gallery: [indica-users] Word of caution : Road side crooks

Senin, 25 Februari 2008

[indica-users] Word of caution : Road side crooks

Hi All,

I was caught in a very surprising situation last friday while I was heading to Pune from Mumbai in the evening. It was 7.30 p.m and I was alone in the car. The street was very crowded and no one had time to see what is happening around. The traffic was a moving traffic and no jams anywhere.

Suddenly, one man standing near the footpath, as if he was waiting for a Bus, started waiving his hand and shouting by looking at the front side of my car. So I waited near the man and asked him what happened. He said that there was fire inside the engine and he could see some sparking and some fire emanating through the radiator grill. I was absolutely petrified after hearing this so immediately pulled over and opened the bonnet. I could see nothing and the there was no sign of any smoke or any foul smell of any burning wire or burning fuel. So I closed down the bonnet and restarted.

After going about 100-150 meters, there was one more man who again waived his hand and this time he did not shout. I was quite scared when someone told me the same thing. So I pulled over again and checked. This time one spark plug cable from the ignition coil was out and whenever the engine started it would make some noise and throw some sparks. So I fixed the cable back in the plug and proceeded.

After going about 100-150 meters, there was one more man who again waived his hand and said that there were some sparks throught the engine. So I pulled over again and checked. This time same spark plug cable from the ignition coil was out and whenever the engine started it would make some noise and throw some sparks.

The guy who had waived his hand said that there is a possibility of a burnt ignition coil and I should get it inspected from someone. So I looked around and I found several trucks all in one line. So I asked the same guy as to what were those trucks doing there? He said they were all there for repairs. So it struck to me that I could get some help. The guy said that there was one Ravi Motors near the place where I was stranded and he estimated the cost of damage to be about INR 3600 and he himself was a mechanic. There I suspected something fishy in the dealing. He said he could help me if I wanted.

Fortunately I had the service booklet with me. I pulled out the surrounding areas TASC numbers and called up for help. Having me seen doing that, the guy who was advising me fled from there and returned with 4 other people who had initially told me that there were sparks in the car. I was quick to realise the intension. By that time I had gathered a decent crowd and a traffic police came to my resuce. Fortune Motors from Nerul were quick to respond and they literally came running for my help and took me to their service station in Nerul. They got my car inspected and informed that there was absolutely no problem with the car and I should not be worried at all. They did not charge me at all inspite of my car being out of warranty.

Then I realised that in such a situation how my logical thought process went for a toss. The fortune cars service person informed me that if there was indeed such a problem, then the 'Check Engine' light would have started glowing in the dashboard. Also if there was a ignition coil problem, I would have faced several issues while driving which I was not facing at all. The AC was working, lights were working, engine fan was working, engine temperature was under control, there was no mis-firing and there were no jerks...nothing at all.....The car was running very smoothly

They also informed that this was an organized crime in many parts of Mumbai. All the people who had informed me that there are sparks in the car belonged to the same group and carried mobile phones, hoping to catch me at some point. I thought I could make everyone aware of what is happening and contribute in my own way of avoiding such incidents from affecting all of us.

Another important thing which the so called mechanic did while he was removing the cables and putting it back was that he was changing the sequence in which the cables were connected. That was resulting in the car mis-firing at some occassions. Now I also realise that whenever I pulled the bonnet lever, the guy who had been waiving at me would be opening the bonnet before I got down of the car and pulled one of the plug cables out before I reached the engine side. So that looked like as if the plug cable was coming out on its own.

Anyways, I was saved of a big embarrasment and also some expenses. That took away almost 2 -3 hours. I finally reached Pune at 1.30 a.m

Best Regards
Kedar Apte
Xeta 1.4 GLX, Feb 2006

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