Throttles and Gears: Top 20 salvaging features for a marooned/drowned c...

Throttles and Gears: Top 20 salvaging features for a marooned/drowned c...:            Top 20 salvaging features for a marooned/drowned car Pic courtesy:www.hansindia.com Recently the Souther...

Top 20 salvaging features for a marooned/drowned car

           Top 20 salvaging features for a marooned/drowned car

Pic courtesy:www.hansindia.com

Recently the Southern East Coast of India experienced a brutal storm in November and December 2015 which resulted in severe flooding in many parts of South India,  especially in Chennai, Cuddalore and Pondicherry. It is very sad to note that so many people suffered in the floods that marooned most of Chennai, Cuddalore, Pondichery and Nellore.

 Many had suffered beyond measure. Some have lost their kith and kin, while many have encountered huge material losses.

For many people they their cars and SUV’s got marooned / drowned in the flood waters. In view of the present situation, I wish to present a few points on how to salvage a car which has been marooned/drowned. This will also help you not getting  conned / fleeced by unscrupulous elements.

Note:

·        If your Car or SUV is drowned in the water, please do not attempt to start the car, because if the water had already entered the engine, trying to start the car/SUV/2 wheeler will lead to heavy damage to the engine beyond measure. Moreover the insurance company might not honour their insurance policy in such circumstances.

·        In case your vehicle had rolled many times and if it was found washed up in some other area, please check for body damage like caved in roof or doors completely gone inside. If there is such an issue, please contact your dealer and insurance company for total replacement, especially if your policy is live. (It is not worth repairing a completely damaged body, because most of the present day cars are Monocoque type bodies which do not have a separate chassis.)

·        In case your vehicle is a SUV and if it is  body on ladder type frame, such a vehicle can be repaired even if the body is completely damaged. The shell can be replaced separately provided the chassis is not bent or twisted.

In case your vehicle does not have body damage, please read further to see how it can be salvaged

Some of the points to remember while salvaging your vehicle:

1.     Please tow your vehicle to a workshop you are familiar with, without trying to start the engine.

2.     First thing remove the Engine oil and flush the engine, after flushing put fresh oil and change oil filter. (Old oil will be contaminated with water and dirt).

3.     Remove old oil from Gear box and Differential and put fresh oil.

4.     If your brakes are jammed, remove the rear brake. For vehicles equipped with Disc brakes in the rear overhaul the caliper and change the caliper Minor kit.

5.     For the front brakes change the caliper minor kit and change the Master cylinder assembly and bleed the system.

6.     Remove your starter motor, dry it and service it and refit it back

7.     As far as Alternator is concerned remove and dry it. Check your diode and if it is not alright replace your diode. Change your regulator, service it and refit.

8.     Check your Nozzle assembly in your engine and the associated components. If the water had entered the nozzle, please change the nozzle tips in case of old type of Diesel engines. In newer type of engines (both Petrol and Diesel) you will have to replace the complete nozzle assembly.

9.     Check for water ingress in the power steering assembly, flush the oil in Hydraulic power steering system replace with fresh oil and check for smooth functioning and also bleed the system. In case your vehicle is equipped with electric power steering check for smooth functioning and if the component is not working properly, you might have to replace the complete assembly.

10.   Remove the tie rod ends, check and move the strut assemble in both directions. If there is any noise coming in the ball joints replace those ball joints.

11.  Check your radiator for any leaks. In case of any leaks you might have to change the radiator.

12. Check for smooth functioning of your Air conditioning system.  If there is any noise from the blower unit replace the blower motor assembly. (It comes only as a set and hence cannot be serviced). Check the outside fan. If is damaged change it.

13.  Check your clutch operation, if your system is frozen change your slave cylinder and Master cylinder. (Old vehicles or low cost vehicles come equipped with cable operation. Replace if you find the operation jerky.) In case of any rattling noise comes from your Bell house assembly, you might have to change your release bearing and clutch disc).

14.  Check all your electrical systems, blow dry air and clean all the fuses, relays etc. In case some of them are blown replace with correct fuse rating. Newer generation cars can be hooked onto a computer. Check all your sensors and replace new ones for the failed sensors.

