Jeep RSA & service experience: Compass breaks down during a road trip

Ethel Walsh

My SUV stalled, the steering obtained locked and mistake messages for each part started out exhibiting up.

BHPian stonefish recently shared this with other lovers.

Went by means of an encounter in excess of the Diwali weekend (21-Oct-22 to 25-Oct-22). Although, the services stages of FCA were being surely superior this time.

I and wifey have been on a south coastline generate on our 24-thirty day period Compass (Diesel BS6 Longitude AT 22,000 km) commencing last Friday and created the initial halt at Madurai. On Saturday morning, we headed for Varkala in Kerala and left NH44 following Kovilpatti to just take the SH75 which goes to Kerala via Tenkasi.

At around 11 am, 30 km just before Tenkasi, the automobile a/c out of the blue started out blowing warm air. In a couple seconds, other indicators begun blinking and error messages for just about every portion started demonstrating up. I was perplexed for a moment as the vehicle was serviced for the 30k mark just two days back again at the Yashwanthpur ASC! My very first assumed was that the ECM was acting up and I cautiously steered the car to the left of the highway.

In yet another couple of seconds, the car stalled and even the steering obtained locked. The only message we had been acquiring was to Service the VPS. I termed up the RSA and they ended up pretty economical in getting the needed details I was educated that a mechanic was becoming dispatched inside of 60 min. A mechanic turned up within the hour and after preliminarily checks hinted at a depleted battery. I was not pretty positive as a bad battery should not induce a running car to stall. Also, as for every follow, I checked each the voltage and the DEF levels right before commencing the motor vehicle in the early morning. It experienced revealed 14V that early morning.

The community mechanic did not need to jump as the battery experienced regained plenty of juice by that time to crank on its personal and was suggesting towing the automobile to his own garage. I desisted and sent him away. Anyhow, the engine died in just a few of minutes again.

I once more termed up the RSA and they supplied to tow the motor vehicle again to the closest ASC. My automobile was just about equidistant from Tirunelveli, Trivandrum and Madurai. But eventually settled for Tirunelveli which was 80 km absent. The flatbed arrived right after a painful 4 hrs and then I flagged down a passing taxi and asked for him to bounce my battery applying my possess jumper cables. This was necessary as I experienced place the auto lever on Park manner in those people dying times of battery charge in the morning. But to winch the auto up the flatbed the lever experienced to be introduced to Neutral mode.

Fortunately, the taxi agreed and in no time I could leap the battery for a moment adequate to shift the lever.

In the meantime, my Bangalore ASC was in frequent touch with their Tirunelveli counterparts. Involving the two support groups, it was pretty much concluded that the situation was with the Alternator assembly. Tirunelveli ASC verified that they have the vital spares in inventory if that certainly was the problem.

The RSA also offered a taxi drop to go us and our luggage for a max fare of 2k/- They could not organize just one immediately and asked for us to ebook one particular regionally and despatched us the reimbursement type by mail. We got a neighborhood taxi and proceeded for our harmony holidays.

On Tue, right after the Tirunelveli workshop opened soon after a pair of holidays, they quickly appeared at the auto. As expected, the Alternator pulley was located to be corroded. Currently being underneath an prolonged warranty, they changed the portion, collaborated with the Bangalore team for the needed paperwork and named me about 1 pm to advise me that the motor vehicle was check pushed and was ready for delivery.

I came down from Kanyakumari and picked up the auto at all-around 4 pm. Drove down to Bangalore on Wednesday keeping an eye on the console. We attained back again devoid of any extra troubles. On Thurs, Yashwanthpur ASC known as up and provided to choose up the vehicle for yet another round of inspection at their close. I will be sending the vehicle to them on Monday now.

Other than the hassles faced by the products failure, cannot genuinely fault the ASCs/FCA much on the steps taken.

Just a several lingering inquiries:

  1. Is it not attainable for the ASC to check out the electrical components additional cautiously as these cars are so intensely dependent on know-how?
  2. The flatbed took 4 hrs to arrive at us whereas the RSA estimate was 90 min!

But, I also realised that we need to be geared up effectively as soon as on the street. A several matters are definitely necessary:

  1. Battery soar starter kit, if possible with its personal cell.
  2. Your have transportable power bank to maintain your mobile phones charged throughout this period. You will be frequently on phone calls.
  3. Your personal device kit to match some of the screws and nuts in the motor bay.
  4. If you are driving an car then end in Neutral mode. Hold the vehicle in the aged-fashioned way of placing stones as wheel chokes.
  5. A robust tow cable rated to match the car pounds.

This is what BHPian UD17 had to say on the issue:

Sorry to hear about your breakdown encounter. It is unquestionably a holiday break spoiler to have in the back again of your head, that you have to take treatment of a breakdown immediately after the satisfying holiday vacation.

Coming to your issue, The section revealed in your shots is a decoupler pulley. My buddy skilled a equivalent sort of battery discharge inform in his Compass, whilst the Odo was significantly better, I comprehended this as an situation of the Compass in common. We discussed this with the Sky Moto technician at that time in detail with regards to this battery drain difficulty.

My being familiar with is that Decouplers are incredibly dependable. The major cause for a failing decoupler could be the engine resonance, extra exactly the Idle resonance vibrations (The explanation for resonance could be quite a few, most predictable are calibration and driving behaviour).

To reply your very first problem- If the parts (alternator assembly) are working fine at ASC for the duration of support, the ASC can not do everything about it. No examining will support as the component is working thoroughly anyhow. The section unsuccessful subsequently due to the fact of the prolonged resonance (or tiredness) it is encountering.

Do you have a lot more pictures of the aspect? These components appear with a cap hooked up to them to conserve guard from the exterior atmosphere, I could not see the cap so I am guessing if the cap is put in or not.

On your very last opinions: No tools can assistance unless one particular is outfitted with the know-how about areas, simple performing, fingers-on and so forth. So trying to keep a various wide range of instruments (apart from some principles like air inflator, puncture fix, jumper cable, a fundamental toolbox for tyre modify etc.) is not feasible and not incredibly useful either.

Look at out BHPian opinions for more insights and details.

Next Post

The Bestselling New and Used Cars in Every State

Although there are some recurring favorites, for the most part, the best-selling used and new cars in America vary from state to state. Part of this is a reflection of the differing lifestyles across the country. In the Great Plains, for example, trucks are dominant, as they fit both the […]
The Bestselling New and Used Cars in Every State