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Trip Report - What a brilliant night. Since @Adel Muradov and @Michael sammy couldn't make it to the drive we were left with no newbies. This situation allowed me to go for 4 options: A) Continue the newbie route but at a faster pace. Change the route completely to head to the Iftar Bowl via a fast and challenging route. C) Head to Pink Rocks and make our way to Fossil Rock and Faya. D) Allow everybody on the trip to do short leads. Option D was selected by majority and we had 3 different drivers lead us with 3 different flavours and an ear to ear smile from all participants after the drive. First up was @Srikumar who really amazed me in the second lead as he managed to find some patches of virgin dunes in this area and made the ride amazingly smooth and pleasurable at a very nice pace. As neither @Srikumar felt like giving up the lead and we were enjoying it also, only the unfortunate incident with @Shamil could stop us in that moment. A check engine light appeared with no response from the accelerator. We stopped and tried a few home remedies before the car had power of its own and throttle was restored. The engine light was still on as we headed out to 2nd December Cafe. But @Gaurav bhai idea was spot on that with the car moving on its own power reset the battery and the check engine light should disappear. Just like magic, now you see it, with a quick battery removal and back again, now you don't. @Shamil was tempted to continue but with safety in mind and listening to the seniors he left with a big smile. Hope your ride is sorted @Shamil bhai. From here @Gaurav bhai wisked us to behind the Pink Rocks from where @Frederic picked up the pace. With me in second lead I was enjoying it thoroughly riding behind our 2nd Velociraptor in the club. He drove confidently at good pace with just a line to follow between the Pink Rocks and the Big Red. It seems he is born to lead with amazing resolve on his first lead. After about an hour of fun @Gaurav bhai decided to take the lead and wanted to take us over the highest and most challenging dunes in the area. At this point @Frederic took second lead and I fall back to sweep duties. The next hour was spent behind the most experienced hand in the club and carried its own fun. The radio blared to prepare for the last fast 10 minutes that would require us to be at our level best. But as it happens sometimes the last 10 or 30 minutes turn to a nightmarishly long affair. Soon we had a refusal and with some pushing of the vehicle the smell of the clutch burning was evident on either side of the dune. Quickly we all gathered and decided to give our vehicles and ourselves a well deserved break with some nice breakfast. Sandwiches, bread, chocolates, juices and tea was overflowing as we feasted. As soon as our minds were free and relaxed the idea of further deflation came into @Frederic mind which is always helpful. This time with @Gaurav bhai behind the wheel was able to take it out in 2 tries. He admitted that he got greedy on the first attempt which caused a bit of a fail, but second attempt was perfectly timed. This got us to the end of the drive, inflation of our tires and hitting the road again to spend the remaining weekend in the comfort of our homes with our families. Also a shout out to @shadow79 who has wholeheartedly joined every drive after the return of his Rav4 and always willing to help with any situation that raises its ugly head. Until next time I bid you all farewell.

I thoroughly enjoyed this drive and i am extremely thankful to the crew for giving me the opportunity to take the lead for a little while. As i was still using my GPS with a straight waypoint line "as the crow flies" towards the Big Red, @Gaurav had to give me extra some extra instructions as he had much more detailed routes stored in his MotionX, and has so much experience in this terrain in general. Thanks buddy !! The last 5-6 drives i've been recording the trips in both Gaia and MotionX and that will definitely help me in the future to have more recorded waypoints. The scariest part for me was not really the driving in lead, but because it became very windy, the shifting sand on top of the dune made it almost impossible to see what was on the other side when we were crossing or cutting the ridge. I'll also need to experiment a bit and try to point the offroad lights a bit more pointing upwards. As i was lacking a bit in sleep last couple of days, towards the end of the drive i became a bit more groggy and grumpy and probably that's why i started burning up my clutch. It's strange how sometimes very simple and clear things can become so foggy when you're tired. My apologies for that mishap. @Shamil you are a humble, gentle, and patient Offroader and i can imagine it felt a bit sour that you had to exit, but your positive attitude and accepting that it was better to exit shows what a great team player you are. Glad to see you got it sorted so soon @Srikumar boy did i enjoy that lead of yours, like i mentioned the pace and rhythm was like a John Coltrane record....Smooth... @shadow79 whenever you're around, adventures aren't far away. But i mean that in a very very good way. Keep up the fine work buddy ! @Rahimdad as always our brightest star in the deserts of Arabia..... That Karak Chai hits the right spot every time 😂

@Rahimdadbhai - thanks for the write up...i didnt feel like i missed much as i could just visualize the rest of the trip through the report . My car was fine that night as i was able to drive back home but 2 days later the check engine light did show up again after which, i took it to a garage and they realized the throttle body was a bit messy. They cleaned it up and now the car is back to working condition.

