[vasoo]

My Santro is not starting since yesterday evening. I left its parking light on for the whole day and the battery is completely discharged. Tried pushing the car, but no way. Tried calling these funny people (Trident Hyundai helpline) for assistance, and till now nobody has turned up to help! I have made at least 15 calls to them till now and the guy who picks up the phone says none of his engineers are reachable! Amazing how these guys still call themselves as breakdown service!

At least in my case, the car is in my office. What if I were stranded in the road?

Are there any other reliable breakdown assistance centres in south Bangalore?

[CrackedHead]

You're better off calling the "Bat Mobile" - Exide/SF on road Service. Their number is 3271 1111. They are quite prompt and should be able to jump start your car.

And its a free service - see - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/access...d-service.html

[benbsb29]

@Vasoo : Why dont you try the Advaith Hyundai number? They're Hyundai dealers too, after all.

[tanwaramit]

I had once stuck on the road and called up Trident breakdown service, the guy came up in around 1.5 hrs as he was in some other part of the town, started the car and didnt charge me anything. But that was around 3.5 years earlier. Guess, too many cars, too much work, but then thats no reason to keep customer waiting.

[jango]

Vasoo you can call the Trident helpline on 9845022611. This number reaches the breakdown mechanic directly. A few week back i had a problem with my car these guys were real quick in responding back.

[ash_blore]

can't you get someone to push the car and start it? What happens when you push the car? I had the same problem with the accent a couple of times and a normal push started the car. Once it got stuck on the diary circle flyover. It was uphill and traffic had backed up. We had to clear the traffic behind and I had just one shot at getting the car started in reverse. Phew it started and I drove off with a smile.
The battery should get charged while the car runs. It quicker and will save you time and money.

[aka_iitd]

Yep it happened with my Santro. Few drivers pushed my car and it started. It happened at MG road. By the time I came till Forum it was dark so I need to switch on the headlight though I don't want to as I want the battery to get maximum charge.
When I reached Sarjapur road I need to stop car phew traffic police checking. But when I again tried it started. So in 16KM drive with headlights on for 5 to 6 KM my car battery was charged enough to start again. It is really fast

[Zinda]

Hi,
Starting this new thread to highlight the treatment given to a Ford Figo (TDCi, 2013, Zxi) owner by Ford 24x7 helpline and Elite Ford in particular.

My cousin, a Doctor by profession, was driving back home when he got a call on his mobile (Thippasandra Market Road, Near 80 feet road) at around 9:30 PM - as a responsible and matured citizen, he stopped the car, at roadside parking, switched off the Engine and answered the call. After a relatively longer call, when he tried to start the car, it just would not crank. His wife and 2 years old daughter was accompanying him then.
He called me up for help (I stay almost 15kms from the place where this happened), and after hearing that car is refusing to start but headlights are working, as are blower and music system - I suggested him to call Ford 24x7 or the Service Centre.

24x7 - The number mentioned in the documents were NOT EXISTING!

Elite Ford (where the car has always been serviced): A lady answered the phone and after listening to entire story, her blunt reply: "Sorry Sir, we cannot help you - today is sunday!"

Some other helpline number: Sir, the visit will charge Rs. 1500.00 and we can arrive only after 11:30 (it was almost 10 PM then) - are you okey with this? They did not bother to even listen to the issue.

A few passersby tried to help but could not diagnose the issue.
A gentleman suggested over phone(in his own words): "yaar wo dashboard ke left side me ek glovebox hota hai, usko poora bahar kheench le. Uske pichhe "ENGINE CUT KA SWITCH" hota hai. Wo verify kar le ek bar!!!

10:20 PM:
He again called me up and this time with a better approach, I asked him to calm down, and do a basic test:
Switch on the cabin light, try to crank the Engine, observe and tell me what happens.
Reply - Cabin lamp glows moderately, and goes almost dim when engine is cranked. There you go - battery down if not dead. A diesel unit needs longer and powerful self! And then he was able to recollect that he might have forgotten to switch off the headlights when he got the call.

10:35 PM:
Almost immediately I asked him not to contact anyone now on, and help is on the way! I collected my basic toolkit, a 50 AMP jump start wire set and a few Cloth Clips to hold the wires at battery terminal and proceeded to the venue in my Honda City VMT.

11:05 PM:
I arrived at the venue. Connected the wires and cranked the car - no drama. Revved the Ford moderately for a few minutes, drove for a km and it was cranking on its own.

11:30 PM:
We were at his home nearby celebrating the moment with Chai.

Now, neither I want to highlight any heroics of mine - that is the minimum expected from a petrolhead/BHPian!
The question is, why did not the folks at Ford try to at least look into this basic issue? What was stopping them to ask a few questions - Figo TDCi has a reliable engine,and usually it will not develop a serious fault on its own. Neither can we suspect adulterated fuel because this happened in the heart of city - they could simply have asked these questions and proceed with diagnosing the issue. What was stopping the Folks at Ford to apply a little common sense and try to help out someone who is stranded at 10 PM on a deserting road?
Most pathetic and scary part - if no help arrives at 10PM in the heart of city, how can we expect any help at midnight on highways? They why do they have 24x7 joke? I hope this is one off issue!


