Hell's Angel - Suzuki Zen Estilo LXi - Midnight Black - March 2007

[deville_56]

Very nice DIY oil change. And for once, recommended spec oil, thank God for that.

Original spec was 20W40

In one of your pics, your drive belt appears soaked with oil. That shouldn't happen. Please be careful there.

May be glare. Never spilled any oil on the belts.

 

[deville_56]

May 2022 - Renewed Insurance

Continued with Acko. Took comprehensive policy.

IDV - ₹ 76198.00

Basic Own Damage - ₹ 402.33
NCB Discount (50%) - ₹ 201.16
Consumables - ₹ 12.95
Basic Third Party Liability - ₹ 3221.00
IGST (18%) - ₹ 618.32

Total Premium - ₹ 4053.43

 

[mayankdixit]

Total Premium - ₹ 4053.43

Ah, the perks of an old car. Eating and enjoying the cake at the same time.!
I can truly understand as I am in the same boat too .
Nowadays it a norm for premium to be 10-20 times the quoted amount, or even more, if the car is recent.

 

[deville_56]

August 2022 - New Shoes

Cousin was complaining of wheel spinning during rains in shopping mall ramps. Checked the condition of tyres and there was decent grip left. Took it as an opportunity for a new set of tyres

Stuck to 165/65R13 again. With the end of Indica era, getting this size was hard, not sure if I get a set the next time. Good tyres were rare, some unheard imported tyres were available. Checked with our usual tyre guy, Nayana Tyres. Only option readily available was Ceat Milaze. When asked for better options, he inquired with distributors and confirmed Yokohoma and Continental were available in that size, but Yokohoma (Earth 1) needs to be ordered and would take at least a week to arrive and Continental was available for the next day. So, the pick was Continental CC6. Tyre reached as promised.

We chose for Bajaj Finance EMI, so he bundled the alignment and balancing charges together. Also replaced all the wheel necks with Bridgestone ones.
Continental ComfortContact CC6 - ₹ 4,000.00 x 4
Bridgestone Tyre Valve - ₹ 100.00 x 4
Total - ₹16400.00

Old Nankang N729s, clocked 27k in 6 years. Yet to hit the wear indicator, except the top one.

Went straight to car wash for a long-pending underbody wash. Quality of wash wasn't great, with lack of attention to detail. Dirt remained at many places when dry. But they (cousin and BIL) made it a habit to visit the car wash monthly (a different, better car wash).

Going through details on the tyre. Lavish use of wheel shiner.

June-end-July-beginning make tyres. We got in August.

Bridgestone valves.

Lastly, the thread pattern. Asymmetric.

 

[deville_56]

September 2022 - The Golden Milestone

Hundred-thousand kilometres in 15 years, 6 months.

 

[deville_56]

November 2022 - Updates

Mirror got hit by a wrong-sider.

Ordered a non-MGP mirror from Boodmo. Never understood why Maruti is fond of making non-convex passenger side mirrors. Faced the issue with Alto, Zen and Estilo mirrors. Went through the product image to make sure it was the proper one before ordering.

Royal 1031 - ₹ 369.00 (MRP ₹ 544.00) + free shipping

With so much offer, there was no external carton, but lots of bubble wrap.

Proper convex mirror and OE quality.

All the hardware came bundled, same as OE.

One nut from inside

and two bolts from outside.

Comparison. OE was Krishna TOYO make.

Installed.

Transferred the blind-spot mirror to new mirror. Type R mirror bought 15 years back, still good without any fading.

Topped up coolant.

 

[DEViANCE]

November 2022 - Updates
Topped up coolant.

I might be wrong, but once I topped up the Bolero's reservoir using battery water and on the next inspection noticed the coolant colour had changed from Purple(Factory Colour) to Rust Brown, when I'd mentioned the same to my father he said, if that is the case then the battery water poured was acidic on the PH scale as that would explain the accelerated rusting. I had used the same Exide Battery water bought in the 5L can variant. I did think about testing with PH strip but then forgot about it until I saw your post.

 

[anuraagshenoy]

Topped up coolant.

