Friday, January 12, 2007

Tensioner, Water Pump and De-Squeak

On Tuesday I took onleave to service my RAV4. To minimise the clicking noise from the belt I need to replace the fan belt tensioner. The mechanic check the engine and found that the noise is coming from the belt and tensioner. After checking the tensioner, he found that the waterpump has a bit leakage on it. So I need to replace both tensioner and water pump.

I bought the tensioner from Wing Hing for RM 400. At Wing Hin I also bought Toyota coolant RM 18 and front R/L wiper insert RM 30 and RM 35.

For the water pump the workshop offer me the after market water pump which made on Japan http://www.gmb.jp. It cost me RM 280 instead of OEM water pump from Toyota high price at RM420.

To minimise the noise from the brake pad and rotors, I need to spray chemical de-squeak at both surface of the rotors. It cost me RM 40/tin.

Total labour cost for tensioner and water pump replacement are RM 150

Tensioner photos as follows

Water Pump


De-Squeak

My daughter and my RAV4

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

ATF for my RAV4

Yesterday I changed the ATF for my RAV4 for 45000km milege. The dealer is Ah Kim Motors Sdn Bhd at No3 Jln 230 Section 51A 46100 PJ tel 03-78750484. They do the ATF flush rather than normal ATF change. Using ATF flush will change 80% of the ATF oils and only 50% oil change for normal ATF change. All cost me RM210 which is for 2 tin (4 liter/tin) for the ATF and RM50 for the labour. Actually you could find the ATF from the spare part shop with cost you around RM60 for four liter. The ATF oil change only need around 6 liter oil. The balance of the oil can be used for the power steering oil which only need less than 1 liter. ATF changing interval recommended at 40000km or 2 years whichever come first.


Toyota recommended the ATF Type T - IV for RAV4

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

New Tyre and Brake Pad

I bought a pair of new tyre to replace of my RAV4 worn tyres. I still using the original tyre for RAV4 which is bridgestone dueler 215/70/16. This two tyres cost me about RM 630 which is RM 315 per tyre. This is the chepest price I have found. This tyre made in Japan. The dealer proposed to me to use the 235/60/16 which more wider than 215/70/16 bridgestone Turanza. At the website the Turanza tyre are claimed as silence and smooth tyre. I may think to change the tyres to Brigestone Turanza next time.The Turanza will cost me RM 430 per tyre. My existing Dueler still look ok and can be used up to another 40,000 km.

Info on Dueler
DUELER H/T 687
The Dueler H/T 687, originally designed for Toyota RAV4, offers superior dry and wet road performance without sacrificing riding comfort.
Available Sizes
TYRE SIZE L.I. & S.S. PR TYPE OD (mm) OW (mm) SLR (mm) RPK RW (inch)
215/70 R 16 099H B TL 703 218 318 478 6-1/2
235/60 R 16 100H B TL 688 235 311 488 7


Info on Turanza
TURANZA ER-50 S&S AQ
The TURANZA ER-50 S&S AQ is especially developed for luxury high performance saloons with the Bridgestone's new fundamental tyre technology, AQ DONUTS, which reduces the degradation in worn tyre performance that can occur over the life of the tyre.

The ER-50 S&S AQ offers not only high speed driving performance but also excellent riding comfort.
Available Sizes
TYRE SIZE L.I. & S.S. TYPE OD (mm) OW (mm) SLR (mm) RPK RW (inch)
225/60 ZR16 098W B TL 673 232 304 499 6-1/2
235/60 ZR16 100W B TL 685 244 310 490 7
225/55 ZR16 095W TL


I am also replaced my brake pad. I bought the brake pad from Wing Hin RM 250 and installed at the dealer workshop which cost me RM30 for the labour. I am using Toyota gunuine part for the brake.

My Home Town Full with water











Just to share with you readers on the flood photos which happended at my home town, Kota Tinggi started from 21 Dec 2006 to 24 December 2006. I havent got the opportunity to help the people there but hopefully the government will take neccessary action to upgrade the infrastructure such as to widen the river, at the town of Kota Tinggi.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Blood Test Result

Today I received a call from the hospital around 7.20 am and just to informed me that they already have a fax result on my blood test. Hugh it make me so uncomfortable because normally receiving called at that time just only for an emergency called like death acknowledgement etc. Actually the hospital owed me the blood test result since I made the blood test on 22 November 2006. So may be they want to show their guilty then called me firstly in the morning.

In summary, the result were ok but need to improve my lipid level. I was in the borderline Total Cholesterol and high Triglycerides. My HDL (good cholesterol) looks good and my LDL (bad cholesterol)is slightly higher than the ideal level. My glucose is within the ideal range.

Below are the complete result.

Lipid
Total cholesterol 5.6 mmol/L (borderline) last time 5.5
HDL 1.23 mmol/L (normal) last time 1.18
LDL 3.18 mmol/L( (above optimal) last time was not calculate becoz high of Triglycerides
Triglycerides 2.60 mmol/L (still high) last time 5.09
Ratio Cholesterol/HDL 4.6 (normal) last time 4.66

Glucose 4.8 mmol/L last time 7.1 mmol/L(ideal range 3.9-7.7)


I got below information from the internet.

However, it is believed that the triglycerides/HDL ratio is one of the most potent predictors of heart disease as HDL is closely related to triglycerides. A Harvard-lead study author reported:

"High triglycerides alone increased the risk of heart attack nearly three-fold. And people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL -- the "good" cholesterol -- had 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL in the study of 340 heart attack patients and 340 of their healthy, same age counterparts.

The ratio of triglycerides to HDL was the strongest predictor of a heart attack, even more accurate than the LDL/HDL ratio (Circulation 1997;96:2520-2525)."

The result : Triglycerides/HDL = 2.6/1.23 = 2.11 (mine should be ok)
Under < 2
Example:
110 TRG:60 HDL = < 2
The lower the number (TRG:HDL ratio), the better - the lower your risk of heart attack.

Also you could check by using the HDL/TC Ratio:
HDL divided by Total Cholesterol (TC)

The result : 1.23/5.6 = 0.22 (mine was low level ideal should be 0.30 and above)
Above > 0.24
Example: 80 HD:190 TC = 0.42
The higher the number (HDL:TC ratio), the better - the lower your risk of heart attack.

So, what I need to do starting from today is to control my diet/menu and more physical exercises. Then I will do another blood test in one or two months time to know either my diet/menu and exercise help me in order to reduce my high Triglycerides which can cause heart attack.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Serpentine Belt


Huurgh...my RAV4 serpentine or single belt was broken down on Tuesday night after my outside dinner. Luckily it happened in front of my house. So, I need to replace with new belt on Wednesday and so what ...i took an emergency leave. The serpentine belt function is for the power steering, air cond, and water pump for the radiator coolant system. All cost me RM245 using www.gates.com belt instead toyota OEM high price at RM470. So today i feel safe and drive smoothly to the office.

Friday, November 24, 2006

My first RAV4 photo in internet


This is my first RAV4 photo in internet. This background is the popular and historical mosque in Alor Star Kedah. This mosque called as Masjid Zahir.

How its look. I will post other photos with different angle and shot.