SYMC - Ssangyong Motor Company Korea
Here we go again.........
On the 17 Feb 2014 whilst driving with the vehicle I again experienced the "safe mode" issue that was the initial problem when I first bought the vehicle. Whilst driving at a constant speed and then accelerating (perhaps trying to pass another vehicle etc.) the vehicle gives one jerk and then the engine management light comes on. This in turn has the immediate effect of loss of power in the engine.
I then have to pull off to the side of the road, switch off the vehicle, start it up again and then I can drive normally again until the next time it happens. This fiasco happened again every day until the 21 Feb 2014 when I was on my way back to site from a meeting I attended. As soon as it happened I immediately drove the vehicle in that sorry state to Mahindra Alberton so that they can try to determine the cause of the problem.
Upon arrival at Mahindra the workshop Tech immediately attached the computer to the vehicle and after some fiddling on the computer told me that, and I quote - " The computer shows a loose electrical connection on the No. 2 Diesel Injector." - As you will recall from my previous posts, this was exactly the Diesel injector that was replaced during December 2013 whilst we were on holiday.
The Tech then reset the engine management light and said I should bring the vehicle in so that they can "try" to find the fault. He said in the same breath that I should actually take the vehicle to an auto electrician, as if he suddenly lost interest. I got into the vehicle and drove away. I was not even two kilometers from Mahindra when the vehicle actually did the same, but worse this time. It was now actually idling erratically and had virtually no power at all. The engine management light now also stayed on permanently. This all happened on Friday afternoon the 21 Feb 2014.
I have now taken the vehicle back to them, AGAIN, and asked them to please resolve the matter. In the meantime I had to rent a vehicle AGAIN, for the third time in so many months just to be able to at least get to work and back. I just wonder who will be liable for all these unnecessary costs I have to incur because of BAD service rendered by Ssangyong / SYMC / Mahindra. Why couldn't they just get the damn vehicle fixed once and for all. I know the answer to this, but they do not want to hear it because they know they are guilty as hell.
I was sold a major defective vehicle with Ssangyong Bryanston and Ssangyong Motor Company Korea's knowledge and they hope that I will go away like a bad cold. Well, I have news for Ssangyong / Mahindra. I am most DEFINITELY NOT going to go away. If anything I am now MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER to show to the public how irresponsible, unprofessional, incompetent a bunch, these "professionals" at Ssangyong / SYMC / Mahindra really are.
It has now reached a point of no return. I have never in my life been treated with the disrespect and utter loathing as I have been experiencing with these companies and their staff. Face to face they are "friendly as required by the company policies and procedures", but when it comes to the actual after sales service, IT STINKS TO HELL AND BACK!!!!
ALL other vehicle dealers have a policy that, should your vehicle stay in the workshop longer than a day - THEY WILL SUPPLY THE CUSTOMER WITH A LOAN VEHICLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS FIXED - especially if the vehicle cannot be fixed due to the incompetence of the dealer or other unforeseen circumstances. NOT Ssangyong / SYMC / Mahindra..........
Getting back to the issue at hand. They had the vehicle since Friday the 21 Feb 2014 at 16H00 until Tuesday the 25 Feb 2014 at 16H00. On Monday afternoon when I phoned them the workshop foreman told me that the vehicle is as good as new. I insisted that they keep the vehicle a day longer until Tuesday afternoon and drive and use it to ensure that it is functioning properly. He agreed and on Tuesday at 16H00 I fetched the vehicle and was assured that it is running without any problems.
I drove home and the following morning (Wednesday 26 Feb 2014) after filling up with fuel I started my journey to work. As soon as I got onto the highway the vehicle started with the exact same problem again. So much so that I could not continue the journey to work and had to turn around and take the vehicle back to Mahindra Alberton. This was at approximately 08H00 on Wednesday.
OBVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN AND TESTED BY THEM AS I REQUESTED!!!!!!
The vehicle is now AGAIN standing at Mahindra awaiting repairs. I was told this time that the injectors are faulty AGAIN. Mahindra indicated that they are not prepared to work on the injectors and will be sending the vehicle to BOSCH ALRODE in Alberton. At 16H00 on Wednesday the vehicle was still standing at Mahindra Alberton, untouched and no effort made to take it to Bosch Alrode.
This is where we stand at the moment.
To be continued........................
My experiences with the Absolute Minimum Help Group and in particular SsangYong (NOW MAHINDRA) and their non-existent service delivery
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
WTF!? MAHINDRA! - NO THANKS!!
Hi there all you great and wonderful people, NOT you MAHINDRA / SSANGYONG!!!
This is becoming like a suspense novel...
The faulty Injector on the vehicle that impacted on our holiday plans over December 2013, has been sorted eventually by the nice people at Marine Drive Motors in Uvongo on the South Coast, KZN, South Africa. Here's to you Louis and the team!! You did an excellent job under great pressure due to spares not being locally available - the typical Ssangyong / Mahindra, fail to plan, plan to fail syndrome.
All this, no thanks to Mahindra who was not even remotely interested in assisting me at the time because, according to their "management" they, (Mahindra) ,"take no "DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY" for the vehicle and was rambling on about Roadside Assistance and what not, which had exactly NO bearing on the matter at all.
