[M35]

Lights on !

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by M35

1. Hella twin tone horns- One of the OE horns had gone bad, hence got them replaced. Now these complement my other set- Roots Megasonic horns beautifully.

Could you post a picture of the change over switch of the horn? I have been thinking to add Megasonics for quiet some time, especially if I pay a visit to UP or interiors of Bihar.

Red grills are loud enough for truckers to listen but not enough for cyclists and bike walas having ear-phones plugged

Which bulbs are you using for the head-lamp? My VLX's one OE bulb appears to have given up and the spare by M&M isn't a patch on what was available.

Have fitted 3D mats, are worth. Noodle ones trap too much dirt and the cabin doesn't seem fresh always. You have to always wash them.

[M35]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Could you post a picture of the change over switch of the horn? I have been thinking to add Megasonics for quiet some time, especially if I pay a visit to UP or interiors of Bihar.

One for the head lights and the other for the horns. The megasonics are into their 7th year and there hasn't been any issues at all. Get quality wiring kit.
Megasonics are really loud but these days its very common among 2/3 wheelers in here, apart from those on the Police vehicles. The Hella twin tone horns are more 'civilised ', quite sharp too and doing the job better than the Megasonics.

Originally Posted by Sheel

Which bulbs are you using for the head-lamp? My VLX's one OE bulb appears to have given up and the spare by M&M isn't a patch on what was available.

90/100 W. Upgraded long time ago. Purchased from outside including the wiring kit and got them installed at the ASC.These are very bright and stable. There was no need for the Hellas but got them mainly for the cosmetic reasons. I don't use them on highways as they could easily blind the incoming vehicles.

Originally Posted by Sheel

Have fitted 3D mats, are worth. Noodle ones trap too much dirt and the cabin doesn't seem fresh always. You have to always wash them.

Nice.
My DIY mats are doing a great job. They do trap dirt but trap them deep inside that they are not visible outside.

Scorp parked as I had a couple of hours of birding this morning.

[M35]

Update:
ODO: 1105xx km
Issues faced: Absolutely NONE, not even any minute rattle !
No big trips but have done many small local birding trails around, mostly off the road. Lovely vehicle this. It's been long time since I checked the FE. Will do it and update here.

[M35]

Update:
ODO: 114300 km
Issues faced: Absolutely NONE

Scorp is due for another scheduled service, added some10000km since the last service. In spite of having thrown around in rains and off roads during my local birding trails, there isn’t even a single rattle from anywhere. Since I am mostly occupied with my little baby girl + some photography sessions during free time, I am spending least of the time pampering the beast ever since it’s arrival in 2009.

The most important to report : Michelins have been phenomenal, both on and off the road especially in rains. Now can’t think of any other brand when it comes to tyres for any of my future purchases.

[M35]

Update: Service
ODO: 115511
Issues reported: NONE

Scorp, though running immaculately, was sent in for a regular service/check-up. Though there is an A.S.C next door , took an appointment at another, some 70km away, for obvious reasons.

Yesterday: [15/7/2016]

• Called up the SM @ A.S.C, Thrissur in the morning yesterday, who promptly took an appointment for today.
• Received a follow up call to confirm the appointment.

Today : [16/7/2016]

• The vehicle was picked up in the morning !
• Though the vehicle was running fine, got
• --A couple of stabiliser bar bushes [front] changed for better ride comfort
• --Engine oil + filter changed

Other jobs done:

• All the brakes- pads/callipers/lining/drums- checked
• Though AC was working fine until yesterday, they found a burned fuse at the workshop. Checked for any electrical wiring issue, didn’t find any = replaced the fuse.
• Found a minor leak at rear axle housing = opened the cover/gasket and corrected

Total : Rs. 4091
Washing : Rs. 400
Pick up/drop : Rs. 500
Total damage: Rs. 4991

Got the vehicle delivered late evening. Did a quick 40 km drive ! Yes, worth the hassle of getting the service done in the neighboring district
The journey continues.....

[M35]

I had, in another automotive forum, one person asking for the pricing of the stab-bar bushes and wanted to know if they covered under warranty. He was expecting it to be an expensive affair. My point is that most of the people are ignorant of these rather simple exercises which do make ‘significant’ difference in both ride and handling. I am not an auto-expert but there are certain things that you will learn and carry out, out of the attachment that one maintains over the years with your vehicle.

On the warranty, this is what I wrote to him.

Warranty ? Do you really need it for this ?
You are talking of a vehicle which completed 7 glorious years last week.

BTW, 'Scorp' does receive goodwill warranty occasionally. Ex: ABS sensor replaced last time around, a few months back.
Tip:

• Maintain a good relationship with top brass at both the manufacture and dealership levels at your locality.
• Let them know your standards; I mean the quality of workmanship that you expect out of them.

[M35]

Update:
ODO: 118xxx km

Recently, once again, experienced the dreaded “clutch pedal not returning” thingy during a 12 hour long drive. It wasn’t as bad as my earlier episodes. The pedal after having depressed comes back to say 90% normally and then gives a pause returning rather sluggishly that I had to pull it with my feet from that 90% position. It happened when clutch had to be continuously engaged in heavy Kochi traffic and also while negotiating pot-holed ‘No-Road’ kind of surfaces. Did not spot any oil leak, hence thought of sending the vehicle in at a later stage.

