[MT_Hyderabad]

Whom would you call when when your car breaks down? Assuming that you are on the outskirts of an unknown city and there was no accident.

1. Your car manufacturer's toll free helpline or road side assistance number.
2. Police (yes, it is not 911 here, but will you dial 100?).
3. Your insurance provider's free/paid RSA service.
4. The helpline number mentioned on some expressways.
5. Use Google to locate a nearby mechanic and ring him/her.
6. Call a family member to help with this task, as you are still dependent on the experts in the household.
7. I will not call anyone and wait for other vehicles to take their help.
8. I will fix the car myself, no matter what the issue is (I am the mechanic mentioned in option 5).
9. I will create a Teambhp post and wait.
10. Other (please specify in your post)

@mods, this post is inspired from an ordeal that a member had to go through recently and I was wondering why he tried just the option 1 listed above, when there are other options.
Please help in creating a poll.

[HillMan]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

Please help in creating a poll.

There should be poll option at the bottom of the post when you create new thread.

[MT_Hyderabad]

Originally Posted by HillMan

There should be poll option at the bottom of the post when you create new thread.
Attachment 2629455

Oh, missed that. Thanks.

I cannot edit the post now.

[Karthik1100]

It looks like fun intended thread
I am waiting for funny replies.
According to me, people have their priorities. They call as per the priority.

[WhiteSierra]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

Whom would you call when when your car breaks down? Assuming that you are on the outskirts of an unknown city and there was no accident.

8. I will fix the car myself, no matter what the issue is (I am the mechanic mentioned in option 5).

10. Other (please specify in your post)

Depends on what time of day it is as well as the location. If it is within the city and if it is in the morning or noon, I'd call a tow truck and tow it to my regular mechanic / FNG. If it is late in the evening or at night, I'd tow the car to my home so that my mechanic can come and take a look at it the next day.

If it is on highway and unknown place, I'd rely on RSA or any nearby garage.

Growing up with 90s TATA cars and having spent considerable time in garages getting my vehicles fixed, I know most of the common issues, so I carry basic tools & spare fluids in all my cars including the TOYOTAs we drive around these days, so it is easy to fix any small issues, unless there is any catastrophic failure like a blown engine or gearbox. Having owned Toyotas (2004 Qualis & 2008 Innova) for a considerable amount of time & driven close to 6.8 lakh kms in both the vehicles combined, we never encountered any breakdowns on highways so far:touchwood, except for a few punctures. We now have tyre 2 tyre inflators for each car along with puncture kits.

Long back in 90s, when I was a kid, we once had to tow our Tata Estate which was a lemon right from the date of purchase on a highway trip to Srisailam, it remained as a city car until we scrapped it. Our Sierras too never gave any issues except for a broken fan belt due to alternator bolt snapping off, which was immediately fixed by nearby mechanic.

[Biraj]

I think I checked most of the points in that list when I was stuck in Shimla few years ago.

Sharing the experience I had when the alternator of my Linea Tjet decided to act up near Shimla. The car never really broke down but I was not prepared to drive on with a failing alternator.

We had travelled just 3-4 KMs from the resort when I noticed the battery sign on the instrument cluster. A quick check online revealed that the issue was with the alternator. I drove till the HP petrol pump in Shimla and parked the car. Called a few mechanics mentioned in Google but all were closed due to it being a Sunday. A cab driver offered to help and checked the battery connections but couldn’t figure anything out. He called a mechanic he knew and that guy did some checks and confirmed that the alternator had gone kaput. I called BHPian Rishi to check the Delhi-BHPians' location. Everyone had left but BHPians Rishi (sinharishi), Sameer (sameerg001), and Rahul (sunejarahul) who had just started from Narkanda. They reached within 90 minutes and were our saviours for the day. I called my insurance provider (Tata-Aig) to arrange a flat-bed to Chandigarh. Delhi BHPians knew about my health and took care of identifying a hygienic place to wait, getting the car checked again, and helping move our luggage from our car to their cars. The flat-bed arrived at 4 pm and left for Chandigarh around 4.30 pm. We all had a late lunch and left in Rishi’s S-Cross. Another BHPian, Anupam Shukla, found out about our predicament and offered that we could leave the car at his friend’s place in Mohali. He told us that he will send his trusted mechanic to repair and bring the car back.

