Keeping up the Charade (Getting Hot Headed)

In this episode
- Overheated engine on the highway
- temperature high
- bubbling radiator
- steaming engine

It was her first long distance ride. We were travelling fully loaded, 225km up North to Teronoh, where my brother studied. The car was loaded with his luggage and mine, and my dad joined us for the trip. So yes, it was asking a lot from the car, but she started off fine. We dropped Marc off at UTP, and significantly lighter, set off 133 km South for Tanjung Malim where I studied.

Along the way, we noticed the temperature gauge moving up.

Temperature gauge looks like this

and from what I've learned from mechanics and Youtube, a normal temperature is supposed to stay constant at centre or below centre towards the cool end marked C.

In our case, it was on a gradual rise, *steadily increasing with every kilometre. This is a bad thing, because it tells you that something is wrong with your cooling system.  When we get hot, we drink water, and this cools all body systems.
Likewise, cars also get heated and have to cool down using water, or coolant.

We stopped by at a petrol station and proceeded to pour water all over the engine, because it was steaming. The radiator, after we had refilled it, started to *bubble, as soon as we turned on the engine.

WARNING: never open or touch radiator cap right after turning engine off. Allow it to cool down for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Soon the temperature dropped again and we decided it was safe enough to continue our journey. Big mistake.
after about 5km, the temperature started spiking up and we pulled over.

We had turned off the air conditioning, thinking that the fewer things running the better.

Father called his mechanic at home who advised to turn on the air conditioning as the fan would also help cool down the engine, as we turned around and made our way back to the petrol station.

Normally this is done by the radiator fan, which looks like this

Ours *wasn't running, when we turned on the engine. So there's the first problem.

There was a foreman there, who informed us that in all likelihood our head gasket was damaged, since the radiator was bubbling.

This is a head gasket. It looks like a pretty cool diskette

link to gasket anatomy click here

A gasket head (to my understanding) is sandwiched between the cylinder heads and the engine block. If there is a hole or crack in your head gasket, then your coolant is going to get mixed up with your engine oil, which means nothing is getting cooled, and your engine overheats. Lol if I'm wrong, please clarify.

So anyway, that needed some mending, but it didn't need to be replaced, because the crack could be repaired.
In the end, the car was not fit to drive back. Father's mechanic, came all the way and fixed up the car temporarily with another fan, and we took his car instead (also a charade) to Tanjung Malim.

But it was a scary experience, so to avoid these problems, always monitor radiator water/coolant levels (I use water) and stop the car at the first sign of heating. You do not want to end up with a blown gasket.

Obvious signs to look out for
* Temperature rising. A fever is never good.
* Your fan not running
* Radiator bubbling is also a warning sign that your cooling system is faulty

Keeping Up the Charade: Accidental experience

Currently listening to : History by One Direction

I regret to inform you that my ancient car met with an accident three weeks ago.  Although that is misleading and sounds as if it went off on its own and got banged up, I must clarify that I, Lizamaria drove it to its near death.

Leaving School

You see, how it all happened makes for a rather dull story. But I suppose one needs to hear the boring details to appreciate the anticlimactic end. I left school at approximately 6.55 pm, thoroughly looking forward to an additional two hours of tuition at the end of the working day. Really. I had set up my music on Spotify, tedious business with all the rubbish ads that come through, all because I refuse to pay RM2 for ad-free streaming. I started up the engine, put the car in reverse, and followed the daily after-school ritual. First, waved to the security guard aunty, then turned the corner, and glanced at the bus stop where a few students still remained waiting for their transport. I spotted the twins and smiled, waved at enthusiastic Timothy and continued straight ahead. I noticed a few other students from my class, but as soon as they caught my eye, some looked down at the ground or stared blankly ahead. At this point, I was too tired to feel offended. They probably were too. Dog tired.

The Roundabout

The lane ahead merges onto the main road where a huge and often busy roundabout awaits. As I approached, I joined what felt like a giant whirlpool as the roundabout swallowed me in. If you ask me, there are two main rules to join a roundabout; use outer lane if exiting next and utilize left signal light. Forgetting his signal, manners, road rules and sense, an idiot dashes across my path taking off my bumper in the process. I am in shock. All manage is a short gasp. Miraculously (for him) his car successfully makes the exit and he sails through. My situation on the other hand: not so smooth. I sat in shock for a few seconds processing what had happened. My phone was blasting the chorus to "Fast Car" (remix by Jonas Blue and Dakota). 