15.   Check your drive shaft boots. In case the boots are torn replace the boots and re grease it.

16.  Check your power windows and central locking systems. If you hear clunking noise when the windows are moved up and down, replace the motor assembly in the particular door. (The service motor assembly unit cannot be serviced.)

17. Check for free movement of the gear lever and make sure it falls into all the gears easily. In case it is hard to shift lubricate all the joints.

18.  Check for any Headlight, Taillight or fog lamp breakages. In case there are no breakages in the assembly, remove all the bulbs and dry it in the sun for a day or two  so that it removes all the moisture in it. If there is physical damage to the assembly replace the unit.

19.    Clean the interior with wet/dry wash vacuum cleaners. (Do not use a home  vacuum cleaners as most of them are of dry type and it can cause damage to the vacuum cleaner). In case you do not have access to a wet vacuum cleaner, remove the seats and carpet and dry it in the sun till it is totally dry without any trace of moisture or bad odour.

20.    Check your Music system. If it is not working, replace the music system. In case it is a company unit with multiple options like reverse camera, blue tooth and GPS replacing the whole unit will be a costly affair.

The minimum cost worked out for a small premium hatch back will be round Rs 45,000/-. This is provided there no major damages. The cost might vary from brand to brand.

 Caution:  Please use your discretion while deciding for the repairs and also check the credentials of the workshop and the mechanic. If possible go to an authorised dealer, even then do not settle for exorbitant cost. Always check whether repair is warranted. Many will try to con you for total engine overhaul, in many cases it might not be needed. Always double check with some well wishers.

 Happy Motoring !

Beware!!! 21 lunatics to watch out for on Indian roads

                                                  Pic courtesy: www.roundwego.com

                Beware!!! 21 lunatics to watch out for on Indian roads

1.    The honking honchos  

Honking is one of the major problems that one will encounter on Indian roads. The honking honchos come in four categories- the crazies who keep honking all the time, the ones who honk periodically with regular time intervals (every 10 -15 seconds), the ones with the creative musical horns (the funniest I have heard is a barking German Shepherd) and finally the bus Walla’s who honk with 2 or 3 Air horns in an effort to bore an hole in your eardrums.

(The normal legal limit for vehicle horns should not cross 70 decibels. Musical horns and Air horns are banned inside city limits, but who cares. All is fair in love and on Indian roads!)

2. The whimsical two-wheelers

Many 2 wheelers keep cutting in front of your vehicle and wiggle through the traffic giving you the wonderful opportunity to test the efficiency of your brakes. They also test your alertness, driving skills and power of concentration.

(Sadly, such two wheelers very often meet with grievous accidents )

3. The mini monsters

Very often you would have come across a Tata ace or some other 3 wheeler contraption carrying heavy objects like steel rods, pipes and articles of odd sizes protruding from the vehicle. Such vehicles have caused many accidents to the people behind. As a precaution give a lot of gap and stay away from this vehicles, and if possible overtake them as quickly as possible.

4. The tailgating terrors

To be found especially in crowded areas and the tailgating terrors are mostly 2 wheelers and Buses. They are so much in love with you that they follow you too closely for your comfort. I found these phenomena at its worst in the 4 lane highways in some parts of Kerala. (Especially, on the Thrissur to Kochi Highway, where huge SUV’s and fancy high priced cars come breathing down your neck at speeds above 110km/hr within 5 feet of your car from all sides).

(Since such terrors can’t be avoided, all we can do is to be cautious and keep an eye on the rear view mirror. Also avoid braking harshly, as this could lead you to getting hit from the back.)

5. The lefty over takers

The rule in our country dictates that we keep left (since we follow the British system) and that we should not overtake from the left. However, many are not aware of this and they keep overtaking from all directions, wishing we had an extra pair of eyes.

As far as possible try not to overtake from the left hand side.  If you get hit from the vehicle you are overtaking (on the left) there will not be any questions asked by the cops. So please do use caution if you are forced to overtake from the left leaving sufficient space for the vehicle to move to the left.

6. The centre-line hoggers

Many slow moving heavy vehicles keep hogging the centre of the road especially on the highways. Such people are totally blind to the sign boards on highways which say, Slow Moving Vehicles Keep to Left.

