Earlier I had written about my experience with my WagonR, which I had been using now for three years.
Today I would like to write about my experience with my service dealer of Maruthi.
In December, I traveled almost 3500 Klms. On the High way, I hit a pothole in the middle of the road (a common feature) at 120klms/per hour. The right front rim was badly dent. After I returned, I took the car to my usual dealer. They realigned the front wheels, changed some bushes etc and charged me almost 900/-. However, the problem with suspension persisted. They advised me that it would disappear after a few days. I waited almost 1 month.
Since the problem persisted, I again took the car to the dealer. They again made some more adjustments without results. During this period the car terrible to drive, my shoulders sprained from driving. To make the situation worse my abdomen used to get sprained and swollen (a usual problem I had while I was having a diesel ambassador car a few years back). I again tried to explain the situation to the service engineer and made drive the car.
This time they changed the whole set suspension except the struts in the front (total cost 3500/-) he explained that it was slightly bent which I could not detect my bare eyes, but all the same the problem persisted. The car was difficult to control and it felt like skidding while turning. Again I took the car and made them drive the car.
To my astonishment, the engineer could not find any fault with car. He even suggested that it is physiological problem and to sooth my nerves he will change the struts also (of course at my expense). This time I told him I do not believe him and asked him to look at some other reason for the defect. Finally, he thought the problem could be because of badly dent front rim and changed the tires and re- aligned the suspension. He said the problem would disappear after driving for a few days since the tires had to set. By this time I was fed up, I could not drive the car confidence due to bad behavior, and medical problems.
Finally, I took the car to a different service station. I asked them to drive the car and find for themselves what is the problem. The gentleman there after driving the few minutes correctly pointed out the problems (bad suspension, tire sound etc). He checked the alignment on a German make tire aligner and found that it was off by +7. They corrected it and charged me 135/- only. Today I am happy; the car is running as if new.
The point here IF A SERVICE PERSONAL COULD NOT DETECT ANY DEFECT DO NOT ENTRUST YOUR CAR TO HIM. YOU WILL END UP SPENDING MORE. DO NOT PAY UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT. A SERVICE ENGINEER WHO CANNOT DETECT DEFECTS CANNOT PROBABLY REPAIR IT.
ASK THEM TO TAKE A TEST DRIVE AND FIND OUT DEFECTS THEMSELVES. IF THEY CAN DETECT IT, THEY CAN REPAIR IT.
As a registered user at Maruti web site I am going to write to them with full proof. Let us see if they are concerned. I shall come back later.