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-   -   Soldier of Fortune: Wanderings with a Trusty Toyota Fortuner - 150,000 kms up! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-term-ownership-reviews/89533-soldier-fortune-wanderings-trusty-toyota-fortuner-150-000-kms-up-26.html)

Hi Nils,
Any further update on the starting/starter issue ?
Naturally ahm quite curious !

Service centre is saying that it was a starter 'plunger' issue, whatever that means. Apparently deposits were there, and they have overhauled/cleaned it. I had asked them to check battery, key and immobilizer as well. Apparently they are fine. Water was a bit down in the battery so they fixed that (aren't the batteries supposed to be zero maintenance nowadays?)

But, today morning before a test drive I came to know that the pressure had gone down from the problematic tyre - which they had supposedly repaired yesterday. Now, I was told yesterday that rotation was done. I checked and it was the same front left. So obviously rotation wasn't done. When I asked, they gave me some cock and bull story about how wear is uneven and putting rear tyre to front will make the vehicle wobble. Then when I blew my top they checked and admitted that rotation wasn't done and they had got the wrong info.

But they apparently did the alignment without rotation and balancing. I am insisting that they do the rotation and do the alignment again. I wonder whether they were planning to pass on the vehicle to me stating rotation was taken care of.

Goof ups like this make me lose confidence. Because if people say that something has been done and then I find out it hasn't been done, then I don't know what really has been done. Seems one needs to be there all the time to check what they are doing. Which is not always possible - and I don't even have adequate technical knowledge to pull them up at micro level goof-ups.

I have insisted that propeller shaft greasing is done thoroughly. The suspension noise is not coming during TD. I have been told that suspension and bushings etc. are fine - apparently they have checked. Let's see.

This is one of the problems with any A.S.S especially Maruti, they would say rotation alignment and there is not way to check that out unless you have some special marks on wheels like puncture or something else.

Have you tried alignment done outside? There is a tyre shop near Varthur (Very close to Forum Value Mall), i always get it done from him. Might as well try that.

Thanks Harry. I like just taking photos -self taught amateur.

Not tried outside for the Fortuner. Have tried for the sx4. I got the alignment checked second time. There was some toe deviation that got fixed.

Next time I will number the tyres with white paint lol.

Hi Nils,
- Wonder whether the fabled Toyota service is buckling under pressure of the various other newly released, popular models coming back for service.

- Wonder whether Toyota is also going the M&M way. A fantastic product (Scorpio) ruined by inept/incompetent/unscrupulous ASCs.

- Always better to stand on the shop floor or be nearby and see that things are done. I have no faith in any of our ASCs irrespective of which brand they represent. Bugatti ho ya Ducati !

- Would suggest get a way to check whether they have really greased the prop shafts. Very sceptical of that from the ASCs.

- For tyre rotation check - what I do, in advance, is to mark the inner portion of the tyres with yellow marker chalk and number the tyres I - IV. And ensure that the patter of 4 wheel rotation is followed. Don't rotate the stepney. This way I can be sure. And those ASC grease monkeys barely notice the markings in anycase.

- What I have started to do now (and recommend) is to get the rotation and alignment/balancing done outside after identifying a good tyrewallah who does 4X4s regularly. Moreover it is cheaper too - as the taxes and stuff on labour etc isn't added and it's done much faster too - right in front of your eyes.

Time someone from Toyota read the feedback about the ASCs and the organisation does something to prevent the ASCs' slide into chaos.
I think quite a few buyers of Toyota products take the decision based on the 'reputation' of the service quality !

Amazing photos from your trip Nilanjan. Especially the eagle one, I loved the way you cropped it.
I guess the elephants are getting a bit intimidated by your Bison lol:. So, they are keeping off it. Keep snapping and posting.

Cheers

Like I too have mentioned before, Toyota A$$ has lost some its sheen in the last few years. I too don't believe too much on what they say and 'insist' on being on the shop floor during the whole of the service period.

That's a small price to pay (in terms of your time), once a year, usually, to get things done to your satisfaction and err... standards.

Get well soon and keep us updated on whether the problem recurs.

Back from servicing. Cost 4.5K all inclusive. Will get to know in the next few days whether the problems are truly gone or not.

Had them lift the vehicle so that I could check whether they have done propeller shaft greasing. Seems they have done since I saw grease on all the nipples.

