Aircon flush and filter installation

Today, I made my way to Autosaver @ Toh Guan Road, Enterprise Hub. I had made appointment with them to do my aircon flushing last Sat. When I reach there, the technician take a look at my car compressor and told me he is unable to service it.
I am quite shocked at this point of time and the technician just recommend me another workshop, JS Auto.
I am quite disappointed with their service and think will not go back to them again.

Ok, I made my way to JS Auto and I ask about the aircon flushing, the technician told me they are specialise in aircon servicing and the cost is $35. Price is quite ok and it include topping up of aircon refrigerant (134a) too.

Below I will explain the sequence of events:

They connect the aircon flushing connector, left is for cold piping, right is for hot piping.

This flushing process will take approximately 20 minutes and the old aircon oil will be flushed out and new one will be flush in. I can see the existing oil being flush out and it looks dirty. It been 2 years and Kah motor had never service my aircon, and without aircon filter, that explains why the oil is so dirty.

This is the aircon flushing machine.

The left container is the new oil and right container is the dirty oil. Notice it is very dirty.

Notice the remaining time left for the process.

After waiting for about 20 minutes, they open my passenger glove compartment and check the compressor. Oh, it is quite dirty. They help to clean it and recommend to install a aircon filter. They told me it could be done but they would need to cut a opening to insert a filter. I agree to it and it would be better as it would keep the dirty particles from entering the cabin.

This is where they would cut a opening and insert the aircon filter.

The process took some time and I see them using a penknife to cut the existing cover, quite heartpain to see them doing that, but no choice. They told me honda seal the cover to save their manufacturing cost. Those Japan models are all fitted with aircon slot and filter.

Finally, the whole process is done and it cost me another $55. The aircon filter brand is cairefresh and the price include the filter and the tray. Total cost is $90 including the aircon flushing. I tested the aircon and it is much cooler now, hmm, now I can breathe in fresh air and the odour smell is gone!

Stay tune for my future update!

40,000 Km interval servicing

Today, I made my way to Thian Seng Motors Ptd Ltd (Honda Stockist) @ Bukit Merah to purchase my servicing parts. I had did some research and refer to the Kah Motor reference for the parts required. 40k servicing is considered a major servicing and many parts need to replace, argh, means my pocket will have bigger holes!


When I reach there around 5.30pm, I begin my shopping. First I requested for the Automatic Transmission Fluid. Mine is Continuous Variable Tranmission type (CVT). Immediately I saw it on the shelf, I pointed to it and ask for the price. Not cheap, $38 for 3.5 Litres. The shop assistant told me this brand is popular among Honda drivers and so far the feedback is very good. Smooth transmission after changing the fluid. There is a 1 Litre packaging too, selling for $12. Oh, I quickly went to my car to refer to my manual. It says upon changing, need 4.5 Lires. Quite puzzled, I ask the shop assistant for help, he told me 3.5 Lires is enough as not all are drained out during servicing, some are left in the transmission box. Okay, this sounds logical so I choose the 3.5 Litres one.

This is the Honda original CVT fluid, cost me $38.

Close up view. No idea where it is manufactured, not stated on the bottle...

Next, I ask for the brake fluid. The shop assistant immediately know I want only Honda original items. So he went to pick up the item from the inner shelf. He recommended DOT 4, which is the standard for most cars.

This is the DOT 4 brake fluid for Honda. Cost me $32.

All Japanese wording, couldn't understand. But it is made in Japan!

Well, these two items already cost me alot. Next, I ask for the oil filter. The shop assistant gave me the HAMP one which I am currently using. I requested is there any Honda original one. He told me this HAMP is actually Honda OEM parts, but he went in to the inner shelf to retrieve the Honda one. Price would cost more which I told him I don't mind. The HAMP one will cost $8. That is an increase in price. I remember half a year ago, it cost $6.50, now it cost $8. For the honda original one, it will cost even more, $12. But he gave me a 50 cents discount, $11.50. Haiz, better than nothing...

This is the original honda oil filter, cost me $12, good packaging in a box.

I saw this oil filter in forum before, confirm is original, and it is made in Japan!

Ok, next is the standard item, spark plugs. Mine is using qty 08 so I have to spent slightly more $$$ than other cars. As usual, I choose the standard plug, which cost $3.50 each.

These are the spark plugs, the guy still gave me a box, not bad. Cost $3.50 each, total $28.

Close up view, same brand, NGK, and the part is BKR6E-11 which is recommended in the car manual.

Almost done with my shopping, I ask for the last item, the fuel filter. The shop assistant told me fuel filter needed to change only at 60,000km. But I told him I saw the recommendation in the servicing list. He says up to me and went in to retrieve the item. The item is quite huge in size and it is original honda item, cost $45. Wah, too expensive. So my decision is to call Kah motor to check first before buying. If it is confirm needed, then I will made another trip another day.

Lastly, the shop assistant ask me why I didn't request for engine oil, which is the most important. I told him I already have it. If you all have been following my blog, you would know that I have the idemitsu engine oil which I won in a lucky draw. In case you all had forget, these are the pictures:

Finally, done with my shopping, I ask for discount. No luck, the shop assistant told me all are nett prices and subjected to GST. He says nowsaday, most items had increase in price and difficult to give discount. I understand and it is better than buying from Kah motor, it would cost more than what I am paying now.

My shopping bag with my servicing items, this time with the Thian Seng plastic bag, LOL!

My receipt for all the items, total is $109.50, with GST is $117.17

Next is to check whether need to replace fuel filter. Stay tuned for further update to this post. Till then, cheers!

