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Hi Brudders... Need advices on where can i get cheap & good tyres offer? Any recommendations as I'm going for a driving trip so wants tyres in good working conditions? Size required: 205/45R16 Went to Autobacs recently and cheapest is abt $560 for 4 pcs. Currently using Bridgestone GIII. Tot of Eagle F1

Hi folks! I am a newbie here and I think this forum is quite useful. Getting a bit concerned over my nissan sunny maintenance cause I have been doing only the usual engine oil, filter changes and checks (plus the standard tyre change, rotation, ATF flushing, batt change). have not been sending it to TC for those big expensive chks. Am driving a nissan 1.5 sunny with abt 80Kkm milage. need some advise from you bros out there over some of these maintenance i am thinking of doing. 1. Brake pad change. went to my mech and told me that it cost about 60 bucks (front pad x 4) to get a non nissan replacement. Nissan brand replacement will cost me abt 100 odd bucks. Is there a difference in terms of performance? and is the price about right? 2. Timing belt. is it time to change the main timing belt and all the other secondary belts (alternator, aircon, etc). Must i also change the water pump? Usually how much is it to do a complete change using original parts? Is it true that if the belt breaks while driving, it's bye bye to the engine? 3. Brake fluid. Is it sufficient just to top up and not change? or is my mech bull-ing me? 4. Coolant. Is it sufficient just to top up and not change? or is my mech bull-ing me? 5. Intend to keep my car for long (say, all the way). What other preventive maintenance should I do from 80k to 100k? (fuel filter, etc?) to keep those expensive repairs at bay? 6. Any good reliable and afforadable shops to perform the above jobs?? need some good advise! cheers!!

I think it's high time we compare the cost of buying & maintaining a car in all aspects, i hope all forum members who travel overseas can contribute to this index. The 2 globally available cars are the Civic 1.8 and the BMW 320 Let me start with.. Singapore's one Pls edit my one if need be ! Car Cost Rd Tax (Yr) Fuel/l(95) Imprt Tax Prking(/hr) avg Int Rte Ctry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Civic1.8AT 72k 1,248 1.56 110% $3.00 3.5% SG BMW320 140k 1,548 1.56 110% $3.00 3.5% SG

I HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING INFO ON CAR MAINTENANCE HOPE THIS HELPS OTHER CAR ENTHUSIAST HERE ALSO Battery Testing, Maintenance And Myths 1. Storing a battery on a concrete floor will discharge them. A hundred years ago battery cases were made of porous materials such as tar-lined wood boxes, so storing batteries on a concrete floor would accelerate their discharge. Modern battery cases are made of polypropylene or hard rubber. These cases seal better, so external leakage-causing discharge is no longer a problem, provided the top of the battery is clean. 2. Driving a car will fully recharge a battery. There are a number of factors affecting an alternator's ability to charge a battery, such as how much current from the alternator is diverted to the battery to charge it, how long the current is available, and the temperature. Generally, idling the engine or short stop-and-go trips during bad weather or at night might not fully recharge the battery. 3. A battery will not explode. There two types of battery explosions are external and internal. Recharging a wet lead-acid battery produces hydrogen and oxygen gasses. While spark retarding vent caps help prevent external battery explosions, sparks occur when jumping, connecting or disconnecting charger, or battery cables and ignite the gas. Internal explosions usually occur while starting the engine and normally blow the filler caps or cover off and splatter electrolyte all over the engine compartment. The most probable cause is from a combination of low electrolyte levels in the battery and a low resistance bridge formed between or across the top of the plates called "treeing" between a positive and negative plate. When heavy current flows in the battery such as starting an engine, a spark occurs and ignites the residual gas in one or more of the cells. A second possible cause is a defect in the weld of one of the plate connecting straps. Periodic preventive, working on batteries in well-ventilated areas, or using sealed AGM or gel cell VRLA type batteries can significantly reduce the possibility of battery explosions. To neutralize the residual battery acid, be sure to thoroughly wash the engine compartment and the back of the hood with a solution of one-pound baking soda to one gallon of warm water and rinse with water. The largest number of battery explosions, while starting an engine or drawing a high current, occurs in hot climates. While not fatal, battery explosions cause thousands of eye and burn injuries each year. Should a battery explosion occur and electrolyte (battery acid) get in someones' eyes, immediately flush them out with ANY drinkable liquid because seconds count. 4. A battery will not lose its charge sitting in storage. Depending on the type of battery and temperature, batteries have a natural self-discharge or internal electro chemical "leakage" at a 1% to 25% rate per month. Over time the battery will become sulfated and fully discharged. Higher temperatures accelerate this process. A battery stored at 95

