3 hours.

+++
Is that the problem..something with the dinner or more chilled soda intake??

And you just kept your fiesta at home and enjoyed Unni's car. May be he wanted to drive his Fiesta since he is not able to drive long distance (borders) in the recent past??

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Shaju, put up any pictures yet? Would love to see your take on Singaara Chennai!

Yes Sanju, I have posted few in the non-auto image thread.

Originally Posted by sanjayc

it is accessible quite easily from Blackers or Wallers road ..the problem was I think they took a wrong lane/turn landed bang inside the Richtie street mess instead of Meeran Sahib St.

Sanju, Meeran Sahib st is one way, cant enter from the casino theater side, in fact the parking is opp casino which is always full. We didnt know any of that, we tried the next left inside thats Richie st, anyway certain things are written to happen.

Originally Posted by nairrk

Is that the problem..something with the dinner or more chilled soda intake??...And you just kept your fiesta at home and enjoyed Unni's car.

I think it was a mix of dinner Vs Ice cream Vs freezing AC in the hotel room. Yes the thought of Diesel made us take Unni's fiesta. Mine is waiting for the next drive .

[sv1976]

800kms, state border, meeting T-bhpians - what more could you ask for in a weekend Unni? Except for that nick on the door, that was sure a perfect weekend.

I also managed to add another 1100 duriing last weekend by doing B'lore-Cochin. Did the third service yesterday. They replaced the indicator/dim & dip switch under warranty. Remember I was telling you about problem I had tapping from bright to dim? Did any one else had a similar problem with indicator switch here?

Apart from that it was a regular service with engine oil change, wheel alignment, balancing, oil filter etc. SA did point out that wiper blade is not 100% perfect and could be changed. I didnt have any major issue with it even in my night drive last weekend. So decided to take it up later. I was happy to see a bill of Rs. 3501!

[unni.ak]

Originally Posted by Gilead

Well Unni, I am surprised you still have a car! Next time ask us about the area before you book a hotel. lol

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Gilead, the hotel location is opp to Casino theater..it is accessible quite easily from Blackers or Wallers road ..the problem was I think they took a wrong lane/turn landed bang inside the Richtie street mess instead of Meeran Sahib St.

Through all this what stood out was the good nature of people. One of the guys who was unloading things from an auto, actually walked in front of the car for a while moving scooters and such. People whom we asked for direction on the road were also real helpful, talking slow and repeating since they understood we were from out of state. I did not expect Chennai to be like that.

Originally Posted by sv1976

800kms, state border, meeting T-bhpians - what more could you ask for in a weekend Unni? Except for that nick on the door, that was sure a perfect weekend.

I also managed to add another 1100 duriing last weekend by doing B'lore-Cochin. Did the third service yesterday. They replaced the indicator/dim & dip switch under warranty. Remember I was telling you about problem I had tapping from bright to dim? Did any one else had a similar problem with indicator switch here?

Apart from that it was a regular service with engine oil change, wheel alignment, balancing, oil filter etc. SA did point out that wiper blade is not 100% perfect and could be changed. I didnt have any major issue with it even in my night drive last weekend. So decided to take it up later. I was happy to see a bill of Rs. 3501!

It was a good weekend for sure. I did read your comments on the road conditions to Kerala thread. Good to know that they replaced the indicator stalk under warranty. If and when replacing the wipers, go with Bosch. That's what I use and I'm pretty happy with its performance. Regular service at Rs3501 is pretty decent!!

[unni.ak]

Did a weekend drive to Pondichery, and thanks to the drive being at night with incessant rains on bad roads, I broke a wheel cover. The rim got slightly bent as well . Other than that, all going as normal. The wheel cover is the older one, the 5 spoke type. Not sure if I'll get just one, and even as a set, if this model is available now.

[vnabhi]

Sorry to hear about that rim and wheel cover. I am not sure if you'll get that old cover now, and if so, you may get an entire set and not just one.

Since it is a steel rim, I think it can be forged back into shape. Do keep us posted.

[Jebs]

Hi unni.ak,

Actually those wheels covers are very much available in chennai it costs around Rs.800 a piece as per chennai FORD pricings. Better you go for aftermarket wheel covers for that price.

[ghodlur]

Hi Unni,

Really sad to know that the rim and wheel cover is damaged. Did it hit something that hard for the rim to bend or was it the pothole which could not be seen. Did you feel any noticeable change with a bent rim while driving or loss of tyre pressure. Do update us on the rectification.

BTW could not open the pic you posted, I suppose it was showing the bent rim right?

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by unni.ak

Did a weekend drive to Pondichery, and thanks to the drive being at night with incessant rains on bad roads, I broke a wheel cover.