I might be wrong, but once I topped up the Bolero's reservoir using battery water and on the next inspection noticed the coolant colour had changed from Purple(Factory Colour) to Rust Brown, when I'd mentioned the same to my father he said, if that is the case then the battery water poured was acidic on the PH scale as that would explain the accelerated rusting. I had used the same Exide Battery water bought in the 5L can variant. I did think about testing with PH strip but then forgot about it until I saw your post.

Generally, the pH for the battery-specific water is between 5 to 7 with TDS being 1 mg/l max and electrical conductivity 5 micromhos per cm. For best results and battery life getting this specification water is not that easy unless one has access to a good quality double distillation unit.

Commercially available 'distilled water' or 'battery water' needs to be checked for the pH, EC and TDS.

 

[deville_56]

I might be wrong, but once I topped up the Bolero's reservoir using battery water and on the next inspection noticed the coolant colour had changed from Purple(Factory Colour) to Rust Brown, when I'd mentioned the same to my father he said, if that is the case then the battery water poured was acidic on the PH scale as that would explain the accelerated rusting. I had used the same Exide Battery water bought in the 5L can variant. I did think about testing with PH strip but then forgot about it until I saw your post.

Generally, the pH for the battery-specific water is between 5 to 7 with TDS being 1 mg/l max and electrical conductivity 5 micromhos per cm. For best results and battery life getting this specification water is not that easy unless one has access to a good quality double distillation unit.

Commercially available 'distilled water' or 'battery water' needs to be checked for the pH, EC and TDS.

So far, so good. My dad too never trusted these battery waters and always insisted getting distilled water from medical stores, whom won't stock them any more, unfortunately. I get from a regular spare shop, either Exide or Hi-Power that specifically mentions demineralized/deionized water (blindly trusting the label). Never bought from battery shops. Seen them pouring diluted acid for quick charging. Most of the service centres including ASC go with tap water (and bills for distilled water).

Some of the labels.

 

[anuraagshenoy]

I get from a regular spare shop, either Exide or Hi-Power that specifically mentions demineralized/deionized water (blindly trusting the label). Never bought from battery shops. Seen them pouring diluted acid for quick charging. Most of the service centres including ASC go with tap water (and bills for distilled water).

Casual browsing brought me to this link from Exide: Exide Distillo (5L)

I have placed an order for one. Will check the chemical parameters in the lab and report back on what it says with respect to pH, TDS and Electrical conductivity.

 

[deville_56]

2022 December - Updates

Hit some immovable object and sustained some damages. Broke the newly installed fog lamps.

The bumper bracket that was already cracked is now broken.

Damage in front members. Straightened to my capacity and painted the rusty surface.

All fog lamp mounts torn. Bumper didn't tear, luckily.

Replaced fog lamp glass with old one lying around. How our scrap collection saves us.

Mending the mounts. Cleaned and stuck with superglue.

Reinforced with glue stick.

The extra strength one, my saviour in many cases.

Fog lamp mounted.

Front Bumper Reinforcement - LH71782M59K00 - ₹ 125.00

Bought earlier in March 2022, but didn't install. Now came handy.

Old broken one.

Installed.

Ready to install back.

Ta-daa!

Grommet for screw for securing bumper to fender. Missing on one side. Couldn't source one yet.

After install.

New key ring.

More than a decade old ceramic older. Replaced when I fried the stock holder with 100/90 bulb. Broken, but working normally.

Had spares in bin. Roots ceramic holder from Vichu's Amaze project.

No heat shrunk sleeves those days.

Braided fibreglass sleeves. Corrugated sleeves were hard to find, only used by commercial electrical contractors those days.

Soldered.

Sleeved

and sleeved . Done. Replaced on both sides.

Rear indicator bulb was blown. T20 bulb, 21W. ₹ 40.00. Got some bumper clips also.

Replacement.

Blown vs new bulb.

One check valve remained in bin. The first car that needed on was the Angel. The delay in pumping was really annoying. Looked for scope of non-return valve back in 2007 without success.

Hyundai Check Valve Assembly - 98886-34000 - ₹ 95.00

Looks very normal, like ordinary hose connector.

Installed. Hose is hard and needs replacement.

Quick wash and called it a night.

 

[deville_56]

March 2023 - 100,000 KM PMS

Impressed with the FNG-turned ASC, Marshal Automobiles, with the S-Presso services and took the ASC route being the major service. I wanted the car to be in the Maruti System for no apparent reason.