Unfortunately, many do not follow the rules, and cause major safety hazards and inconvenience to others. 

7. The one-way travellers

The rule to safe driving in India is to always expect the unexpected! And this rule applies to never assuming that vehicles will travel only one way in a one-way road. You can always expect an idiot coming in the other direction. Such people are utterly selfish and just want to save fuel and time, not bothering if get killed in the process, or if they cause injury to life and limb in the process.

Save your skin by watching out for such idiots

8. The walking dead

Well, its jaywalkers I am referring too, but I call them the walking dead as they have no regard for life! This unique kind of specimen actually thinks that the road is an extension of their own homes. You will see many such specimens crossing the roads without looking at either direction.

Always keep an alert eye in anticipation of these fools, especially in highways. The only precaution a driver can take is not to drive too closely towards the median and give some space, so that in case you spot someone you will have time to react.

9. The side roads zippers

In many main roads, (both highways and city roads), you will see two wheeler drivers coming from side roads and entering the main roads at break neck speeds. Such guys I feel are on a suicidal mission, similar to suicide bombers, who are willing to die and put other people’s lives in jeopardy as well.

 Do not stay close to the median in the highways and always leave some gap, so that you can respond in case of emergency.

10 The bulldozer buses

We can see these monsters in many Indian towns especially among the private buses. In order to catch passengers in the next stop they will try to bulldoze you of the road using several intimidating tactics, in addition to making your ears deaf by using 2 or 3 Air horns.

(RTO’s are supposed to check for these loud Air horns, but not bothered as long as their pockets are filled)

11. The careless car door openers

These are another unique kind of specimen, who is always in the world of their own, preoccupied with the many ills of life. Such people carelessly open the doors of the car on the driver’s side without checking the mirrors, leading to accidents with people or vehicles passing close by.

Avoid such mishaps by checking your mirrors before opening the door.

12. The autocratic auto-Walla’s

Belonging to a tribe of their own, autowalla’s drive at breakneck speed, try to overtake on all directions, take u-turns where it is not possible, and drive in the wrong direction in one-way traffic. Furthermore, when they don’t have a customer they deliberately choose to drive dead slow even during peak traffic hours causing blockage of the entire road.

13. The heavy weights of the road

Several heavy vehicle use their muscle and might and keep pushing you of the road, especially on 2 lane highways. They really don’t care if somebody gets killed on the way and very often they get away with the crime, because they keep greasing the local cops on a regular basis. Common culprits include sand laden tipper Lorries, private buses, Govt. buses and some big SUV’s.

Stay clear from these monsters

14. The zig-zaggers

These vehicles, mostly cars, belong to the people who have the means to buy powerful vehicles. And since even the present midsized hatchbacks come equipped with powerful engines, such driver’s drive their powerful vehicles in a zigzag manner, especially on highways.

If questioned, the common excuse they state is that a slow moving truck is holding back the traffic. While it might be true, it is always better to overtake cautiously and at modest speeds. However, these zig-zaggers are thrilled by overtaking these slow moving trucks and buses continuing in their zig zag manner at speeds above 120 km/hr. Very often this particular type of driving leads to tragic accidents, but still many people continue to drive in this manner, causing loss to life and limb.

15. The non-carers

By this, I refer to the cars, which pull out from the kerb without giving any kind of indication and those who take U-turns were it is not allowed. They don’t care whether their action is blocking the whole road and creating a traffic chaos. Such people believe the road is meant only for them and that others don’t exist.

To avoid such people always keep a fair distance to parked vehicles, so that you will have time to react.

16.The mirror-breakers

These are the 2 wheelers who remove their mirrors and drive- either as a style statement or because they are scared of looking into the rear view mirror. They often come so close to you so that you have to take evasive to avoid hitting them. On other occasions, they try to squeeze their 2-wheeler between your car and the median, eventually breaking your mirror and zipping off without a backward glance. Even if you manage to catch up and confront them they will simply state that since it is just a mirror, you are not entitled to make a fuss.

