Tires Hunter!!!

Hunting for new set of tires. Size 235/50R18.
This is a standard size for Alphard/Vellfire which are using a 18 inches rims as a standard.

My current tire is due to 'over-age'. My Alphard was installed with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 225/45R18 manufactured in 2008. Already 5 years worn. The condition of the tires :

1.  The tread left - about 50%.
2.  Many small cracked rubber all around.
3.  Driving experience - felt 'hard bumping' and quite noisy

Need to change because worry it may be well exploded during cruising on the highway.
My hunting begins with:

1.  FALKEN ZIEX 512
2.  FALKEN AZENIS PT722
3.  ACHILLES ATR SPORT 1
4.  ACHILLES ATR SPORT 2
5.  GT RADIAL CHAMPIRO HPY

Falken, Japan brand but manufactured in Thailand. Not recommended tires for MPV, especially Falken Ziex 512. Got many negative review from MPV owner (Estima & Alphard). Moreover, during my time in Japan, my japanese mechanic did not recommend the Falken for full size MPV.He said not comfortable in term of noise and performance in wet condition.

Achilles and GT Radial, both budget tyre under RM550, made in Indonesia. From observation, GT Radial is slightly expensive.

Finally decided to use Achilles ATR Sport 2. Priced at RM427.50/pc at one of the tire workshop in Batu Pahat. Need to order coz no stock at that time. One month after placing order, the tires finally reached at the workshop.

Achilles ATR Sport 2., manufactured code 0813. Means that the tires are manufactured on the 8th week of the year 2013.
 

After being fitted to my Alphard

So far, no complain. Compare to previous tires, quite stable in motion may be due to the widen tires and more comfortable. Previous tire, Bridgestone Potenza 225/45R18 is not suitable size for full size MPV in my opinion. Achilles so far is less noise compare to 5 year previous tire.

Below than RM500/pc this tires, the performance is suit its price. According to the online reviews, ATR Sport scored quite good comments.

PVC Carpet Mat DIY

My OEM carpet mat already dirty and i am sooo lazy to wash the dirt out..hahaha
Bought the PVC material at one of car accessory shop at Parit Raja. 
The shop quoted the lowest price, RM4.50/sqft. The market price for this PVC material range from RM5.50 to RM7.00 per square feet.

PVC Material:
Color : brown to match with beige interior color.
I bought about 12ft x 4ft ---> 48sqft.
The material have a standard width of 4 feet only. For an Alphard the interior floor width has more than 4ft!!
In order to make it `super` nice and luxurious look, must cut the material vertically. Means that there were quite plenty of waste material. For me , worth it... Coz, shop will charge about RM320 ~ RM400 for a nicely fit PVC carpet. For just cut a square carpet (kotak2 je), market price about RM200 ~ RM280.

 

 

 

 

My method, just simple:

1. take out the OEM carpet mat and use them as a guideline jig
2. using a sharp knife (yg 20 posen satu tu, pisau lipat), trim the carpet according exactly the boarder/edge of the OEM carpet.
3. install the PVC carpet, nicely fit to the floor.

 



 

 

 

 





As for cleaning duty for this type of carpet, actually very hard to vacuum out the dirt or dust. Must take out completely from the floor, and `hit` it hard by using a `penyapu` to force the dirt out!!!! HAHAHAHAH
That`s the clear disadvantage of using this type of carpet.

My DIY carpet mat after installation...

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



New Record FC!!!!

Managed to achieve 715.3km per full tank as indicated by odometer. 
Journey from Parit Raja to Pendang, Kedah along PLUS highway.
After service - oil change/air filter change + balancing/alignment

Pumped in Esso petrol.

With stock ECU, stock tyre (205/65R16) will have - 338,363.3 complete rotation.
Therefore my actual distance is calculated by 2.0725 X 338,363.3 = 701.3km.

Finally, my Alphard FC > 700km per full tank...!! I am sooo satisfy... :)

Time to service

Time Up!!!! 
My Alphard need to be serviced today. Actually already clocked more than 4500km mileage since last service. Time to shop engine oil, oil filter and others (suspect front & rear brakepad). The existing brakepads (original Toyota) were never replaced since owned this giant. Already 2.5 years.

