Bought My First Car - Maruti 800 AC

[Varun560061]

Finally you decided to take it to the tinker.. Good. How did you manage to take the wires from the side pillar ? Tough job !

First get a new radiator then you can think of Engine, it might be due to the radiator also.

You could have put one more layer of sponge for the front seats.

Tail lamps look good. I want see the final photo soon, waiting for it.

 

[ss80]

Thanks Varun, I wanted to take it to the tinker for a long time. Finally taking it tomorrow.

I am scared but no choice, the tinker has to do a good job for a resonable price. The biggest scaring thing for me in the car is the front shield area (rust is severe), A pillar is somewhat tolerable, floor too isnt a big task I guess. If he has to work on the entire perimeter of the windshield then I will be burning a very big hole in my pocket

Any idea on price of a new radiator? MGP or any other brand will do?
Yeah, the oil could be from the radiator itself. As it is I have to drain the coolant to fix the new hose kit I have purchased, I will do that along with the radiator fixing.

I hope it can be a DIY for me - Radiator & hose kit fixing.

I am yet to buy those Rear bumper brackets & the bumper itself is cut in a few places (where the screws hold them) Will update after tinkering is done.

Any idea how much it could cost, considering the photos I have pasted in the previous page?


I inserted the tail end of the long wire into this hole near the bottom of A pillar & dragged it all the way till the back passenger foot area. Thanks for the inputs :)

 

[Varun560061]

Yes when you have to change the hoses you need to drain out the coolant. If you dont want to waste it use a tray and put it back.

A new radiator comes around 2.5k to 3k. Better you get a new bumper for 900rs.

No idea as I have never got any thing done (tinkering).

 

[ss80]

Hmmm new bumper is in my mind for a long time, but radiator seems to be the more urgent purchase. I will update shortly here after tinkering work is complete.

I will try to be there itself & click photos of the work in progress, not sure if the tinker guy will allow that.

 

[jarpickle]

I think the fan might be the culprit but check the wires that are connected to the fan, are they supplying current.

As for the oil in the coolant overflow tank drain the container into a pale and see if it is indeed oil.Check your engine oil dipstick on a clean cloth and see if the oil has turned white and it smells like coolant if so head gasket needs changing.

If the above are negative then try filling the overflow tank with some new coolant and observe if the same oil happens to flow in again.Maybe its some leaking pipe like the gearbox breather tube that is contaminating the coolant.

 

[samsag12]

Just to make you feel relieved, if the engine was consuming oil then there would have been a brown sludge formed in the coolant reservoir. The one which you see presently is normal slick agents which accumulate in the "still" water. So don't worry about the engine although its good to have it checked for peace of mind.
Do update us with latest pics of work.

 

[ss80]

Thanks Jarpickle & Samsag12, I too hope it's a simple issue.

I have given the car to the Tinker person today. He quoted 800/- for the front wheel well, below rear seat & A pillar work. I Paid him 1000/- & asked to replace the front & rear windhsield gaskets too.

I will check the oil thing as soon as I get back the car. Mostly tomorrow evening I will be getting the car back.

Today it was weird experience, driving car without headlamps, grill, bumper, seats, floor etc. I was grabbing quite a lot of eye balls. My formal dress & the car just dint gel well The car continued to jerk heavily while driving, luckily the mechanic in that garage fixed the jerking issue.

I had connected the ignition coil in the opposite way (those 2 tiny wires) & that is what caused the jerking. He also reduced the idling (FIRST TIME I BOTHERED TO SEE WHICH SCREW HANDLES IDLING!)

Some strange things happened today when I was driving towards the garage, the fuel indicator showed half tank! where as I had hardly put 150rs petrol only, plus the radiator fan started working. The fan might have stopped yesterday because of lose wiring/switch.


Hope the rains wont enter my car now on. Feeling very lonely now, without the car. Will visit the Tinker this evening to see progress.

 

[Varun560061]

Great that the idling issue was solved. I guess the wiring of the fan was fine, but today as you drove the car for some distance hence the car heated up may fan started working.

Regarding fuel indicator, I think you have not yet fixed it in the dash, I guess some vibrations, or wiring issues.

 

[ss80]

Visited the Tinker guy this evening, he is yet to start work on my car. Will check again tomorrow evening, he mentioned that the door hinges also need replacement. I was convinced, but I have postponed them to sometime later. I want my car to be back at my home asap. Feeling somewhat restless, but cant help it.

 

[ss80]

Tinker work completed, I am Back with my car :D

Today met the tinker person twice morning & evening. Around 5.45pm when I met him he was doing the finishing touches. I waited & watched his work patiently, later fixed the rear windshield rubber.

He has done all the below tinkering work + front & rear glass beading replacement + 2 days delay in delivering the car.

Actual Charge: 1200/-
Paid till now: 1000/-

Please see the work he has done, I am satisfied, but this is the first time I am getting a car tinkered, so no idea if this is too costly/ reasonable.

Here are the pictures


Leftside A pillar


Rightside A pillar




Floor cross member fixed (with a new piece to support)








Behind front wheel

The inside part of the wheel arch (the floor rubber thing) got melted.




I noticed these two cracked ares, but was worried about cost & did not ask him to do. He took up this task voluntarily & completed these places also.


The mess after tinker work, I dont mind cleaning this, I am happy that soem of the cracks are fixed


The dirt settled outside

 

[Varun560061]

Job done seems to be good, I was bit concerned about the pole behind the wheel arch, but it is done perfectly..The amount paid by you is very less.

Here I just wanted to get the same pole under the wheel arch repaired, he said he has to remove the engine out, told me approx 3k for that.

Also it is compulsory for you to repaint it, also in the below pic I am able to see a metal part rusted, what is that ?

Hope to see your car with all fittings, also dash color changed.

 

[ss80]

Okay then I will go ahead & make the balance payment to him (Rs.200). I am not sure what it is, I will get under the car to see what the issue is. I will post a clearer photo of the same.

 

[samsag12]

Work done seems quite good, panel replacement is finely matched. As Varun already mentioned, do coat the welded joints & panel areas with primer and paint for longevity.
Just out of curiosity why's the A pillar area white in color, is that a paint filler applied by you or was it done by the tinker ?

 

[ss80]

Today I have just applied the primer to the tinkered parts except the A pillar as it is already done by the Tinker.

 

[ss80]

This weekend I may need my car, so instead of waiting for all parts, I have started to fix back everything. Vinyl Carpet should arrive in a day or two. It costs 400 for running meter & our car needs Max 2.5Mtr as per the shop keeper. Beige colour Vinyl is what I am planning for. Any suggestion guys?

I tried Painting dashboard with beige & converting it to dual tone. Just let me know your frank opinions about the same,