Normally only car drivers face this problem. Both Mini SUV’s and SUV’s escape the mirror-breakers because their ride height is taller. With side mirrors costing anywhere between Rs 1000/- to Rs 20,000/- (depending on the brand of your car), mirror breakers are a huge economic drain.

17. The hilly-billies

These include first time hill drivers and those who have absolutely no idea of hill driving. There are several hill driving rules. The first rule is to give right of way to upcoming vehicles. The second rules are to honk at every corner because most of the corners in hills are blind corners. The third rule to give a small honk to a vehicle that has stopped allowing you to pass- the small honk a way of saying “Thank you”.

Many upstart drivers keep hurtling down the hill at break neck speed and rely only on their brakes. However, it is actually dangerous to rely only on brakes, while coming down a hill, because your brakes will overheat causing it to fail eventually. Normally you are supposed to get down the hill only on the 2^nd gear relying on engine braking. Also never coast down the hill by shutting your engine off which is very dangerous.

18. The headlight scorchers

Many drivers do not dip their headlights while driving, causing the bright lights to scorch the oncoming drivers eyes. They feel it is a waste of time trying to dip. It is assumed the fellow who dips the headlight is a fool and the fellow who doesn’t dip the lights is kind of macho. Actually dipping helps the driver to see the dark sides in an unlit road- for example if any pedestrian is crossing, etc. In city driving most of the roads are well illuminated and their won’t be any necessity for bright lights. Drivers can drive in dip mode itself without putting the headlight in main beam.

19. The indicator-indifferent

 These drivers make turns without using their indicators. Either these people switch of their brains or else they are too lazy to indicate to indicate to others who are driving on the road. They also don’t care if their driving causes accidents.

To avoid this people do not drive too close to parked vehicles and be cautious if the fellow in front of you slows down drastically without reason, as he will probably be taking a turn soon.

20. The non-stop brakers

Some people keep braking like mad, without any reason. They believe stomping on their brakes is a part of driving. In fact, they will be testing your braking skills as well!

In case you come across such idiots always drive with some extra space in front of you and try to overtake that person as early as possible.

21. The slowpoke

Another irritating specimen, this person drives the vehicle in the middle of the road at 20 km/hr blocking everyone else. Furthermore, this person will neither move to the edge of the road nor will move over, how much ever you honk. Even if someone shouts at him he will not show any emotion.

Unfortunately, there is no precaution for this person and you will just have to grin and bear it.

What are the types of lunatics that you have come across on Indian roads? Do share your views in the comments box below. 

Top 10 tips to overcome fatigue while doing long distance driving

            Top 10 tips to overcome fatigue while doing long distance driving

Before you start on your journey get your vehicle serviced & checked by a good mechanic

·        Change your engine oil, essential fluids, filters replaced and check your brakes

·        Change your wiper blades before start on your journey

·        Always take a spare headlight bulb, fuses and relays

·        Check your tyre for tread depth and cracks. Mostly tyres start developing cracks when it is around 5 years old. Some brands develop cracks by 3 years itself. If you are not sure about the tyres, it is always safer to replace it.

·        Get your wheels aligned and balanced before you start

Driving tips for a long distance journey:

1.     It is better to have a proper good night sleep before you start on a day journey. Some people prefer starting very early in the morning, say at 4 o’ clock in the morning or earlier. In my opinion as long as the journey is done within 7-8 hours it is okay.However, if the journey is going to be more than 10 hours long, it is better to take a good night sleep and start may be @ 6.30 or 7 in the morning.

2.     When you driving for more than 1 ½ to 2 hours at a stretch, take a short break and stretch your limbs to free it of any stiffness or numbness.

3.     Once in 1 ½ to 2 hours open your window to allow fresh air this will help in removing the stale air and carbon monoxide build up inside the cabin.

4.     If you have company in the car, this takes your mind of monotonous driving allowing you to chat, however, remember to keep your focus on the road. If you do not have company listen to some light music which is easy on your ears.

5.     The first sign of yawning means either there is lack of oxygen in the cabin or that you are tired.Take a break immediately.

6.     If you feel you are getting tired stop for a tea or coffee break.

7.     If you start getting any cramps or shoulder stiffness, stop and do some stretching exercise, for example, rotating arms in circular motion to free your shoulder of the stiffness.

