Revolutionary Information

Updated September 2026: in 2022 my Ford EcoSport showed a sudden error on the infotainment screen, was towed to an authorised service centre, and after a delay the cause turned out to be a rat chewing a wire, fixed cheaply without replacing parts. I have rewritten it into advice on preventing and dealing with rodent damage to car wiring.

An error message appeared on the infotainment screen without warning. The authorised service centre arranged a tow, and because many cars were waiting for regular service, diagnosis took time. Eventually the technician found a wire bitten by a rodent. It needed only a small repair, with no expensive parts.

Why do rodents chew car wiring?

Engine bays are warm and sheltered, which attracts rats, especially in cars parked for long periods. Some wiring insulation also appears to attract chewing. The damage can cause warning lights, electrical faults or a car that will not start.

What are the signs of rodent damage?

• Sudden, unrelated warning messages or electrical faults.
• Droppings, nesting material or chewed insulation under the bonnet.
• A burning smell, or a car that will not start after being parked.

How can you prevent it?

• Drive the car regularly; cars parked for weeks are most at risk.
• Keep the parking area clean, with no food waste nearby.
• Close off the engine bay where possible, and check under the bonnet periodically.
• Ask the service centre about protection, such as protective tape or mesh for vulnerable wiring.

Does insurance cover rodent damage?

It depends on your policy. Some full-cover (own-damage) policies or add-ons cover it, while others exclude it. Check your policy wording before paying for a large repair, and photograph the damage.

What should you do if a warning appears while driving?

Pull over safely and note the message. If the car drives normally and the warning is not about brakes, steering or overheating, you can usually continue carefully to a workshop. If in doubt, call the manufacturer's roadside assistance, which is how I got my car towed without risking further damage.

Should you go to an authorised centre?

For electrical faults, often yes, as they have diagnostic tools for the model. In my case, a potentially worrying fault turned out to be a simple repair once properly diagnosed.

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Updated September 2026: in 2022, after more than ten years in IT and a few at an MNC, I listed what was bothering me: a manager without management skills who did not protect the team, and news of peers getting large packages by switching while my own growth stalled. I have rewritten it into a way to assess whether to stay or move.

The 2022 job market was loud with stories of people with less experience receiving large offers, and of counter-offers for those who resigned. Set against that, my own situation looked poor: a manager who complicated simple work with unnecessary tasks, did not handle busy periods or escalations, and did not protect his team. The comparison was affecting my peace of mind.

How reliable are stories of big switch packages?

Partly. 2021 and 2022 were an unusually hot market for IT hiring in India, and many people did get large increases by switching. Markets cool, though, and headline stories rarely mention the roles that paid less or the people who did not get offers. Use real offers and salary data, not social media, to judge your position.

How do you assess your current job honestly?

• Pay: compare with market ranges for your role, experience and city.
• Growth: are you learning skills the market values?
• Manager: is the problem likely to change, through a move or reorganisation?
• Stability and benefits: insurance, leave and security that a new job might not match.

Can you fix a bad manager without leaving?

Sometimes. An internal transfer to another team keeps your tenure and benefits while removing the main problem. Speak to HR or a trusted senior person about openings. If internal moves are blocked or slow, that becomes a reason to look outside.

Should you use an outside offer to negotiate?

Only if you would genuinely accept the offer. Counter-offers can work, but they can also mark you as a flight risk. If your main complaint is your manager, more money will not fix it.

How do you protect your wellbeing meanwhile?

Limit how much time you spend comparing yourself with others' posts, set boundaries on working hours, and talk to someone you trust. If stress is affecting your health, consider speaking to a doctor or counsellor.

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• Day 1 - No update: After accepting my AirPods Pro to validate whether the product is eligible for FREE replacement, I was notified that they would call me about the status of the repair and would be notified if the claim were rejected. Post this communication, I was little bit nervous and was anxiously waiting for the updates. However, there was no update from the service center and after follow-up call late in the evening, I was notified that the update would be communicated in the day.
• Day 2 & 3 – Product sent to Apple for Validation: Again, on the second day, there was no communication or update from the service center and I anxiously skipped the entire day hoping for a call from the service center. Post no update from the service center on the second day, I called up directly to service center to check on the update and was notified that the product has been sent to Apple technical center for validation and would take 5-6 days for acknowledgment.
• Day 5 – Status update in 2 days and Apple has registered shipment: I was anxiously waiting for past 5 days to get a status update for my AirPods Pro replacement and there was not a single communication from service center. I was not able to wait for another couple more days and I called up service center directly to check on the update. The response from service center was that Apple has made shipment regarding my service case and they would know only after it reaches the service center in next few days, and I would be notified about it at the earliest.
• Day 6 – Product replaced and can be collected: After knowing that there was a shipment from Apple, I was even more anxious to know more about the status of my service case and called up service center for the update. To my surprise I was notified that my both AirPods Pro headphones are replaced for FREE, and I can collect the product at my convenience.

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With the recent announcement of M2 MacBook Air and Pro models, Apple has also made a shocking revelation for users in India with drastic increase in prices for both the models. While most users may have felt that the price increase is due to the tax implications, then they are wrong about the predictions and there are several factors which Apple might have considered for this price change. Following is some of my predictions about why Apple might have increased their pricing for users in India

• Rising inflation and future tax rate hikes: Now that inflations are sky high in US and there are high fears of recessions returning to the market in short time, these fears have also forced FED to raise their interest rates and these in-turn might also force Indian counterparts to increase the interest rates. If the inflation and interest rates continue to haunt the market, there are high chances of increase in price for the components across the product lifecycle. So, it is always safe bet for Apple to increase their price now and have cushion in their maximum retail price while the actual product price increases.
• Prediction on Rupee performance against dollar: In recent years, there have been considerable traction in Rupees performance against the dollar and the experts are predicting that the rupee might fall further against dollar due to global economic conditions such as war, inflation, and recession fears. With such prediction of rupee’s fall against the dollar, it is always safe bet for Apple to increase their product prices and have safe bet on their margins and helps in increasing their profits.

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