Also forced them do a second round of alignment after wheel rotation was done in front of me.

Tested it for some kms after coming back on bad roads and good. Everything seems alright for now. Let's see.

@Guderian and dkaile: I agree that Toyota's A.S.S. quality might be coming down after launching their high volume products. A quick glance at the appointment sheet showed that there were appx. 4 vehicle bookings per 30 minute slot. Say they work from 7 am to 6 pm, and take a 1 hour lunch break. That is 80 vehicles they have to service per day at Nandi. Maybe that is why tyre rotation etc. gets missed out (perhaps intentionally).

Anyway, I am getting this crazy urge to visit Kaladunghi in Kumaon for the last few weeks. Not sure whether that will happen in the near future, but am thinking about it quite a lot. Even started planning a cross country drive.

Darkness descends...animal roaming time.


Sunset through the bamboo trees


The grey jungle fowl. The North/Central Indian cousin is called the red jungle fowl.


Bulbuli


Nilgiris


Kinsman


Have picnicked here a couple of times.


Nilgiri sunset. I think that is an Imli tree in the background, not sure.

Wow snaps again !
You should try and get a shot of your Bison and the other Buffalo/Bison (horned) together. Now that would be a wonderful snap indeed.
Only matter of concern would be that the sex of your Bison (Female as declared by you) could provoke funny behaviours from the horned specimen.

Went for a drive. No problems noticed.

But the stupid A.S.S. folks had filled up wrong pressure on all the 4 tyres - 40 psi across everywhere. This is the second time this has happened.

And when I took delivery of Admiral in Feb this year and repeatedly checked with the sales guy about checking the air pressure - I was assured that it was set at 32 psi. A few days of real bumpy ride and I checked the tyre pressure with two of my tyre pressure guages and both read 48 psi in all the four tyres.
Were I to do a high speed highway run with those pressures I would certainly have had a tyre blow out - as the max pressure recommended is somewhere around 52 psi.
I think there is something clinically wrong with these ASC chaps all across !
I think in all ASCs tyre work is the lowest and perceived lowliest of the jobs on the shop floor. Hence the worst rated of the mechanics/grease monkeys are given the tasks of rotation/balancing alignment etc. They are treated as low life by the other mechanics and are the butt of all jokes ( as I have observed) resulting in low morale, guys wanting to get out of that section and go to 'serious' sections of the shop floor hence the work in that area is never carried out seriously or is never considered serious enough to warrant any attention from any quarter. No supervision, no nothing.

Only way out - get it done at a good place outside !

I have clocked 30K on my fortuner( a black one too!). Due for service and have booked the slot( a week's waiting time for a slot though). Luckily no niggles except for a horn that has become squeaky, but then better a squeaky horn than a squeaky suspension I would say. I deliberately didn't go in for the 25K service and have noticed no difference in the performance.
After your experience with the tyre rotation I guess I would need to spend the day in the workshop instead of at the office. There are two other (weaknesses?) I have noticed in my vehicle, the stock lights are not good on low beam and the stock wipers are not good in heavy rain( streaking across the windscreen. I park my vehicle under cover all the time so it couldn't be that the wipers need to be replaced, as the service advisor explained to me during the 20K service.
Nice snaps of Bokkapuram thereabouts. I stay in Bangalore as well and will try to touch base with you. Regards

@ alfred: The stock low beams are not as good as the high beams that are rather nice. Even with my 70% VLT sunfilm the high beams are adequate for night driving. I agree about the wipers. But then my vehicle spends its day under the sun, so issues with rubber are expected.

The suspension noise was not a serious one. It has reduced or gone away. Will know in a few days.

@ HG: the tyre guys were pretty young. I am planning to get the tyre inflator you have got. Will get in touch with the office (will search in your thread). Would you know if they ship to Bangalore?

The Bison seems to ready for another dash. Let's see if that happens.

How dd you manage to capture the fowl alone in color? That too it has multiple colors on it. I know how to capture just one color with rest in B&W.

If you get the tyre rotation done in a good after market shop, thats better in three ways.

1. Saves you time [time taken for the job] & head ache; though you have to find out another day to get this done.
2. Not much attention required as these guys will be specialists and know what they do.
3. Easier on the wallet.

And a religious tyre rotation every 5K kms can improve the tyre life by around 25-30% is what I am told.

Regarding the wipers, it\'s nice to change those once in a year!