Meanwhile, I had already spoken to the head of the customer service at Fiat. He spoke to the regional manager and assured quick service at WSL Jeep/Fiat in Mohali. Thus, we didn't trouble Anupam and his friend. We reached WSL Jeep at 9 PM and handed over the car. We then found a hotel nearby and checked in.

So, the option one chooses really depends on the situation (where one is, with whom, which car, and the risk appetite). God forbid, if I face an issue while travelling in my Jimny, I would call Maruti RSA. In the Fiat, it would be some new combination of the steps above.

PS: for the ones interested, link (Road-trip: Ghaziabad to Mashobra) to the travelogue quoted above.

[Geo_Ipe]

Nice thread idea!! My choices would be:

If I'm at my hometown:
- Call one of my friends to come pick me up - the biggest advantage of being a part of the local car community!
- Call my trusted mechanic to come and pick up the car
- Tow it with a tow strap to my mechanic's place, with the help of a friend's car/jeep

If I'm in the middle of a road trip:
- Call the NHAI helpline
- Google the nearest mechanic and ask them to come for help

All of the above are things I have actually done, so it is not hypothetical.

[sameerpatel90]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

Whom would you call when when your car breaks down? Assuming that you are on the outskirts of an unknown city and there was no accident.

First and foremost, check on the surroundings of the location once, it feels right to get out of the car only then proceed to following checks.


1.) Did the car broke down after refuelling. If this is the case, I would contact the NHAI and register a complaint on the fuel station. As almost many gas stations have cameras it would be easier for verifying the visit details (Do not forget to always take a copy of fuel bill for reference).
2.) Did I observe any indications glowing prior to the break down! such as, engine malfunction, battery symbol, ac cut off and so on. These help in informing to both the RSA team and ASS as well.
3.) Checking on fuel supply at the fuel filter (for Di cars)/ supply lines (Petrol) while switching on the ignition. If the supply is not felt, in-tank pump has failed causing this issue.
4.) Examining the engine compartment for any odour that is unusual or leakages.
5.) Cranking the car can also be done to observe any abnormal noises (NOTE - Do not crank more than 10 -15 seconds).
6.) Checking for any troubles on mobility issues as well.
7.) Thereafter, I shall first contact my ASS (SA) and inform about my situation to them. As per the conversation, I would reach out to the nearest dealer and brief about the same (by doing this the workshop is prepared and made aware for receiving the car).
8.) Contact RSA (OEM support) as they cover longer distances in comparison to the insurance providers. Sharing the same to both the workshops and seeking assistance for securing the vehicle (by custodian) and taking support of Taxi either to continue the journey or reach the nearest town/city.
9.) Having completed the preliminary duties, either travelling alone or with family, secure all the valuables including vehicle documents and taking pictures of both the geo location and walk around of the car to avoid any mischievous/malicious activities.
10.) Informing near and dear about this incident and sharing locations for tracking to seek assistance at times situation go wrong.

NOTE: During all these times, one must avoid stress of any sorts, stay calm and relaxed.

[MT_Hyderabad]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

It looks like fun intended thread
I am waiting for funny replies.
According to me, people have their priorities. They call as per the priority.

Not at all, although some options were intentionally kept funny.

If my car breaks down in an area which may have a mechanic nearby, I will always use google to find one and get the car started. If I am unable to find a mechanic nearby, I will choose option 1.

Looking at the posts, now I am thinking that this thread could also help people share their experiences, which may help others in that difficult moment. It was not the initial intention though.

I always knew that the insurance company's free RSA is only used to bump up the premium, would be really surprised if anyone ever used it.

Also wanted to know if anyone took help from police, which is also a poorly used option in India.

Regarding expressways which have Emergency number flashing every now and then, I never cared to note any of them down. I use ORR in Hyderabad nearly daily, and I still don't know what is the helpline number, although it keeps flashing after every 10 kms or so. If I will need it, I will rather google it, hence I never stored it in my mobile.

