My Raging Red Mahindra Thar

[J.Ravi]

Raging Red Thar gets puddle lights with Mahindra logo projection and multi colour magnetic LED dome light for the rear.

Don't miss the travelogue Thar Visits Thar.

 

[J.Ravi]

Raging Red Thar has got another 'petrol' metallic badge affixed at the left fender. I don't want to take any chance in having diesel instead of petrol.

 

[J.Ravi]

Today, Raging Red Thar had its 10 k km second free servicing done at Chrome Motors, Mysore Road, Bangalore, costing ₹ 4,255.

My Thar was busy earlier visiting Arani, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Karaikudi, Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi, Tiruthani and Tiruvallur in TN. While returning from Chennai to Bangalore, I took Tiruvallur>Tiruthani>Chittoor>Kolar route for a change so as to avoid the terrible Poonamalli>Ranipet stretch. The roads were very good 2-lane SH from Tiruvallur to Chittoor. Enjoyed the stress-free driving at night.

 

[J.Ravi]

Raging Red Thar gets NOCO GB40 jump starter [ NOCO - 1000A Lithium Jump Starter - GB40 ], which I bought at Super Cheap Auto, Preston, VIC, Australia, costing A$ 179.99. I had some anxious moments, when the security personnel at the Melbourne airport refused to allow it. When my son showed FAA regulations that allow jump starter in the cabin luggage upto 100 Whr - NOCO GB40 is 24 Whr only - he was not moved. He said that the cable with clamp should have been put in the check-in baggage and not in cabin luggage. When I told him that it came as a single unit with the seal intact with no initial charge, he relented. "You are good to go", he said. I heaved a sigh of relief ! I will be very happy if it remains unused !

 

[J.Ravi]

Now, Raging Red Thar is at Sireesh Auto service centre, Magadi Road, Bangalore for sensor-related work.

Today morning me and wife left our Bangalore home at 5 am to Chennai. Atter driving for a few km, the 'check engine' light [CEL] appeared on the MID. Initially, I thought that I might have pressed both accelerator and brake pedals together. I stopped, switched off, switched on after a few seconds and continued driving. CEL appeared again after a few km. Apart from CEL, I did not observe any other abnormalities. No limp mode, nothing. I drove on the electronics city elevated road at 60 kmph. CEL showed its ugly glow again. I stopped and opened the bonnet. I did not observe any tell-tale signs of rat-bite. Finally, CEL refused to go even after switching off/on, unlike the earlier occasions, when I decided to turn back.

Drove Thar to Sireesh Auto workshop at 9 am promptly. The technician connected the OBD tool and said the error related to oil tank sensor. He tried to tighten all the sensors by hand and switched on. CEL did not lit. But, he mentioned that CEL might come again after a few km and advised me to leave Thar with them for a few days, when they would do a thorough check and, if necessary, will report to Mahindra for any replacement of any sensor under warranty.

I shall resume my Bangalore>Chennai drive after Thar comes back to me.

 

[J.Ravi]

Now, Raging Red Thar is at Sireesh Auto service centre, Magadi Road, Bangalore for sensor-related work.

I got back my Thar today evening. Sireesh Auto service centre re-flashed the ECU as per Mahindra's instructions and test-drove for 20 km without CEL warning. Earlier, they were of the opinion that oil pump needed to be replaced as per OBD error code. But, Mahindra suggested re-flashing ECU first. If CEL warning persisted, then oil pump replacement. Now, I will test-drive it for a couple of days. If everything is fine, then I will drive to Chennai on 17/4, Wednesday.

 

[J.Ravi]

After successful test-drives within Bangalore without CEL warning, today I drove to Chennai. Left Bangalore Basaveswara Nagar home at 5:05 am, reached sai sangeeth, Vaniyambadi at 7:45 am, after breakfast left at 8:30 am and arrived Chennai Royapettah home at 12:25 pm. No CEL at all.

 

[J.Ravi]

My Thar and Classic 350 together at home.

 

[J.Ravi]

Drove Chennai - Bangalore via Chittoor/Kolar. Departure: 7 June 2023. 4:30 pm. Royapettah. Dinner at Amirtha, Ranipet for 40 minutes comprising mouth-watering idiyappam, coconut milk, vadacurry, parotta, Puri, idlis washed down by aromatic coffee. Arrival: 8 June 2023. 00:30 am. Basaveswara Nagar. Enjoyed the drive with less traffic compared to the Krishnagiri/Hosur route.

 

[J.Ravi]

Bought a 20 litre jerry can and a funnel from amazon on the recent prime day sale with good discount for my Thar. I tested the jerry can for any leakage by filling it with water up to its brim and keeping it in that condition for a couple of days. Absolutely no leakage. When I emptied the water, I did not find any contamination.

 

[J.Ravi]

Today morning, when I started Thar, the battery icon indicating battery charging system warning lamp was continuously on. But, the battery was charging normally ranging from 14V to 13.8V when Thar was on the move. Since I didn't take out Thar for more than a month, although it was continuously trickle-charged by Bosch C7, I decided to follow the instructions contained in the owner's manual. As the Mahindra authorized service station is nearby, I took Thar for check-up. They disconnected the battery terminals and reconnected them after a minute. The battery warning lamp was gone! Everything is fine now.

 

[anuraagshenoy]

As the Mahindra authorized service station is nearby, I took Thar for check-up. They disconnected the battery terminals and reconnected them after a minute. The battery warning lamp was gone! Everything is fine now.

I'd suggest you to hook up an OBD 2 reader and verify if the battery code is gone from the list or just sitting inside in the history section which may reappear later.

Disconnecting the battery and reconnecting, temporarily erases any codes or warning lights on the instrument cluster.

 

[J.Ravi]

Bangalore - Coimbatore via Mysore, Dhimbam , Bhavani Sagar Dam and back on the same route

Did Bangalore to Coimbatore via Mysore, Chamrajanagar, Dhimbam ghat, Bhavani Sagar Dam and back on the same route on 5/6 September 2023 to attend a marriage. Enjoyed driving on the excellent Bangalore - Mysore access-controlled Expressway, good roads through forest and Dhimbam ghat with 27 hairpin bends. Enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast comprising idli/sambar, uppittu and basundhi at Mahesh Prasad, Mysore during the up journey and dinner comprising bonda soup, butter masala dosai, washed down by kashaya in the return journey. My Thar recorded a fuel efficiency of 10.1 kmpl of petrol for 707 km on tankful-to-tankful basis.

 

[Ambylovers]

Hi,
As usual it seems to be a great drive, and hoping you enjoyed each moment.
How do you rate the comfort and driving difference between your XuV and Thar.

 

[J.Ravi]

As usual it seems to be a great drive, and hoping you enjoyed each moment.

Thanks.

How do you rate the comfort and driving difference between your XuV and Thar.

Both belong to different categories. The former was a 7-seater and the latter, sub-4 m off-roader. For driving, I like my petrol AT 4x4 Thar. For the comfort, I definitely miss the roomy interiors and boot space of XUV5OO.