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.