8.      If your journey time extends beyond 10 or 11 pm in the night, do switch to a slightly slower than your usual speed. This will compensate for the slower reflexes caused by fatigue after driving for more than 10 to 12 hours at a stretch.

9.     If you’re continuing driving beyond 11 pm do try to stop for some small cat naps, as it will help you in combating drowsiness.

10.  With most of us not being regular night drivers, it is pretty difficult to stay awake, and short naps (even 10-15 minutes) can make a difference. However, while stopping for breaks make sure you stop in a safe place.The best place to stop in a 4 lane highway is near a Petrol Pump or near a Toll plaza. Make sure the place is well lit up and some smaller vehicles have also stopped there. Stay away from parked trucks in the truck bay area as some stray incidents have been reported near those places. Remember, safety is the main criteria, especially your family members are present in the car.

Note:  Reaching the destination is more important than the testing the top speed of your vehicle. You must have noticed that people doing more than 130 km/hr and those doing 90 to 100 km/hr often reach at the same time. This is because the person who is driving faster is often erratic and takes many breaks, therefore reaching the destination at the similar time as the more consistent, but slower driver.

Another important thing is to eat lightly and not drive on a full stomach as it will make you drowsy and lethargic. Also stay away from greasy foods to keep your tummy free from stomach upsets.

                                    The above Pic Courtesy: myfiatworld.in

                               Cruising through Coffee County

Why I consider Coorg the perfect driving holiday destination!

For those who live and breathe cars as I do, a driving holiday, as opposed to reaching your holiday destination by other means of transport, is the best way to spend a vacation. While some people complain that driving can take away the whole point of relaxing during a holiday, I strongly disagree. Driving to a new destination, is a totally different experience then the daily driving to and fro from work, can do wonders for the mind and soul.

Since we live in Pondicherry, a wonderful old French colony, known for its beautiful beaches, romantic architecture and delectable French cuisine, but also infamous for the scorching hot summers, we generally prefer heading to the hills. Our ‘driving hoilday’ was Kodagu (Coorg is the anglicized version), the birthplace of the River Kaveri and the largest coffee producing region in India.

It’s a two day trip to Coorg!

Coorg lay at a distance of 580 km, and being avid travelers who enjoy the journey as much as the destination, our game plan was to break journey by spending the night in Bangalore. We left Pondicherry after breakfast and hit the road to Bangalore that lies along the NH 66 via the Tindivanam – Thiruvanamalai - Krishnagiri – Hosur route. Our journey till Krishnagiri was quite slow and bumpy due to the pot-holed filled roads, but from then we quickly picked up speed and reached Bangalore. Unfortunately, we reached Bangalore during the evening peak hour traffic and again, this slowed us down a bit.

After a refreshing night at our relatives place, we headed out early next morning on our way to Coorg. The most direct route from Bangalore to Coorg lies along two well maintained state highways, namely the SH17 and SH88 that connects Bangalore with Coorg via Mysore. The roads were perfect and the drive was smooth, and we very quickly passed the small towns of Bidadi, Ramanagaram, Chennapatna, Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna that lay on the Banggalore –Mysore highway. We made only two quick stops. A 30-minute breakfast stop at Chennapatna, where we savored the unique Modae iddlies, which is a specialty of this South Karnataka town and a 10-minute stop at Café Coffee Day for a java recharge.

Since we had already visited Mysore on an earlier trip, we decided to skip Mysore and take the bypass road to Hunsur, which comes right after Srirangapatna. We encountered a little trouble locating the right junction where we had to make the turn, but a helpful policeman came to our rescue and pointed us towards the right track. From there on we had absolutely no delays as it was one straight road through paddy and sugarcane field that took us through Hunsur – Kempalapura – Piriyapatna –Bylakuppe – Kushalnagara – Suntikoppa till Madikeri, the capital of Coorg District.

