The Pony Car - Ford Fiesta 1.6 SXi 2009 (Pre-Tamed Beast)

deville_56 · Sep 24, 2020

August 2020 - Installing (back the original) air filter

New stock air filter (details in previous post)

Old Opel filter installed by the stupid garage. See how bad it is with deformed pleats trying to squeeze into where it didn't belong to.

Dimension comparison. Clearly shows how "effective" the filter was and self-explanatory why the throttle body got clogged and the car was doomed.

Length-wise.

Width-wise.

Height-wise.

Air filter box. Dismantling air filter box.

New filter in. A strip of glue holds the pleats in place.

deville_56 · Oct 17, 2020

September 2020: More Goodies

Oil change was pending by date, but not kilometers. Currently, running on Total Quartz 7000 semi synthetic, which was already under-filled by the screw-up garage. Wanted to try fully synthetic this time. Checked for options and zeroed upon affordable synthetics, Shell HX8, Castrol Magnatec Start-Stop, Mobil Super 3000. Due to the pandemic shortage, none of these were available locally either in required grade or volume. Not even Motul semi-synthetics (plan B). Amazon/Flipkart wasn't delivering that time due to lockdown complications. Available options were some Servos, Gulf, Reliance, etc. @vishnu vichu always went head over heels when it comes Shell Helix Ultra, which was available, but was beyond budget, but there comes the discount, and we got for Amazonish pricing, still budget had to be extended by 30%. Bought from Ex-Jawan Lubricant Centre.

Ford recommends both 5W30 and 10W30. Ford is not so friendly when it comes about publishing the equivalent standards. Their standards were WSS-M2C923-A1 or WSS-M2C913-B. Eating through the whole Google didn't yield anything positive. As usual bought a different grade [lol]

. Most of the enthusiastic 1.6 users use this and are super happy about it.

Shell Helix Ultra 5W40, 4 litre can. MRP ₹ 4980.00. Got for ₹3200.00. (₹800.00/litre)

Fly like a Ferrari [evil]

API SN. ACEA A3/B4.

Ford 1.6 have a sump capacity of 4.1 litres and the 100 ml was the pain in the arse. Had to buy another litre. 3.5+1 L combo would've been better, but no luck. MRP was ₹1245.00. Got for ₹930.00.

Bought a generic belt wrench for oil filter. DIY this time. Got from Karthik Hardwares in Powerhouse Road, the shop from where I bought my first wrench some 10-12 years back. Tried most of the cup wrenches available there and none suited the Ford filter. Picked the belt wrench instead. It was like ₹200 or something. Suits 40-160 mm diameter.

deville_56 · Nov 7, 2020

September 2020 - Oil Change Time

Rain as always.

Jacked up the car. Used hydraulic for ease of jacking and supported with scissor jack.

Spread sheets to keep it clean.

And my custom oil pan.

Drain bolt. Sits behind the sump.

Oil filter sits behind the radiator. Seems the oil filter was raped by the garage. Installed by the same idiots who installed Opel Corsa air filter in Pony and screwed up oil filter and drain bolt in Estilo aka the Travancore Motors.

Keeping that in mind, first checked whether these can be removed before draining so that in case of screw up 2.0, the car can be driven to some garage. Oil filter loosened up, but was super tight and crumbled up on pressure.

Drain bolt was 13 mm. As expected, it was super tight and not budging a bit and head starts deforming. Stopped it then and there and declared it another screw up by the stupid garage.

Took it to our Chevy guy, and he said he would try and in the worst case scenario have to cut it open. So, have to procure new drain bolt before giving it to him.

deville_56 · Nov 28, 2020

September 2020 - Little Trees

Bought two, one for Pony, one for Skids. Wonderful wastage of money. Didn't last a day with AC. Earlier it used to last a week to a month.

₹150.00/each from Car Park.

Some scratching revealed original MRP to be ₹109.00. Daylight robbery.

But always fond of that hanging tree.

Bought the drain bolt from Focuz Parts Mart. They gave an Allen bolt type instead of the hex bolt type insisting that would fit, but didn't. Returned it almost a month later with no hope of acceptance, but they accepted it back, kudos for that. That was a Ford genuine part.

VISHNUCARCRAZY · Nov 30, 2020

I used to go to this accessory shop, but have to say these days the dealings and workmanship has been a hit or miss. Check online price of the product, mostly they keep the product a bit higher citing incl all taxes [frustration]

deville_56 · Nov 30, 2020

VISHNUCARCRAZY said:

I know that guy for over 15 years, how he badmouths about other shops and sold us fake Kenwood HU [lol]

One of our old active TAI'ians always vouched that shop and their quality of job, made us argue [gun]

I go there only for buying STP products (which luckily is sold for MRP, but not at Amazon prices) and once these Little Trees caught my attention, started going there only for that in that tricky traffic block. Bought MDF parcel tray for Beat from there, such things are of good quality there.

Tax is the biggest comedy there. 41% tax for my perfume then [frustration]

VISHNUCARCRAZY · Nov 30, 2020

Who's that TAIán , would love to get contact of ones in Tvm. Do mention him .

deville_56 · Dec 1, 2020

October 2020 - Finally Oil Changed.