Surveying the maintenance's items.
Went to Carrefour Batu Pahat to take a look at engine oil. Personally, i prefer Semi-Synthetic Mobil Super2000. Yes, there were clearance stocks there. Priced at RM90 per 4 litres bottle. But something is disinterest me. The manufactured date is November 2010. That's 2 years ago. Plus the oil's spec is API SL standard. The new API is API-SN. I opted to choose the latest API Standard for my cars. So, i did not buy the engine oil although the price was really interesting.

Finally, i bought the engine oil at one of the Mobil Petrol Station at Sri Gading (before the pedestrian fly-over). Bought at RM113 per 4 litres and met the standard API-SN. Mobil Super 2000 10W-40 Semi-Synthetic 4 litres to be exact. The manufacturing date is December 2011 but with latest API-SN standard.



Bought the original Toyota oil filter, RM18 at sparepart shop.

The part number is 90915-YZZE2

Part is manufactured in Thailand by Toyota Thailand. 

Just for record, 

1) changing engine oil without replacing oil filter need - 4.1L

2) changing engine oil with oil filter need - 4.2L

This is service setup by Hamamatsu Netz Toyota based on my observation during my time at Japan.

Some workshop may be said that 4L is sufficient. Used to top up only 4L Estima ACR30W which use same engine 2AZ-FE. Honestly, did not find any irregularity or abnormaly by using this setup.

Went to one of tyre workshop at Parit Raja to change oil. 

Also, i did replace the air filter DIY.

Luckily, during my visit to Autobacks last year, managed to buy MITSINBO brand part - 2 pcs at RM10.10/pc.

My regular spare part shop quote RM15/pc for aftermarket air filter, brand - FILTON.

The part number is 17801-28010 sharing part with Toyota Estima ACR30W.

Front brake pad also needed to be replaced.

The workshop told that original front brake pad cost RM300 while aftermarket brand 'BestForm' cost at RM150. Opted to buy aftermarket one. Yes, that part may be decide between death or live!! But the BestForm is not a 'cikai' brand from China Mainland. Part are manufactured by Malaysia company. Moreover, i am not that kind of speedy driver (ayat utk sedapkan hati..hehe).

Total cost of maintenance:

At tyre workshop

Mobil Super2000 semi-synthetic (10W-40)  = RM113

Oil Filter 90915-YZZE2                               = RM18

BestForm semi-metallic brakepad (Front)      = RM150

Balancing                                                      = RM28

Alignment                                                      = RM18

Labour charge                                               = RM15

Changing Air Filter DIY

Air Filter 17801-28010                                 = RM10.10

Labour charge                                               = free Maaa DIY..hehehe

TOTAL COST OF MAINTENANCE (67,000KM) = RM352.10

Just for an update:

Testimonial: (26/7/2013)

The BestForm brake pad served it's purpose but the dust from the braking event is significantly much compared to OEM making the rims dirty/ blacken with the dust. Suspect that the lifespan is much shorter than OEM.

My advice, go for OEM... :(

ETIQA Motor Claim Insurance

My car is insured by ETIQA. This is my first experience dealing with ETIQA's claim. Previously (back on 2009), when my KIA Spectra driven by my wife got hit by a motorcycle was insured by TAKAFUL Malaysia - bad experience..!!

We can track our claim status online for ETIQA claim.

http://www.merimen.com.my/claims/index.cfm?fusebox=MTRcmt&fuseaction=dsp_claimant&ins=ETIQA

We also can view the total cost repair quaoted by repairer and approved by adjuster.

Which parts are replaced/repaired and the part's price also.

In my case, the loss is quite small visually. From my observation :

1. Replace the headlight LH  - my estimation cost about RM1,300

2. Replace side bracket LH - my estimation cost about RM200

3. Repair dented left fender

4. Paintwork front bumper + left fender - about RM400

The total cost is about RM2000 ~ RM3000 if i want to repair without insurance's claim.

