[rkbharat]

Hi All,

Today my Indica completed 88000KM with all god grace.

I bought my Indica March 2002 from Him Motors, Preet Vihar, Delhi... and boy I still remember the excitment I had on that day.. At time, almost everybody was surprised by my decision of buying Tata Car, when most of them would have gone Santro, Zen, WagonR etc etc...

But when I first saw a brand new full body color Indica model, I just fell in love with it. I got all accessories from Him motors, except Sound System. And mind you no discount except on the loan amount from ICICI

Customer Service from Him Motors at the time was superb, after I was done with all the documentation and fitting, Manager came out and did the checkup himself for everything. Everybody gave me a very warm see off... what the feeling that was....

first 6 month of ownership was completely trouble free, no issue at all..... on seventh month I got problem in horns... and it was replaced in one complaint... After that no issue for next 2 years, in which covered around 32000 Km.

I remember the first major issue came at around 55K km when brakes got really ineffective... I visited Him Motor TASC 4 times for this problem and they could no solve the problem... Too frustrated I just left them after 3 yrs of service from them.... Finally I did some research and found that the brake booster was faulty. Got it replaced from outside....

At 65K Km another major was the replacement of Cluth Plate and Pressure Plate + change of gear road to remove the play.

Most of the time it has given me mileage of 17-18 Km/l with mix use of AC......

I have driven it all around North India, with some very minor problem at higher points.

at 88000KM today its still going good.... following are major spares replaced till date

1. Front Wheel Bearings (twice)
2. Rear wheel bearings (once)
3. front Brake Pads (once)
4. rear brake lining (once)
5. Brake Booster assembly (once)
6. Clutch Plate and Pressure Plate (Once)
7. Timing Belt (Once @ 55K KM)
8. Horn (twice, Now running on FIAMM)
9. 2 glow plug (out of 4) (once)
10. Tail Lamps (broken in an accident)
11. Recently replaced headlamps for 2250 Rs, both side

Besides these, there were timely replacements of regular wear and tear parts, like fan belt, belt bearing, headlamp bulbs, air filter, fuel filters.

went for engine flush at 70K, but was not happy as mechanic just kept the engine idle for five minute with flugh oil in engine oil, where as it should be done for 10 mins.

I have yet not gone for decarbonization, though heard alot about it.

Fuel Pump is still untouched, but at present it is asking some work on that. Mileage has dropped to 14Km/l. I am bit hesitant to go for any work on fuel Pump, as I am getting a very good pickup.

For initial two years, I used normal diesel from HP or IndianOil, then I started using HP Tubojet for souple of years, not very effective. now a days I am using Normal Diesel with System-D poured in at some frequency.

On the Insurance front, first two years was from Oriental Isurance, Then 3rd year from Bajaj and from last two years from Tata AIG. I simply ask the TASC I visit, on which company they prefer, so that they can handle claims and surveyor, without giving any pain to me. Luckily I have not calimed till date and I am runing on 50% NCB as of now.

Last premium was 3230 Rs after NCB and 5% discount for not moving to other company .

So, I guess that pretty much about my ownership till date.... a happy owner I am, must say...

Comments, critics and feedbacks are more than welcome.

[condor]

Rajiv, good to hear your experience with the Indica. We have had pretty much a similar experience with our 2000 Indica (pre-V2).

14kmpl is good. You could get the FIP serviced if required.

[Absar]

Nice review rkbharat! Nice ownership report of your Indica.. Great FE figures too! Now are you have the clear lens type of headlights?

Do post some pictures of your car too!

cya
A

[tsk1979]

88000kms and brake pads gone only once. Do you ever use the brakes at all!!
Anyways good to see that your indica's been trouble free.

Don't touch the fuel pump at all.
You are getting good pickup this means the problem lies elsewhere. Since 2002 is without ECU, tuning it is tougher than the newer ones.
So don't fix anything until broken.

Your clutch went sooner than normal, indica clutch plates normally last 90K
but your shock absorbers are still original ones?
If you ever want to change, look up my old thread. For 2400 you get all 4!

[rajneeesh]

Tsk1979,
You seem surprised at brake pads being replaced only once in 88K Km. In your opinion how much shouls they last? I have had mine replaced at 66K ( only the ones in front). Guess it is time when my car will start demanding more attention. Every thing original except for 2 glow plugs, front disk pads , front ball joints though the reason for my frquent visit to the service station is for getting the scratches and bumps attended to.

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

88000kms and brake pads gone only once. Do you ever use the brakes at all!!
Anyways good to see that your indica's been trouble free.

Don't touch the fuel pump at all.
You are getting good pickup this means the problem lies elsewhere. Since 2002 is without ECU, tuning it is tougher than the newer ones.
So don't fix anything until broken.

Your clutch went sooner than normal, indica clutch plates normally last 90K
but your shock absorbers are still original ones?
If you ever want to change, look up my old thread. For 2400 you get all 4!

