This Week's Driving - March 19th, 2000 - Log 20

Nobody waves the Indian flag higher on the Net than we do. But then, everybody's idea of patriotism is different. Ours is simple, people first.
We do state here that we sincerely believe that the Government or industry or media do not hold the copyright on "what is being patriotic" all about. In that context, today's edits'log dedicates itself to the . . . average Indian. You and me, not bothered about anything but the correct thing. As our conscience dictates in those wee hours before dawn.

So what does this have to do with a motoring editorial? The car and the flag, for one.

We have been receiving more than our share of complaints from buyers and motorists on the Tata Indica, both in terms of initial quality as well as subsequent service. For the product as well as the people who interface the product. Many of these communiques also tell us about the lack of response from the company. Not susprising considering the highly anti-communication methods adopted by this company. Which is very sad, because it was an efficient communication machine that actually put the Indica on the fairly undeserving pedestal it occupies right now.

And this communications machine was set in motion by a bunch of us so-called "motoring-media", who, then, way back in 1998, were taken in by the svelte sensuosness of the Indica and the euphoric belting out of a "flag under the bonnet" line which even we swallowed. We, ladies and gentlemen, are guilty to quite some extent on this matter of the Tata Indica taking on a larger than life role. So, we, with due aplogies for the delay, would like to take on the role of keeping motorists informed about the downside, too.

One of the major complaints has to do with the fan-belts and the cooling systems, failure of which can be disastrous and lead to other serious problems. Here are some reasons, and possible solutions, put together for us by a friend from the industry who knows this particular vehicle very well but would rather remain un-named at this juncture. This, therefore, is what you need to do in case you have an Indica or have a friend who has one and needs help, forward this to him!

Causes for such failures can be from any of the undersigned:-
1. High temperatures in the underhood. This will have an adverse effect on the belts, and they fail.
2. Mis alignment of the pulley's.
3. The V groove of the pulley not proper. Thus the belt will run under pressure on one side. Change the pulley.
4. The belts vibrates. The belt tensions and idler pulley's play a role here. Excess tension is less harmful than under tensions.
5. The belt material. Presently the world is moving towards EPDM belts.

At the workshop, one can check the pulley's - by applying blue on the pulley sides and checking the contact as it runs. A simple operation. Then check the vibrations. Run the engine, and see if there is a vibration in the belts. Easy to see that. After that re-adjust the idler pulley. Or change the tension value to slightly lower.

See if the belts are slipping. This can be checked by dropping some water on the belts. The difference in the noise/sound level will tell that. If they are slipping then change the pulley.

However the surprising part with the Indica is that the pulleys are probably machined. I thought the world changed to sheet metal pulleys years ago. They are lighter in weight, cheaper to make and better in durability.

We also get letters from people saying that they are buying the Indica, or that they bought the Indica, due to their faith and pride in matters Indian. Fair enough, noble sentiments.

But then the company should not take that sentiment for granted. Selling 50 year old truck and bus systems is bad enough.

Not a week goes by without another automobile channel hitting the waves. While we withold comment on independent and media automobile channels as a matter of principle, not-withstanding the fact that some of them have openly copied our stuff, chapter, verse and diagrams, including the possible No. 1 motoring channel from India, we do think that we are entitled to comment on channels launched by automobile manufacturers.

And the comment is: what are they there for?

We invite readers to write in and tell us about one automobile company site that actually does something for the consumer. We have a feeling none have anything new to offer. And when you hear how much they cost, you will understand why their cars cost so much!

GM plus Fiat plus Daewoo plus Suzuki plus . . .

Daimler Benz plus Chrysler plus Mitsubishi plus . . .

Ford plus Volvo plus Jaguar plus Hyundai plus . . .

Toyota, Honda, BMW?

Big companies, already running huge and inefficient, as well as bloated, empires, getting together, trying to bully the poor customer some more. What will the spin off be for India, one of the few countries where the automobile market is going through a boom time?

More expensive automobiles, probably, is what they would try for. What they would get, however, is a big surprise. It is not just infotech we Indians are good at. Look at our record on frugal solutions everywhere. So why not for automobiles, too? We sai it before, we say it again, cybersteering is into something big on this score . . .

One more stupid decision from the powers that be in Delhi. As though we don't have enough problems with public transport, or the lack of it, and now we got "radio cabs". At 15 rupees a kilometre, running on CNG, with the song and dance and hoopla that goes with what is, obviously, a stunt. When we should have better buses instead.

The transport solutions of this country will have to come from elsewhere, not Delhi, for sure! Over here in Delhi it is only political patronage.

Maruti have started something new: teaching people how to drive. A state of the art driver training estabilishment, managed by MUL, at Loni, on the Ghaziabad outskirts. Full of interesting gizmos like simulators and test tracks as well as theory classes, this should be a pilot project, as it handles only about 200 people over a two-week programme.

Need more like this, and if you need to know more, right in to us.

edit's log is very tired and will end here . . . forgive us, but keep those contributions rolling in, we shall not forget you people, all of you who got published here, once we make a lot of money. If we make a lot of money.

Drivers Log
Veeresh Malik
The Edit Team
bluepencil@cybersteering.com

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