Thanks people, I am adding all these points to my inspection list for the workshop visit.
govigov, I haven't had the chance to really push the car to her limits in the ghats, but I do know it will be a breeze, specially after the Santro. I got a glimpse of it last night in my first drive. While I don't intend to take corners faster than is safe, it sure helps when you don't have to sway sideways
sandeepmohan, I don't think the car is mis-firing or missing a beat. I think you can compare it to the slight hesitation before a turbo kicks in. I shall still get the spark plugs checked and probably replaced. Regarding consulting a tyre shop, it's not only to confirm the existing tyres are 'tired', but also to check on the replacement. Since for the next month or so I won't be using the car much, and certainly not outside city limits, unless the tyres crumble, I am not in a mad hurry to replace. After all I have another car to look after too! The indicator problem I can live with if it's going to cost me a lot of money.
I don't know if it's a ROCAM engine. The manual simply mentions 1.6 l SOHC and the word ROCAM is nowhere mentioned, so I am assuming it's the pushrod one. (Update: I browsed on the net, and it seems the Ikon 1.6 was launched with a ROCAM engine, while the 1.3 was initially launched with a pushrod engine and later again with the ROCAM engine. Here are two links for more info:
http://www.indiacar.com/roadtest/for...nxt/engine.htm http://www.cybersteering.com/cbmain/...s/Ikonsxi.html
So it seems I do have the ROCAM engine. Any other way to find out? The top of the engine does not show ROCAM written on it.)
dhanushs, I shall try and get the ignition coil checked too. About the other fluids, you are right that they actually might be 10 years old. However I have observed that the brakes are quite capable, and there's been no overheating throughout my last night's driving. So I am putting this task off till next month. I do hope to get this done before I really start whipping her.
For the 175/70 R 13 tyres, the manual mentions for upto 3 people, front pressure should be 2.0 bar and the rear 1.8 bar. For a full load, the front pressure is 2.5 bar while the rear is 2.8 bar. This is identical to the 1.8 l Endura (diesel) variant of the Ikon.
The car doesn't feel "wallowy", but I shall still try and get a thorough inspection of the suspension, steering, joints and all the bushes.
Funny, last night as we drove out of Pune, we halted at a Shell petrol pump (just after Hinjewadi signal, on the way to Mumbai) to fill up the tank. As I got down the attendant asked if I wanted the ordinary one or the premium. After I chose ordinary he put the nozzle into the tank, asked me to confirm the zero reading and just before starting to pump it in, asked, "You sure it's petrol?" I was surprised and nodded.
Later when going into the second foodmall, just before the khalapur toll plaza, I mistakenly entered the petrol pump area. I decided to drive through the pumps. Since there were cars waiting to refuel and attendants roaming about I slowed down to a crawl. An attendant, mistakenly believing I wanted to refuel, asked me, "Diesel, isn't it?" I shook my head in surprise, again. Both of them suspected it was a diesel car, dunno why.
Any advice on the tiny mirrors? I would really love to put something even a tad bigger in their place. Also the right side ORVM is very loose. It keeps moving forth a little on its own as I drive.