The Problem Car

STELLAR's steering is fully fitted. So I would say it's feels more secure now.

Only thing is, I know that the rubber cone is not so well performing, as it's fully compressed already. The front side is too sagging already, STELLAR looks awfully low! So a pair needs replacing.

And the front hub ball joints needs replacement too.

And interestingly, it exhibits almost a crosswind effect to him. And boy I am afraid sometimes.

All these done, I hope the alignment will be flawless.

Some more, the bodykit is sagging. I need to tie it up with at least, a heavy duty cable tie or something.

Driving STELLAR

I drive once a week now.

Last week it's on Friday. This week is probably the same too.

You know what? All the monotony of bus-hopping just disappeared, in one single day.

I founded out the cause of the cooling problem. It's the radiator cap. It's not protective enough anymore. I need to replace it, then see if it persists.

If it doesn't, then the problem is solved. Then I can go long distance again. To site, to holiday, to wherever.

Another thing is, the steering rack and hub ball joint needs attention too. I feel I must make a budget for those.

Or should I just swipe my Citibank? It seems all too easy short term, but in the end, Arrrrrghh!!!

Constantly

STELLAR successfully got his oil changed.

Afterwards he runs with a consistent temperature, and relieved I am.

Now, to worry about the 350rm steering rack. I was quoted 40++ for the labour.

Where to find the dough?

Afternoon, headed to Seremban.

Hot Hearted

STELLAR will need servicing anytime soon.

The engine is way warmer, nearing to being hot.

I suspect the oil has thinned out to the point of expiration.

And it's been more than 4 month already since the last oil change.

So obviously...

Almost Power Steering

STELLAR's steering felt too light last night, I think I almost imagined him being too easy to crash somewhere.

Or I think I pumped in too much air into his tyres, I don't know. It's 31psi at the back, and about 34psi front.

Or, the steering felt heavy all these while, because of too few air in the tyres. And I just got used to the heavy steering feeling, when this happen.

I should get used to this new feeling, as it almost felt like power steering was added to him.

Next week will be my turn to drive people to Friday prayers. I am thinking of putting in some aircondition gas as well. Just for them hot moments. Just...

And for the steering, it will certainly need some attention someday.

Rest in no peace, STELLAR, for at any moment, you shall find yourself getting started again.

Jump In

Nearly missed the bus this morning.

Lucky I asked my love while she's still half awake, about her brother wanting to use his own car today. So I jumped in STELLAR straight away.

And instinct told me to drive a bit faster too, albeit worried about the steering rack's looseness.

One tip from me to all bus catchers; always use only minimal electrics of your car, unless you want to end up draining your car battery over a forgotten switch!

Rounding The Petaling Street

I remember going to a hobby shop at the far spot in Petaling Street.

I decided to go there this evening, to find it.

I did not though, but I did find a stall selling camera tripods, which I planned to buy probably next week.

I must try again someday, to look for that shop. I remember the shop was having a blue Tamiya Mini body, which I must get.

And I need to find an upgrade motor too.

Inner Face

Just wanted to show STELLAR's inner side.






Basking in the evening sun...

Boy Versus Mini

STELLAR's exhaust is knocking against the bodykit again!

It has a continuous rattling sound that will last the whole duration of the engine run.

Sooner or later, I will have to attend to it anyway.

So today, two other major things happen.

Muzaffar needs a pro-tem babysitter. Consensus (mine) decides that my parents will be it. I hope they can stand the supposedly weeklong accompaniment. And I hope we can stand the thoughts of missing him. I already misses his bite, and I was actually hoping that the shoulder bite scars would not heal, to remind me of his antics.

And, I got a new company as well. I added another hobby to my stable already. I bought a Tamiya Mini Cooper Monte-Carlo. It is an almost-exact replica of the Timo Makinen-Paul Easter rally-winning 60s Mini. I wished I had bought the blue one instead, but this one will do, until I have enough dough to buy the alternate body.

Back home, I was having fun already, albeit limited. But I did too much wheelspins already, even within the confined space.

Nyum2! Sooner or later, the house will not be big enough for the two of us (read: me and my Mini Mini).

Now, what to call my latest Mini huh? I have to find a name for him as well.


PS: Wonder what will be Muzaffar's reaction when he sees an actually moving-by-itself toy?


The new hobby of mine!

Hot Plate

As most say, Minis can never be perfect. Occasionally, something will break. (read: weekly)

As of last night, STELLAR suffered his worst clutch binding to date. In the rain. On Jalan Tun Razak. Big mistake. Heading towards Seremban Highway. Bigger mistake. Imagine that!

Being in a traffic jam with a modern car is relieving enough, compared to being in a Mini, with an increasingly hot and binding clutch. Add to that a pinch or two of stiff clutch pedal spring, and you will get a sore leg muscle in no time.