V
TSK,
Actually you are right, I try to use the brakes the least, I use gears braking power and pre analysis to control the speed and anticipate the stop.

I am also not in favor of touching FIP at all. I know cases where FIP once touched never came back to its original form. I still have to get the fuel lines checked to any fault.

Front shockers were serviced once, from a road side expert . It does not need any work as of now. I did went through your thread about shock absorbers. very informative. guess I will get them replaced at around 95K.

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by Absar

Nice review rkbharat! Nice ownership report of your Indica.. Great FE figures too! Now are you have the clear lens type of headlights?

Do post some pictures of your car too!

cya
A

Thanks Absar.... Infact I was geting 18 in city which has reduced to 14-15 these days. Its not clear leanse type. I thought I will spend more money in my new car and just make my Indica running.

I will post the pics...

[rkbharat]

I managed to get the 95000Km sevice done on last friday,

Following are the work done.

Engine Flush with STP flush oil.
Engine oil change(total 6 ltrs(4+2 for flush))
All filters changed(Fuel Filter, oil filter, air filter).
Radiator cleaned(it was completely jammed), when we collected the
coolant in jar for back refill, I saw lots of dirt settled under.
All breaks cleaned.
All belts checked and tightened, timing belt is ok for another 15k km,
but I would to take a second opinion somewhere else.
Inlet Manifold cleaned.
Lots of wiring done for fog lamps were replaced by good quality wire.
Coolant topped up and asked them to give one extra bottle of coolant.
Break oil topped up.
Other mechanical checked, like ball joint, bearings etc, nothing replaced.
All bolts tightened.
FICD installed, FINALLY, cost of FICD Kit 779 Rs, Labor 150 Rs
Dry Cleaning of all interiors.
All electricals checked.

For soot removal, they told me its done by removing glow plugs and
giving 1-2 cranks. I could see very minor soot coming out.

As result of all these, Car is now very smooth. Pick with AC on is now
very good due to FICD. Pickup without AC also is very good.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BTW this was the list I prepared for this crucial service:
Oils & Fluids:
Engine Oil, replace
Break Oils, topup
Coolant Topup
Gear oil was replaced 2k KM so no need to replace
washer fluid level
Replace Power Steering Oil

Belts & Hoses:
Fan Belt, was changed, so only tension check is required
Timing Belt, Tension Check or replace., was replaced at 55K KM
AC Ducts
Alternator Belt Tension Check
Check/Adjust AC compressor belt tension

Electricals:
Check Glow Plugs
Battery condition(its just 2 month old), Check battery charging with multimeter.
Cleaned & tighten Battery terminals
Check all lights & indicators

Mechanicals:
Check Engine Mounting & bolts
Check and tighten engine bolts(Cylinder head covers, oil sumps, Starter Motor, Alternator, Fuel Filter).
Suspension & steering bolts
Check all Wheel Bearings.
Check ball joints for play
Clean Disc pads front(screeching brakes)
Clean Brake shoes rear
Alternator pulley & bearing.
Steering Vibration at idle on incline or on turn
Check Tie rod

Misc.
Clean Cat converter
Check Idling rpm and Adjust
Check Wiper blades.
Check all locks, Bonnet, Hatch, Fuel Flaps, Doors.
Grease all door joints.
Engine Flush with STP or Bhardal oil
carry out the 'soot removal' procedure"(remove the injectors & then crank the engine to blow out the soot)
Clean Inlet Manifold & EGR valve
Adjust valve tappets (Remove cylinder head cover)
Gear lever vibration at low gear and high speed, high RPM.
AC Stops cooling at high speed or after some drive.

[snaronikar]

Indica with 66500 kms on odo. Great going man. Howz ur driving style? Have to learn from you few things though. :-)

[rkbharat]

Hi snaronikar, its 96500KM, Though I do go for some spirited driving, but there nothing much you can push on Indica. Overall I am do a mix of quite driving(55-65 Km/Hr) to some Spirited driving (90-120) on Highways.

Will be very happy to help you learn

Originally Posted by snaronikar

Indica with 66500 kms on odo. Great going man. Howz ur driving style? Have to learn from you few things though. :-)

[Eddy]

How much did all of this cost ?

[suman]

Great going Rajiv, where did you get her serviced?

[snaronikar]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

Hi snaronikar, its 96500KM

OT: Sorry, Bharat.
Ah again a typo...When do I learn. This is the second time today. Think too much of work is taking its toll.

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by Eddy

How much did all of this cost ?

All this costed me 4600 Rs, for Oils, Filters, Labor and FICD, Radiator clean and others.

Originally Posted by suman

Great going Rajiv, where did you get her serviced?

Thanks Suman, I am getting her serviced at TASC, Gurgaon Car Scanner, Gurgaon for last 3 years. Before that, servicing was done at Him Motors, Patparganj, Delhi.

Some minor jobs are done by a local mechanic in Gugaon