[jkdas]

Got my Safari services at Concorde Cochin. This was the costliest service ever during the last 2 years of ownership. I had an idea about the cost ( 20plus) as I had to change the clutch.

The Safari was with a friend and while he was trying out donuts, the power steering pump went kaput. He was advised to get it repaired but he wanted to get me a new one! ( and hence the extra 13k bill , which was paid by him).

I have pix of some parts that were changed.I will post it soon coz I dont know what the part is!

The Safari is almost new at 60k! silent and thanks to ECU remap sometime ago,its very smooth. Yet to check the FE after ECU remap.

A copy of the bill for now ( total cost was almost 35k )

[tsk1979]

35000rs! I am glad I took extended warranty. Without warranty, the safari is indeed a very expensive vehicle to maintain!

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

35000rs! I am glad I took extended warranty. Without warranty, the safari is indeed a very expensive vehicle to maintain!

Tsk; You have to pay for clutch and other parts. Suspension work is costly too. It was 35k coz of the power steering issue. I also want to know why this wasnt changed under warranty and anyway it is not supposed to go bust right?

[greenhorn]

Only if you can prove that its not due to wear and tear/damage!
Like JK said, clutch etc is not covered. Mine failed at 30k, and had to pay. They said outright that it would not be covered ( Ext Warranty coverage at my TASC is a long story)

@ JK, Didnt you ask them above getting this changed under ext warranty, and what excuse did they give you?

[tsk1979]

Clutch and drivetrain is under warranty, unless the clutch plates are shot.
As for the power steering, its covered under extended warranty. I see a big 13K figure related to power steering.
Did you not ask them why is it not covered under extended warranty?

I had a bad experience with Concorde bangalore where they charged me for glow plugs, and a thermostat inspite of me having extended warranty. They said its not covered.
Only later when I was going through the booklet, I realized I had been cheated.
Maybe Concorde motors is the same everywhere in their customer conning strategies?

[greenhorn]

This seems to be the problem everywhere.
I was told by my TASC that they are reimbursed by the insurance agency which gives out the ext warranty payment only after some sort of review. So they can't go on replacing parts left and right like they can when tata is footing the bill. So if they do something under extended warranty without sufficent justification/proof, the claim will not be paid out. And we all know how stingy insurance cos and get , and Insuring an indica for 2 years for 4k (or any tata product) is bound to be a lose-lose offer for the insurance co unless they refuse everything outright.

Some TASCs try to avoid this burden. Mine chose to pass it onto me instead. The dude at my TASC said that they were going to stop ext warranty claim repairs altogether. Eventually I was paid just around 80% of the claim amount, and that too after several months and calls to tata customer support.

[dadu]

Why did they charge you for 12 & 15 (Clutch & gear box removal). Clutch removal charges should cover that for both.

Nobody's sure in T.A.S.S on whats covered or not, unless he is very experienced with the insurance handling, so you need to read the booklet and go with a copy.

What did they cover under 14, charging around 500Rs.

[adc]

JK, was the suspension job necessary for that "metallic clang noise".

Was it really suspension problem, how did you feel it for yourself. It may not be a simple roller adjustment [the blue and black damper rollers at the rear and sides] which makes that clang noise while going over bumps, but still a suspension change for a usage like yours, only on metalled roads is surprising.

This because with clutch burned and suspension travel to the thud noise in each and every journey being a common feature, both still hold good for me. These service fellows are so behind me everytime to change clutch, but know for sure that other than a steep mountain trip from now on, it would hold good still.

Anyway there must be a reason for clutch and suspension change, but still surprised about how your usage could have brought about such a drastic big [clutch and suspension] change.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Maybe Concorde motors is the same everywhere in their customer conning strategies?

Other than that you have been hit by labour rates, left and right.

Originally Posted by dadu

Nobody's sure in T.A.S.S on whats covered or not, unless he is very experienced with the insurance handling, so you need to read the booklet and go with a copy.

In the extended warranty booklet every part is mentioned. For front brake problem, the calliper kit was not covered but brake callipers are, so since they specifically changed the kit, I did not get EW. But for the engine problem episode whatever was covered in EW, I got that. What was not was paid by me still.

EW is not like immediately covered by TM but through the insurance process and it takes some days [2-4 days] as the TM SS prepares a report and it is sent to the insurance company. But it is all black and white, if that particular thing mentioned in the EW booklet is changed, it will be covered. If you see anything amiss, hold them up.

So it is best for the customer to remain updated, to mug up or go back to the EW booklet and question any untoward or surprising bill.


Another thing, all these that they were doing, were not Concorde keeping you updated on what they are doing or an gradual estimate as the bill flared up or did you not also ask them in between. It cannot be like suddenly a big bill is given at the day you go for delivery and then and there only you make a note of what was done and why.


And I am still surprised, is how your usage could have made a suspension and clutch change necessary.

[jaysmokesleaves]

The TASS are a complete rip off when it comes to labour charges. If you dont have EW then God save you... or better still try and save yourself by finding a competent mechanic outside of the TASS to handle all non serious issues.

I feel that your clutch replacement was unwarranted. At 43k kms with lots of offroad my clutch still holds good. Like Adc said, that clutch may smell a little burnt but can still put in a lot more kms. For example, everytime i switch to 4L during an OTR, under extreme stress I do get that slight bit of burning smell which I have encountered from the time I purchased the Safari.

I also find it utterly surprising that with your onroad usage you've had to do a suspension job so early. That metal noise is most common whenever you hit extreme rough patches of road or during an OTR. It has not been a cause for concern at all.

