Toe Out

Preliminary checks, with the aforementioned wood, shows, that my car is probably having toe-outs at the front side.

I think the rear should be fine.

I will check in detail probably tonight.

By the way, the wood is not really straight, but I took that into account already.

This Wood Is A Keeper

I believe I have an idea about checking STELLAR's alignment.

It will involve, instead of the traditional use of long sewing threads, the use of a three meter long straight wood.

The wood, or beam, used to be a refuse of our home, which origin or purpose is not known.

It has been sitting idle inside our porch for a good month, and has also been outside our house gate for about a month, until I accidentally imagined using it as an alignment checker.

So the wood is spared, and inside it went again, last Saturday.

I will check first whether the wood is truly straight. Whether it is "true", like most bodyworks repairmen will usually say.

And then, one side of the wood will be used as the checker for the front side toe, and one side for the rear toe.

The two more sides will be used to check other measurements, like the distance between the front and the rear wheel centers (wheel base).

I will have to straighten out the steering wheels first, and then the check will follows.

i have not had any idea with the type of marking to use, whether with correction fluid, or marker pen, or just a pencil. But i think a pencil may be more suitable. My son's colored pencil will be a very useful candidate in this case.

Each side will only be used for its own purpose.

And then, probably, I will use it to check on Warriors' alignment too.

Yes, I am going to just check first, and still let the alignment shop do their work. Only thing is, I can make educated guess, before and after the alignment shop do their stuffs.

The wood will definitely stay with me for a little while.

Spares Purchase

The purchasing of parts is commenced.

I should be receiving them in a weeks time.

Hopefully not when I am in Penang.

Engine Out

The visitation last night was quite a turning point.

The engine is out of the car, and usually that means a hefty price has to be paid.

But fortunately, most items can be reused.

Only some things like piston rings, main bearings, gaskets, tappets and oil seals needs replacing.

I was thinking the piston, the clutch plate, the camshaft was having problem too!

We'll see how it goes.

Mouse In Him Somewhere...

Finally I sent the creaking and squeaking STELLAR to Haji Yahaya.

Hopefully the repair's not that costly.

I was hoping the best, but still I have to prepare for the worst.

Methinks he needs some TLC too, after all that hard work he was entrusted to do.

In Car Entertainment

I prefer to keep my car STELLAR simple.

No radios are present. Instead I use the MP3 feature I have on my handphone to listen to music through earphone or small headphones.

I don't have spotlights. With this limitation, I usually drove slowly come nighttime.

In fact I drove slowly most of the time. I call it, fuel saving mode.

But then again, I do entertain myself sometimes. All I do is to downshift to third, then press further a bit the throttle. Then I listen to the carburettor emit the lovely sound I look forward to.

And then we flew together.

Pure bliss I would describe.

I Feel An On-Ramp

Finally I found some time to repair the exhaust bracket.

I sent it at the Everco muffler shop opposite the Wangsa Melawati masjid.

When I saw that the shop also have oil recycling tanks, I asked him to do the oil change as well.

What's frightening though, it is done on a ramp, and I have to drive it up there myself. I am so afraid of STELLAR falling down sideways in between the ramps. Driving down is another nerve wracking episode.

Ouch!

Interior Clean Up

My youngest son has a vomiting spree. So there goes one MC!

By the way, he recovered, and finally slept, so I found myself some alone time with STELLAR.

So I finally feel like cleaning up his undercarpet. Cleaning spree you could say, since I was inspired by my now-polished-look AP Racing wheels, I feel I didn't do justice to the rest of the car.

Opening the front driver's side first and foremost, I found lots of mud or grime like substance, quite slimy at first.

So that needs a full lifting of the carpet. To see the whole extent of the accumulation, plus I need to see the extent of front side floorboard rust too. The carpet was then duly folded, driver's side only.

While washing the grime with soap and water, and draining them by pushing the water towards the hole made by rust damage, I found that the water keeps coming back, even though I thought I have drained them. This needs further investigation. Then I saw the drip.

The carpet was retaining water, probably for an elongated length of time. It still drips water for about 20 minutes after being folded. Yes I took that long to clean the mud.

I decided to pull the whole front carpet, which covers the driver and passenger side, out. Thus I have to unclip the passenger side as well. Then I saw another problem.

The front passenger side carpet, surprisingly, contains, quite expectedly, an ant colony, each holding a larvae or egg with it.