New reverse camera

My car reverse camera was bought in Feb 2009 and slightly after a year, it starts to fade. The image is getting more blur and during night time, the whole image is very blur till unacceptable. Since Apr this year, I had been looking around for a new one to replace the existing one.
I did some research and found out that my existing model is actually a very old model. It is using CMOS camera and as times goes by, it will start to fade. The guy who sold this product to me at a cheap price of $68, no wonder it won't last long.

Well, I started looking for CCD type camera. But the price is very high, ranging from $200 to $300.
So on a Sat (14/08/10) afternoon, I went around Toh Guan and Bukit Batok to try my luck. Sad to say, all CCD cameras are selling for $249 or $279. I went to Autobacs too, they selling it for $279 too... and all the wiring have to rewire due to different configuration of CCD camera. Time needed is 2 hours. Too hassle, I give up and look for other alternatives.

Then I happen to found a audio shop at Bukit Batok. The shop name is Hai Wei Enterprise, they have lots of audio accessories. I told them I needed to replace my reverse camera. They told me they have CMOS type but very clear. They say nowsaday technology had improved and CMOS is only slightly less better than CCD. They did a test to show me the result, wow, not bad.. so i decide to install it. And it cost $150 with 6 months warranty. At the same time, I check with them for the CCD type, they also selling for $249. Well, to save some cost, I go for the CMOS type again, hope it can last longer than the previous one. Next time I don't go for cheap price again... below are some screenshots for preview:

New camera and the cover is enclosed with rubber material

Preview at night time. Very clear and better than my previous one...

After installation, the guys there recommend me to change my head unit to Pioneer. They selling it for $999 instead of $1299. Haiz, no money, so I told them next time. And they also recommend me to change my speakers to Rainbow or JBL. More poisons, they even tested the speakers for me to judge the sounds. I quickly left the shop, perhaps next time till I save enough $$$...

Desaru Road Trip (24 Jul 2010)

I had planned to go Desaru with my NCS colleagues, so on 24 Jul, I make my way to Kranji Mrt to meet up with my friends. We decide to convoy together to Desaru. We met at about 10 am and travel together to Woodlands Checkpoint. Traffic was quite ok, slight traffic jam. After passing by both checkpoints, we make our way to the nearest Shell station to meet up with the rest.

It is about 11.30am when we cleared the customs and reach this Shell station to meet up. We wait for the rest to arrive and grab a bite for the long journey. It will take about 1.5 hrs to reach there, distance is about 150km, east of Malaysia.

We having a discussion on how to convoy together, one of my friends even brought a walkie talkie!

While waiting for the rest to arrive, I top up my petrol to full tank. When all had arrived, we started our journey. Along the way, it was enjoyable and I enjoy the scenery. Long time didn't had chance to relax. But the road was bumpy and we have to stick to around 70 km/h.

When we reach there, it was 1.15pm. Just nice for lunch. We decided to join the package tour which include a buffet lunch, buffet fruits and a guided fruit farm/animal tour. We pay RM45 each person, quite worth it.

Enjoying the scenery before I had my lunch, really good place to unwind.

A few ducks wandering around the pond.

This is the place where we will have our lunch.

My lunch, not very tempting, just simple dishes, but I enjoy it as I was too hungry already.

Oops, my friend took this picture when I was busy eating...

After lunch, we walk around and notice this bee house.

We gather around while waiting for the bus to bring us to the tour.

This is the "transport" we going to take. All of us laugh, wonder if this pick up can move. As our group is too small, they have to arrange this transport. Those who join the big tour bus will have better transport.

Our journey to the fruit farm...

Along the tour, I took some photos of the fruits and now I know how to differentiate between different kinds of trees. Enjoy the pictures...

This tour guide giving us an introduction...

This is a Dragon fruit tree.

This is a Mango tree.

A very large Jackfruit.

A rambutan tree.

Banana tree, very weird one, and cannot be consumed.

This is guava tree.

Can see how hungry the fishes are!

A mini crocodile.

Naughty monkey!

Adorable rabbits!

A quiet goat, waiting for someone to feed...

A cute Hamster.

Mini mouse... they are so small...

Welcome to Rabbit Park, oh, the children are enjoying playing with the rabbits!

This Ostrich was a big one, it stretch it neck while I was taking its picture, I have to stand further away, haha...

A baby monkey.

As we make our trip back to collect our cars, we proceed to our next destination, which is the Ostrich Farm. The journey was about 30 minutes.

After we park our cars, we pay RM12 each person for entry to the ostrich farm.

My ticket for entry to the farm.

At the entrance of the farm, we notice this Ostrich egg. Wow, the size is huge!

This is an Ostrich egg. Super big, high in protein.

The staff demonstrating how to use a drill to extract the egg yolk and egg white.

Our appetiser before dinner, Ostrich omelette and Ostrich satay.

I enjoying the Ostrich omelette and Ostrich satay.

After the Ostrich farm visit, the sky is turning dark. We proceed to the nearby restaurant for dinner before heading back to Singapore.

This is the place we had our dinner.

After we had our dinner, we discussed how to convoy back. As the sky is really turning dark, we must stick together during the journey. We promised to look out for each other.

We having a discussion again before heading back to Singapore.

During the journey, the road was super dark and luckily I had fog lamp on my car. Finally after a long ride, we reach the checkpoint safely. We top up our petrol again and make our way home.

I enjoyed this trip and hope to have another road trip again!