Xeta; automatic Engine Raise / Noisy Engine

Friends, I have an Indica Nov 2005 LGi. it has been observed that when the engine temperature needle is at the middle (Ambient and at the mid-point of the guage), and when I halt the car in idle (say at a traffic signal or parking time), there is an automatic engine raise. The normal at idle should be (as per the Dials) at 0.8, max 0.9. But in my case, it raises to 1.2 or 1.4, and to contain the same, I need to put on the AC, which sort of brings the raise down. But this too fails at times. This has been a problem since past 18 months, and the TATA service dealer is just not able to sort the problem despite numerous visits. Can anybody help me understand what could be going wrong. Otherwise it is a lovely car when on the road and in drive. But halt it (idle) and it gets really frustating. Looking forward to your advices and possible solutions.

It sounds peculiar that Tata has not been able to resolve it since last 18 months.  I enquired here with the local Tata dealer - they said it's an usual problem, and that, they can only say after inspecting the car.

I suggest if you can get it inspected from some local reputed garage.  I too will enquire here & let you know as soon as I can gather some information.

In the meantime, I hope Banwari/ Ashish or some fellow-members can through some light on the subject problem.

Thanx for ur reply. the engine raise issue has been sorted (I hope so..it doesnt show up) now). But now at slow sppeds (Gear 1 nad 2), the vehicle jerks and strains to get moving easily...and after a couple od secs it smoothens up. The dealer says the ECM needs to be replaced. They need a 137 code ECM and TATA has been sending them the 113 Code unit. That is causing a delay now. I am in the 18+18 month warranty coverage.

Just want to know of any other V2 Owners who may have had the ECM changed and ifthey used the 137 coded unit.

Hi jay ,

it would be better if you show your car to your Tata dealer , if its under waranty he will be able to rectify it , but problems in tata indica are very common and the though tata doesnot make good Profit in a car unts sale they amke good prfits in spare parts as these cars are having regular problems, hope your dealer will be able to rectify it , till then

Cheers,

Sri

~LiKe.No.oTheR~

Jay, please tell which city/state you are from? 

Tata local dealer (here) was enquiring so when I told him about the mis-match of ECM code received by your dealer. Thanks.

Dear friends,

Just today I finally got my Indica done from the TATA dealer (Thane). They finally managed to get the right ECU. I had to visit them 3 times this week alone to keep trying different ECUs. It has been a trial and error method that they approached to solve this problem.

Now I need to use the car for few days and watch the jerking. Atleast, it behaved beautifully on the way back from the workshop. Keeping my Fingers and Toes Crossed for the best.

Otherwise, my Indica - she is a real beauty. Touch Wood.

Thanks Guys. It was nice to hear from you all and your replies....

Jaydeep

Dear Pankaj,

I am writing in for the first time.

I have a XETA1.2, 9 months old, 12500kms done. It used to be a smooth silent car once. The car became quite rough just before the 10k Kms service(2nd) but was a beauty again when it came back after the engine oil change. Now, after another 2000kms, I feel scared by all the sounds it makes when I start it. I don't really know what a 'tapping' sound is so can't comment on that but on the whole, the car has become really rough and noisy. I hope the condition is not a reflection of how long this noisy engine will last. This roughness has stated affecting my driving and I am not the nice driver i used to be. The pickup may not have dropped but the sound makes it look like it has(had the pickup/engine power dropped, the mileage would have certainly gone down but it hasn't).

The car's coolant had to be topped up at the last service. I hardly use the A/c and the car's mileage is excellent. I regularly get an 18 from it in Hyderabad's traffic. We took the car to Vizag and it gave a cumulative 24.63kmpl (kept engine RPM hovering around 17.5X100).

I love my salsa red car and have been able to keep it scratchless and spotless so far but the howling makes me really sad.

Please advise!

Thanks and regards,

Dan

Though I’m not a technical person, following is what I understand….

 

The problem is a bit unusual for new/improved Xeta 1.2, like yours (9 months old) - it was not uncommon in the older ones.

 

The problem could be an aftermath of engine overheating that may have occurred on a couple of long trips you may have undertaken.  Overheating could have occurred due to constant high-speed; possibly while AC must have been ON – this is because Xeta doesn’t have Condenser Fan that helps in reducing/maintaining temperature (only Radiator Fan it has).  On overheating, the engine may have suffered from scoring & cuffing – resultantly, system slapping may have taken place that may have led to increase of clearance space between Piston & Liner.

 

Take your car to the dealer & ask him to rectify/resolve the problem conclusively & satisfactorily.  Importantly, your car is under warranty, and therefore, it is inevitable for Tata to rectify it free of cost.  If need be, refer the matter to a Manufacturing Support Engineer (stationed in every state / major cities).

By the way, the mileage you have quoted is unusally high - Xeta, at its best, gives 12/13 in city & 16/17 on highway.

 

I hope you are measuring the mileage tank-full to tank-full.

Pankaj Sir,

Thanks an million for your interest and promptness. I now have someone who is knowledgeable as well as informative to speak to.
 
I have two questions.

1.    Can a lot of 30kilometer trips in very heavy traffic with the temp needle at 90degrees throughout fit your description {Overheating could have occurred due to constant high-speed; possibly while AC must have been ON} though I rarely switch the A/c on?

2.    Will the service advisor at my ASS realize/diagnose it along similar lines? On all my past interactions with them they have come across as people with little understanding of the car's workings.

The mileage I have reported is correct. It does give 17-18 kmpl in the city but there are conditions to filing petrol. I get this economy only when I fill either less than 5 liters. I get the same economy if I fill up the tank and consume it all within a day. In fact, the only time I got the tank full twice was when we took the car Vizag and brought it back. I guess it has got something to do with the shape of the fuel tank. It might be that the exposed surface area (which is directly proportional to the rate of evaporation) is the least when the total volume of petrol in the tank is less than 5litres. anyway, the mileage figure does not bother me so much since I have tested it countless times now. The least mileage is derived when I put fuel for like a thousand rupees and let the car consume it in two or three trips to office. I have seen it fall down to even 10kmpl that way.

By the way, is that grey Indica Vista your latest possession?

Thanks and regards,
Dan