I remember saying that there are very few good Tata workshops, only Not so good ones, bad ones and worse ones. Among the not so good ones, I used to rank Automobile sterling. But some recent experiences have proved otherwise. Last week was the proverbial straw which broke the camels back.
First of all I will list my pet peeves with these fellows, which were annoyances, and not really critical issues. In that workshop, your gearbox is hard, they will say "Get gearbox overhaul done".
Once I had a leaky O ring in the hand plunger leading to missing, they say "Fuel pump overhaul".
Annoying, but nothing serious, after yelling and cajoling ,they would do what you ask them to.
Last week one evening I started up the indica, switched on the AC, and the engine RPM dropped, as if the engine was being overloaded. That familar click was gone, i.e. the switch responsible for increasing engine rpm with AC on was kaput(FRCP I think, experts please correct me).
Apart from that the left side of the car went blind as far as parking lights were concerned. This included rear left parking light, front left parking light, and Numberplate left light(rear numberplate has 2 lights in indica).
The lights issue was not new. It had happened around 72000kms mark and I had asked them to fix it. Apparently they had gone in for a quick fix. The car was at 80,500kms now
So off I go the the service center with the complaints. The first check the car outside only, so that no job card is needed and they can send me off, without a "repeat complaint" put in the feedback form.
After 30 minutes the electrician cant fix it. All he knows is that the fuse is blowing, indicating some wiring short. I wonder why Tata has different fuses for left and right side parking lights??
So the job card is opened, and the AC problem is very very minor.
The wiring thing takes around 3 hours.
In the testing of the wiring they have blown all the parking bulbs, and tried various things to fix the issue. Total cost is 800rs, half of that for all the bulbs.
These bulbs were working fine earlier, and now they don't. Consumables I am told.
Labor charges for fixing a short is almost 400rs.
"Takes a lot of time sir, can be 1500rs sir".
So if they are so incompetent that they need half a day to find a short, I need to pay.
Anyways I write a stinker in the feedback form, telling the service adviser that
1. I am not happy with bill
2. I am not happy since this is a repeat complaint
So off I go, and the very next day a new problem comes. The indicators have stopped working. i.e. the front left indicator and the right rear indicator is not working.
Got a feedback call from Tata motors Pune, and from the workshop too, and I have screamed at them too.
Probably tomorrow I will go again, and see what excuses these jokers come up with, and what all they have damaged trying to fix a simple thing.
Meanwhile, I have decided, after this fiasco, I will try out Shah motors in Noida instead of going to these fellows. All they want is to make money.