Oh really would love to join next time. Hope there will be upcoming drives on the weekend

AoQf2HQ.mp4

I will see you on the next one..

After many nice areas, its due time to visit Shuwaib. It's a very challenging area that has a great mix and twist of technical dunes of small, medium and large sizes. Everything in Shuwaib is gonna keep you awake and require your constant focus and instant reaction. The plan is to enter from Al-Shuwaib side and to exit from Iftar bowl after having a good fill at Super Bowl to Iftar Bowl stretch that offers most amazing tall but rolling dunes. When: 01 Aug 2019 Meeting time: 11:00 PM, the convoy will move at sharp 11:15 PM Where: ADNOC station on Dubai Hatta Road After Bidayer Shops GPS Coordinate: https://goo.gl/maps/XrPwrrig7zegPRDF6 Level: Strictly intermediate and above Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 10 inches of ground clearance. Please check your fluids levels and make sure you have the complete intermediate level off-road gear. Plan: Drive, train and enjoy till about 4:00 AM What to bring along: Snacks - whatever you like with little extra to share, water, liquids, smiles, stories. Approximate finish time: 5:00 AM Please RSVP on the below calendar:

Forced Ram Air Induction

This usually happens to my ass when I sit on the leather seats. Thank god they are a light beige and not black.

@Adel Muradov we have a drive every weekend, but to satisfy all level of drivers we alternate weeks to newbie and intermediate. This week is going to be intermediate which means you can join our newbie drive the week after.

When you grab the steering wheel during UAE summer. ftQEPPp.mp4

Bus tickets are the same.

It really depends on how you look at things. It may seem pricey but how long are you going to be stuck in traffic (time) + fuel + car maintenance.

I drive to work in flip flops every day, change to my work boots and change back into flip flops to drive home again. I like to drive barefoot sometimes too. Never had a problem. We have a Shelby Cobra at work that I can’t drive unless I’m barefoot, the pedals are too close and my feet are too big. I guess this is to try to control the retards who can’t drive properly no matter what they wear in their feet.

Caffeine is only effective for first few hours Having a buddy with you is more effective and is plus if he can drive too Power naps always ends up me twisted up feet on passenger seat waking up after 4 to 5 hours later...

Probably burned his clutch too

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/transport/dubai-sharjah-ferry-service-launched-ticket-timings-free-trip-details

Still i believe this is for the working class and it should be cheaper.

Long time no do. Great terrain. Count me in with full support.

I tried to improve my Pajero AC every summer however after I have changed too many parts in my Pajero AC I still have low cooling AC compares to my other cars however after trying a lot I managed to reach at least double the cooling I had here some important tips: 1- Check your AC gas level, it might be low or lacking. it's very common and very very important. 2- Change your AC fan, it might be working but not full performance/power. 3- Add an extra fan on the AC condenser (could be fixed along with the main AC fan or with a separate switch or directly connected to the power) recommended to be fixed along with the main AC fan. 4- OR add 2 extra fans one fan for the AC condenser and another fan for the transmission cooler (could be fixed with a separate switch or directly connected to the car power) recommended with separate switch. This is mainly good for the transmission cooling, especially while off-roading. However it also helpful for the AC cooling. 5- Disconnect/disable the heater from the car AC system. (it was done to my Pajero by Habtoor). I never used the heater in UAE you might disable it. 6- If you have a LWB you might switch on both AC front and Rear at the same time as they have 2 different evaporators and in the summer it helps a lot if you use them together. 7- Car tinting, if you don't have window tinting do not expect you AC to perform in the summer. Recommended if you use heat Insulation/reduction tinting. 8- Keep your car AC recirculation switch/button ON all the time or at least until you reach the required temperature. I usually keep it on all the time. 9- Keep your car in shaded/covered parking. ***Even if you have done all the above points and your AC gas is leaking or low you will not get any good results.*** Some people might consider the above point are obvious but believe me for some people they are not I thought to share my experience even if it might help one person that would be enough. **DISCLAIMER** I accept no liability for any harm or damage caused by anyone modifying their car. Always read the workshop manual for your car and consult a qualified mechanic before starting any work.

