Team-BHP - January 2007 Tata Safari 3.0 DiCOR EX 4x4 Running Report

Thanks, Country Road and all others for your compliments. That's 38000 km in just over 1.5 years (not 1.8 years).
It is all for pleasure and that pocket burning thing we irresponsbile folks call passion :D. I do a lot of touring and hate any other means of transport.

On a different note, I thought I drove a lot when I crossed 27000 km in the first year. My service advisor told me that was low for a typical Safari. Apparently, a majority of the Safaris run an average of 35000 - 40000 km in a year.

Hi ! can you shed light on your 4x4 usage over 38000kms ?
Average kms with 4x4 engaged, out of the 38000 covered ?
What was the 4x4 experience and performance like ?
Any tight spots you got stuck in or got out of ?
Any parts replaced under warranty during the period of ownership ?

Thanks.

HappyWheels, unscheduled visits to the TASC for 1. A/C condenser fan 2. Wiring harness (both mentioned in the first post)

jaysmokesleaves, no organized, planned "hard core" offroading yet. A lot of it is done when the opportunity presents itself - slush, muddy inclines, beach sand, sand humps, grassy hills etc. I have no figures to give you, sorry.

Have found the 4x4 performance good as far as I have pushed it. Not gotten stuck so far - but I am also cautious when going off-road. Waiting for the next organized OTR (close to where I am then) to see what this truck can really do.

Will check my service records for the complete list of parts replaced under warranty. IIRC, A/C condenser fan, wiring harness, one front fog lamp and the clutch assembly (because I complained it felt harder than usual).

39000 km done - RHS front fog lamp not working.
Another thing I noticed - on the RHS front tyre, the wear on the extreme outer and inner tread is more than that on the other 3 tyres. The tread, otherwise, is as good as new. Any guesses? Will post pictures later. Will anyway report this during the 40000 km service which is about a week away.

If the wear is exactly the same level in both the edges, then it probably indicates that it has been run in lower air pressure (this tyre could have a weak tube mouth, which is leaking air very gradually, so you might not have noticed the air loss). If the wear is uneven , then could indicate wheel alignment issues.

The wear is even on both edges. I check air every week without fail and none of the tyres has ever displayed anything more than 1 psi less than the mandated. Depending on the bunk, all the tyres show 32 / 35 or 31 / 34 when I drive in. I ask for the pressures to be set at 32 F / 35 R.

A picture (which I will take in bright light) will explain better.

40K service done yesterday. My only complaint was the unusual front RHS tyre wear combined with a pull to the right when the steering wheel is released on a straight road. The front RHS tyre wear is under observation - the good folks at the TASC checked everything - suspension, idler arm, all bearings.

Alignment was done first thing in the morning as the vehicle went in. After a test drive, the alignment was checked and found different. Everything was re-checked, adjusted and I have been advised to bring it back after 500 km for a check. They will "adjust the shims" at that point if the problem persists.

I don't fully understand the words within quotes and will read up on the same. I found SUV's post
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...tml#post125381

Quote:

The Safari does not have a Camber adjustment, Only Toe which can be adjusted.

The Camber can be adjusted by inserting Shim's between the Top Plate housing.
Might be the 255's have had some affect on the Camber as well.

From My Experience The Bridgestones dont perform on a Safari and tend to have these issues. I wonder why though ... could never figure out ... .i had them i my earlier Safari and did have them in the current one (Read New) as well ( now am running Yokohama Geolander AT+II :-) handles like a dream).

Blue_Thunder, will take a picture ASAP and post, sorry for the delay.

Hi dicorex4x4,

> This is how the front left tyre looks at 40,000 km

Wow! Your left tyre looks as if it is new. The Safari suspension has improved from the 1999 Safari days.

> compared to the front right tyre

Definitely something is the matter with the right side. Could be a bearing or even could be the tyre itself?

Thanks trrk, I am very strict about tyre pressure. I have this habit of walking around the vehicle looking at each tyre before getting in.

Will post pictures of the rear tyres as well - they look like the front left. The front right was the same until very recently - around the 39000 km mark. You can see that while the wear on the FRHS is more than the FLHS, the tread is still good except for the outer edges.

Will also post pictures from different angles, probably tomorrow.