Comparison with other vendors:
1. One Sunday evening My Honda City got locked with keys inside accidentally in outskirts of Bangalore. I called the helpline and phone was answered almost immediately (Whitefield Honda). The gentleman listened to the issue with patience and told me to relax and find a safe place to sit and wait (I was with my wife and 3 years old daughter), and help will arrive in one hour, fixed visiting charges will be Rs. 750.00 fyi. Also he asked me can I break the rear quarter glass and unlock the car myself?
I was confident and did the same, unlocked the car. Got 2 followup calls too. I visited the service center next day - got the glass replaced for Rs. 280.00.

2. A friend's Santro broke down and help arrived within 2 hours.

3. A thread in Team-bhp: where a Honda City owner tanked up diesel by mistake and run the car for 40 kms before started to lose power. Thread http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...el-mix-up.htmlhttp://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...el-mix-up.html

This is sheer negligence and irresponsibility by Ford, and with this attitude beyond doubt they can only dream to revive their market position! Examples are there Ford - learn from Skoda/VW and few more!

I have a few photos clicked on mobile which I will attach in sometime. Also, the numbers can be revealed if needed. Thanks for reading.

Note from Support - Please go through rule # 11. Discussing alcohol is not allowed

[2000rpm]

I think the issue never got routed to the right person at Ford. The receptionist or tele-caller must have managed the query.

[Eddy]

Honestly, it was not as bad as the thread title made it sound. The receptionist was probably not equipped enough to handle such calls, and anyways it was after business hours on a Sunday.

I guess the helpline numbers changed sometime between 2013 and now.

Suggestion - Please ask your cousin to opt for a car helpline. I use crossroads and they come in handy in such situations.

[Zinda]

@Eddy - Thanks, surely I would suggest him to do so.

For the title - Agreed - probably the receptionist did her best to comfort the support crew.

[aravind.anand]

Quite frankly, the title is very misleading. I would actually be surprised that the service center had someone to attend calls at that time on a Sunday night

I have got cold shoulders from Maruti and Honda service centres too, but then I would never blame them, as both the occasions were at odd timings and at distant locations. But at a dealer level that is what they can do. Come on, we can't expect them to be ready to help us all the time right? Imagine if my manager expected that from me for office emergency issues

On a side note, I have a 24x7 roadside assistance from my insurance provider - but God knows how they would behave when called for help.

[coolboy007]

I think this has more to do with the specific dealership than Ford itself. I just used their RSA service last week for my Fiesta as the car got hit on the engine sump guard and it came off partially. I called their helpline by taking the number from Ford's website, the call was picked within 2 minutes, i explained the guy every thing.

Within 40 minutes, the RSA guy was at the office (which is difficult to find) and removed the sump guard since the front clips had broken and advised me to get it fixed from dealership. He kept the sump guard in the boot which i got fixed later. The experience was absolutely top notch and i also got a call later from Ford if the issue was fixed.

Not defending Ford India but if your friend was not able to dial the correct helpline number which he or you could have easily procured from google, it is the dealer to blame here as these receptionists do not have a clue about cars. If you could not even contact the Ford's RSA helpline, how can they be blamed for this fiasco? Even moderator Vid had a pleasant experience with the RSA when his Ecosport's battery conked off.

And i pray that Ford learns nothing from VW/Skoda, i own a VW as well and their after sales/road side assistance (tried once) is absolutely pathetic and disgusting.

[RaguHolla]

Originally Posted by Zinda

A few passersby tried to help but could not diagnose the issue.
A gentleman suggested over phone(in his own words): "yaar wo dashboard ke left side me ek glovebox hota hai, usko poora bahar kheench le. Uske pichhe "ENGINE CUT KA SWITCH" hota hai. Wo verify kar le ek bar!!!

Didn't understand the smiley, here!

Ford Fiesta (classic) Petrol has Fuel Cut off switch(in-case of accidents), I am not sure about diesel though. You need to open glove box, its near door frame, either in Yellow or White colour. You need to press it downward for reset.

One has to check it, if he hears no priming sound(from fuel pump). For this he should move his key from first position where only dashboard switches on but Engine is not cranked. You will have fuel cut-off coming on if you go over pothole in relatively higher speed. I had many times stuck like this many times (unknown potholes in our highways), and First time Ford helpline help me to go through this process.

If you are fine to pass-on , give Lathangi Fords helpline: 9845144066. They are always helpful. They always co-ordinate with other ford service center if your area is out of their purview.

[pratyush6]

You've called Elite Ford - what you should have asked them is their 24 hr helpline. I have done that previously and have always received help. I keep that number with me as well - all the time.
Any car can break down any time - this is where keeping a calm mind and common sense helps.
Honestly, I would have tried any local mechanic, if not, called the helpline, again if not available then, I would simply park my car and hail a cab and go home. Get the car fixed whenever I find a mechanic. This happened in the city, I wouldn't get too flustered with this.

Next time this happens, relax and call the right people !