Here are some pictures I took (with the exception of the portrait of me) on my recent trip to Newport Beach, RI. The sun was out and it was a beautiful fall day. Please leave your comments and opinions at the end of the post!
Automobile Internship – Halfway Stage
As you probably realized, I have stopped providing daily updates of my internship due to the repetitive nature of my work. However, I have almost reached the half way stage in the internship and I feel compelled to write another post about it.
By now, I have completed 4 out of the five levels of training courses. Jishar has been an excellent teacher and I feel much more confident around cars, since I can unhesistatingly work on most models now.
On the repairs side, I have repaired innumerable cars since my last post. I have worked on nearly every Peugeot car on the market and some notable non Peugeot models such as the Lexus ES300, the Nissan Patrol, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the BMW 750Li, the Audi A7 and the Porsche Cayman S. The repair work has been the same as before, replacing engine parts and repairing parts such as the injection system, the fuel pump and so on.
The internship has been thoroughly enjoyable and I enthusiastically look forward to the second half. It has helped drastically improve my skills with automobiles and I am sure that this will help me with various automobile projects in college.
I leave you now, with a few pictures from the past few days. Ciao!
The Burj Al Arab at Blue Hour
The Burj Al Arab at Blue Hour.
This is a shot from the photowalk that I mentioned in the earlier post. It depicts the Burj Al Arab Hotel at blue hour, taken from the Jumeirah Beach.
Picture specifications – F/22, 15 s exposure, 39 mm focal length.
I will soon be uploading pictures from the ghost town and marina shoots that I went on recently.
Ciao!
My First Photowalk!
I recently went on a photowalk through Dubai, with my uncle, shooting with his Canon 1000D. It was my first experience with a DSLR and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here’s an unedited shot taken near the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
Picture specifications – 34 mm, f/18, 13 seconds exposure time, ISO 100.
Do critique the shot; I will graciously accept any comments and suggestions from you.
Automobile Internship – 04/18/2013
Thursday was a half day at work, so here’s a quick synopsis of the day’s activities.
The fist job on hand was a quick fault diagnosis on a Peugeot 206. I completed that in a few minutes and moved on to a Mitsubishi Lancer that needed its brake pads to be changed. This job took a while! Finally, I changed the AC filter on a Peugeot Partner and completed my quota for the day. The next hour was spent in the training room with Jishar after which I left at around 2.30 p.m.
Ciao!
The ‘wheel-less’ Lancer
The Partner’s bare bones engine.
Automobile Internship – 04/17/2013
Another day completed at work! Here’s how it went.
I began with my usual training session with Jishar. At about 11.30 a.m., I went into the workshop and immediately started working on a Peugeot 307. We replaced the starter motor of the vehicle, a part that proved extremely difficult to work on, since it was located behind the main engine compartment in a hollow cavity in the chassis of the vehicle. Soon after, I began work on a Peugeot 207. Here, I first detached the dashboard, then Sixen and I completely overhauled the center console and AC blower system of the vehicle.
The final job was to perform fault diagnosis on a Peugeot 206CC, and to repair its faulty electric windows and sunroof.
I leave you now with a few pictures from the day.
Performing repairs on the 307.
The new center console of the 207 is in the foreground with the old, faulty one in the background.
The DIAGBOX tool runs on this laptop.
We opened up the door panel of the 206CC to repair the faulty electric windows.
Well, hello there!
Automobile Internship – 04/16/2013
Today, was a fun day at work!
In the morning, I underwent training in air intake systems with my trainer, Jishar. He explained the theoretical aspects of the topic first, then showed me an entire air intake system that was detached from a car and kept in the back office. About a hour and a half of training later, I went to the workshop.
The first car on the agenda was a beautiful white BMW 750Li. It required new spark plugs and a routine oil change. I thoroughly enjoyed working on a car like this, after nearly two weeks of working on Peugeots. Sixen and I completed this job my lunchtime and were well on schedule for a few more tasks.
After lunch, I returned to work on a Peugeot 308. It was a rather simple job requiring a change in the variable solenoid of the car. Soon, I completed it and headed to the control room.
There, I found the job order card for a Peugeot RCZ sports car and quickly snapped it up. The recent rains had created havoc in its engine compartment. We performed repairs on it’s turbo and changed its fuse box. Finally, we changed the engine oil. This job took much longer than expected. Thereafter, I performed Global Tests on two Peugeot 207s and called it a day.
