[wanderernomad]

@condor: Mate I had sent the "report post" twice, if I remember correctly but to no avail. Anyway thanks.

[wanderernomad]

Any idea about the cost of suspension overhaul of an Indigo?

[wanderernomad]

A stitch in time saves nine. Well its true. I had been postponing the suspension work on my Indigo for some time now. Yesterday noticed a white line on my tyres inner lip when the car was parked on an incline and tyres pointing outwards. Took the tyre out and the pictures are what I saw. Immediately replaced the front right tyre with the spare 175/65/14. Then checked the front left and found that though worn as well the steel mesh was still under wraps. Anyway got a much balder rear left up front and put the worn inner liped tyre at the back. Now am running 3 185/65/14 tubeless while the front right is 175/65/14 tubed. Need to go get the suspension issue worked out and then buy another set. These continentals lasted me only about 18K.
Any Idea about the cost am looking at for the suspension work? Anybody done so already?

[wanderernomad]

Got the suspension work done. The TASS gave me a quote for Rs 5500 while one of the chaps there said that he will get the work done on the sides for Rs 4500. Went out in the market to enquire and a known mechanic said it will cost me Rs 3000. Agreed. Got the work done and final cost was Rs 2870. Now the suspension is worked out and need to find myself some tyres.

[Deeps]

What parts were changed in the suspension? Indica/Indigo are notorious for bending lower arms - which is the primary cause of uneven & acceletrated tyre wear. But from the prices, it doesn't seem to have been changed.

[wanderernomad]

No the lower arms etc were all in good shape. The only things that got changed were the bushes and a couple of mountings. Got the car shod with Michelin XM2+ and tookt he car on a longish drive to Haridwar. The tires are excellent and the car with the new bush work and tires ate up the miles. The roads are horrendous in patches between Ynagar and Kalanaur and Sharanpur and Chutmulpur. ON good thing I realised that on a sudden brake the tires didnot lock up. Was it because of the tires or maybe the speed was not that high?

The car has also completed 60K kms now. Mods please edit the title accordingly, thanks.

[wanderernomad]

Uploading the pictures of the Tires shot due to the allignment and suspension issues.

[wanderernomad]

Sorry forgot to upload the pics the first time I hit submit.

[srinih75]

Though not a direct relpy to the above post here is an update of my own 2007 LX Dicor. Two weeks ago I did my 90k service on my car and to my happiness there were no major issues. I had to replace the shocks on the RH rear wheel as I was experiencing a wobbling feeling and the service adviser said that the oil inside the shocks were gone and had to get it replaced. Apart from this I had replaced my weak battery (which had lasted for 5.5 years now).

Btw, just yesterday I fixed an arm rest to my car it looks pretty awesome. It almost appears OEM when viewed from outside. It is very functional has a storage compartment, the top part can has a slider to extend the armrest and it can be flipped. This flippablity is critical as without that reaching out to the gears I felt was a bit cumbersome. Once on the highway or on long traffic stops I put it back to its position and rest my arm!

With the car with me almost as good as new and this new arm rest I am planning a long drive to my native place to visit my parents this upcoming long weekend (Sat/Sun/Mon).

I have attached few photographs of the new armrest.

In my next post I will put together few of the earlier problems I had with the car - mostly technical and within the engine.

[wanderernomad]

What issues did you face or are facing? Meanwhile it had been some time that I had taken her out for a long drive. Last weekend drove to Delhi for a couple of days and she returned an average of 17.75/ltr. A new High for her. It was calculated for 514 kms and out of which 130 kms were in Delhi Traffic, rest on the highway. But I drove sedately and almost at a constant 80-85 km/hr with an occasional sprint to 100-120 for overtaking. It had a full complement of 5 passengers and their luggage.
Though am planning to sell it off if I get the right price and buy the Duster but it still brings a smile to my face. Now am planning some more external mods like:
1. fixing the zero lights commonly seen on Army Vehicles, though the position is yet to be determined. IT would either be above the front number plate or on both sides above the main headlamps.
2. A long thin radio antenna again anchored either on the front side along the hood or from the rear bumper.

[wanderernomad]

Went for an impulsive drive cum picnic on a few weeks back. The kids wanted to have dominos tacos and I wanted to relish sugarcane. Just drove some 10 kms out of the city and parked on an old abandoned road in the fields. At times like these I simply love the Marina, as you can literally take your home with you. Some pictures:

[jessie007]

Great going wanderernomad! I also owned a 2006 Indigo LS Tdi (70PS & independent real suspension - had to get wheel alignment done for the rear wheels also, though the rear seat comfort was supreme). I bought it at a time when most major issues were resolved, so faced no major issues at all. Sold it at 67,000 kms and the only issue that I faced was that at around 64,000 kms - the car was not starting in a single crank and after a couple of days it didn't start at all. The 'check engine' light had come on. I knew it wasn't the battery as it was recently replaced at 62,000 kms. I was able to start in the afternoon (when it was hotter and the engine was warm) and take it to the service centre.

One of the glow plugs was diagnosed to be faulty. Though most diesel cars nowadays don't require glow plugs to be changed even if they have run close to 1 lakh kms, but it is a possibility, so you can keep it in mind. Glow plugs are not expensive as such - I just checked my ownership thread and they costed Rs 360 apiece in 2010 and even if one is faulty, all four are changed to be on the safer side - so a total expense of around Rs. 1800 including labour.

On another note, surprisingly I didn't face any fan belt related noise issues in my Indigo. I also feel that the TDi was more reliable then the DiCor as it didn't have any injector related issues, being an IDI (InDirect Injection), plus the engine clatter was also a lot less.

[srinih75]

I am having the best time of my Indigo Marina LX DICOR these days. It is giving me 24+ kmpl on the highway when I drive to my native place in Kerala. With my 2nd baby just born two months ago I am having to driving single most of the time. Hope to have my entire family driving soon in about 8-10 months from now.

The pictures above, this is the reason I bought my marina too. Have done similar imprompto drives, relocated myself from Blr to Hyd and back as well.

Btw, last week I have crossed 99000 kms and did the 1lakh service as well. The car is doing really great!

[wanderernomad]

The car is up for the 70K service and in April shall be driven to Jorhat from Mohali, a distance of about 2500 Kms. Meanwhile took it around for a small weekend drive in Feb for a snow drive. Here are some of the pictures. Some of the additions done are:
1. Blackout lights on either side.
2. Two washers on the bumpers for the headlights. Operate through the front wash and wipe switch.

[greenhorn]

Thanks for sharing, Curious about both the additions - What's the need for blackout lights, and some pictures of the washer arrangement. Please do add when you have time