Got the proper drain bolt for 1.6 from Kairali Ford, the only dealer who entertains counter sale. Made in Czech Republic. Imported parts always give a pseudo-overwhelming feel. These goes to many Ford/Lincoln/Mercury sold in US/Europe. It's tough finding part details for Ford cars in India.
(Took the wrong drain bolt to them for cross-checking before returning).

Oil Drain Plug - 97JZ-6730-A/97JM-6730-CA - ₹ 94.00

Seems made of some alloy. Comes with an O-ring and doesn't require a crush washer. Americans like it this way, I believe. Beat also got similar one.

Took the car to our latest FNG guy, AM Motors. He took a vice grip pliers and a hammer and removed it like normal as if it wasn't stuck. Filled up with Shell Helix Ultra. Took only the 4 L can. Level was touching the bottom of dipstick. Charged ₹ 250.00. Returned home and topped up from the 1 L can. With 100 ml, it reached proper level.

VISHNUCARCRAZY said:

He's one Sankar. Not seen for at least 5 years.

deville_56 · Dec 1, 2020

August 2020 - Insurance Renewed (Missed Updating)

Renewed with New India Assurance again.

Gross Premium - ₹ 11,652.00

Own Damage Premium - ₹ 1577.00 (25% NCB). (One thing I noticed across all my New India documentations is that there is no mention of OD premium before deducting NCB like other insurers)
Third Party Premium - ₹ 9792.00
GST - ₹ 1860.00
Kerala Flood CESS - ₹ 98.00

IDV - ₹ 2,00,000.00

deville_56 · Dec 24, 2020

August 2020 - AC Gas Filling, Duct Cleaning and the Invisible Cabin Filter.

AC was never properly attended in all three years of ownership except the coil and duct cleaning job done by Harry Ford in 2018. Kept postponing due to some reason or other. Due to the new kids at home, needed sudden attention. Cooling became almost non-existent during hot noons. Took to the new-found neighbourhood AC repair guy, SS Super Coolers. Did fill the AC and did a quick condenser wash. Charged ₹ 700.00. Took around 20 minutes.

Back home and decided to disinfect the AC vents. Used the xxtra armor AC Duct Cleaner spray, details and process same as here.

The cabin filter was not replaced at all in this period, so was expecting it to be shittier. Before disassembly, went in search of cabin filter. Got a Purolator one, but was pricier than stock and was confused with its size. With the previous experience with drain bolt, decided to get from dealer itself. At dealership, there were 2 types of cabin filters for Fiestas and the transition occurred around 2009, and they weren't sure about the fitment for our car. They asked to either bring the car or check the old one.

Google didn't give much info on the filter location. Found it near the fuse box on the LH side. EcoSport got it on the other side. Four screws and the top two of them needed removal of the fuse box. Later found filter can't be removed without removing the fuse box.

My Lilliput screwdriver helped skip removing the fuse box.

And the googly moment, no cabin filter inside. Harry Ford supposedly did the coil cleaning in 2018 and probably didn't reinstall it. [frustration]

It was shitty inside.

Measured the dimension and off to (the other) dealer for new cabin filter.

Amruth · Dec 24, 2020

I checked my car now!. There is no filter cabin, it is missing. Don't know when it was removed!

By the way I too used Xxtra armour AC cleaner along with Xxtra Armour freshner two weeks back. I can feel difference with quality of air

deville_56 · Dec 24, 2020

Amruth said:

Don't know why the filter is removed by them. Maybe their jugaad of fixing the cooling issue or may be replacement out of stock. Initially thought Fiestas of that age didn't came with one, but checking with other owners proved wrong.

Amruth said:

Would try that the freshener.

deville_56 · Jan 13, 2021

October 2020 - Water Seepage through Windshield Cowling.

Water accumulating over strut tower. This has been present since we bought the car. There is a small drainage hole, which clogs pretty quickly.

Reason was the gap between the cowl and the windshield.

Cowl clip was broken, thought that might be reason.

Removed wiper arms to gain acess. 13 mm socket.

The cowl. There is the metal beading below the windshield on which it is secured, which was twisted and crush, so that the cowl wasn't fitting in properly.

Without the plastic cowl.

Cleaned everything and installed back. Still not fitting properly. Gotta order new beading and clip.

The beasty looks.

deville_56 · Feb 12, 2021

December 2020 - Hits another mark

Pony crossed 65000 km. 25.5k km in 3 years 3 months. Yearly average dropped to 8k range compared to 13k km range before the lockdown. Now just 200 km max per month compared to usual 600-800 km.

deville_56 · Mar 8, 2021

October 2020 - Cabin Filter

We were out shopping for the cabin filter and found Purolator make, but had doubt seeing it's thickness, confused whether it'll fit the tight filter box opening. It was around 400. With previous googly experience, went straight to Ford dealer, where matter was much more clear, yet confusing. Fiesta had 2 different cabin filters and the transition happened in 2009, our model year. No return, so have to confirm before purchasing or have to install from there. Searched with the chassis number, but again the system was showing both part numbers. Bought the slimmer of the two and it was the correct one.

AC Fresh Air Filter Assembly - 8A3Z-19N619-A - ₹ 339.00
Ford parts always cheaper than aftermarket (err except bolts [lol]