[Nikhilb2008]

Oh man !! That sucks !!I am just glad that you and your wife reached home safely.... It sure is scary being stuck in the middle of nowhere at night. And it is 100 times worse when you have a woman with you.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by simply_sunny001

but did you the try the 24 hr TATA helpline as Phamilyman also asked.

Can someone be kind to mention this helpline number please?

[GTO]

Hey Man, I am happy for you that it all worked out well. But you took a couple of bad calls. The most serious being towing by another private vehicle on a highway.

This is damn dangerous and something I wouldnt advise anyone to do.

[superavi]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is damn dangerous and something I wouldnt advise anyone to do.

I agree completely. Those idiots were speeding while towing you on a rope? The tow instrument has to be a solid bar so that braking happens properly.

I'm glad that you got through this unscathed.

Bad experience though.

Superavi

[dadu]

24 hour Toll-free No.: 1800-225552

They also have a pdf on their site with the service contacts, citywise.

Originally Posted by anonymous

Can someone be kind to mention this helpline number please?

[lohithrao]

Oppps thats the scariest things to happen. anyway good the you got out of the situation.

[Sush]

Hi Guys,

I have a question here. I have heard that a normal battery life is 2-5 to 3yrs. My car's battery is almost 3 yrs old now.
I am scared of the battery going dead unexpectedly and I might get stranded some where like tsk1979.
Is it adviceable to get it replaced now itself (because its 3yrs old) or can it be used for couple of more months?

[tsk1979]

Battery does not die suddenly. Even if your battery is dead but your alternator is fine, a diesel car will keep running. Infact with the new alternator the car keeps running with AC and headlights on even with battery disconnected.

[dkamath]

tsk1979, you've got me worried now :(
i went in for the "refreshingly new" look on our Indica (which is an early '01 model) which was about 3 years back, and in order to fit the new bumpers, both the clamps were sawed off. the new set of clamps are not available as spares. i better think of getting atleast the front clamp fabricated, soon.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by GTO

Hey Man, I am happy for you that it all worked out well. But you took a couple of bad calls. The most serious being towing by another private vehicle on a highway.

This is damn dangerous and something I wouldnt advise anyone to do.

Most taxis in this region sport black on white plates. This is esp true for rural areas. None of the professional towing services were willing to come even till Delhi border.
Many newfound breakdown services have Tata sumo's etc., with tow ropes, and not the bar which is desired.

Originally Posted by dkamath

tsk1979, you've got me worried now :(
i went in for the "refreshingly new" look on our Indica (which is an early '01 model) which was about 3 years back, and in order to fit the new bumpers, both the clamps were sawed off. the new set of clamps are not available as spares. i better think of getting atleast the front clamp fabricated, soon.

Dude get a front clamp. you tried to convert a 01 indica which is so failure prone to a new look one!
Your model is known for niggles esp the alternator, starter motor and power steering belt system(i.e the AC, brakes also).

[dkamath]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Dude get a front clamp. you tried to convert a 01 indica which is so failure prone to a new look one!
Your model is known for niggles esp the alternator, starter motor and power steering belt system(i.e the AC, brakes also).

Thanks. Sure will. I guess it wont give up on me so soon, since most of the parts you mentioned, have been either retrofitted/replaced but what bothers me most is the poor state of NH17, where it most frequently plies on.
the craters on the moon have been kind to us, but these near craters/blackholes have the ability to suck a small car inside, if left unattended for a few more months

sorry, for the slightly off-topic posting

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Stop at a garage at Panaji.

for a moment I thought you stopped in goa (panjim)

I know you love travel but this one

[nssrini]

Good to hear that you managed the situation. But still towing at high speed is very dangerous. I guess indica does not have EBD/ABS systems - which in fact render your brakes in-efficient - if there's no power...

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I had to sit on the brakes every time that guy tapped the brakes. It was very very tough. Luckily the brake shoes are new, so even without power, they slow down the car appreciably.

[Nitin]

Tanveer,I'm glad that you got help,better late than never.
After all the wondeful travelogues,this sure was scary!..
Hope alls well now.. Take care!

[khaadu75]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I had called up people in Ludhiana. If nothing had got arranged, my uncle would have come till the dhaba from Ludhiana in his safari and towed us to noida.

tsk , instead of doing that you could have called me ..... I would have fetched you and your car -- next time keep it in mind !!

But alls well that ends well .... though Im sure you must have had quite a few thoughts go through your mind at that point .

Cheers

PS -- as for breakdowns ... they can happen anytime -- new car or old car , it really doesn't matter !!