So I, being quite shocked by the encounter, decided to just rip the whole front side carpet altogether, partly because of the fear that they may spread around the car, and start another colony under the remaining carpeting.

The carpet I rip out, I hung it to dry. Let it relax for a while.

I may plug that rust hole with the more durable duct tape sometimes later. If I didn't, it may still let water in when it rains.

I guess it's time not to use any carpeting for a while.


PS: Here is another tip. Baby wipes are durable enough to clean grimy car surface or parts.

Little Tips

If your dish sponge is too far gone to clean anymore dish, don't throw it away just yet!

Use it to wash your car instead!

The same goes for dish scrub, usually found in dark green color. You may remember cleaning your frying pan or pots with it.

Use that to scrub your alloy wheels then!

I didn't take any photos of my scrubbed wheel, but suffice to say, the silver coating has never looked better in my opinion.

The Shrill

Lately there's this shrill sound coming out from the engine bay area.

It is pretty much audible all the time. I think it corresponds to the wheel or something, coz it only sounds when the car is moving.

And then, the exhaust is hitting the rear skirting. Visual check reveals a broken rear bracket.

The car is near it's next service too. About time huh!?

Majical

I dreamt of this lately.

Even nightmares!

I am so into it

And I will get it sooner or later...



The AutoFashion Majic Clubman Bumper...

Body Paint

While washing STELLAR a week ago, I noticed several paint bulges at different places.

Some peeling were also apparent.

I think just doing a respray is not enough. The car needs total paint stripping.

I am now learning to do it. A slow learning. I haven't even started.

But before all those, the floorboard needs attention too. And the front bumper, probably needs treatment, or better/worse yet, a replacement.

Almost 150?

While on the highway last night, I think I pressed the throttle too much.

Way too much.

I finished the 140kph meter, and did a further estimated 20 or 25 extra undisplayed kph. That's around 160 or 165kph total.

Calculating that for every kilometer reflected on the meter is actually 0.9kilometers on the road, I reckon I actually did 144 to 148kph!

That's a new personal record.

The previous owner did mention once that the Mini can reach 150kph. I don't doubt that now.

But it was not a pretty experience. The car chassis was totally vibrating. I got myself a prolonged nervousness that stays for 10 minutes after I ease off to 90 again.

I think the floorboard needs replacing first, before another reattempt can commence.

I will stay at the stipulated speed limits from now onwards, except for overtaking.

Belt Slip

For several days, I thought I heard the fan belt slipping.

So today I really did something to cure that.

I pulled the alternator a bit more upwards, and tightened the nuts.

I also eased off the clutch adjustment nut a bit, hoping to get more throw.

I hope all goes well when I drive it this evening.

Hazard Light

While I lost my headlight, I found out that I hazard indicator lights are working and available for me to use. And I found this today by accident.

It was not working in the past, probably due to multiple problems in the electricals.

While testing the switches a day or two ago, I must have switched on the hazard by mistake and let in stay on. Since I don't really mind if the switch is on or off, so I thought nothing about it, because Haji the mechanic also thought the switch might be problematic. And it did nothing, so there.

But as I drive just now, I indicated to the left, and instead both indicator sides lights up.

The hazard is available! And I am surprised that it does.

I think as I see things go, the hazard might function only when both switches are on, the hazard main switch, and either side of the indicator, unlike most cars which have a single switch to activate the hazard.

Either way, I am relieved. Finally I can proudly use it in case I have a breakdown. Not that I am eager for a breakdown or anything.

No Lights

I found the first electrical fault today.

The headlight went off, and on again, and off again, several times.

Few minutes later, it died the penultimate time.

I had to hold the toggle switch to beam mode to illuminate the dark LDP streets near the Limkokwing stretch.

I may think the lighting switch is at fault, or was it the beam-to-headlight toggle switch?

Either way, the beam was fine. So I'll be using that as substitute for now. I guess the illumination is better with the beam mode on.

The Test Drive

Other than a 180 degree spin near the end of the journey, the ride today was uneventful.

It's not so epic either. I don't have so much time, and I do think this much is enough.

The 272 metered kilometer (or 244 corrected kilometers) ride took about 4.5 hours excluding breaks. This covers mainly the southern side of Selangor.

Pre-drive, I did a general check on the engine, inside the radiator, the oil level and electrical connections.

