Post some pics with the new tyres. Good that you did not go ahead with 195/65/R15. Thats a wrong upsize. When i bought my city, it had 195/65/r15. Though it never scrapped anywhere, the car was bit wobbly to drive. I upgraded to 205/50/R16.. GC has increased considerably and i placed Rogerabs between the back suspension to avoid scrapping. I can maneuver over big sized humps or pot holes with much ease compared to the honda city which my Father in law has(runs on stock spec)
My Pre-Owned Honda City SMT (2010) – The Golden Pixie
- Thread Starter Austindhas
- Start date
Thread Starter
#32
I didn't take any pictures during the tire swap. I will upload some post tyre upgrade picutes.
Though the GC is not phenomenal, the car doesn't scrape nowadays. The combination of snail speed over the bumps and optimum tyre pressure(32psi front and 30psi back) saves my car from the most scared thing in the beginning.
Though the GC is not phenomenal, the car doesn't scrape nowadays. The combination of snail speed over the bumps and optimum tyre pressure(32psi front and 30psi back) saves my car from the most scared thing in the beginning.
Thread Starter
#33
A quick recommendation for car care during heavy rainfall and flooded roads:
I would suggest all car owners who live in Chennai and places where the rain water would stagnate and flood the roads on a large scale to consider some time to check the spare wheel sump for water stagnation after heavy rain and flooding. Water can enter this area, stagnate for a very long period and cause rusting. Some of the causes may be, faulty dickey beading, damaged brake lights, broken rear panels or driving through flooded roads (which is the cause in my case). After heavy rainfall in Chennai was forced to drive through flooded roads, since no other roads were opened that time. Saw a 2010 i20 stuck. Poor guy has stalled his car midway. I checked the trails of the 2 to 3 cars in the front before unwantedly getting myself stuck. With constant throttle in first gear crossed the bit of the road gently. Fortunately, the car on the opposite lane reversed to leave more room for me. Quickly after reaching destination inspected the car visually and checked the bonnet and dickey. Saw trials of water under spare wheel. Since it was late dawn and will reach home lately, I didn't do anything that day. Next day took some time and did a proper inspection around the car, engine bay and dickey. Removed the spare wheel cleaned the sump, let it dry for about one day before putting back the spare wheel. Unfortunately, couldn't leave the dickey for quick drying since there is boot lamp (should remove battery terminals and redo engine idle learning).
At some inevitable moments we do tend to drive like above stated way. But it would be better if we stay way from these situations. I thought of sharing this experience with fellow members especially newbies like me to be aware of the aftermaths.
During the cleaning process had took the snap of the spare wheel Michelin Energy XM1 (will be changed soon to new tyre).
I would suggest all car owners who live in Chennai and places where the rain water would stagnate and flood the roads on a large scale to consider some time to check the spare wheel sump for water stagnation after heavy rain and flooding. Water can enter this area, stagnate for a very long period and cause rusting. Some of the causes may be, faulty dickey beading, damaged brake lights, broken rear panels or driving through flooded roads (which is the cause in my case). After heavy rainfall in Chennai was forced to drive through flooded roads, since no other roads were opened that time. Saw a 2010 i20 stuck. Poor guy has stalled his car midway. I checked the trails of the 2 to 3 cars in the front before unwantedly getting myself stuck. With constant throttle in first gear crossed the bit of the road gently. Fortunately, the car on the opposite lane reversed to leave more room for me. Quickly after reaching destination inspected the car visually and checked the bonnet and dickey. Saw trials of water under spare wheel. Since it was late dawn and will reach home lately, I didn't do anything that day. Next day took some time and did a proper inspection around the car, engine bay and dickey. Removed the spare wheel cleaned the sump, let it dry for about one day before putting back the spare wheel. Unfortunately, couldn't leave the dickey for quick drying since there is boot lamp (should remove battery terminals and redo engine idle learning).
At some inevitable moments we do tend to drive like above stated way. But it would be better if we stay way from these situations. I thought of sharing this experience with fellow members especially newbies like me to be aware of the aftermaths.
During the cleaning process had took the snap of the spare wheel Michelin Energy XM1 (will be changed soon to new tyre).
Last edited:
Thanks for the detailed write up. Our honda city is prone to water sweepage in tyre sump area.