Reaching Madekeri around lunch time, we first decided to check into the Homestay which we had booked earlier via the Internet. We were in for a pleasant surprise to find our Homestay “Misty Meadows”, located in the midst of a lush coffee plantation. Mr. and Mrs. Bollu Nanaiah, our hosts, welcomed us with a hot traditional Coorgi meal, which was totally scrumptious. All we needed now was a quick nap, to refresh ourselves before we started exploring the lovely Coorg countryside.

Coorg- the best place for a driving holiday!

Coorg is beautiful hill station that has surprisingly good roads, which makes it a motorist’s paradise and a great destination for a driving holiday. Filled with a serene and picturesque coffee plantations and the usual number of tourist attractions, there is a lot to do for both the enthusiastic tourist and the laid-back traveler.

We decided to take on the role of the ‘enthusiastic tourist’ and take in as many sights as we could during our four-day mini vacation. On the first afternoon, we spent time exploring Madikeri. Madikeri, is a beautiful hill town, which was the seat of many famous kings, including Tipu Sultan. The Madikeri Fort is a beautiful old structure, whose main attraction is two life size masonry elephants and a beautiful church which has been converted into a museum.

Raja Seat, also in Madikeri, offers a panoramic and beautiful view of the surrounding hillside. This spot, favorite of the Rajas of Madikeri, (hence the name), offers the perfect photo op for your family portrait or Facebook profile pic. Kids can have fun in the surrounding park which has a lovely toy train and a musical fountain.

The next day we decided to make the 50 km trip to Talacauvery, the birthplace of the River Cauvery. The drive to Talacauvery was filled with breathtaking sights of beautiful scenery that is too difficult to put down in words. The Talacauvery temple marks the exact spot of the origin of the mighty Cauvery River which provides water for more than half of South India. Driving downhill we stopped by Abby falls, which lies around 8 kms from Madekeri. The enormous roar of water gushing from the falls is truly a spectacular sight to behold.

Our itinerary for next day was to go downhill and explore the various sights recommended by our hostess, Mrs. Nanaiah. We first stopped at Dubare Elephant Camp, where you get to see the elephants’ morning ritual- bathing and eating the specially prepared food. For an extra fee, our daughter enjoyed bathing and feeding a cute little baby elephant. After our elephant ride around the camp, we went to Nisargadama, an island formed by the river Cauvery. Nisargadama, reminiscent of a bamboo forest, boasts of many interesting activities including pedal-boating, elephant rides, deer feeding etc. We spent a few wonderful hours at Nisargadama, enjoying the many activities it offered us.

After lunch we headed to Bylakuppe, near Piriyapatna, which one of the largest and oldest Tibetan settlements in India. We were amazed by the beautiful Tibetian Golden Temple, Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery and the Sera Monastic University (one of the largest Buddhist universities in the world), all located within the settlement.

On the third day we made the day-long trip to Nagarhole Wildlife Santuary also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, situated around 90 kms from Madikeri. Driving through dense forests and lot of coffee plantations, we stopped enroute at Irupu falls, a scenic unpolluted waterfall, where we had a good time playing in its fresh cool waters. At Nagarhole, we took the jungle safari and managed to photograph a herd of elephants, the Indian bison and lots deer (both the Samba and Spotted varieties). However, we didn’t spot the elusive Indian Tiger for which the National Park is famous for.

The End of an Unforgettable Trip

On the morn of the fourth day, with hearts heavy but refreshed, we said goodbye to our lovely hosts and started back home. Packed along with our luggage were packets of estate coffee, boxes of spices, bottles of forest honey and loads of cherished memories that occupied 16GB of camera space. Driving down to Coorg was a truly enjoyable and unforgettable experience and I urge you to give it a try.

Tips to enjoy a stress- free driving holiday

1.     Always ensure that your vehicle is serviced, and all necessary parts changed before a long road trip. (Check out my previous blog for detailed tips).

2.     Do take along sufficient packaged food that doesn’t spoil easily (like biscuits, nuts, chips, etc.), even if you plan to eat outside. This is even more important if travelling with kids, because one can’t ensure availability of good restaurants in unknown destinations. Mealtimes, can get delayed, so be prepared.

3.     Carry sufficient bottled water with you at all times. You will often find fake products in tourist destinations, which may be harmful and carry contagious bacteria. Once we came across a vendor selling a bottled water which looked exactly like the “Aquafina” brand, however on close inspection we realized it was “Aquabina”, with a “b” and not “f”. Same is the case with aerated drinks.