What No one Tells you

No one tells you these things; that bumpers can just fall off and fold beneath you, that you do not need to tow the car when this happens, that you do not need to panic, that a bumper fits in your back seat, that all of the above happen when you least expect it.

Conclusion

Thankfully two teachers stopped by on their way home, and gave me a hand. And in 5 minutes, the whole matter was resolved, and I was on my way to tuition class. Talk about anticlimatic

Keeping up the Charade (When the wipers flew off)

In this episode

1. Losing wipers
2. replacing wipers

It was a dark and rainy night. I was driving to get to a taekwondo lesson in Uni. However no amount of martial arts could have prepared me for this. In the middle of the storm, my wiper blade (on the driver's side) decides to fly off! We cant stop, there's no side, the lights just turned green and my visibility is now reduced to 10%.

I drove as slowly as possible to our destination and parked nearby. Eventually the rain stopped and we drove home safely.

But what I should have done was
1. Replace the wipers on the passenger side to the one on the driver's side.
OR
2. Remove the wipers on the back and fit it on the front. Unfortunately I didn't know how to do it at the time.
Subsequently, when I got a new pair, I asked the guy to teach me, and hey! It's surprisingly simple!
Most wipers I've seen use a simple clip to fasten them..
and you'll be done in 2 minutes. unless, your wipers are rusted (like mine were)


click here for a quick Youtube tutorial on changing your wipers. Super easy.
So next time your wipers fly off or malfunction, just remember, YOU'VE GOT OPTIONS!

Keeping up the Charade (Flat tyre)

I used to be quite content with pleading ignorance towards anything remotely automobile-related, preferring to leave every aspect of car maintenance to father. But, it was getting hard to do that, especially when I came to own a 24 year old car and lived 700 km away from home. I was on my own.

The model that I have is a Daihatsu Charade Aura CX (G100 model) and she's a real piece of work.

So this is the first in a long series of episodes that we've ridden out together.

In this episode
1. hearing a funny sound
2. flat tyre
3. Replacing a tyre

I decided to drive up 80 km to Tanjung Malim to collect my degree transcript. I decided to drive up to cut the travel time by half, compared to taking the train there. Travelled with my sister for company.

Before any long journey, it's good to check your car vitals (as I was reminded by someone). Air pressure in the tyres,

 water level in the radiator and reservoir,

as well as engine oil level and colour.

All were good to go, so we set off at 9am.






Did not notice anything amiss on the way but as we were leaving, there was a funny rut-tut-tut sound that got loud every time I slowed, but if I accelerated, it seemed to disappear.

So I not-so-wisely, sped up, hoping the sound would go away.
Soon someone on a motorbike rode up alongside, and honked repeatedly pointing at my tyre.
This was my (and my mother's) worst nightmare coming true.

I pulled up at a car park nearby and asked Marlene to look at which tyre was gone, and called my father to inform him
walked about 500meters to the train station, found a taxi driver, and told him to take me to a workshop. He told me he could help with a flat tyre, no problem, he even had a friend who was a foreman.

Thanking my lucky stars, I directed him to the car, and he helped me change my tyre. When I asked him how much for the ride here, he said inclusive of labour (his friends) he'd take RM50.

*jaw drop*

There are three lessons here.

1. Next time, this happens, before anything else, ask around for help from normal folk. Chances are there will be peope able to assist, as an act of kindness, rather than opportunity to make money
2. Learn how to change a tyre yourself.
3. Have all the equipment you need ready in the boot.

Here are the things that you need
1. Spare tyre

They are sometimes smaller in size compared to regular ones, but they'll be enough to get you to the nearest autoshop. There, if it's a single puncture, get it patched up, and use the patched tyre to drive home. Spare tyres, sometimes are old and not in terrific condition to drive long distances.

2. car  jack

There are different kinds, and mine looks like this. This is important to raise your car up, in order to remove the punctured tyre. If you don't jack it, the nuts are almost impossible to unscrew.