Any particular reason you want to change the spare wheel? Don't bother to change it just because its old as you will be using this spare tyre in case of emergencies ti reach the nearest tyre shop. If you get a new spare, it will lay in the boot and get old. Better to use the existing new tyres and do proper alignment, balancing and rotation as needed. Just my thought
Any particular reason you want to change the spare wheel? Don't bother to change it just because its old as you will be using this spare tyre in case of emergencies ti reach the nearest tyre shop. If you get a new spare, it will lay in the boot and get old. Better to use the existing new tyres and do proper alignment, balancing and rotation as needed. Just my thought
Thread Starter
#35
the only reason was that the spare tyre was 10year old thanks for your recommendations brother. will right now hold the thought of changing the spare wheel.
Thread Starter
#36
Some random pics of The PIXIE
PIXIE in our parking space
New cover for our PIXIE
PIXIE in our parking space
New cover for our PIXIE
@Austindhas , bro, above pics are pure nostalgia for me. I still have a soft corner for this gen Honda CITY Ivtec. Some designs never go out of fashion. May god bless your car with a fuss-free lifetime / ownership![[cheers]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Cheers.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
This one is a keeper.
Regards
Akash
This one is a keeper.Regards
Akash
Thread Starter
#38
Magnetic window shades
During summer, driving around under the hot scorching sun could get uncomfortable. The glass windows eases the temperature on the inside to increase in just a few minutes. Hence it makes sense to add some protection to it. We all love wearing shades in summer and the same holds true for our cars too. Window films are now illegal(by law/police) which leaves us with just one option – to use those mesh cloth shades. These window sunshades maintain a cooler and much comfortable environment inside vehicle during the ride. Also, these sunshades do not hinder on-road visibility and ensures heat resistance and durability.
My requirements:
From the manufacturer:
This product shields your car from external heating and offers clear on-road visibility. Get your car equipped with the window sun shade from KOZDIKO. Available in black color, this car window pullover sunshade is designed using the premium grade Nylon polyester mesh with a metallic frame embedded with magnets and comes in a pack of 5 pieces. This pack has 2 zipper curtains for the front window and 3 non-zipper curtains for the rear one. It provides reliable protection from direct sun rays inside your vehicle. It can easily be installed and removed at your convenience with the magnets provided.
Highlights
All 5 window shades(2 front zipper magnetic, 2 rear non zipper magnetic, 1 rear windshield non magnetic)
Rear right door with magnetic shades
Driver door with magnetic shades on
Right side both doors with magnetic shades
Before and after comparison of magnetic window shades installation
Pros:
Recent update:
In one of the shades welding gave up resulting in misalignment of the shade. Took it to a local shop and did the welding and placed it back in its place.
Rear left sun shade with damaged frame(welding gave up)
Rewelded and stitched rear left sun shade
During summer, driving around under the hot scorching sun could get uncomfortable. The glass windows eases the temperature on the inside to increase in just a few minutes. Hence it makes sense to add some protection to it. We all love wearing shades in summer and the same holds true for our cars too. Window films are now illegal(by law/police) which leaves us with just one option – to use those mesh cloth shades. These window sunshades maintain a cooler and much comfortable environment inside vehicle during the ride. Also, these sunshades do not hinder on-road visibility and ensures heat resistance and durability.
My requirements:
- Full coverage including rear glass
- Zipper at least for front windows
- Premium look
- Good sun light protection and privacy
From the manufacturer:
This product shields your car from external heating and offers clear on-road visibility. Get your car equipped with the window sun shade from KOZDIKO. Available in black color, this car window pullover sunshade is designed using the premium grade Nylon polyester mesh with a metallic frame embedded with magnets and comes in a pack of 5 pieces. This pack has 2 zipper curtains for the front window and 3 non-zipper curtains for the rear one. It provides reliable protection from direct sun rays inside your vehicle. It can easily be installed and removed at your convenience with the magnets provided.
Highlights
- No Screw or Drilling required.
- Customized as per Vehicle description and fit
- Keep out the sun’s UV rays (as said by few sellers and users)
- Reduces heating, allowing the car's AC system to be more effective
- Protect your passengers and interior from excess light and heat
All 5 window shades(2 front zipper magnetic, 2 rear non zipper magnetic, 1 rear windshield non magnetic)
Rear right door with magnetic shades
Driver door with magnetic shades on
Right side both doors with magnetic shades
Before and after comparison of magnetic window shades installation
Pros:
- Magnetic Fit-Easy to Install & Remove.
- Front Window with Zipper is easy to pay toll tax, parking fees, Open Side Mirrors
- Reduces interior temperatures(maybe) and increases privacy.
- Does not hinder the road visibility even at night.