That sounds like the compressor might need to be checked/replaced. Or maybe that's just the maximum cool you can get on those things.

So this is basically a lease with an option to buy. They just put a different name.. 🤣 They will make a lot of money, they just want you to keep paying them that monthly payment and at the end if you did not exceed the mileage agreed you can exchange it for another car or buy the car. At the end they will get more money from you. Plus you must maintain it with them.

Hopefully this will alleviate some traffic 🤔

Barry your Gora Bhai clout is highly questionable ! lole

I feel new car is only for people who are not concerned about the resale value and take the full car amount as usable or disposable. Means buy new car and commit to use till its end of life 5-10-15 years. OR get ready to dispose (not SELL) at any stolen car price offered by used car dealers, resellers or auction sites. So if you are among those 28% people who prefer new car than 72% prefer used cars, go for it.

It all depends on how they actually predict market value after set number of years. It could be crap to promote their used car business like auto mall. OR It could be good to promote new car sales genuinely. Unless you have real numbers its difficult to comment any good or bad.

Sometimes the doors insulation becomes bad or leaks air which goes through the heater core as well will drop cooling while the AC is on so instead of opening up the havc box and sorting it out we too disabled many heaters as opening up dash vs looping off the heater there is a good cost difference so obviously you know what will be chosen customer...

No they're not, i guess it is happening in any car if you direct the AC grills toward the windows. @Frederic

As i mentioned this was done by habtoor however i did not ask for this as a service they have disabled the heater without asking me. I was told about it when i was reviewing what was done in the car. However the service advisor confirmed to me that is a common thing they do for Mitsubishi cars to improve the AC. I have not researched this nor thought about the idea behind i should have but when it comes to the habtoor service i kind of trust them more to do the right thing. If it was a regular car garage i wouldn't have mentioned it or most probably i would have requested them to return it back as it was. Somehow air conditioning got better in my car. I will do a deep research on this point, thanks for highlighting this point, this is why we are all here. To learn from each other experiences.

Disabling/bypassing the heater matrix is bad and any professional mechanic who recommends it should be stripped of his qualifications. The heater matrix is part of the cooling system and is required for proper operation as per manufacturer specifications. This is a fix done by lazy and incompetent mechanics who have no idea how to replace a heater matrix or think it’s a magic cure for engine overheating, which it isn’t If you can explain how disabling the heater matrix improves AC cooling then I am all ears although I bet you have never researched this and are going on the advice of someone else who has also not properly researched how automotive HVAC systems work.

Really , they are most comfortable for driving

Many of us think we can keep our minds alert, even when we're feeling the tug of sleepiness on our brain and bodies. But the truth is that sleep is a powerful biological drive—one that can overtake even the best driver. Rolling down the windows and turning up the radio volume—these tricks don't work. It's important to know what to look for and how to handle drowsiness to protect the safety of everyone on the road. It's not always easy to tell when you're too tired to drive. Here are some signs that it's time to pull over: Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes Trouble keeping your head up Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip Feeling restless and irritable Well before a person actually falls asleep while driving, lapses in attention and slowed reaction times make drowsy driving very dangerous. Driving is a complex activity that involves many small but important split decisions with every passing second. Even if you're awake, your brain is not functioning optimally to handle these decisions. Studies show that excessive sleepiness decreases our judgment and increases risk taking. The best way to make sure your mind and body are in optimal driving shape is to plan ahead and get 7-8 hours of sleep before your drive. Other methods include: The pre-drive nap: taking a short nap before a road trip can help make up for a short night's sleep. The mid-drive nap: if you find yourself drowsy while driving, pull over to take a short nap of 20 minutes. Make sure you are in a safe location and remember you'll be groggy for 15 minutes or so after waking up. The Buddy system: It's safest to drive with a partner on long trips. Pull over every two hours and switch drivers, while the other takes a nap if possible. Don't rush. Better to arrive at your destination safe than on time. Do not drink alcohol. Even very small amounts of alcohol will enhance drowsiness. Don't drive between midnight and 6 a.m. Because of your body's biological rhythm, this is a time when sleepiness is most intense. Drink caffeine: caffeine improves alertness, although be aware that the effects of caffeine will wear off after several hours.