One advice that I can give to all Safari owners reading this is that do not let the TASS perform any job in your vehicle without your knowledge and always ask for a suitable explaination for the same. Many times they will try to fix something that isnt broke and then foul something that isnt covered under warranty in the process and charge you for it.
If there is a weak link in TML, its their quality control followed by their TASS.

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

As for the power steering, its covered under extended warranty. I see a big 13K figure related to power steering.
Did you not ask them why is it not covered under extended warranty?

I had a bad experience with Concorde bangalore where they charged me for glow plugs, and a thermostat inspite of me having extended warranty. They said its not covered.
Only later when I was going through the booklet, I realized I had been cheated.
Maybe Concorde motors is the same everywhere in their customer conning strategies?

I am taking things up with Concorde. I didnt go to collect my Safari.

Originally Posted by greenhorn

@ JK, Didnt you ask them above getting this changed under ext warranty, and what excuse did they give you?

I dont have Extended Warranty. I should get the Gold Card soon ( was part of insurance offer) .

Originally Posted by dadu

Why did they charge you for 12 & 15 (Clutch & gear box removal). Clutch removal charges should cover that for both.

Nobody's sure in T.A.S.S on whats covered or not, unless he is very experienced with the insurance handling, so you need to read the booklet and go with a copy.

What did they cover under 14, charging around 500Rs.

dadu, they shouldnt charge me twice right (12,15) ?

My suspension was in a bad shape and the guys at TASS was fed up fixing torsion rod(?) every time I asked them to fix the sound. They also ( Kulathungal TASS) said my suspension has to be worked as its in a bad state ( this was contributed to my driving style; no stopping for potholes/humps or whatever comes by way, I leave tarred roads for faster routes when needed without even thinking for a sec; roads become too narrow sometimes )

Kulathungal had said it might cost me 20k for the suspension job ( estimated) but Concorde was helpful in fixing it without burning a hole in my pocket.

Originally Posted by adc

JK, was the suspension job necessary for that "metallic clang noise".

Anyway there must be a reason for clutch and suspension change, but still surprised about how your usage could have brought about such a drastic big [clutch and suspension] change.


EW is not like immediately covered by TM but through the insurance process and it takes some days [2-4 days] as the TM SS prepares a report and it is sent to the insurance company. But it is all black and white, if that particular thing mentioned in the EW booklet is changed, it will be covered. If you see anything amiss, hold them up.


And I am still surprised, is how your usage could have made a suspension and clutch change necessary.

adc, clutch was shot. I cross checked with many before getting it done and hence was prepared for its change.

I and my friend are taking this bill issue with Concorde.

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

The TASS are a complete rip off when it comes to labour charges. If you dont have EW then God save you... or better still try and save yourself by finding a competent mechanic outside of the TASS to handle all non serious issues.

One advice that I can give to all Safari owners reading this is that do not let the TASS perform any job in your vehicle without your knowledge and always ask for a suitable explaination for the same. Many times they will try to fix something that isnt broke and then foul something that isnt covered under warranty in the process and charge you for it.
If there is a weak link in TML, its their quality control followed by their TASS.

Hope the Gold Card helps in future and I have seen a few garage who works on Safari. Will take it to them for small issues (if any crops up).

In between, these are few things that were changes. Can you guys identify it as I want to make sure that they have indeed changed the steering things.

[dadu]

They shouldnt be charging you twice for same job.

A) PS Pump and Pressure plates
B) Slave Cylinder
C) Round thing - Clutch Release bearing back
D) Clutch release bearing front along with the Slave cylinder

[tsk1979]

Welcome to the world of Tata motors automated billing. This is one big scam.
Case in point.
Lets say you go in for a paid alternator regulator change.

You will pay for alternator cost and regulator cost, and labor amount for alternator change.
Now lets say you also change alternator belt.
Your cost will be
Regulator
Belt
Belt change labor(fitting and removing belt)
Alternator change labor

Seems fine, right? Well its not. If alternator is removed, belt is removed anyways. If they change the belt, all they are doing is that instead of putting same belt back, they are putting new belt back.
But the automated system will bill these 2 separately.
This is how it works.

Another funny thing.
I had my Front bearing changed under warranty.
Cost? = 900rs?
Why?
Because the bearing has a washer which costs 900rs, and thats rubber part. So when bearing is taken out, the rubber part invariably gets damaged(99% cases), so its replaced too, but this is not under warranty.
Tata CMS system needs an overhaul to be more customer friendly. Right now, there are cases when parts changed cost 500rs, and labor is 3000rs.

[trrk]

Hi,

Doesn't that clutch plate look like it has life left in it?

[4x4addict]

I second Jays suggestion. If you Safari is outside warranty, you need to find a good Tata mechanic for any jobs outside of jobs that require a computer to investigate the check engine light etc.

JKDas. I salute you bravery to own a Safari without warranty, but you do need to research and keep a good mechanic handy for general wear and tear jobs like suspension, clutch overall, belt changes etc. These are not rocket science jobs and any good Tata mechanic can do this given that the gearbox is shared with the Sumo.

Any third party warranty company that takes 6500K from Tata motors to cover a Safari for 4 years and 1.5 lakh kilometers is banking on the fact that many owners will not cover this mileage in 4 years. Secondly they will try hard to refuse claims giving all kinds of excuses otherwise it will be a money loosing business for any company...

I feel that owners should not accept the dealer story regarding warranty claims without putting up a good fight and getting the manufacturer involved. Dealers would obviously prefer to milk the consumer rather than go though the lengthy process of claming extended warranty.

[jkdas]

It's not that I didnt want to take the EW; I messed thanks to great a.s.s of Tata.

My Safari has been issue and trouble free till date and I hope it stays faithful or the years to come.

About the 60k work, think I was taken for a royal drive. I seriously doubt if they changed the clutch now.