3. Lug wrench

This is used to unscrew the nuts holding your tyre in place.

As long as you've got these three things in working order, changing a tyre is possible.

click here for a clear video tutorial on how to change your tyre.

So, go experiment with your car, learn how to replace a flat tyre. It could easily save you fifty bucks. =.=

The Cavemen

1.25pm.
2 Merpati. Funny this class should be named after a dove, it's anything but peace-loving.

Gripping my bag handles in my right hand, I purse my lips and breathe hard through my nose, not unlike a bull that's about to charge. In my left, I'm precariously balancing a pile of exercise books to be returned while my fingers just manage to grip the corner of the class register I have to fill in by 3pm.
I slowly make my way down the grimy corridor that already stinks of sweat and body odour yet to be introduced to deodorant. There are groups of students everywhere. The bell has just rung, and loungers always dash out to make full loafing use of the two minutes it takes for the next teacher to arrive. They just stand looking over the balconies into the distance as if they were prisoners given a two minute fresh air break before trooping back into their cells.

What is this life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare...' my thoughts drift to that breezy poem by William Henry Davies. Maybe he had a point.

I clear my throat loudly, announcing my presence with an "excuse me", to clear the path ahead, because just one nudge would send the pile of books tumbling across the corridor. They part like the Red Sea of course, lest I should ask for some help.

I step into the darkened cave the "doves" have somehow gotten accustomed to as a classroom and glimpse the sleepy, uninterested eyes that greet me. So much potential.

I find the switch, saying "let there be light", and flick on the bright florescent bulbs. Unfortunately, this "enlightenment" goes unappreciated, as I'm immediately greeted by groans and protests. They squint and scrunch up their faces, shielding their eyes. One girl goes so far as to swing her bag over her head to escape the "deadly glare"

"What are you... vampires?" I ask, my face showing mock concern, barely concealing a smirk.

 Silence..They don't get it. This too shall pass.

A muffled voice shouts "Teacher. No. light."
It is bag girl from beneath her sack.

Teacher-stride

Gearing up for my first day at school, I was the most outstandingly miserable person in the academic building. You see, I was already battling homesickness from the previous night (something that inevitably happens if your parents, come along to drop you off in a foreign state). That, coupled with the mental torture of finding my way to school, was enough to fatigue my poor heart. (boo-hoo)

As I pulled up into the car park that morning, I spotted a few students shuffling along slowly in groups heading up the slope towards the assembly area. I was acutely aware of my shoulders tensing up and I quietly shuddered as goosebumps raced up my arms. My heartbeat quickened and I froze, my hands still gripping the steering wheel. 'The enemy' I thought. In a quick desperate motion, I made the sign of the cross, something that had always put a temporary blockade on the insecurities of any circumstance. 

I got out of the newly painted Charade (also freshly blessed with bird droppings), collected both my bags and tried to compose myself in two seconds, before slamming the door shut (it won't shut otherwise) and slowly made my way to the office, in what I thought resembled a confident stride. A teacher- stride. 

Good Afternoooon teacherrrr...can we try that again....GOOD AFTERNOON TEACHER!

Hello again, reader! Let's skip the how-you've-beens...because I'm positive that your life has been peachy. Right then, spot light back on me?
I'm a teacher now.
It seems like, every time I blog, I'm working a different job.
You must think I'm most uncommitted. HA HA
Sold jeans, ushered for a bit, call center agent and now.... teacher? Now before you think, "oh right, those who don't do, teach"....slap yourself.

To grant anonymity, and for the fact that nothing I say may be particularly positive, I shall not mention the name of the school at which I'm posted. However, one may always ask me privately, if you really mustttt know.

Currently:
I'm still on the trial period.
I call it the Student Trial Period.
Must. Not. Break.
As they size me up.

I've never felt more in sync with the song "Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance. It is the current soundtrack of my life. If you haven't heard it, click on the link here

Anyhow, I'm not going to lie, the school I've been posted to, ain't no Convent. I guess the kids here grew up having different hobbies. So I'm going to try to put in some daily happenings about the them here. Give them the attention they are desperate for in class.