Tires are often the most neglected parts of a vehicle. And yet, they are among the most important and easily cared for. By adopting these few simple tire maintenance practices, you can increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency, reduce harmful emissions, save money and make your vehicle safer. Measure your tire pressure monthly using a good quality tire gauge. A visual inspection is not sufficient to detect under or over-inflation problems. Have your tires aligned annually. Tires should be balanced approximately every 20 000 km, or when drivers feel a vibration. Rotate your tires regularly. Monitor tread wear and replace tires when your tire tread is worn out. Conduct a visual check for embedded stones, glass and other foreign objects that could work their way into the tire and cause a leak. Alignment Proper alignment is an important part of tire maintenance. Poor alignment will cause your tires to wear unevenly and you may experience handling problems, such as "pulling" or vibration. Poor alignment will also increase your fuel consumption. Common practice is to have your alignment checked annually, or every 25,000 km. Balancing Wheels need to be balanced. If they are out of balance, you may feel a pounding or shaking through the steering wheel or your seat. This pounding could shorten the life of suspension components, lead to uneven tire wear (bald spots) and increase fuel consumption. Rotation Regular rotation will minimize wear and prolong the life of your tires. Rotation will also reduce the risk of sudden tire failure. Front tires work harder than rear tires as they must bear the scrubbing action of steering as well as rolling wear. You can prolong the life of your tires by rotating them. Full size spares should be part of the rotation pattern. Rotate your tires according to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, found in the owner's manual. Or, talk to your tire professional to find out how - and how often - the tires on your vehicle should be rotated. Common practice is to rotate tires approximately every 10,000 km. Tread Tires are designed to grip the road, allowing your vehicle to start, stop and go around corners safely in any weather. The treads that accomplishes this wear out over time, but drivers can take precautionary steps to prolong the life of their tires. Properly maintaining your tires will increase their life. It is extremely important to check your tire treads for signs of wear. Proper treads allow for normal handling of your vehicle and help prevent skidding and hydroplaning. Tires are manufactured with a "wear bar" that tells you when there is less than 1.6 mm (2/32 inch) of tread depth remaining - when you see this wear bar, the tire must be replaced. You could also try the penny test: place a penny in the tire's groove with the Queen's crown facing down. If you can see the top of the Queen's crown, the tire needs replacing. Damage It is important to perform regular visual inspections of your tires for signs of damage and excessive wear. Look for embedded objects, such as rocks, nails or glass. Catching problems early can save you money and prevent a sudden tire failure. Storage When not in use, tires should be stored upright in an indoor location, out of direct sunlight or exposure to strong artificial light, heat, ozone (electrical motors) and hydrocarbons. If tires are stored on their rims, the pressure should be reduced to approximately 15 psi to avoid cracking or deformation

I was at a petrol station this morning and notice some calcium maintenance free sealed battery displayed at the tyre shop. Any bros here have experience with this type of battery? Is it as durable and long-lasting as a normal battery? How long can it be expected to last?

Hi to all the experts here. I wonder should I send my ride for my 2nd maintenance because of the 3-months deadline is reached? If based on the recommended mileage, my ride is only half-way there. This senario happens because I didn't use my ride for 3 months while I am working overseas. Thanks for any advices.

Hi Admin and Mods, Please trim the list of stickies in all folders. When the list gets unnecessarily long, that renders the navigational bar at the side useless as it presents only the sticky threads and a couple of latest ones.

The average maintenace cost is about $300 per month service by SM.

Almost drove my COE car (91 Corolla) for 5k. Wanna do some maintenance as the engine oil level looks low and really black. Here's my question. 1. Normally what kind of engine oil is used for old car like 91 corolla? Where to buy cheaper? Heard Giant got some promo now. 2. Do you change oil filter as well? 3. How about spark plug? Some time my ride refuse to start, must crank 3 times before can start. 4. Do I need to flush the radiator and change the coolant as well? The radiator water looks kind of dirty now. 5. What other things to do? Any good recommend for workshop around Ang Mo Kio, Jalan Kayu, Serangoon North, Hougang or Seng Kang areas?