i totally agree with @Barry now a days people use mobile while driving and when they steer out of their lane they have no clue

Hi @Gaurav i am very sorry for a short notice, something pop up suddenly, i will have to miss the ride this time. Hope very much i can join in nearest future. Sorry again

Install an extra cooling fan that might help to push more air .

Sleeping at the side of the road can be dangerous too. Another sleepy or stupid idiot driver can hit your car. Ive read so many stories about people here who stopped to pray on the hard shoulder and got killed by stupid drivers. The hard shoulder is a dangerous place to be. If someone hits you it’s not like 10 kph poke in stop start traffic. You’re going to get hit at 120 and get wiped out.

Central mounted tow hook is always better than tow hitch for recovery. Hitch are designed for constant load and not strong tugs, although hitch will work fine for soft or medium tugs. Recently friend of mine gave me a tug and and his hitch came off from the bolts, luckily his car was at an angle and I saw hitch flying 50 meters ahead of my car like a catapult. Maybe it was a bad installation of weak hitch but proper rated tow hook is always better. The best in class is the Pintle hook that comes standard in LC and Patrol.

I haven’t seen anyone post the real reason why having too much oil in the engine is bad. If the oil level is too high and the crankshaft touches the surface, it will create bubbles in the oil as it dips in and out. Think of it like whisking an egg white. It doesn’t take long to turn the egg white into a nice thick foamy meringue. Well the same thing will happen to the oil. It doesn’t take long for all the oil to turn to foam and fill the engine. The big problem here is that the oil pump is designed to pump liquid. It’s not designed to pump foam and bubbles so critical engine parts aren’t getting properly lubricated. The bearings, rings etc soon heat up and seize due to oil starvation. Having too much oil can cause same effect as if you ran the engine with no oil in it.

Thanks guys, I have done all two times and still in traffio it was loosing its chill. This workaround worked for me the best

That High tempo music part always works best. i always listen to EDM

I think I am one of the best qualified to answer this question as I have a big tendency to sleep while driving. This is what I do in the following order of preference: Nothing beats getting a power nap of 20 - 30 mins Talking on the phone is the next best thing Eating sunflower seeds as its an activity in addition to eating something Eating chips, chocolates, chewing gum have no effect to keep me awake

WOW, What a brilliant topic shared with well research facts and remedies. Here are my two cents from driving after every week night offroad drive. Off course nothing beats a power nap if you are super tired but these few little tricks help me every time. Spray water on your face. Keep Evian spray can or normal water spray gun for plants handy. Chewing gum, mint, candy or soda, just something sweet or sour to kick up. Eating nuts, crisp, chocolate to prevent yawning and sleep. Calling and speaking to someone on phone, of course on hand free mode. High tempo music (dance numbers) to keep your body esp head and neck moving.

Good topic and i think it covers most tips. In my former life being a DJ i was always on the road in the early morning hours. The first 20 minutes when i took off was ok, but then fatigue starts to kick in, especially in the winter when your car heater is on. I'd take the nearest available exit, and take a small 30min powernap, followed by a walk around the car and a coffee. That always did the trick. Be aware that after very long periods without sleep, you will enter a stage where you are suddenly not tired anymore, and feel perfectly fine to drive. But at one point you'll fall asleep without realizing in a split second. A friend of mine who was a sales guy and did very long drives once told me the story that his car went off the highway and he woke up with the car upside down on a piece of farmland next to the highway. Luckily he survived and just broke his arm, but he kept telling me NEVER felt it coming as he kept ignoring the earlier signs from the hours before and then entered the state of being awake and not tired at all. Same thing with RedBull and others.... it delays your fatigueness, but it will hit back eventually, and then it will hit you hard..