Additional requested jobs were exhaust and rear shock absorber replacement. Cat-con was leaky with an FFE note, which I loved. Other service centres kept welding them instead of replacing. Rear sagged when the rear seats were occupied.

Took 3 days for the job, excluding the Sunday, delayed by ordering the exhaust. They found no issue with the shock absorber and not replaced. Forgot to mention not to replace the spark plugs, which were NGK G-Powers, just 16k km old. Replaced timing belt and tensioner, water pump belt and some components, overhauled steering box, replaced tie rod, engine mount, suspension and gear link bushes, and coolant. Brake fluid and gear oil topped up. Shimmed the brakes.

Bill Breakup

Engine Oil (MGO Servo 5W30) - 99999M05W30-40C - ₹ 359.00 x 3.7
Oil Filter - 16510M68K10 - ₹ 95.00

Exhaust Pipe - 14190M79F10 - ₹ 2,215.00
Exhaust Pipe Gasket - 14182M78180 - ₹ 22.00

Timing Belt (MPFI/F8D) - 12761M84410 - ₹ 615.00
Timing Belt Tensioner - 12810M76G20 - ₹ 665.00

RH Engine Mount - 11610M79F80 - ₹ 610.00

Spark Plug - NGK - 09482M00448 - ₹ 140.00 x 4

Water Pump Belt - 17521M79F10 - ₹ 169.00
Water Inlet Cap - 17550M79F10 - ₹ 75.00
Water Inlet Gasket - 17559-73010 - ₹ 75.00
Water Inlet Hose (MT) - 17856M79F00 - ₹ 80.00
Coolant (SG) Non-Amine - 99000M24120-551 - ₹ 280.00

Gear Selector Lever Control Shaft Outer Bush - 09320M14018 - ₹ 9.00 x 2
Control Shaft Bush - 28231M60B10 - ₹ 13.00 x 4
Bush (Gear Linkage) - 09306M12009 - ₹ 1.50 x 2

Steering Rack Plunger - 48534M50E20 - ₹ 230.00
Steering Rack Bushing (Sona Modified) - 48541M79G00 - ₹ 125.00
Steering Tie Rod Comp - 48830M70F00 - ₹ 355.00
Steering Boot Set - ₹ 280.00

Strut Kit (Alto/Wagon R) - 99000M24120-750 - ₹ 480.00 x 2
Front Strut Inner Support - 41714M82000 - ₹ 44.00 x 2

Cotter Pin - 04111M3020A - ₹ 1.00 x 2
Inside Door Lock Knob - 82982M65D00 - ₹ 5.00
12-mm Washer - ₹ 6.00 x 2
Caliper Shim - ₹ 80.00
10-mm Bolt - ₹ 5.00
Tag - x - ₹ 5.00 x 2

Consumables - ₹ 225.00
Screen Wash - 990JOM999H2-260 - ₹ 17.00

Total Bill - ₹ 15,161.00

Back home. Their washing is good. Car feels kinda brand new with all plays and minor rattles (and the rally car sound) gone.

New exhaust pipe

and belt.

 

[deville_56]

March 2023 - HU Swap

Since the Skids got new Android Auto HU, the old Pioneer HU was sitting idle. So gifted it to the Angel. Pioneer gets a new lease of life and Angel got an upgrade, proper Bluetooth audio/calling. Kenwood had superb SQ, while Pioneer is punchier.

Coupler with old Kenwood connector. Replaced with Pioneer one and did the same sleeving.

Trial.

Angel.

 

[deville_56]

May 2023 - Insurance Renewed

Stayed back with Digit. IDV ₹56,000.00.

Third-Party Premium - ₹ 1921.00
Own Damage Premium - ₹537.82
NCB - 50%

Total Premium - ₹ 4,665.51

 

[deville_56]

2023 July - September - Bosch Clear Advantage Wiper Blades

Ordered from Amazon.
Bosch Clear Advantage 21" - ₹ 428.00

Bosch Clear Advantage 13" - ₹ 278.00

Installed.

Slightly wider than other brands. Clearance is very minimal. Adjusted angles a bit (later).