- Fixed securely in place even when the window is down on high speeds. (tried at x40+ kmph)
- Restricts the access to rear seats from outside when the door is closed
- Sometimes if not handled properly, the shades moves and obstacles the door closing mechanism
- Bottom part of shades is not fixed, hence it tends to move or rattle along with door movements
- At the contact points the magnets tends to strip the paint off(negligible)
Recent update:
In one of the shades welding gave up resulting in misalignment of the shade. Took it to a local shop and did the welding and placed it back in its place.
Rear left sun shade with damaged frame(welding gave up)
Rewelded and stitched rear left sun shade
Thread Starter
#39
Car upholstery cleaner
Most of us spend a lot of time travelling together with our family and friends. We eat and drink in our cars. We haul kids, pets, luggage and most other items on the back seat for reachability. As a result, the car’s interiors (i.e.) seats, mats and upper liner can get pretty dirty. Eventually, all but most of the stains can be easily cleaned away (especially if it has add on seat covers). But some permanent stains need special treatment to bring back the seats to its former condition. At the very last, we want our car interior to look and smell better.
Now back to the story, as the PIXIE was 11-year-old and pleasant interior was the combination of beige and cream (except floor mats), the interior was pretty dirty during the time of purchase itself. After some usage and few trips down the south, the seats have become a lot dirtier than expected. After not satisfied by the professionals cleaning the interiors, planned for DIY to clean the car seats on my own. The shortlisted cleaners were 3m foam upholstery cleaner and Dazlo carpet and upholstery cleaner. The 3m would have made cleaning easier as it foams up on the sprayed surface thus making the cleaning easier without completely soaking seats. Unfortunately, 3m cleaner was out of stock for two weeks and had to opt for the Dazlo.
On the other hand, Dazlo was concentrated liquid to be mixed with water in the ratio 1:30 for mild application and 1:10 for severely soiled fabrics. Purchased from amazon and immediately the day it was delivered, used it on household upholstery chairs to check the results. The 1:10 ratio worked well on thick and stained fabrics, but felt like removing residue was time consuming. For next trial mixed at 1:20 ratio, it did a great job of removing stains from dark colored upholstery. However, cream colored upholstery was not completely cleaned, leaving me in a dilemma as it may worsen the looks of the seats further. Took the risk and started the work next day. Removed the dirt and dust particles with medium bristle brush. Using a vacuum cleaner will make the job easier. The concentrate, when mixed with water in the ratio 1:19 gave a frothy solution. Used a small piece of hard sponge to aerate the solution to further increase the froth. Then gently used the sponge to apply froth alone on the upholstery. After leaving it to absorb for two minutes, used a medium bristle brush to agitate the surface. After about properly agitating the applied surface, used a microfiber towel to wipe clean the surface. Often had to dunk the towel in clean water and squeeze it dry before using it again. The towel left lot of dirt and grime in bucket showing that the cleaner actually worked. Cleaned small portion of the seat at a time, as the froth may dissolve quicker if applied on a large scale. Some specific places like rear seat bottom and front center armrest needed 2-3 times cleaning to remove stains completely. Also cleaned door armrest and the result was amazing. It took me almost 5 - 6hours to complete all the seats as they were lot dirtier. If the seats were cleaned on regular basis, then the work would have taken about 1-1.5 hours max. After completing the work, almost 2/3 of the concentrate was left in the bottle.
The result was unbelievable, as I expected the cleaner to leave some stains untouched. But the nylon upholstery coped up very well such that the car seats looked brand new. Was able to identify that the car seats were actually two tone with different textures (very mild difference). The result left a big smile in my face. On the flip side, as the complete seat was not done at single shot, near the borders of seat the dirt has accumulated and was not noticeable when seats were wet. And I thought the cleaner would leave a citrus smell, instead had to bear a strong detergent smell for few weeks.
Recommendations:
Front passenger seat
Rear passenger seat
Right side rear seat cleaned and left to dry
After cleaning seats
Front driver seat and central armrest(the armrest says the difference)
Rear passenger seats
Front passenger side door armrest
A quick guide:
Equipment/tools you need:
Procedure
Tips to keep car seats clean longer
Most of us spend a lot of time travelling together with our family and friends. We eat and drink in our cars. We haul kids, pets, luggage and most other items on the back seat for reachability. As a result, the car’s interiors (i.e.) seats, mats and upper liner can get pretty dirty. Eventually, all but most of the stains can be easily cleaned away (especially if it has add on seat covers). But some permanent stains need special treatment to bring back the seats to its former condition. At the very last, we want our car interior to look and smell better.