If you had planned it atleast 24 hours prior to the drive, I would have joined (if there was space ). Wheel cover is plastic right ? I have seen plenty of it at JC Road of all brands and types. If single piece is difficult, try shivajinagar area where they bring all types of automobile stuff collected from shops and service centers. Its next to the St.Mary's Basilica.

Keep your dates free for the last 2 weekends of October. We should catch up and drive for a shoot.

[unni.ak]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Sorry to hear about that rim and wheel cover. I am not sure if you'll get that old cover now, and if so, you may get an entire set and not just one.

Since it is a steel rim, I think it can be forged back into shape. Do keep us posted.

Yes, on the way back, I had stopped at a tyre repair place and got the rim hammered to shape. Not perfect, but managed to do the drive back without issues.

Originally Posted by Jebs

Hi unni.ak,

Actually those wheels covers are very much available in chennai it costs around Rs.800 a piece as per chennai FORD pricings. Better you go for aftermarket wheel covers for that price.

Rs800 for one!! That is expensive for sure. Need to look at alternatives then I guess.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Hi Unni,

Really sad to know that the rim and wheel cover is damaged. Did it hit something that hard for the rim to bend or was it the pothole which could not be seen. Did you feel any noticeable change with a bent rim while driving or loss of tyre pressure. Do update us on the rectification.

BTW could not open the pic you posted, I suppose it was showing the bent rim right?

Yes, I hit a pot hole at speed. Blinded by rain and oncoming bright lights!! Thankfully there was no loss of tyre pressure, how ever, the steering started wobbling. It is still there to some extent. Need to get the balancing and alignment done. The pic was to show the type of wheel cover I have.

Originally Posted by shajufx

If you had planned it atleast 24 hours prior to the drive, I would have joined (if there was space ). Wheel cover is plastic right ? I have seen plenty of it at JC Road of all brands and types. If single piece is difficult, try shivajinagar area where they bring all types of automobile stuff collected from shops and service centers. Its next to the St.Mary's Basilica.

Keep your dates free for the last 2 weekends of October. We should catch up and drive for a shoot.

It was planned and executed in under 10mins!!! At around 7:30pm we were talking about going for a drive, and by 7:40pm, we were driving out. Been a long long time since such drives have happened. Just let me know where, and we'll go one of the weekends for sure.

Thanks for the tip on the Shivaji Nagar area. Guess I will have to look into that.

[sanjayc]

Originally Posted by unni.ak

Yes, I hit a pot hole at speed. Blinded by rain and oncoming bright lights!!

Sure, Nothing else?

Drive Safe.

[unni.ak]

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Sure, Nothing else?

Drive Safe.

Yes, nothing else . And thankfully I saw the wheel cover fly off and recovered it. It is not fun walking around in pitch dark, with heavy rain, looking for a grey colored wheel cover in the foliage!!!

And just to clarify, speed was about 40-50kmph.

[sv1976]

Originally Posted by unni.ak

Yes, nothing else .
And just to clarify, speed was about 40-50kmph.

With the kind of rains that side during the weekend, you are lucky. I was on Blr-Chennai-Blr last weekend and had to encounter one of the heaviest rains I've ever seen in Tamilnadu. Almost zero visibility.

I'm told you'll easily get single wheel cover for less than 300 in Shivaji nagar (same area Shaju suggested). Makes no sense to pay 800

[anumod]

Originally Posted by anumod

Thanks Unni and benbsb.

Tyre make is MRF. My gut feeling also that it can run for another 20K KM. I will check with outside tyre shop as well. The problem with Hyderabad is that we may not get the right answer from the outside tyre shops as well. I will enquire in a couple of shops and update the thread accordingly

HI Unni,

Today I checked with a couple of shops today and they checked the tyres and were saying that no issues with the alloys

[unni.ak]

Originally Posted by sv1976

With the kind of rains that side during the weekend, you are lucky. I was on Blr-Chennai-Blr last weekend and had to encounter one of the heaviest rains I've ever seen in Tamilnadu. Almost zero visibility.

I'm told you'll easily get single wheel cover for less than 300 in Shivaji nagar (same area Shaju suggested). Makes no sense to pay 800

I know! Ford should bring the price of such spares down. Rs800 is a bit too much for one piece. Got alignment and balancing done over the weekend. The Toe settings on Right Front was out by a bit. The rim had a bend on the inside as well, that was hammered out. Running good now.

Originally Posted by anumod

HI Unni,

Today I checked with a couple of shops today and they checked the tyres and were saying that no issues with the alloys

Well, then no need to change them! MRFs do last pretty well.