... that is, if they are still at it!
Most of my useful contacts in the car service industry have either passed on, retired or moved to somewhere unknown to me.
My daughter who has just started work in PJ is now using her brother's car, which is now almost 6 years old. Her recent account of wobbly experience while driving back to BG led me to discover that the front shock absorbers needed replacement.
After a few weeks, she said she felt something is wrong and knowing how I rather check it out myself, it was left to me to take it to my friend in Jalan Ipoh. Confirmed the rear shocks are still ok but not the rear tyres. He also discovered the silencer has rusted and if not replaced, it is going to sound like a sports car! The original remote control for the alarm cum central locking has fallen apart (given her a scare at a friend's house) and she had been locking the car manually.
I was introduced to a key specialist near KFC to change the remote control which costed Rm145, including a new dry cell battery. Having made appointment with a contractor in PJ, I scouted for a tyre shop there to replace the rear tyres. I was recommended Continental tyres at Rm172 a piece. As usual, when I went back to my friend in Jalan Ipoh, his son who has just started a small tyre shop said they were expensive. I had to apologise simply because I did not know he could do it for me as I did not notice the small the number of tyres stacked in a corner of the shop.
For the exhaust, I found the shop at the corner of Jalan Perhentian closed for two days when I wanted to have it done. I drove to Sentul Pasar and actually passed one shop with a sign but was too lazy to take a big u-turn to check it out. Then I went to Kg. Kasipillay and the few workshops left did not have one for exhaust. Then I went to the Segambut industrial area and found one next to a Hyundai service centre! I asked the exhaust specialist and he said he is free only in the afternoon and when asked the price, Rm250 was quoted for a local product. I went back to my friend and upon closer inspection, said he could do it without involving welding because the section is secured with nuts only. The spare parts man happened to be around and he went for a replacement part. Within half an hour all in, it was done for Rm195 (175 + 20 for labour cost), saving me Rm55.
Now, I feel more at ease, knowing that the few necessary repairs have been done because I would not wish my daughter to be in distress over something which could be avoided with timely repairs. The satisfaction of having saved money as compared with the young lady who left her Kia Optima to a service centre in Ipoh and ended up with a bill over Rm4,000 (all because of her 'do what is necessary' instructions to them) is priceless! Not only was she conned into spending more than necessary for repairs, the next day her car engine died and could not start, followed soon after, by a flat battery when the alternator failed to work. It made me wonder if there were in fact good parts being stolen in the process!
The most common problem with poor management of car repairs is the replacement of parts which have a long useful life left. The service centres are fond of replacing more parts than necessary when dealing with easy customers.
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