The Setting:
Traffic Signal (Junction of T-Dasarahalli & Tumkur Road) in Peenya.
TIME: 3-20 PM
The Problem:
Had stopped at the signal to cross the Tumkur Road towards Peenya 1st stage. Suddenly without any warning the engine dies!!! just like that.
Middle of the busy traffic junction, we were about to get a green signal.
I try to start the engine....it cranks but doesnt come into life.
The signal turns green, lot of honking from behind. I was in the middle of the two lane road, successfully blocking the road.
Another try at starting the car....hmmmm
once more - no luck!
tried few more times without any luck. At this time my only worry was to avoid beaten up by some angry motorheads.
I had 3 friends with me. I asked them to get down, control the trickling two wheeler traffic on the left side and push the car to the left side.
poor guys, with some difficulty managed to do that. So we ended up getting the car onto the Tumkur road and parked on the side of the road. (in front of the telephone exchange).
All along I was trying to start the car, but no luck.
VITAL STATS OF THE CAR:
Odo: 7963 (Finished second service 3 weeks back)
Fuel: 1/4 level
Temp: Normal (halfway between the Midway mark & the bottom)
Battery: Working in Good condition
At the time of this incident, I had 3 passengers with AC on.
Had stopped at the signal, Gear in nuetral and Hand brakes o
n.
AFTERMATH:
As we were heading for a meeting, scheduled at 3-30, I asked my friends to take a rickshaw and finish the meeting, while I was to figure out the problem & join them ASAP.
- Called my service adviser in Prerana. Guess what he was on leave!!!, so spoke to his stand-in. His initial tele-diagnosis was a air-lock in the fuel line. He asked me to wait for a few minutes & try starting. So I try after 10 mins.....no luck.
- I call him again. Saar open the fuel lid and shake the car for a while and try again. I did just that....nothing.
TIME: 4-15 PM
- Saar, please call the breakdown service guy on this number...., they will come and help you.
- I call the breakdown service guy. Saar I am in Whitefield, will take atleast 2 hrs to reach there. say by 6-30pm. What? but then I was the beggar at that point, so I cannot be a chooser. I said OK by me.
Shucks, I was to be in RT Nagar by 7-pm, where I was co-hosting a cocktail & dinner event. But my fate, I was stuck in the dusty peak hour traffic of Tumkur road all alone. I dint want to spoil my friends' Saturday evening, so I packed them off.
TIME: 6-45 PM
The service guys come in a tata-estate, did all the preliminary checking.
Saar, everything seems to be OK on the outset. what ever I am equipped to do here is working fine. Will have to tow the vehicle to our workshop for a thorough check up.
I asked him what might be the issue?
Saar, it could be fuel pump, but I doubt it because its a new car (7 months old), or some sensor could've stopped working. Will know only after we check the ECU at the workshop.
So I'll get my car back tomorrow?
No saar, Sunday holiday. Only on Monday your car will be attended to.
So there goes my Mysore trip on Monday!!!
TIME: 7-30 PM
Well at that point of time, there was nothing anyone can do, so I asked him to tow the vehicle to the workshop (OMR). he took out the towing rod & attached it to the front of my car & the back of the estate. One of the service guys took the steering of my car, while I took the passenger seat.
These guys were
pros in towing in that wild traffic.
I got down at the Hebbal flyover, so that I can take my
(smelly-dusty)self to my own party, two hours late.
CHILLY POWDER ON THE WOUND
A few of my friends who had envied my red hot hatch all these days, had a sly smile on their faces. Their expressions said it all.....
why fiat? told you so...was never a reliable car etc. But the same guys know how I feel about my car, so no one dared to say anything.
Monday afternoon I am to contact the A_S_S for the details.
Will keep you updated.