Sunday Morning, up with the Lark...
...I think I'll take a walk in the park...
Or so the lyrics of Beautiful Sunday goes. Yes it was a beautiful Sunday indeed and there was a guttural lark also somewhere around. But the similarities ended there as I didn't take a walk in the park but proceeded for some back breaking work.
For a couple of Sundays or more I hadn't touched the engine bay and it was begining to look like a dusty, grimy, dustbowl of an American town somewhere in Arizona and was half expecting Django to crawl out from under somwehere. And with a longish trip in the coming weekend, with some friends, I knew it had to be today. And so it was. And cleaning up the engine bay today was a real tough act. Thanks to mud, muck and something that the monsoons throw up. So painfully, inch by inch, lost ground was reclaimed with a lot of loss of sweat and material.
Now, now, Admiral - settle down in the chair, open your mouth and say AHHH...
Now lift your tail and don't say AHHH...
Of course all hands were on deck for the battle today - though this was not the full complement:
Opening the bonnet saw a tiny mark on the left bulkhead near the battery bay:
Knew that this was the bonnet tapping against the bulkhead. If left unattended could leave a permanent mark and after a few months rusting and what not.
So adjusted this damper on the front rim that keeps the bonnet firm:
And this - just under the bonnet:
Had to lift and shut the bonnet a million times till I got the adjustment just right. And what a din it created opening, clanging it shut etc. Any guy or gal in the colony who thought he or she could have a liesurely Sunday morning beauty sleep was sadly mistaken. There could be a written complaint on its way to the Secretary and an AGM of the society being organised soon.
To my annoyance and dismay a minor scratch had cropped up on the Admiral's uniform during the course of the week. Rear left passenger door near the window. Was feeling uncomfortable through out the week. Must have been thanks to GDW's nail or washing cloth with tiny particulate matter - GDW was soundly berated. He took it gamely. But it could have been just as well due to the joys and sorrows of being in a crowded city like Mumbai. Anyway it looked like:
Out came the F1 Scratch Out. Out came F1 polish. After which the Admiral's uniform was all resplendent again:
And just after all the spit and polish - the heavens opened up. Such is life !
Adjusted the Navigator holder a little better to keep it below the line of vision of the bonnet. Feels a little better now:
Hey ! Where's the Navigator ?
Listen didn't mdsaab tell me to keep it away ? And so it was.
And after a quick wash n bite it was time to run out for some errands - and all the clean up act/s came further to naught.
Also remembered that Admiral was close to completing 6 months and required to get his first PUC certificate post taking delivery. And with a long out of state trip round the corner didn't want to take a chance and come back and do it.
So it was another occasion to remember. Almost like your little baby's first BCG/triple antigen shot !
Now here was something that I picked up. While taking delivery of the vehicle you need to ensure that the dealer gives you the manufacturer's PUC certificate with dates etc duly filled up and this is valid for 6 months from the date of registration of the vehicle. Now whether it was 3/6/whatever etc months of validity was big confusion at the dealers when I asked specifically - because when I picked up the LoH's K10 Alto last October the Maruti guys swore it was 3 months - which then I checked and found it wasn't - it's 6 months.
And on the Scorp 6 years ago - I didn't get any such certificate from the dealer or he pulled a fast on me !
Anyway so it was indeed Admiral's first PUC certificate. I have been always going to this particular chap in the BPCL 'Pure for Sure' outlet in Thane for years. For the simple reason that he politely refused to give me certificate couple of times for the Zen years ago as the readings were beyond acceptable levels. Impressed me. Had to go to the MASS adjust the carb and come back. No problems with the Scorp and on every visit he explains the readings etc. And it is the same guy (!) all these years.
So it was today.
Admiral all hooked to the ECG Machine:
Admiral much to his annoyance and indignant spluttering gets an enema !
The Man, Raja from TN (fancies himself to be a sort of Rajni-saar of pollution control), in action:
The results, he mentioned, were good !
And the readings: (Would request comments from people in the know here - please ! Are they OK ? Any pointers ?)
And for his sterling performance during the warlike situation on Mumbai roads over the last few weeks, the Admiral was awarded a 'Metallic' liquid of honour on our way back. Picked up finally from my FNAM. I had asked him to get it ASAP (based on Manuuj's advice) and he procured a few bottles weeks ago. But got tired of reminding me on the phone that it was with him.
And on return I knew Admiral's engine was very eco friendly. For friendly neighbourhood wildlife paid him a visit congratulating him on the first ever PUC certificate !
And now you know why despite it being a beautiful Sunday, despite I having been up with a lark...didn't go for a walk in the park !