4.     If travelling with kids, plan fun activities. Take along colouring books, music CD’s, portable video games/DVD players, to keep kids occupied and stop them from squabbling with their siblings. Encourage teens to participate by asking them to navigate, and provide directions using their digital devices.

5.     Carry a small cushion/pillow and blanket, in case someone needs to take rest.

Have a Nice holiday with your family !

Chennai Pondy Heritage rally

While Pondicherry is a great place to explore and love if you are a tourist, it can become a tad dull for the long-term residents.

 However, just as the sky is occasionally brightened with a lovely rainbow, there are some occasions when living in Pondicherry becomes worth  while. One such occasion is the annual The Hindu Chennai-Pondy Heritage Car Rally, which is must-attend event for a motoring buff as myself.

This year (2015), saw an amazing line-up of cars. Jostling amongst the crowds (yes, there was an amazing turnout at the Promenade where the cars were parked for the night!), I managed to catch a good look and capture quite a few of the old beauties on my camera. I am proud to say that almost 90% of the cars (and the few motorbikes and scooters) were maintained in extremely good condition, with shiny exteriors and almost good as new interiors! 

There were quite a few really old models, including a great line-up of Mercedes, Chevrolets, Dodge’s and Buicks, Heralds, Studebakers, Plymouths, Fiats and the old Ambassadors (1959) some of us still use it. Among the line-up, I was really surprised to see a first generation Maruti 800 (1984 model). 

Being 31 years old is considered heritage. 

Thank God this doesn’t apply to us humans.

The best part of the event was that I was able to spot a few cars that hit a personal chord- like my grandfather’s Morris Minor and my other grandpa’s Hindustan 12. 

My favourite picks of the line-up were the Fiats (the Fiat Elegant, the Buck Fiat open roof and Fiat 1100 Estate left hand drive-a rare edition), the two Mini Coopers, a Citroen (the first edition with a front wheel drive), the well-maintained Chevy and Peugeot, and the Buick with wooden doors.

 To a motoring enthusiast, cars -whether old or new- can get the adrenalin going and the 2015 Chennai-Pondy Heritage Car Rally was a sight worth waiting for indeed!

Scroll down to see the pics of the old beauties!

How to increase the life of your vehicle’s tyres Plus everything you ever wished to know about tyres

How to increase the life of your vehicle’s tyres

Plus everything you ever wished to know about tyres

Tyres are an important element in a vehicle, as it is the only contact between the road and your vehicle. It is the friction from the rubber tyres that offers the grip between the vehicle and the road. In the following blogpost, I will be discussing some of the aspects that are needed to be looked into.

Tips to get maximum Tyre life from your existing set of tyres:

1.Wheel alignment & Balancing: To get the best out of your tyres , it is always necessary to do the wheel alignment and wheel balancing regularly. Even “1” mm out of alignment will wear out your tyres faster. Also, if there is any defect in your suspension system, kindly replace the defective component before going for alignment.

Misaligned wheels will make the tyre wear out faster, plus the vehicle will not be able to perform at its optimum level. It will also pull the vehicle to one side.

Unbalanced wheels will give judder (vibrations) in the steering wheel for speeds above 80Km/hr.

Also check for wheel shake and roughness from the wheel bearing. If you find any of these defects, please replace the complete set of bearings on that respective side.

2.Less maneuvering: Gone are the days when almost all vehicle used to have manual steering boxes. Nowadays most of the cars /SUV’s are equipped with power steering.

Advantage

It is easy to steer the vehicle. It is also easy to park the vehicle and easy to drive.

Disadvantages:

a. Many of us tend to steer the vehicle unnecessarily. Especially while the vehicle is standing, we keep turning the steering wheel, often without our knowledge.

 b. When you are crawling in the city traffic we tend to look for gaps and tend to dart by moving either to the left or right.

Such kind of activities tends to wear out the tyres earlier than usual. It also wears out the ball joints in your suspension. Hence we need to consciously control our movements.It is best is to turn the wheel while moving and not turn while the vehicle is standing.