What shocks me, was two loose spark plugs, at locations 1 and 3 from radiator side. This was promptly tightened. Lucky me!

No wonder the area around the particular spark plugs are a little bit oilier than the rest.

And then, a full fill up of the tank, which registers almost 20 liters. This is exactly the amount to use, which when the amount is up, will see the gauge registering the middle level. Bought some bread too after that.

Then, at approximately 8AM, I am off, to Salak via Putrajaya-Salak Tinggi highway.

This was followed by Sepang and Sungai Pelek, and by accident I went instead of Morib, to Bagan Lalang. This mistake was well received though, as I did enjoy the brief view of the sea, and the construction of the marina lodging.

These are the next few towns and notable villages.

• Tanjong Sepat
• Morib
• Banting
• Jenjarom
• Telok Panglima Garang

Arriving in Klang, the weather was already warm. It's almost 10AM by then.

As I came near Kota Bridge, I knew I made a significant mistake. It was a traffic jam, which I am aware of but forgot to recall.

I thought it would be fine. But then I saw it.

The first result of the test. Zero oil pressure at idle. One burden.

Then the clutch, probably getting a bit too warm, decides to bind together a bit. Oh no! Extra burden.

I am not to be put down so easily though. I played with the clutch, and pressed the throttle to more than 1500rpm. That should kind of a temporary solution until I cleared the city congestion.

Middle of the commotion, I found an opening heading to Kapar. So I followed that instead, not anticipating any proximity of clearance if I still head to Federal Highway.

Not far into Jalan Kapar, I finally did found an entrance to enter NKVE, with a non-memorable name. I followed that.

Via NKVE I attempt to enter the Federal Highway. Then I head to Shah Alam.

At first, I plan to head to Sungai Buloh and then Rawang via the Monterez route. But instinct told me I am maybe too tired already. Plus I have not eaten much. And I need a drink.

A brief stop at Shah Alam cures this. And I am off to Sunway and entered LDP, Putrajaya bound.

Near Bukit Puchong, I decided that I need a little more old road cure. Thus I entered the alternative road to Cyberjaya via Bukit Puchong Industrial Area.

Near the exit of this road is where I did a stunt that went too far. A 180 degree turn.

I think I cornered at 60kph. I am sure the bend I was about to enter was a 115 degree bend.

The back went outwards faster than I can blink. No amount of steering correction can contra this ultimate type of oversteer.

No harm was done to me and STELLAR.

My heart did stop for a while I think. PHEW!

Mentally noted, I must do it again under controlled condition.

Cyberjaya time, I strolled around a bit. And I went back. Arrival is at exactly 2PM. And I went to sleep mode.

For the next one, I will plan a better ride, utilizing as minimum highway as possible, including even those freeway around me. I plan to drive to the northern side of Selangor for this one. A northern Negeri Sembilan ride is an option too, for it has more Federal road than I can imagine having in Selangor.

Long Vacation

STELLAR finally went back last night.

My veteran mechanic did a terrific job, nonetheless. I think the charge is fair enough. I saw only pleasant stuffs in my engine bay. The wiring was revamped, and all the unsightly big looms are replaced with proper insulation and heat shrink rubber sleeves.

Most improvements are noticeable. The electric fan was louder, suggesting higher running speed. The wiper was damn fast, compared to last time, I think the speed doubles.

There are one or two flaws in the electricals still present, probably due to loose earthing. One is the indicator sometimes not emitting, and that is solved by tapping the relay body underneath the dashboard. And then this beam light sometimes flickering when it is activated. That's all, nothing major.

But the one bugger was the clutch. The adjustment probably was not right. So it's just trial and error for me.

But surprisingly, when I did have a go at adjusting it, all was easy it seems.

Hope it stays that way. And I will have a pleasant ride home tonight.

Later, I will write a full description of what my mechanic friend did to my car.

Reasons..

I have no time.

I have no space.

I have no skill.

I'm still weak from all the fever last week.

Thus off to Haji Yahaya STELLAR will be.

Tonight, I'll try fiddling with the electrics for the last time. Maybe it WILL, start, who knows..

No Life

I was feverish. Or so I feel.

But I have got to go to the office today.

Thus, I think I might drive.

But no, the very fortunate STELLAR won't start. Won't even budge!

I think I also saw a small spark under the dashboard. Oh NO!

OK, rest as you may brother, but soon enough you will HAVE TO MOVE!