Now back to the story, as the PIXIE was 11-year-old and pleasant interior was the combination of beige and cream (except floor mats), the interior was pretty dirty during the time of purchase itself. After some usage and few trips down the south, the seats have become a lot dirtier than expected. After not satisfied by the professionals cleaning the interiors, planned for DIY to clean the car seats on my own. The shortlisted cleaners were 3m foam upholstery cleaner and Dazlo carpet and upholstery cleaner. The 3m would have made cleaning easier as it foams up on the sprayed surface thus making the cleaning easier without completely soaking seats. Unfortunately, 3m cleaner was out of stock for two weeks and had to opt for the Dazlo.
On the other hand, Dazlo was concentrated liquid to be mixed with water in the ratio 1:30 for mild application and 1:10 for severely soiled fabrics. Purchased from amazon and immediately the day it was delivered, used it on household upholstery chairs to check the results. The 1:10 ratio worked well on thick and stained fabrics, but felt like removing residue was time consuming. For next trial mixed at 1:20 ratio, it did a great job of removing stains from dark colored upholstery. However, cream colored upholstery was not completely cleaned, leaving me in a dilemma as it may worsen the looks of the seats further. Took the risk and started the work next day. Removed the dirt and dust particles with medium bristle brush. Using a vacuum cleaner will make the job easier. The concentrate, when mixed with water in the ratio 1:19 gave a frothy solution. Used a small piece of hard sponge to aerate the solution to further increase the froth. Then gently used the sponge to apply froth alone on the upholstery. After leaving it to absorb for two minutes, used a medium bristle brush to agitate the surface. After about properly agitating the applied surface, used a microfiber towel to wipe clean the surface. Often had to dunk the towel in clean water and squeeze it dry before using it again. The towel left lot of dirt and grime in bucket showing that the cleaner actually worked. Cleaned small portion of the seat at a time, as the froth may dissolve quicker if applied on a large scale. Some specific places like rear seat bottom and front center armrest needed 2-3 times cleaning to remove stains completely. Also cleaned door armrest and the result was amazing. It took me almost 5 - 6hours to complete all the seats as they were lot dirtier. If the seats were cleaned on regular basis, then the work would have taken about 1-1.5 hours max. After completing the work, almost 2/3 of the concentrate was left in the bottle.
The result was unbelievable, as I expected the cleaner to leave some stains untouched. But the nylon upholstery coped up very well such that the car seats looked brand new. Was able to identify that the car seats were actually two tone with different textures (very mild difference). The result left a big smile in my face. On the flip side, as the complete seat was not done at single shot, near the borders of seat the dirt has accumulated and was not noticeable when seats were wet. And I thought the cleaner would leave a citrus smell, instead had to bear a strong detergent smell for few weeks.
Recommendations:
- If possible, use wet vacuum/extractor to remove excess moisture from the upholstery quickly.
- I would recommend to use a fabric/leather protector after cleaning the seats to increase the longevity of the material.
Front passenger seat
Rear passenger seat
Right side rear seat cleaned and left to dry
After cleaning seats
Front driver seat and central armrest(the armrest says the difference)
Rear passenger seats
Front passenger side door armrest
A quick guide:
Equipment/tools you need:
- Vacuum with a hose, crevice tool, upholstery brush
- Medium bristled brush
- Microfiber cloths
- Cleaning sponge
- Two buckets one for solution, other for water
- Commercial carpet and upholstery cleaner
- Water
Procedure
- Vacuum the Seats
- Pre-Treat Stains
- Apply the Upholstery Cleaner Solution
- Scrub Away the Dirt
- Wipe Away Excess Moisture
- Repeat All Steps if Needed
- Allow the Seats to Dry
- Spray fabric protector
Tips to keep car seats clean longer
- Try covering seat with artificial leather/cloth seat cover so that it makes cleaning/washing covers often easy.
- Clean spilled food/beverages asap after using the car.
- Deep clean the seats periodically and after long trips.
- Use medium bristle brush to remove dust particles from crevices and corner of the seats.
- Use fabric/leather protector to improve the longevity of upholstery/cover.
- Always keep towel tucked under seat, so that at times when we eat it acts as a placement to catch spills.
Using the Dazlo, but without a wet vacuum cleaner, which always screwed up things. Used to cause spotting at the last points to dry as all the dirt will accumulate dirt. Always been a fan of STP Tuff Stuff.
Thread Starter
#41
Yes it is true. had to clean the last spots again after the seats are completely dried.