Surprisingly, the repairer quoted about RM11,235 !!!!

While based on adjuster the quotation is reduced to RM6,460.26

The repairer quoted that my car need to replace the whole front bumper + front grill assembly which no need to be repaired at all!! hahahahahah..what a joke...

The workshop just want to take advantage of the claim - more money are flowing right down into their mouth..hihi.

The best part is the repairer also replace my already left side broken my sonar sensor before accident happened..hahaha

But i did not care at all as long as I do not need to pay extra which i expected earlier.

Actually, my car is under insured beyond the market value.Luckily, it is only 10% below the market value and ETIQA still willing to pay all the cost. Still, i expect to pay for the new part price (headlight) coz the insurer will indemnify us. There is a clause in insurance policy - Betterment. The claimant need to pay percentage of new part price according to the age of car. In my case, the car already 9 years, so i need to pay 40% of the part's price.But, the repairer do not ask any extra payment at all.

I suspected that the

approved total repair cost by ETIQA = actual cost repair + profit margin required by repairer + actual i need to top up

Whatever la......hopefully in future, i will never never again deal with motor insurance claim at all..AMIN..

Alphardku 'kiss' Livina's ass.... :(

Sooo unfortunate event!!!

After heavy rainy day dated 19 January 2013 (exactly a month after my 3rd son's birth), finally my Alphard involve in an accident at Batu Pahat. This is my first ever car accident since i got driving licence in the yaer 2005!!! More regret - Toyota Alphard.

Truthly speaking, just a minor one. Front bumper had only few minor scratches but my smoke headlamp NFL was broken then. The left fender was dented a little. Car paint also (left fender) was also affected. Nothing happen to chasis and front bonnet coz the damaged was caused by a 'hard' kissing an ass.. Not crash into...

The accident happened at the junction of Jalan Kundang 4 (from Taman Bukit Pasir) exit to Jalan Tan Swee Hoe about 12.00pm. At the location, there was a Nissan Grand Livina in front of mine want to exit from the junction, just like me. The Grand Livina moved forward a little bit waiting for a last car to pass. Me also moved forward but dunno somehow that Grand Livina stopped suddenly (the car is a new car JPA **** - about a month older), he may be too cautioness. My sight was out of that Grand Livina coz concentrated on the last car to pass). Then, i did not realise that my Alphard already kiss that smelly ass until i heard something 'bang'. YA ALLAH.......

Without had much talk, i looked at my car and his, ermmmm..at first, i thought just front bumper got sratches, but his rear bumper had a major dented. Look closely, walaweiiii!!! Broken smoke headlamp!!!
Straight away, appologized to him and asked him to settle by claiming my insurance since i cannot afford to pay out of my pocket to replace smoke headlamp and his loss.

He look angry at first but everything was settled down nicely by lodging police report to able both parties to claim insurance.

WTF!!!! Angry with myself.......my wife 'bebel' to me...... ;)

Mileage / Speed Correction

My Alphard`s stock tyre is 205/65R16. It will give the tyre circumference dimension at 2114.0mm. My aftermarket tyre and rim is 225/45R18 with 2072.5mm circumference. Previous post, managed to achieve 689.2km per full tank with 225/45R18. The actual/correct mileage is re-calculated.



One complete cycle of stock tyre will give 2.114m distance compared to aftermarket tyre contribute 2.0725m distance.
With stock ECU, stock tyre (205/65R16) will have - 326,395.5 complete rotation.
Therefore my actual distance is calculated by 2.0725 X 326,395.5 = 676.5km.

With maintaining about 110km/h along the highway which was actually 2% faster, actual speed is re-calculated then.
110km/h X 98% = 107.8km/h only!!!

That`s why i felt 110km/h for Alphard is not right. Hahahahaha...
That mean for my Alphard, to maintain actual 110km/h, speedometer must indicate 112.2km/h. Ermmm, not much difference honestly. Opted to maintain 110km/h indicatated by speedometer.