On the way home, I spotted two sweet little classics in a public parking lot, just the right way to top off the day!
I will leave you now, with some pictures from today.
The Beemer 750Li. I opened it all up!
Sure looks odd in a workshop full of hatchbacks.
Under the 750’s hood.
The classic Mercedes that I spotted on the way home.
This Pontiac complemented the Merc.
Automobile Internship – 04/09/2013
Hey guys! Had a great day at work today!
I reinitialized the fuel pump of a Peugeot 206 in the morning. Got petrol all over me with that!
Second, I replaced the battery of a Peugeot 3008 CC and worked on it’s fault diagnosis with the DIAGBOX (it’s just a laptop with a fancy name).
I was done by lunchtime and headed out to the cafeteria.
When I returned, I went in for my training session with the trainer, Jishar. We had a 3 hour long session where Jishar taught me about the fuel intake system in vehicles. This is a continuos course which will last for the next few weeks and will cover more complex topics in the future.
That’s it for today! Here are some pictures from te
The 207 on the lift.
The 207’s turbo engine.
Automobile Internship – 04/08/2013
Okay it’s been over a week since I joined, but since I started posting late, here’s Day 3.
I started today after a three day break due to the weekend and stop weather. As I entered, Sixen had just brought in a Peugeot 3008 from the yard. We were assigned to repair the turbocharger. What seemed like a simple job (only the dump valve had to be replaced), took over 2 hours as we quickly found out that the turbocharger’s chutes were leaking and the entire thing needed replacing. Fortunately, the car was still under warranty, else it would have cost the owner a pretty penny. So, I replaced the dump valve while Sixen performed the more complex repairs and we were good to go by around 12.00 noon. We then filled out the particulars of the repairs performed on the vehicle’s job card and soon left for our lunch break.
We returned an hour later to find a Peugeot 307 requiring our attention. We quickly repaired the car’s radio and moved on to the other repairs. Soon, we realized that this car required a complete BSI checkup and fault diagnosis. So, I brought the repairs laptop along and off we were. By about 3 pm, we were done. Soon after, my father arrived and I left with him.
Here are a couple of pictures from today.
Automobile Internship – 04/04/2013
Today was a mild day at work. Thursday being a half day, I got off early at around 1.oo pm. However, today marked a landmark in my internship experience. It was the first time that I was allowed to do unsupervised work.
A Peugeot 206 required an AC repair and this called for the dashboard to be removed from the car. Fresh from my experience of opening the dashboard of another 206 yesterday, I volunteered to do the job. Sure, I exceeded the 40 minute time limit allowed for preliminary repairs, but I was allowed to go on since it was my first solo experience. I really enjoyed doing it and I leave you now with some pictures from the job.
Friday is an off day for work so I will see you all on Saturday!
The untouched dash.
My tools.
Work in progress. Detaching the center console.
Without the dashboard and steering wheel.
My handiwork! The detached dashboard is on the bottom right.
Automobile Internship – 04/03/2013
3.2.1. I am back!
My board examinations have ended and I am done with school!
Recently, I have begun an internship at the service center of one of the largest automobile dealership in the UAE, which primarily sells Peugeot cars. However, the service center also operates on most major European cars.
Through this internship, I aim to gain experience in working with vehicles so that I am better prepared for automobile related projects that I plan to undertake in college, such as FSAE and renewable energy related ventures.
Starting today, I have decided to post daily updates of the work I do at the service center. I do all my work under supervision of technicians and mechanics at the facility.
So here goes…
DAY 1
I started at 9.30 this morning with a simple fuel pump replacement on a 2009 Peugeot 206.
Second, we received a Peugeot 508 sedan with a litany of repairs to be performed. My assigned technician, Sixen, and I replaced the leaking water pump and installed a new fuse box as the previous one was smoked.
At a few minutes to 12.00 noon, I went over to another part of the workshop and observed a mechanic perform a rather tedious clutch repair on a bulletproof Peugeot Boxcar. It was fascinating to lift the car and get under the engine. Of course, I wasn’t allowed to physically take part in such a complex operation.
After lunch, I began some real work. Sixen and I opened up the dashboard of a 2008 Peugeot 206 to fish for a parking card lost by the owner inside the dash. It was fascinating to actually put myself to work on such a project and I learnt a lot by way of practice. Sixen made me do most of the work and explained the use of each tool while I did so. After taking out the card, I put the dash back on and left soon after, around 3.30 pm. I took some pictures during the work, and have posted them below.