Hi all, looking for a 60A maintenance-free battery...be it Varta, Amaron, Delphi, etc oso can... Anyone got any recommendation as to where to get one? Thanks in advance!

does anyone know where to get tools which car workshops are using? in particular, looking for a T-handle nut driver. similar to the one shown in the link below but i'm looking for full metal ones like those found in car workshops. http://topsun.en.alibaba.com/product/50134...er/showimg.html have tried neighbour hardware shops and homeFIX DIY but they don't sell... wat they have are those plasticky ones with multi-head adaptors which are not strong and long enough

Hi guys, I am a newbie and would like to know what are the things that i must check for in maintaining a new car? eg distil water in battery, engine oil etc and how do i go abt that - i am a newbie so please bear with me - maybe this thread can be a sticky for the benefit of all newbies? thks

hi all. looking at alternatives to a PPS here. are there any waxes or products out there that are easy to apply after a wash? looking at some waxes that are like 'easy-on-easy-off'. just apply after a car wash...and clean off kind. i don't have strong muscles or machine..so those that require buffing are out. intend to do this fortnightly if i have time.

Hi Bros, Based on your experience and perception, which Japanese made has the highest servicing and maintenance cost? Thank you. Regards,

Is maintenance for Saab cars very high? Interested to find out more about the Saab 93SS (new model) 1) Fuel Consumption 2) Wear & tear parts and maintenance 3) Servicing packages 4) Any other things la After warranty, is it possible to get outside independent workshop to maintain car or die die must go back to agent? Wanna hear from owners or previous owners of Saab vehicle

Can owner bring in their own oil when sending in their Nissan car for servicing at TC? Nissan Owners, any good workshop to recommend in the East where we can bring in our own oil when servicing? Is TC servicing charges reasonable? Thanks.

My maintenance battery has flaten out the other day cos' I left my lights on for days. Can I recharge thhe flaten battery and use it again ? Thanks for your adivces.

Hi, Does anyone here uses silicon spray on the belts for maintenance purposes? Do you spray at the belt external surface or internal surface (where it touches the pulley)? Would silicon spray at the belt internal surface causes belt/pulley slippages?

Dear All, Recently bought a new car. First time so I'm a green horn about servicing I am wondering, At which intervals do I have to send the car for servicing Used to ride motorbike and it was 1k, then every 5k Also, how much distance do I have to travel to run-in the engine? Help much appreciated Much thanks

Hi all out there, I am tasked to help my in law change his corolla G9 battery to dry battery. I suppose it is maintenance free type after looking through past threads? Maintenance free = totally dry battery with no liquid inside the battery? Can anyone reccommend any brand and where i can change it? Thanks!

Hi guys, Any advice on how to take proper care of leather seats? Wad are the steps in cleaning and treating them? - wipe with warm water? - apply leather cream? which leather cream is good and value for money? How often do you have to apply the cream?

Dear users We will have another round of forum maintenance this coming weekend, starting from Friday evening(10pm onwards) till Saturday. We are shifting back to our original server now that the OS upgrading on it is completed. Sorry for the inconvenience. Regards.

Dear users We have completed our forum maintenace on Saturday. We have migrated the site to another server so that we can perform an OS upgrade on the original server. As this involves some DNS changes, most users would have noticed our maintenance message. As of this moment, the majority of our users should be accessing the new server. If you notice any problems(cannot post message, link not working), please feedback to us directly at [email protected] You can also post your problem in the Feedback and Suggestion Folder. http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/General_C1...Suggestions_F9/ During the migration yesterday, about 10 of the latest postings was lost. Apologies for the error on our part The new server is not as powerful as our original server. So if you guys notice any slowdown, now you know why... We intend to shift back to our original server ASAP. Cheers, MyCarForum.

You know when you drive and sometimes you hit the curbs etc and your rim edges kinda gets dented , scratched , etc .. I know there are some places which polishes or does some maintenance to make it smooth again .. or at least make it look nicer. what is it called ? Where to get it ? Any idea how much ??