3. Under inflation: This happens when your tyres are under inflated or when people forget to regularly inflate their tyres.

In both the cases, the tyres wear out faster. If you carefully notice the wear pattern of such tyres (ones which are regularly run but under inflated), you can see both of the outer edges of the tyres wearing out faster. The trick is to inflate correctly at regular intervals- the ideal being weekly once.

4. Over Inflation:Some of us tend to over inflate the tyres thinking they will get better mileage. Some overinflate for the reason that they can overload their vehicles (This can be seen in some SUV Taxi’s and Commercial vehicles). If you regularly overinflate the tyres you will be clearly able to see the symptoms, where the centre of the tyre would be more worn out than the edges. This causes the vehicle to have a hard ride when going over bumps, potholes and the vehicle tends to be skittish when under braking and cornering. So it is always better to stick to the manufacturers recommended pressure.

5. Highway Driving:  When you are travelling for long distances on the highways and especially over broken patches of tarmac, it is good to increase your tyre pressure by 2 to 3 psi, as this will give a little bit of resistance towards acquiring punctures. Basically this trick makes the tyre harder, so any sharp objects that come across get bounced. If the tyre is softer it tends to attract sharper objects. On the plus side is also gives better mileage.

Caution:  Do not do this regularly on a day to day basis, otherwise it will spoil the tyre.

6.Tube type tyres:  Some cars /SUV’s still use Tube type tyres even though majority of them have shifted to Tubeless tyres.

Butyl tubes: Many reputed manufacturers make tubes which are of butyl type.It is always better to go for such tubes.(Look for the butyl stamp on the side of the tubes). The advantage of such types of tubes is that it will retain tyre pressure for a longer period. It is also lighter in construction, hence less of balancing weights.

Natural tubes: Such tubes are made by many small time manufacturers .The first thing that you will notice is that it will be heavier than the Butyl tubes. Normally such type of tubes will start losing air within air 2 to 3 days’ time. You will have to pump air every week.

 Caution: Never buy this type tubes unless it is an emergency situation.

7.Nitrogen:  If possible always  fill your tyres with nitrogen, instead of natural air.

Advantage: Nitrogen helps in retaining the tyre pressure for a longer time. It helps to run the tyre at a cooler temperature, preventing the increase in tyre pressure when running long distance (Normal air tends to expands due to heat buildup). This in turn avoids blowouts on highways.

8. Avoid jerky movements: While driving always try to drive smoothly. Avoid jerky movements like constant turning of steering wheels, sudden braking and sudden acceleration. By avoiding all these it will directly increase your tyre life.

Tips to be kept in mind while replacing old tyres:

9. Age of tyres:  Sometimes the car/SUV would have covered very less mileage              (Kms) and still there will be lot of tyre tread left in the tyre. But take time to notice carefully on the sidewalls of the tyre if you can observe any tiny cracks or chip marks on the tyre. This is usually found on tyres that are more than 3 years old. It is better to replace such kind of tyres in the interest of safety and especially if you travel a lot on the highways.

Caution: Always go for good brands with available with warranty. A list of commonly available good brands in India: 1.Goodyear 2.MRF 3. Bridgestone 5.Apollo 6.JK Tyres, etc. If possible, avoid going for Chinese tyres without warranty and rebuilt tyres.

10.Upgradingyour old tyres: When you replace your old tyre try to stick to manufacturer recommended sizes .

Some people go for upsize tyres. Some manufacturers recommend particular size of tyre for upgrade.

The common mistake that most people make is to go for the fattest tyres possible and lower  sidewall height.

When you do so, please also check whether the width of the car tyre is fouling with the body.

Caution: When you go for a lower sidewall tyre (smaller side wall height), you will usually encounter a harsher ride, especially, when you are going over bumps or potholes at a high speed. It will cause damage to your tyre and also to your rims, especially if it is fitted with alloy rims. Alloy rims will get chipped and metal one’s will get bent.

Lower side walls are preferable only for racing and for good roads with no potholes. In India, we often encounter bad roads and so it will be prudent to choose tyres with higher sidewall height.

Wish you a happy motoring experience !