REPORT CONTINUED Fluid
REPORT CONTINUED Fluid levels are checked at the end of every service call-out. One-third of all cars in Switzerland are low on oil! Along with gasoline and diesel fuel, every responder also carries a compact assortment of suitable lubricants. • Navigation data (route to the call-out site) • Key call-out data (breakdown, accident, theft) • Information on the vehicle and member • Additional info as necessary, parts needed such as spare tires, etc. • Internet connection The helpers in yellow’s equipment includes good people skills and steady nerves. Once at the incident site, the responder can look up additional information such as vehicle technical data on the TCS intranet and use the device to perform functions such as vehicle diagnostics. For example, if the vehicle is significantly low on oil, the responder can use the MOTOREX Oilfinder to find the right product for the vehicle and manufacturer’s specifications. TRULY MULTITALENTED TCS responders are famous for their many talents. Every TCS responder is a trained auto mechanic, electrician and/or diagnostician. Responders undergo a comprehensive training program specially developed by the TCS covering a range of subjects such as first aid, dealing with people in breakdown or accident situations, technological innovation, etc. The helpers in yellow are also expected to have steady nerves and good people skills. The mood at the site of an incident can be tense. But with their structured, purposeful approach, TCS responders currently repair 86 out of every 100 breakdowns. And that in turn quickly helps calm things down. MOBILE MINI REPAIR SHOPS All TCS patrol vehicles carry identical equipment. They have all the proven materials needed to deal with breakdowns and accidents, including tools and a basic store of spare parts and consumables (gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricants, coolant, etc.). The kit includes meter-long metal rods that, adroitly handled, can open the door to a car with the keys locked inside. Once it was Opel Omega station wagons, today more and more Chevrolet Captiva 4x4s are joining the fleet of Peugeot 807 vans. There are 120 of them on the roads. Under the supervision of Fleet Management & Logistics Head René Köchli, the patrol vehicles are prepared at the TCS facility in Emmen for an average of eight years of service. Here they are made ready for their yellow paintjob, equipped with a specially designed organizing system, furnished with additional electrical and electronic equipment and adorned with uniform lettering. Maintenance and major repairs to the patrol vehicles are also performed in Emmen. When it comes to lubricants for an average of 250,000 to 300,000 kilometers of heavy-duty service, the TCS relies on MOTOREX. Each patrol vehicle’s supply kit includes a compact, versatile assortment of appropriate engine oils, ATFs, coolants, etc. 12
When the wrong fuel is pumped in, the entire fuel system has to be emptied and the gasoline-diesel mixture properly disposed of to protect the environment. If a vehicle cannot continue its journey, it is taken for repairs to the nearest garage or dealership. GREATEST BREAKDOWN HITS Although car makers are constantly improving the quality and technology of their vehicles, TCS responders still have their hands full. Most breakdowns occur during the summer and winter holiday months. While mechanical breakdowns such as clutch or gearbox problems are becoming ever fewer, the number of calls due to electrical system faults is continually growing. Nearly 60% of breakdowns can be traced to the electrical system. But the number one spot in the “breakdown charts” is still held by an old favorite – battery problems. ALTERNATIVE DRIVE SYSTEMS Although electric vehicles are becoming more common on Swiss roads, they’re not immune to breakdowns either. This is increasing the challenges facing the TCS patrol teams’ know-how and equipment. Following proper safety precautions is a must, especially on vehicles with high-voltage systems, some of which can pack over 600 volts. To keep up with the e-mobility trend, TCS breakdown assistance is upping its capabilities, working closely with manufacturers and other international automobile clubs. That way TCS patrols can not only assist with broken down gas and hybrid cars, but also electric vehicles. Ignition system 9.9% Bodywork 7.5% Engine 7.2% Wheels/ tires 6.9% Fuel system 5.7% Starter motor 4.6% AC/climate control/ heater 4.2% Alternator 4.1% Fuel injection system 10.0% Battery 31.7% Electric, general 0.4% Suspension 0.4% Exhaust system 1.5% Brakes/ABS/ESP 1.9% Coupling/gearbox/drivetrain 4% 10 MILLION KILOMETERS Taken together, TCS breakdown responders travel over 10 million kilometers a year (including haulage of vehicles by truck and repatriations). The need for an efficient roadside assistance program is clear. In topographically challenging Switzerland, the service is performed by several different organizations. And during the time you’ve been reading this article, any number of cars have been jump-started, hooked up to a tow truck, unlocked without keys, had a spare tire installed, short circuit repaired or otherwise made roadworthy thanks to the skill of TCS responders. • www.tcs.ch 0800 140 140 MOTOREX MAGAZINE 101 I APRIL 2014 13
