First service soon

Reminders on display

Yesterday I passed 14 000 kilometers. This morning I saw new sings on display when started my Fabia. This mean that I have less than 1000 km or 82 days to service check.

Need to buy an oil, I think it will be Valvoline SynPower XL-III. Once I'll get it, will call to garage to schedule a date.

Bank account looks closed in Mizrahi-Tefahot

Got this letter a few days ago. It says that my account that was created for a car credit is closed now. But I have a strange feelings... What a fuck it should be so comlicated? Why I should call for your action? Why this paper not looks real to me and again looks like print-screen from some internal banking program.

Insurance details for 2011

Some details on car insurance for new Skoda Fabia.

I did some research on market with companies offers. Two things you should know. First, small insurance companies will usually screw you when it comes to insurance cases, like Shirbit - very cheap, but people complain about service they offer when time comes. Second, if you can add extra two hundreds for an agent - it's a good idea, because when case happens, you by yourself need to deal with the insurance companies, third sides and so on. On the other hand, a good agent with a good experience will take it on himself doing all dirty job. The problem is to find one, here a good advice is to ask your friends if they know a good agent that already handled real cases and better handled it positively. And another note, you probably want your agent located closely, so you don't need to go to Eilat to sing papers although in most cases fax communication is enough.

So, I found a good agent by friend's advice that actually also have Skoda Fabia but red one and with DSG. He know him for a long time and once helped with road accident case including courts. The agent name is Alex Novik, he is working for Elifim agency (site is badly working). So I went to Raanana to meet him.

He suggested me two options, both are big insurance (and not only) companies:

Phenix - Careful Driver (policy PDF on Hebrew)

Clal - Green Way (policy PDF on Hebrew)

Both offers had almost the same price (+- 100 NIS) for liability ("hova") insurance and comprehensive ("makif") extension. I decided to go with Phoenix, because all my pension money and other funds are in this company.

Bottom line, total insurance cost for driver that
- below of age 30 (can lower a cost if above 30)
- single driver
- zero fault accidents, claims or violations in last 3 years (requires confirmation)
- clear driving records
- not a "new driver"
- from Jan 13th to Dec 31st 2011
- no other vehicle in family (can lower a cost if you have another car)
- requires immobilizer only
Liability insurance cost 1 773 NIS (can split for 11 payments)
Comprehensive is 3 089 NIS (can split for 3 payments)

Pay attention to have in policy
- "new for old" option that will pay actual market value for new car if your car is totaled for more than 50% or stolen, this works for only first year
- road services

Useful links
HowStuffWorks - How Car Insurance Works

Cancellation of pledge

Today, finally, I received official paper about cancellation of pledge on my Fabia from a bank. It took Mizrahi Tefahot almost 2 months. When I paid last shekel of loan to a bank at 20th of July 2011, Moran Hornstein, my account handler, promised me that all papers will come to my post box in a week or two.

Nothing such happened after a month. So I went again to the bank asked about papers for cancellation of pledge. It's not like I'm going to sell my car now, but documents should be given to a client after closing a loan. Moran printed me some computer screen-shot from their bank program and said that is your documents, nothing more. And it looks like this (without parking ticket of course):

I went away. As we see this is fucking ridiculous. As I no more have to pay to the bank, they can sent you to hell.

A week ago I thought about calling my insurance agent and ask about this situation and insurance policy that I have and it has section about pledge on car to the bank. Agent said I need to get from bank "Cancellation of pledge" official document, because we need to change policy.

This time I sent a big complain about this situation to customer support via site and an e-mail pzibur@umtb.co.il. In a few minutes a got a call from their representatives telling me that they are checking that. And it turns out that account was not closed and I got one shekel debt on it already despite the fact I paid all loan.

The end of the story - I got a call today from Adi Yakov, asking me what I want, this one from my branch already. And after a lunch I was there personally and took this document. I waited in a bank until they send it to my insurance agent by fax and when I got confirmation from him, this issue was closed.

Never want to see Mizrahi Tefahot again...

Installing Bosch EC9 horns

I didn't liked original sound of horn so I ordered at eBay a set of Bosch EC9 - $8.75 for devices and $13 for shipping from Hong Kong.

Package from Hong Kong

In the package were two fanfares: one low 420 Hz and a high 510 Hz. Now, when I know that original Fabia's horn is same high horn, you can buy only one and connect them together. Here is Bosch EC9 and EC9-C paper for full details on devices.

To make it work, connect them in parallel. Here is a wiring diagram

Skoda Fabia horns wiring diagram

I also put some isolation from easy water access. All connections were covered with heat shrink tubes (not shown at picture) and other surfaces with hot melting glue (also not shown).

And more than that, I made a video of install process that took me about 15 minutes before a work.

UPDATE (2011-04-05)
Sound compare. First red Fabia with original horn, second in mine with full EC9 set.