[ex-innova-guy]

Would first call my SA.

A DTE error near my hometown caused the only time my Innova left me stranded. Was supposed to pick dad up in the next 10 minutes, so I first called him and told him that the car was losing power and eventually stopped. My cousin and dad arrived at the scene in a Brezza. Called the SA, and he suspected low/no fuel. He suggested inspecting the fuel filter; if it was hard, then the car has no fuel. Tried pumping the filter, and it was hard. Got a jerry can from a nearby shop and rushed to the fuel station to get diesel. Cut a plastic bottle to use as a funnel and poured the diesel into the tank. Tried cranking after a few pumps. No go! Again kept pumping, and voila, it cranked!

[HillMan]

Originally Posted by ex-innova-guy

Got a jerry can from a nearby shop and rushed to the fuel station to get diesel. Cut a plastic bottle to use as a funnel and poured the diesel into the tank.

Yeah we sometimes take unnecessary risk. I had a situation with the low fuel indicator on Duster. Still kept driving for 90kms before the engine started giving stall indications. Finally was lucky to ended up at the entrance of a fuel pump. The attender helped push the car to the pump

Ok back to the topic.
If I am around Bangalore, then my call will go to my trustee mechanic first.
Anyplace outside Bangalore, I'll find contact of nearest manufacturers ASC and call. Get the vehicle towed. Local mechanics shall not touch any engine trouble for me. Yes minor issues are ok to manage with local mechanic.

Typically I carry following tools for any emergencies:
1. Grandpitstop puncture repair kit
2. Tyre inflator
3. Jumper cable
4. Towing cable
5. Few spare fuse

I have been of help with jumper cables to others quite a few time.

[Vikash Kumawat]

I will write a post on Team-BHP and will wait, recently we saw a Nexon EV breakdown in J&k, and the owner of the Nexon wrote a post on the forum and some of our members reached out to him.
But how to write an Emergency Post on Team-BHP if I need help immediately, and its not sure if your post goes to the home page ? total confusion

[priyankarb]

If I were stuck in such a situation, my reaction would be in the following order:

1. Call my car manufacturer's toll-free helpline or roadside assistance number - Have tried this once and it helped.
2. My insurance provider's free/paid RSA service.
3. The helpline number mentioned on some expressways.

[VJ05]

My Bank provides me Free RSA service. I've called them twice in the breakdown situation.

[na_agrawal]

6 years back, I hate to admit that I have been a sufferer of this ordeal and had to endure my biggest of all nightmares.

We were involved in a car crash on Jaipur - Delhi road. If it remember correctly, it was right around the 90km mark from Jaipur, on a flyover, dead in the center, our taxi Etios rammed into a slow moving truck and what followed next has been forever etched into my brain wires.

I was unaffected physically, except some sprain on my neck and chest. Driver was also doing fine. (Both of us were belted).
But my friends who were in the back, were bleeding from their mouths and faces. The car was totaled and immovable. Truck fled the scene.

I tried to get help from -

- the first thing we did was place the red triangle about 50m from the car for the oncoming traffic to be alerted. Then I called the toyota helpline number atleast a dozen times. All of them fell on deaf ears.

- next, I tried to call 108 ambulance. Many calls were connected to different drivers nearby, but none of them picked up. No clue, how the system works for ambulances.

- then I tried to call police. It was always busy. I'm pretty sure they must have just hanged the landline phone.

- many passers by stopped and even started chit chatting to us about how bad the accident was. Surprisingly, they thought everyone must have died in it. The car was that badly mangled. When I told them, that I was in this car, they were surprised and eventually left seeing that we were ok. None of them offered even the littlest of help.

- I was a college kid back then. I wasn't aware of RSA.

- finally, I remembered that we had crossed a toll plaza some 15 minutes back. I googled that, and found a number. Called them up and they promptly sent a towing truck, ambulance and another etios taxi to Delhi. They all were extremely cooperative and nice guys.

So, I beleive, the emergency services on the toll plazas are good. And no, I don't want to find this out in 2024 or in future.

Full details - https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/road-...nt-deploy.html (Big accident in a Toyota Etios, but the airbags didn't deploy!)

~NA