Lets say, finally the odds catch up.... The first problem and a major one..
Sunday just so normal. Relaxed day, took the VTT out for getting the pollution check done as 6 months was over, it hasnt gone out of the garage for around 7-8 days. Just like any other day it started with one flick of the switch and I along with my ever-excited son go out with the VTT heading now to the pollution centre [he thinks another big journey is near and is full of energy], less than 1 km away from my house.
Just as we had neared the pollution centre, suddenly see the oil pressure icon glowing - this one -->>
Strict rule says dont drive at all and the VTT manual says - "Dont drive and safely pull to the side of the road and shut off the engine as soon as possible."
Being an absolute follower of the manual, immediately find a place to park, almost opposite to the pollution centre.
Immediately call up the toll free no, and a lady picks up and I relay the message that a tow vehicle is needed for it to be towed to the SS. Well the lady says since this vehicle has crossed the primary warranty [Oct 2007 date] and now on extended warranty [EW], but then EW does not cover towing charges and ect., will have to pay. Well a clause is a clause, so okay, and soon, on Sunday afternoon, I guide the tow-jeep to the Safari VTT-TMT. The tow truck driver has brings another person who will do the steering, and I follow them on my Bullet to the SS [Just Services, Taratala], some 20-25 kms away.
Now thing was that I was making a draft letter to be mailed to Tata Motors, saying out that their big service station, KB Motors, Kolkata, had shown negligence in repair first time around, when I went up with a humming grinding noise issue and also to get the voluntary oil change.
I had this strange noise coming out from the front, and they called up saying it was done okay but I found it was not and problem remained and thus the VTT remained in the workshop and this time they diagnosed it as front wheel bearing. KB Motors said that there was no grease it and thus bearing damage and they assumed that it was not greased enough. I told them that this is the first time the front bearing is being opened up and if there was no grease or lack of lubrication, it was when it was assembled - they did not put in the correct amount of grease and thus this bearing damage approx Rs 1300 of parts and such is now on me. At 35k, the right front bearing was bust due to poor QC at TML factory - not enough grease in the bearing?
So, this was one point of the draft that I was writing, whether I am correct to assume that this bearing problem was due to their QC at TML or due to my way of driving and terrain it has seen till now. This was not like an accusing point but wanted a clarification.
Also was writing about why I was charged labour on the spindle adjustment of the wiper jet, though this last service was within the primary warranty. Again a clarification.
I change the oil [Castrol GTX] twice or even thrice [in case of back-to-back rough journeys] voluntarily within the 15k manual book interval. So decrease in engine oil should not much between the oil change intervals.
I had noticed, though a very vague feeling at the last service at KB Motors, to see if I am loosing engine oil a little fast. KB Motors said, since they have filled up the oil this time, not to top up in between anywhere, and only to bring to them so that they can see themselves whether any loss of oil is happening. From my side no oil marks on the garage ground. Again as I say this was hunch and not like a problem/issue point. Well I said to KB Motors[TASS] that Fair enough, no problem will do so. Last oil was filled up at a Patna TASS.
Plus I had a few points regarding about the competency of KB Motors regarding the bush changes of the rear wheel and whether they have checked out both the rear tyre bushes, which I had told them to do and they charged me labour for that.
Also another point I was writing like what happened to the ECU retrofits that his happening and almost all of the tbhpians VTT had, and when I would get a call, just a query again as the primary warranty has ended and still no retrofit call.
--------------------------
Well as I was slowly drafting this letter through the weekdays, this weekend this oil pressure light glow up, which to me looks like oil pressure pump failure. The oil is still golden in colour with the dipstick and enough of it is there. It has hardly gone around 40 km from the last KB Motors voluntary oil change visit.
Now do my hunch about oil level going down has any relation with this problem that I had today, this oil pressure signal glowing? Since I had raised the issue with them before the primary warranty expired, should not I get the full warranty benefits in this kind of situation - like they say
"this was covered while you were in primary warranty but not in extended warranty" But then the thing is that KB Motors TASS and me had a discussion about my hunch about the oil level and was not recorded in the job card.
Whatever, right now the vehicle has been towed to a TASS and is awaiting to be worked upon on Monday.
As said, with my very basic understanding, Oil pressure lamp signal seems to be oil pressure pump failure.
Saying for TML, one can even say these things can happen to any vehicle and services do vary from one service station to another.
And I say, Fine but how they go about this oil pressure scenario -- how much blame the try to put on me due to the oil pressure pump failure and whether they bill the pump failure on me and bill me for that - will be seen.
For me, this situation right now is test for TM Customer service.
Really hope Tata Motors customer service does look into these things plus on the outstanding service quality issue that I had with KB Motors Service Station.
So as of now still the tag VTT -TMT [The Magnificient Tourer] stands, and absolutely like it to remain like that and hopefully I am not forced to change the tag to VTT -TMTV [The Magnificient Towed Vehicle]!
Tow truck and the tow driver steering now - absolute instruction not to start the engine, so no power steering for him.
Please if someone can list the definite engine components that one should check and look into thoroughly when the oil pressure pump fails and the engine is starved of lubrication. Will be likewise keeping a check at the TASS.
All will be clear within the next couple of days, tomorrow I go to the SS to see whats the diagnosis like and what is covered in warranty and what is not. Also will be writing to TML Customer Service regarding this issue and the past service quality issues that I had with KB Motors [the draft that I was writing the past weekdays].
As said hopefully things get solved out good, else I do intend to follow with extreme vigour to get a redress as I deem fit from appropriate authorities,
if I have a case.