HM Ambassador Diesel (2005) Ownership Review


Thread Starter #32
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congrats for amby buddy! looks very clean and good. is rear left light broken??
No it was not broken, but just discoloured.

I'm having the suspension checked now as there was a noise whenever the car bumped on the right side.

Everything else is fixed and the car is now fully ready for my regular use.
 

350Z

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Recently a Maruti Swift bumped slightly into my front bumper while overtaking me hastily at a signal but I couldn't detect any scratch or dent caused by that incident.
Perfect example of Ambassador’s strength. I have seen an accident of Ambassador with Maruti Zen. You could well imagine what would have happened.

Everything else is fixed and the car is now fully ready for my regular use.
Hari, Time to update us with more pictures.

Drive Safe,
350Z
 
Thread Starter #34
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Perfect example of Ambassador’s strength. I have seen an accident of Ambassador with Maruti Zen. You could well imagine what would have happened.
Zen would have got flattened I guess.

Time to update us with more pictures.

Drive Safe,
350Z
There's really not any external changes - most of the work was done within the front bonnet.
 
Thread Starter #35
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I must say I am fairly happy with the vehicle as of now. The horn has developed a strange squeakiness, which I am not sure why.

The vehicle has given a mileage of around 10.8 - 11.5 km/l in the city with A/c which I don't think is bad, but I think I could manage to squeeze a bit more mileage out of it if I avoid the A/c on cooler days. I had not had any major issues so far.

I think now that all the minor niggles are settled, I should be ready to take this on a longer trip and find out how it goes. It's not the speediest beast on the highway, but I can make do with around 80-90 km/hr steadily.
 

350Z

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Hari, Thanks for coming back and updating us! Though your beast may not the be the quickest on the highways but it sure is much safer than the other daily hatchbacks or sedans (Build quality wise at least). Good luck for the trip.

Drive Safe,
350Z
 
Thread Starter #38
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I solved the horn problem. Apparently there is a switch which controls the horn. There are two horns. One is the squeakier sounding one. I just switched it back to the other horn and it works.

I am so busy these days, as I have joined a lawyer's office and I rarely get the time to come online or post updates (or I am too tired to do so at the end of the day). Thanks for your patience so much. If I ever get the time for a long trip, I will be sure to come back with my feedback.
 
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Hi Hari
Hearty Congrats for buying an Amby. Its rare to get a used Amby in good condition now a days (even though there are many tourist cars come for sale). Your car looks so pretty which shows your effort you have taken for it. Regarding overheating, radiator leak should be attended immediately, because it literally takes out the coolant in the radiator slowly but steadily. Me too was facing the same problem with my 1984 Amby with 4FB1 Isuzu engine.

Regarding the temperature at half mark, no need to worry about that as its a standard Amby stuff. Regarding waterwash, my sincere advise is please avoid water wash for ur car in service stations, because most of the service stations use hard water, which collects at the running board & doors. The service guys wont wipe the water collected underside which leads to rust. so better wash the car by yourself.

During monsoons its better to apply anti rust coats which will last min 6 months. If you live in coastal area, then its a must to wash the car once in a month.

Happy riding...
 
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Thread Starter #41
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Thanks Shrikanth. Yes, I will try to avoid water washing at service stations. I will enquire about the anti-rust coating too.

I plan to keep this vehicle around for a few years, so I want to maintain it as well as I can. The radiator leak was fixed recently and I haven't noticed any leak of late, except the Air conditioner's condensed water.

Luckily I currently have a very good mechanic who is reliable and honest. But he is an old man and he is no longer able to do everything by himself and so he has assistants.
 
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Hi Hari
As far as Ambassador is concerned, the local mechanics r far better than the company guys. Infact they knew more terms than the showroom people. Happy to know u ve got a good local mechanic[:)]

Another thing is that when u initially switch on the A/C keep it in full speed for sometime n then u can set it at low speeds forever. By doing so cooling will b maintained at a constant level.(No need to on & off frequently.)
 
Thread Starter #43
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Hi Hari
As far as Ambassador is concerned, the local mechanics r far better than the company guys. Infact they knew more terms than the showroom people. Happy to know u ve got a good local mechanic[:)]

Another thing is that when u initially switch on the A/C keep it in full speed for sometime n then u can set it at low speeds forever. By doing so cooling will b maintained at a constant level.(No need to on & off frequently.)
Yes, our mechanic is an amby specialist. He knows the car inside out.

Thanks for the tip about the A/c. Will try it out next time.
 

350Z

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Another thing is that when u initially switch on the A/C keep it in full speed for sometime n then u can set it at low speeds forever. By doing so cooling will b maintained at a constant level.(No need to on & off frequently.)
This is an effective method. I too usually practice the same.

Drive Safe,
350Z
 
Thread Starter #45
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I have had one or two minor issues and one bigger issue lately. The bigger issue was that a brake shoe broke in the middle of driving and luckily I was able to manage to handle the car till we brought it home and took it to the mechanic. I've replaced all four brake shoes and there is no problem with the braking now.

The other problem was an oil leak which was fixed satisfactory and then a diesel leak (because of a split in the PVC overflow tube that takes out excessive fuel from the engine. Both are now fixed.

I suppose old cars have such problems from time to time. Luckily all these problems were handled at relatively low cost. I am otherwise totally satisfied with this vehicle.
 

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