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Sixth Service Update - 5 Years/50K Kms (43K Kms to be exact)

Last service was done in July 2021 and the service due date was looming near and also Panda had run about 9.5k kms since last service. So since I'm now based out of Trivandrum I decided to get Panda serviced here rather than on a trip home to Kochi.

So, I searched online for a bit to see which all HASS are near to me and the nearest one turned out to be M/s. Pothen's Hyundai Service, Balaramapuram. They had 4.5 Google rating so I called up for an appointment and they just said bring the car around and we will accommodate you. I was a bit skeptical regarding this and I told them that I'll bring the car when the Service Center opens and I want it back by noon and since only regular service is to be done, I was quite confident of the turnaround time and they said OK. It was not to be.

Firstly I reached the HASS at 11:30 AM instead of the agreed 8:30AM. When I reach there I find that its a small set up with only two service bays, one alignment bay and one wash bay. So due to my screw up, my skepticism turned to absolute belief that forget about today, I'm not going to get the car back for two days.

As it turned out, its not a very busy service station and they were able to start on Panda in 15 minutes after I arrived. I asked the SA and HASS Manager whether I could be on the floor while they worked he replied in the affirmative and almost all work was done under my watch.

Initial checks revealed that the Air filter element and cabin filter element needs only cleaning and not replacement and both were cleaned using compressed air.

Air filter element before cleaning

Then they hoisted her up on the lift and started draining the oil. The mechanics working were very young chaps who were more than willing to walk me through what all they were doing. Now coming to the mechanicals I'm a total noob and I tend to take the mechanic's word for what's the best thing to do. This is going to play a major part in what happens next.

So while working on the front brake overhaul, the mechanic says that one of the front brake pad is more worn out than the others and I check it out and its true. Its was one on the front right inner one. The mech was of the opinion that during the last service the technician who did the work must have over tightened it causing more wear. The mech said I have about 2.5 - 3k kms worth life in 3 pads and about 1.5k kms in the thinner pad. I took their word for it and decided to get all of them replaced since I have a planned 1.5k km trip in August and I don't want to be left with no brakes or a warped disc especially on the unreliable braking system of first gen Creta.

Forum members can check the pics and see if the mech was being truthful or ripping me off, as I don't have the expertise to judge the same. BTW, the brake pads have done almost 44K kms and most of it in stop and go traffic.

I flatly refused the WA and WB as I get it done outside and they didn't push at all. Next while checking the underbody, we found a hole in the exhaust pipe near to the cat-con. This might have been causing the hissing sound while idling. On gently tapping along the weld points one more hole was revealed and another point was found where the thickness was paper thin, so on advise of SA I decided to get the holes welded and the whole exhaust coated in some supposedly antirust spray. Now what started as a normal service was beginning to stretch into major time consuming works. So, the entire exhaust was removed and taken to a welder outside while the mech finished upon the wheels and brakes.

The tyres as pointed out by SA and also known to me, are nearing the end of their useable life. They might have about 5-8k kms in them before its time for replacement. Now, it was time to put in engine oil and I opted for the usual Shell mineral oil provided by Hyundai. Mech poured around 4 litres in a canister and almost 3.5 ltrs went inside. Now Panda was started up to enable the oil circulation and I have to tell that without the exhaust pipe the engine sound was so beefy, that for a moment I was tempted to run without the setup or to get an FFE.

While checking the spark plugs, the mech said that one of them is shorting out and it might fail not far into the future. The spark plugs have done only about 20k kms and they were of NGK make which costed me around Rs.1500/-. I was not sure of replacement but the thought of getting stranded again made me ask for replacing all spark plugs. Now the NGK plugs were replaced by Hyundai Mobis official spares of Champion make and it cost me only around Rs. 400/- for a set of four. Now, I'm skeptical of these lasting even 10k kms while the SA and mech were assuring me of 20k kms at least. Again I took their word for it, not entirely convinced but still.

Old ones, I forgot to take pictures of the new ones.

In between there was a lunch break at 2 PM and I went to get something to eat and Panda was left on the lift up high and work resumed at 2:30 PM. By that time the exhaust had been received back and it was being sprayed when they found a pinhole on the cat con so it went to the welder again and by the time it got back all mechanical work on the Panda was completed and all four wheels were back on her. So as soon as the spray dried the exhaust was put back on and she was taken for a test drive and it was given an OK.

Proceeded to washing and waxing which as per them were complimentary and I was good to go by 4:30 PM. They prepared the bill by 4:00 PM while the car was in wash and they only charged me for a tyre dressing and wiper washer fluid which I received as packets. The usual.

The old brake pads and 3 out of 4 spark plugs were returned to me and they managed to lose one spark plug and honestly I didn't bother to look for it even though they were willing.

I was charged a total of Rs. 9050/- for the entire service including the regular service and oil and filter change, New front brake pads, New spark plugs, exhaust coating & welding and Wash and polish. I specifically asked them to avoid polishing the interior and to my surprise they obliged even though they told me they were using high end stuff and I would like it. I however am not over the horror of the slippery polish and asked them not to.

I seem to have misplaced the final bill. If I get it, Ill post it here.

Overall, the experience was great and I won't mind going back there because they were upfront about things I don't need replacement and things which were needed (I believe). I also asked them to check my AC as my rear passengers (Meaning my better half) complained of no cooling from the rear vents. I was fearing a blocked pipe but there was good air flow. The techs also were of the opinion that the AC is working fine and no work was required. They could have asked me to do a refrigerant top up or an expensive AC cleaning but they didn't and even told me its unnecessary. This is what made me actually believe that I'm not being ripped off as I mentioned the AC issue at the time of giving Panda for service and not after. They have also given me a warranty of 6 months on the service done which I believe is the first one that I have ever gotten.

I would rate them 10/10 for the work done and customer experience.

The ODO currently stands at 43.5k km.

The service bill is attached below. Rs. 400/- was for welding charges which I paid seperately, bringing the total amount to Rs. 9050/-.

The bill just mentions premium engine oil and I observed they took the oil from a servo barrel. I find it weird that the specification of the oil is not mentioned in the bill. Is there any difference between, say, engine oil for smaller hatches like Santro and i10 and bigger cars like Creta and Tucson (all petrol engines).

If I discount the spark plugs, new brake pads and exhaust repair and coating the bill would have amounted to around Rs. 5500/- and that I think is very reasonable. I'm planning a series of Tvm - Kochi - Tvm trips this week, a grand total of around 1000 kms. If there is any shortfall in the service I'll surely know then.

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