MyTVS came up with a Rs. 200 voucher for a 26-point checkup of the car + waterwash on SnapDeal. It was advertised as a mini-service cum check up. My car is an Indigo XL (Feb 2005). I thought that it is a good chance to even try myTVS. They sent a driver to pick my car from my house. Later the same day I received a call that the car has reached their garage in an extremely overheated condition, and the engine seems to have seized and they quoted a figure of Rs. 58, 000 for repairs.
The next day, I tried to find out over the phone what exactly went wrong after speaking with some known mechanic over the issue. They told me that the head gasket has failed inside the engine head and the engine oil seems to have mixed with the coolant thereby seizing the pistons, valves, bearings etc. - In a nutshell, they were going to change everything in my engine.
However, my mechanic had informed me, that the oil in the gauge becomes milky when the coolant and engine oil mix. Moreover, in most of such cases, its only the engine head that needs to be opened and the head gasket, coolant and engine oil need to be replaced and that process just costs around Rs. 7-12k depending on the damage.
I had not yet seen the car for myself as yet. I tried to reason out the same with the myTVS fellows. After this conversation, their rates suddenly dropped from Rs. 58, 000 to Rs. 15k - Rs. 20k, but only if the pistons were not damaged at all. That they would get to know, only if they dismantle the engine which shall cost another Rs. 5K. After completely losing it, my argument was "the car was taken in a completely good running condition from my place, and if the engine did get heated up, why wasn’t the car stopped on the way. Even an amateur driver would get to know if the car were to heat up so much and malfunction’. However, they always had their excuses.
So, I finally requested them to deliver my car back to my place so that I could get it repaired elsewhere. They suggested that the engine shouldn’t be started at all and that it can only be towed. I finally agreed on paying half the towing expenses. For four consecutive days I was told after every two hours, that my car has left their facility and shall reach my residence in another 3 hours.
After further frustration, and contacting all higher authorities possible, I went down to take a look at my car and tow it back myself. I first checked the engine oil gauge. The oil was completely black. There seemed to have been no mixing of the oil with the coolant. I asked the person in-charge to wash the car before I took it out, and guess what, he put the key in ignition was about to start the car, when I stopped him as he had only told me that it is too dangerous for the engine if the car were to be started. He remarked with a smirk, "That is only if you drive a long distance of about 50Kms or so". I still refused.
Then, arrived my tow truck and my mechanic. My mechanic with a look of the car told me that there was nothing majorly wrong with the car and that I can start it. I tried to start it, but this time, as it turned out, my battery that has never drained out in the past two years suddenly was dead. So dead that even the lights inside my car were not starting. So, towing without the indicator lights was a mess on the roads.
Finally, I gave it a garage nearby and the problem turned out that the coolant hose that supplies coolant to the engine was leaking. Thus, I had run out of coolant and thus the car had heated up. Also, my engine fan was not working on its top speed. The whole repair work cost Rs. 3, 500. My car is running as good as it was before.
On reporting this on their feedback on their website, to their higher up officials was as useless as the job they do on the cars. Rather, it is a brilliant technique of trapping people by blowing issues out of proportion and them quoting the maximum budget possible. They did surely scare the hell out of me when I spoke with them for the first time.
Another friend of mine who tried to use the SnapDeal voucher, was told that the chassis of his car was completely rusted, and needs to be changed and shall cost Rs. 20k. The gearbox was not smooth and should be changed and that it would cost another Rs. 8k.
It is just a car wash + health checkup. Not a money looting business. Just as a friendly advice, I would never recommend anyone to try their service. It’s as pathetic as it could get.