Hope you enjoyed this first post and stay tuned for daily updates through April and May.
The bare front of the car without the dashboard.
The detached dashboard.
The detached steering wheel.
Monthly Featured Post – Hofburg Palace, Vienna – A Glorious Monument to Royal Opulence
This photograph depicts the glorious Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria, once home to the mighty Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary. It currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. Its exterior as well as its interiors are great reminders of the opulence of the European royals in the Age of Empires.
For more of my photography, visit my Instagram: himanshusahay
Simplicity
Here’s a simple yet elegant picture clicked on the grounds of the Linderhof Castle in Southern Germany, last year.
I really like the graceful stance of the swan in water, and how the other swan cranes it’s neck to admire the former.
For more of my photography, visit my Instagram @himanshusahay .
To buy prints of my photographs, visit http://instacanv.as/himanshusahay .
Trailblazers
Milestones set in stone.
They say, go down this way or perish alone,
Without this path, you’ll stay frail.
Forget they do, that grassy trail,
That had seen its last traveller in brocades
And will see it’s next one in shades.
This isn’t the road not taken,
‘Tis the trailblazer’s haven.
This photograph was taken at the Dachau concentration camp, Germany in May 2012.
For more of my photography, visit my Instagram profile @himanshusahay.
To buy prints of my photographs, visit http://instacanv.as/himanshusahay.
I Want To Make Something!
I want to make something. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as I make it. I think I have a penchant for making websites, or that’s what my friend said. Rest assured, I haven’t invested a dollar in any of them.
Yes, a few of them have been successful, one even has 9000 hits, but that’s about it. The rest have been glorious failures.
For the people out there looking to start something on their own, here are some pointers on how not to fail. I think they may be reliable since they come from one who has experienced these failures first hand. So here goes:
1) Whenever you start something new, your first attempt is never your most successful, unless of course, you’re Bill Gates.
➡ Personal experience: This blog trumped my first one by a mile. It took 2 months to gain the viewership that the first one garnered in a year. ( https://thecarmaniac.wordpress.com )
2) When you venture into a new field, always research it extensively before you start something of your own.
➡ Personal experience: This summer, during a series of long showers, I decided to open a math help website. Unfortunately, I only thought about it in the shower because when I did make the website and showed it to a friend, he made me aware of WolframAlpha. Turns out, Stephen Wolfram didn’t win the Turing Award for taking long showers! Still, if you do need math help, drop by my website, WolframAlpha can’t solve word problems you see. ( https://mathematicsgenie.webs.com )
3) Market your product like it’s the last thing you ever did.
➡ Personal experience: I learnt about Internet marketing from a year of futile efforts and constant head banging. Considering my hashtag on Instagram with about 50000 pictures tagged and the 9000 hits on this blogs, I may have finally struck some solid ground. How did I do it? Turns out, everybody loves some positive feedback, give them that, and they wag their tails around you like a pack of Dalmatians.
4) Be consistent in your output, unless you are content with your fifteen minutes of fame.
➡ Personal experience: Whenever I slacked off on any of my websites for a sustained period, I noticed that my viewership declined substantially and trust me, there is nothing more difficult than getting up from a slump, and I think this applies to every part of life. Always remember, you are not the only one with something to offer.
5) People will tell you that you are not good enough. Ignore every single one of them! You can only succeed if you are mentally prepared to succeed, and negative comments are like unwanted weeds that need to be uprooted.
➡ Personal experience: Most people at my school thought I was just a kid who studied too much. Nobody thought that people would like to visit my websites and read what I write. When my initial attempts at wooing page views didn’t work, I actually believed them for a bit, but then I realized how wrong they were, and proceeded to run my websites with full force. I guess my realization worked for the best.
6) Last but not the least, be patient. This is something that a lot of people ignore. One must understand that it takes time to reach out and showcase what you have to offer. Even Google takes a few weeks to list new websites on it search engine database.
➡ Personal experience: It took seven attempts over five months for my first publication in Wheels Magazine and the much needed Blackberry that I won for it. As for my blogs, I started my first blog site on March 18, 2011 and the second on January 6, 2012, but I only won my first award on May 2, 2012 , in the form of the Liebster Award for my second blog.
So these were my six tips to avoid failure. I’m afraid I can’t offer any tips for success, not yet at least. A man once said, “Success is of your own making and no one can help you with it.” Something tells me I’m that man.
Bullet in a Maelstrom 