[Joe367]

If it was 3 or 4 years ago, I would've just immediately called the Roadside Assistance Number and asked for help. But over the years I've learnt to check and fix small issues by myself.

There was this one time our vehicle showed overheating warning when stuck in a traffic jam and the engine shut down. I immediately called RSA and wasted a lot of time over the call. After a while the warning disappeared and car started. I drove it to the service centre - it turned out to be just a loose coupler of the radiator fan (which they simply adjusted and said it was fixed). The second time it happened - I knew what the issue was and I was able to fix it without calling anyone.

Another instance is when there was a faulty fuel pump relay - which I was able to swap with the fog lamp relay and start the car (Thanks to a detailed explanation video I found in a YouTube channel named Quick Fix Pro)

So right now if my vehicle breaks down, first thing I would do is to check few basic things and try to fix it myself. Second will be to Google and find the nearest mechanic, third will be to call the RSA and request to pick up the vehicle. Saves time and money.

[PrasannaDhana]

Voted 2 options

1. Car manufacturer RSA

&

Other - Call Cars24 and dispose the car after repair, asap

I just can't tolerate a car that has left me stranded. Thankfully I have never had such experience in the last 25 years.

[Templeoflou]

In the year 2012 i left my job in Mumbai and drove all the way to Guwahati alone in humble Wagon-R CNG that helped me save a lot of money in the Mumbai commute. Somewhere near west Bengal, i wanted to relax my foot because of the continuous driving and so I stretched both my legs between the spaces of the Accelerator, Brake and Clutch. I kept my legs extended for a few seconds after which i got my right leg back to hit the accelerator while keeping the left leg as it is. When I retracted my left leg, it pushed against the clutch from the opposite side and in a jiffy the whole clutch went limp. Somehow i parked it on the side of the highway which was hell busy. It was getting dark and so i got a little heart attack.

* The first thing i did was to call the local mechanic who used to service my car in Mumbai. By gods grace, he was prompt to receive my call. He guided me to open the engine hood and start the car and asked me to pull something. I did as asked and it revved the car. So he asked me to get inside the car again and check if i could locate a loose wire that connects the clutch. Soon enough i found it and connected it to a hook behind the clutch. Next thing, i was on the road riding away with a very happy, light and a free mind. The whole ordeal lasted just for 20 mins or so. I profusely thanked him from my heart and soul for saving me that day.

*Last year when i had my car ac, leaking water inside the cabin in my scorpio-n, it took a hell lot of time for the concerned people to get connected so i called up another mechanic who services my car here. He was again prompt to answer my call and to allay my fears and asked me to continue my onward journey without any fear but to keep the ac off if possible or keep a tower underneath.

* All in All, my experience teaches me that a friendly local mechanics number should always be ready and to treat them well so that they pick up when you need them the most. *

Surprisingly that option isn't there in the options which ideally should be in number 1.

[MT_Hyderabad]

Originally Posted by Templeoflou

Surprisingly that option isn't there in the options which ideally should be in number 1.

I thought about it when I was drafting the survey, but opted against it as it will create confusion about known and unknown mechanics.

For example, this known mechanic could be from the SVC. When you call the official helpline, they may connect you to this mechanic anyways.

The expert in the household option could also include this mechanic, hence there also I did not include this specifically and restricted it to family members.

The main point is whether you will call an outside mechanic (apart from authorised mechanic via helpline) to get help or not. This nearby mechanic is assumed to be an expert in his art just like a known mechanic.

[Rajjaiswal92]

The most unlikely option for me is dial 100, if it is not an eminent threat of grave nature i will not call our cops, god knows in which state of consciousness they are in or what mood they are in, i have a friend who asked for their help when his car broke down on a highway more than help it turned out to be a nightmare with cops coming in drunk harassing him.

The most likely or the reasonable choices for me are as follows.
1 - Calling the manufacturer RSA if it is still covered and active.
2 - Calling my insurance provided RSA
3 - Looking for a local repair shop, this would have been the second choice but with the electronics in cars these days a road side mechanic won’t be of much help.

[Mystic]

I voted manufacturer toll free number. My experience with brand new Jimny is given below.I would advise a caution, think before you call 1 800 as below:

1. If you have an issue with your car in the city where your car is bought, call your dealer workshop manager directly. Don’t call 1800 number, as the nearest mobile vehicle belonging to other dealers would come and they will charge Rs 600 depending on the time of call. The charges are high in night.

2. In the case of my Jimny automatic, car didn’t start after 10 days of sitting idle in garage. I immediately called 1 800 number. A Maruti van from another dealer came to do jump start but before that the mechanic tried cranking it multiple times, then it started. He asked me to pay Rs 600. I called his manager and he waived the fees as an exception and advised me to call the dealer where one buys the vehicle in future so that there is no need to pay fees. Why the brand new vehicle didn’t start after 10 days of sitting idle is a topic for another thread:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...ue-nissan.html (Unique battery drain issue in Nissan)

3. If it is in high way, call 1 800 number and who ever is nearest would help you.

4. Once you call 1-800 of Maruti, be prepared to answer at least dozen phone calls even after the issue is resolved.

[bijims]

I would call my car manufacturer's toll-free helpline or roadside assistance number. Such a scenario has only happened to me once and the RSA came very quickly and fixed the issue. This was with Renault back in 2018

[Rajeevraj]

Would depend on the car, location and situation. My car broke down earlier this year in the middle of Bandipur-Mudumalai forest. Luckily it was almost close to the only proper settlement inside the forest which was a tourist area and had a forest/police outpost.

Calling anyone would have been futile here. First time in my life such a thing was happening, so I had no experience to fall back on.

• I approached the police outpost and explained the issue.
• The police folks connected to local jeep guys
• Jeep guy informed me the nearest garage 10km away outside the forest, recommended it and also took me in the jeep there.
• Connected with the local mechanic and he came back with me, helped tow the car outside the forest to the garage.

He could not fix the issue due to spare parts issue, but it was a valuable contact to make.

Recently almost in the same area, my car refused to start after a break. I called this person and also called the FNG Owner of the place in Bangalore where I service the car. He correctly said it maybe a loosened battery terminal which was true. Tightening it fixed the issue.

So in summary, for my car with no real manufacturer or RSA support, I would call the FNG folks first for pointers and then try to get a local mechanic for support. If it is a new car, I guess I would call Road Side Assistance after speaking to any contact from the service center.

If this happened to my close family circle, they generally call me

[Dry Ice]

Back when user manuals were a thing, it gave you contact details of all authorised service centres nicely sorted, by state. This was a great official source to find the nearest garage and give them a ring.

Not that I ever had to, but that’s what I would have done.

I also used to keep the latest toll receipt somewhere easily accessible if it had a local emergency number on the back.

——

On a lighter note, I was singing along reading the thread title.

If there's something weird
And it don't look good
Who you gonna call?
Ghos..

[Jeroen]

As we live in the Netherlands these days, things are somewhat different from India.

I voted other.

Obviously, all of our cars are kitted out with well stocked tool kits. And I always carry some spares in Alfa Spider and my Jeep. E.g. spare camshaft position sensor.

When I breakdown, I will always try and fix it myself. But sometimes it is just not practical or even possible.

All my car insurances have break down assistance included as standard. Some would just call the number provided on the insurance card and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

Jeroen