That was about a month ago. Since I am likely to start my long drives once again, but this time with my little baby girls on board, got the vehicle picked up for a detailed examination. The initial TDs went on fine and they adjusted the ‘clutch pedal play’. It was when the vehicle was being driven back home, the driver felt that the pedal wasn’t returning smoothly.

I asked them to take back the vehicle, after which the SA called me saying that they will need to change the clutch master cylinder this time around. I asked him to do that do further tests before sending it back tomorrow.

Note: Had gotten the Clutch Slave cylinder replaced Twice earlier !

A bit of research tells me the following:
Clutch Master Cylinder:
Converters driver’s foot effort to hydraulic pressure and sends it to the Slave Cylinder through clutch tubes.
Clutch Slave Cylinder:
Receives the pressure from MC and engages/disengages the clutch mechanism by moving the clutch fork.

I assume replacing MC isn’t as time consuming as the Slave cylinder on M-Hawks.

Will update tomorrow on this.

[M35]

Originally Posted by M35

Will update tomorrow on this.

Got the vehicle dropped back home after having the Master Cylinder changed.
Now engaging clutch is butter smooth.



Clutch master cylinder + consumables = Rs.2447
Labour = Rs.280
Pick-up/Drop= Rs.0.00
Body Wash = Rs.0.00
Overall Vehicle Check-up =Rs.0.00
All door setting = Rs.0.00 [ reported a slight noise from one of the doors when driven through pot-holes without slowing down]
All suspension bushes checking: 0.00

Total : Rs.3124.00 including taxes.

A job well done

[M35]

Originally Posted by M35

A job well done

Glad to have gotten it identified and corrected avoiding another possible break down.

Update:
Having driven around for a few hundred kilometres after the recent service, I feel as if I am driving on a brand new suspension system- the whole vehicle rides so smooth and feels a whole lot ‘tighter’.

The other day when my SA called me up for the feedback and I expressed my curiosity asking him what he did that has made such a significant difference to the suspension. He got a couple of grease monkeys to disassemble the entire suspension set-up and got them re-torqued to perfection. He said there was nothing replaced as everything was in fine condition.

Though I wasn’t charged anything for this, I don’t care about being charged for such an excellent level of workmanship.

[M35]

Went to a local car accessories shop for a perfume and came back with some added 'bling'

[M35]

FE update:

Checked the FE a couple of times. Scorp is consistently returning an average FE of around 13 kmpl.

From a recent casual local birding session !

[M35]

Update:

ODO: 1,25,xxx km

A few days ago, we had a longish drive planned and was checking the fluid levels prior to that. Found the coolant level in the reservoir slightly below the min mark and I suspected some minor leak somewhere.

Also ‘Scorp’ had covered some good 6k kms since the previous service, thought of sending it for a check-up and engine oil + filters [both air and diesel] change, suspension check etc.

There was a slight leak at one of the hoses for the drop in the coolant level. All four stab bar bushes changed. They also found a wheel cylinder at the rear brake had developed a leak which was also changed.

Total damage : Rs. 12,400

Back from a 1000km trip with my 10 month old baby girl : Palakkad- Trichy-velankanni-Trichy [stayed at Hotel Grand gardenia] –Theni- Rajakkad/Munnar [ home] – Kothamangalam- Perumbavur- Thrissur-Palakkad.
An extremely pleasant trip with Scorp at its very best once again.

[M35]

Some three months ago, was driving to Bangalore with wifey and baby on board. Thanks to some hectic personal work in the previous week or so coupled with a very early morning start, I felt unusually tired as soon as we joined NH-4 at Palakkad. It was an unplanned but unavoidable trip and we were to take a flight to Hong Kong that night from Bangalore.

Crossed past Salem at around 6.45am. Just after Manipal Hospital, I guess I felt asleep for a second because the next thing I noticed was the car spinning around after having the rear left wheel slammed on to some thing very hard. For the first time in all the 7.5 years ownership, I failed to get control over my Scorp. It was scary. The next couple of seconds saw Scorp rolling over, eventually toppling and settling down on the centre median/divider. We were seeing the death right in front but were very lucky to have come out unscathed in the end. It was pure luck that no third parties or vehicles were involved as that stretch usually is crowded even in the mornings and that the car didn’t get dragged in to the opposite side - just under a meter away from the fast lane on the other side.

Got the Police / MVD formalities completed by around 2.00 pm and left Salem to Bangalore with my brother. I had no other choice but leave my Scorp in the Police station which I did unwillingly as I couldn’t have changed our travel plans that day.

My Scorpio didn’t have airbags but it was its structural integrity and solid build quality which saved us and the seat belts of course. The body shell absorbed the entire beating. Had it collapsed I wouldn’t be composing this post today.

Long story short, due to the high estimated repair cost, the Insurance co decided to pay up the IDV after having the vehicle declared a total loss.

Life is so unpredictable and some times does teach certain lessons the very hard way – don’t ever dare to sit behind the wheel if you aren’t one hundred percent fit. Never felt like coming back to this space all these days, but then in life we must learn to move on. Though a previous generation Ford Endy has already found a place in our portico, ‘Scorp’ will continue to remain irreplaceable in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

[jacobvarughese]

Glad to hear you're safe notwithstanding the unfortunate circumstances that beset you. I tend to concur that some cars are meant for us to be 'driven at the right time and right place' , and your Scorpio certainly fits your bill.

Btw noticed you've secured quite a fancy number with Palakkad registration- was this also a factor in your safety, as the number 9 is deemed lucky by many?