[ike]

The latest stats from the monthly Thrissur - Chennai run

Onward stats. This was an early morning start and was comfortable till Tindivanam after which there was some traffic.



Return stats, travelled on 30/4/24. This was an afternoon start from Chennai and the initial hundred KMs had very bad traffic despite it being a working day. Initial Google maps ETA was 00.30 Hrs but thankfully I was in Thrissur by 2300 Hrs. This was a 1300Hrs start from Chennai.




The car is nearing 22,500 KMS and I have the paid service scheduled for Saturday. I have been noticing a faint grinding noise when I turn the steering to the left, kind of like something rubbing against metal somewhere. There is some rattle from the dashboard/Infotainment area. Hopefully they look into the problems and they get sorted quickly.

[ike]

I complete one year of ownership today. It's been a good one year and 22000 KMS with the car. I had the the scheduled 22500 service carried out yesterday.

The service involved DEF filling, greasing the sunroof rails and a change of the front brake pads. The service was carried out at Hyson motors in Thrissur and they did a good job with it. Was at the service center around 1030 hrs and was out by 1430.

I'm a little disappointed with my brake pads' life, in my earlier cars they usually lasted about 50k KMS(all were manual though, this is my first AT). Maybe 23000KMS is par for a heavy AT car with auto hold, not sure.

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by ike

The service folks did see it but I'm fairly confident if at all they acknowledge the issue the solution would be a repaint. I was thinking that I can done outside at better rates for comparable quality(?). I do agree that it looks hideous.

Do the alloys have the original shiny finish under the paint? If so, you could probably just compound/polish the paint right off and drive around on the original metal colour wheels

I heard there is someone in Thrissur with the necessary equipment to refurb diamond cut alloys but I haven't found them so far.

[ike]

No news is good news. I have hit 29k KMS and had the 30k KMS routine service done yesterday. Due to a monsoon campaign run by Tata, the service center was open on Sunday. I made an appointment for Saturday initially but changed to Sunday when I learnt that there would be much fewer cars on Sunday. The SC was operating with the minimum staff and things were a little slow, as one would expect on a holiday.

I had no complaints as such, the car was taken in around 0945 and the work was completed by 1415. One of my alloys has a hub cap missing, however this was not available since the accessories department was closed. I opted out of wheel alignment and balancing since I had got the same done about 2k KMS back. The consumables were the engine oil, brake fluid for brake bleed, greasing the sunroof rails and finally half a tank of DEF. The final bill was 17,450INR. So far, my service experience has been good at Hyson Thrissur.

The alloy that already looks ugly due to the paint peel now looks even more so with the missing emblem.

[gauravdgr8]

Originally Posted by ike

No news is good news.
Attachment 2652320

Isn't 17k on a higher side. Were there any additions apart from service.

[ike]

Originally Posted by gauravdgr8

Isn't 17k on a higher side. Were there any additions apart from service.

No, this is inline with the cost calculated by the TMSC app. I had heel alignment/balancing and a few other misc items like AC cleaning taken out of the job card before they started work.

[ashis89]

I guess the labour charges of 6k+ are a lot. And the rest is contributed by the fully synthetic oil

[ike]

I hit 30k KMS yesterday. The running has come down these days as I prefer taking the train for my monthly Chennai runs due to a bad lower back.

Originally Posted by ike

The alloy that already looks ugly due to the paint peel now looks even more so with the missing emblem.

Finally the dealership procured the center cap but it was priced 500 apiece Might as well get it on Boodmo at a fifth of the price.

[ike]

Ended the year with a drive to Rameswaram from Thrissur with a stop over in Madurai. Started from Thrissur to Madurai around half past five in the morning. Made good time till 50KM short of Madurai but was stuck in a massive traffic Jam due to the Marghazhi ashtami festival. Had a good darshan in the evening though.

Day 1, Thrissur - Madurai.

The stats




The second day was a longer day, did Madurai - Rameswaram - Madurai - Udumalepet - Pollachi - Thrissur. The drive to Rameswaram from Madurai was fast as we got underway by 6AM as planned. Rameswaram was crowded however the roads between Madurai - Pollachi really slowed us down due to some heavy traffic. Same with Pollachi - Alathur as well.





The Rameswaram TTDC hotel is a good property, conveniently located near the temple, ample parking space, hygienic food options. The downside is that there are lots of birds that live on the trees in the property and don't care about doing their business on the vehicles parked underneath. An already dirty car got very filthy as a result. Had to wash it the very next day.

[ike]

I have checked with the SAs before if they can check what is the % of soot accumulation in the DPF currently. On the first occasion the guy wasn't sure and said he would get back to me and then nothing happened. The second time I asked for it during my third service the SA(a different one) very confidently told me there is no way to see the DPF soot levels.

I was exploring the TMSC app today to book the mandatory service that is due this month. The screenshot below is from the TMSC app and lists their PDI procedures probably for new cars before delivery. "Check the DPF soot levels with a diagnostic tool on all diesel vehicles" is a published PDI step. I will ask for this again during upcoming service and report back with their response.

I was sure that DPF can be checked for accumulation levels, just did not have any evidence to prove it. Afterall the car has to trigger a forced regeneration if the value exceeds a preset threshold and this data will surely be required for it to work efficiently. Whether it is lack of awareness or lack of inclination at TASS, again I have no evidence to judge.

[ike]

Originally Posted by ike

The alloy that already looks ugly due to the paint peel now looks even more so

For the paint that has been peeling off from the alloys, the dealership has agreed to paint the alloys free of cost, but I need to leave the car at their body shop for at least 4 days before the main warranty expires in April.

I got my 37,500 service done today. There was a humming sound from the engine upon acceleration that I first noticed 3 weeks/1000KMs back. This was diagnosed as a faulty alternator pulley. This along with A/C idler pulley was replaced under warranty.

The other issue was a tailgate that was sometimes not closing properly. The lockset was replaced under warranty for this. Yet another problem were sticky beadings on the doors, they have applied some gel currently but I think this will need occasional application of silicon spray from my end to keep them rejuvenated. Any suggestions are welcome.

Overall still happy with the service provided. Today being Saturday it was crowded. I had expected to be out well before lunch however given that the timing belt & alternator had to be removed to replace the pulleys, I could get out only by afternoon.