To clarify the matter for those of you who are not aware. During 2013 Mahindra have taken on the Ssangyong brand by signing an agreement. By signing this agreement Ssangyong acknowledged that they will NOT repair any Ssangyong vehicles that are out of factory warranty. These repairs will only be done by Mahindra.
All Ssangyong vehicles still in factory warranty will be honored by Ssangyong until the warranty expires. Based on this agreement I took the vehicle to Mahindra for repairs as it is OUT OF WARRANTY.
Since November 2013 I have been in contact with Mahindra management to try and get them to fix my vehicle. Except for the fact that it took them 8 weeks to obtain the spares to have the timing chain replaced, I was constantly reminded by said "management" that I cannot expect service from them because Mahindra is not "DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE" for the repairs to any Ssangyong, let alone my vehicle.
On the 27 January 2014, I was contacted by the Mahindra dealer and informed that the spares are all at the dealer for the repair (replacement) of the timing chain. Arrangements was made that I will have the vehicle at the dealer on the 29 January 2014, and according to the Mahindra dealer, the process would take 2 days. I agreed and negotiated a further 1 day for some other issues I wanted them to attend to. I had to phone them every day to find out about the progress of the repair. On the 31 January 2014 at 09H00 in the morning when I inquired about the status of the vehicle, I was informed that the timing chain was completed.
But, now they cannot get the vehicle to start. Please bear in mind that I drove the vehicle every day since November 2013 when the so-called faulty timing chain was diagnosed without EVER having a problem that the vehicle would not start. I drove the vehicle to Mahindra on the morning of the 29 January 2014 without any problems, except for the fact that they were to replace the "faulty" timing belt.
The vehicle won't start!!
The whole day of the 31 January 2014 they wasted time to get the vehicle going without any success. I have been in email contact with all stakeholders during the whole day, asking them to please get a Ssangyong technician to come and resolve the problem. They ignored me flatout.
It is now 15h55, Friday the 31 January 2014 and it does not seem as if I will be getting the vehicle. I cannot for the life of me understand why I am being tortured with the likes of Mahindra and Ssangyong and their utter disrespect for their customers.
And the worst of it all is - I am still not convinced that the timing chain was faulty at all. I initially complained about a rattling noise in the engine compartment (sounds like a loose cover plate or something similar). Scaaaary!!!
Watch this space.....more to come!!
This is becoming like a suspense novel...
The faulty Injector on the vehicle that impacted on our holiday plans over December 2013, has been sorted eventually by the nice people at Marine Drive Motors in Uvongo on the South Coast, KZN, South Africa. Here's to you Louis and the team!! You did an excellent job under great pressure due to spares not being locally available - the typical Ssangyong / Mahindra, fail to plan, plan to fail syndrome.
All this, no thanks to Mahindra who was not even remotely interested in assisting me at the time because, according to their "management" they, (Mahindra) ,"take no "DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY" for the vehicle and was rambling on about Roadside Assistance and what not, which had exactly NO bearing on the matter at all.
To clarify the matter for those of you who are not aware. During 2013 Mahindra have taken on the Ssangyong brand by signing an agreement. By signing this agreement Ssangyong acknowledged that they will NOT repair any Ssangyong vehicles that are out of factory warranty. These repairs will only be done by Mahindra.
All Ssangyong vehicles still in factory warranty will be honored by Ssangyong until the warranty expires. Based on this agreement I took the vehicle to Mahindra for repairs as it is OUT OF WARRANTY.
Since November 2013 I have been in contact with Mahindra management to try and get them to fix my vehicle. Except for the fact that it took them 8 weeks to obtain the spares to have the timing chain replaced, I was constantly reminded by said "management" that I cannot expect service from them because Mahindra is not "DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE" for the repairs to any Ssangyong, let alone my vehicle.
On the 27 January 2014, I was contacted by the Mahindra dealer and informed that the spares are all at the dealer for the repair (replacement) of the timing chain. Arrangements was made that I will have the vehicle at the dealer on the 29 January 2014, and according to the Mahindra dealer, the process would take 2 days. I agreed and negotiated a further 1 day for some other issues I wanted them to attend to. I had to phone them every day to find out about the progress of the repair. On the 31 January 2014 at 09H00 in the morning when I inquired about the status of the vehicle, I was informed that the timing chain was completed.
But, now they cannot get the vehicle to start. Please bear in mind that I drove the vehicle every day since November 2013 when the so-called faulty timing chain was diagnosed without EVER having a problem that the vehicle would not start. I drove the vehicle to Mahindra on the morning of the 29 January 2014 without any problems, except for the fact that they were to replace the "faulty" timing belt.
The vehicle won't start!!
The whole day of the 31 January 2014 they wasted time to get the vehicle going without any success. I have been in email contact with all stakeholders during the whole day, asking them to please get a Ssangyong technician to come and resolve the problem. They ignored me flatout.
It is now 15h55, Friday the 31 January 2014 and it does not seem as if I will be getting the vehicle. I cannot for the life of me understand why I am being tortured with the likes of Mahindra and Ssangyong and their utter disrespect for their customers.
And the worst of it all is - I am still not convinced that the timing chain was faulty at all. I initially complained about a rattling noise in the engine compartment (sounds like a loose cover plate or something similar). Scaaaary!!!
Watch this space.....more to come!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)