Fighting the pain, I had to hold on to the clutch while balancing the throttle, or the engine will die. If I shift into neutral gear, it will stuck there and not go into any gear anymore.

I learnt my lesson. The lesser I use the clutch, the lesser the chance of it to bind.

So today, I intend to avoid the morning traffic altogether. At 6.30am, I departed for work. It's simply a big treat for both of us.

Probably Wednesday next week, STELLAR will get its intensive rest. I may drive him sometimes to catch the intercity bus, twice a week.

And I vow never to pay another mechanic for at least 3 months. For that, he needs all the rest he can get.


PS: Missing Muzaffar so much! Been three weeks since our parenting sabbatical.

In Threes

Three weeks, three gaskets and three 200 dollar bills later, STELLAR finally made it on the road again.

I don't know how he will cope after the final repairs, but I have high hopes.

I felt like making up for lost time.

Three weeks of driving will do.

But I vowed to use the public transport come next month.

I guess one week will do then. Starting tomorrow.

Starting tomorrow....

Disturbing Behavior

STELLAR got very hot today. I'm worried.

Headed to Bangi again. I hope the new gasket stays strong.

Maybe I neglected the radiator.

Maybe the engine oil's low.
Maybe the gasket's not tight enough.

Maybe the timing was out.

Maybe the carburettor's rich.

I can't imagine what STELLAR might be feeling right now.

But then again, I do think now, that maybe STELLAR's better off in the capable hands of Pak Syed Ariffin, the Mini mechanic, rather than somebody new from Bangi.

Car Wash

Finally the repairment brought STELLAR alive again. Picked him up last night.

Thought of giving him a shining car wash. Found a spot to do just that near Bangi, just outside Putrajaya Gate 1.

He really shines afterwards, and it did blind my eyes.

Lessons In Ignorance

A small accident happened today. It happened to both, me and STELLAR.

He was overheating, and I don't seem to realize until it's about too late. 10 minutes too late I think.

And it was my mistake when I opened up the radiator a bit too early in the process of checking inside. The resulting steam blow the left side of my face quite heavily. Luckily it's relatively cooler than I thought it should be.

Even so, I worry more at STELLAR than my own self. Even so, I shouldn't worry about my own face, as no visible mark appears yet. But I fear the worst had happened to the engine.

I can start it. And it starts and came alive on all attempts. It only lost compression, thus I really hoped that only the gasket distorts, and nothing more.

I should have not ignored to top up the radiator water after his last long distance ride from Terengganu last week.

New Skin

This is STELLAR in his new skin.

By the way, that's my other uncle, not the painter specialist.

Picture taken at kampong, still in painting garage, waiting for full polishing to finish.

Drive Itinerary

Itinerary

• 8.40am: Departed from Pulau Serai at northern Dungun. My cousin Azammi's house.
  
• 9am: Just past Bukit Bauk Polytechnic area at southern Dungun. About to enter Bukit Bauk hill road.
• 10am: At Kemaman outskirts. 7 minutes stopover at uncle Abu Bakar in Chendor, and 15-minutes refuelling at Cherating.
• 11am: At the infamous diamond-shaped intersection near Kuantan. The one 10 kilometers before the clove-shaped intersection.
• 12pm: At Kampong Sri Jaya in Maran district.
• 1pm: At Temerloh Industrial Park in Mentakab.
• 2pm: At an unknown spot on the Gombak-Bentong historical road. KL is around 66km away.
• 3pm: Near to Terminal Putra LRT at Gombak.

Highlights.

• No tolls are involved, except Sungai Besi-Kajang 1.80rm toll.
  
• Used several historical roads, namely, Kijal-Perwaja old road, Perwaja-Kemaman Supply Base old road, Kuantan-Karak old road and Gombak-Bentong old road.
  
• STELLAR shines in overtaking. I think he's more eager in a new skin.
• No traffic on the Gombak-Bentong old road until Kampong Orang Asli Gombak. I love the loneness.
• No stopover at all from Cherating until Kajang toll. About 400 breathtaking kilometers. Unlikely for a Mini, I know.
• Two police roadblocks at two unrecalled locations, and a single-vehicle accident near Gambang traffic light junction near MEC City doesn't slow me down.
  
• I still see most of the vehicles I saw before, all the time. Most that overtakes me. And those vehicles that I overtake, I didn't see most of them anymore. Either I'm too adventurous or they are really sedately-driving.
  

I'm tired. Gotta get some sleep now.

The Message

I'm currently in Lumut. Was just about to start eating dinner.

The message was received at 8pm just now. It was my painter uncle. He said the paint job was done, and he just started polishing it. I couldn't be happier. In two days' time, I shall be on my way to Terengganu to fetch him.

I hope I have chosen the right colour for him. I hope it suits him.