Another Breakdown

It had been a bad Thursday all around. As I was driving back to Subang after settling the school fees in Gombak, the car suddenly made a weird noise. It was in the garage for service only a couple of weeks back, and within a couple of days a warning light appeared. I thought about bringing it back to the garage later but I was just too busy.

It turned out that there was a leak on the water tank and the engine the carburettor had run dry. The engine cut off as I was driving along the highway, and luckily I was able to veer onto the emergency lane to stop. Called the tow truck and later the car was brought back to the garage.

That was when we discovered the leak and for the next few days, the car would be staying at the shop. I would be using my in-law’s car for the time being. I managed to get back to the hospital in time for my afternoon round but missed the lunchtime meeting.

I was lucky that it happened just after lunch, and I wasn’t in that much of a rush. Hopefully this repair would not cost me a bomb!

An Unplanned Stop

Last night, I planned to join Anita at Melawati who stayed late in Gombak since Idlan had tuition there. It would only finish by 10, and I thought of having dinner with her while she was waiting. I only left after Maghrib prayers but the traffic was still pretty heavy all the way from Bangsar then.

While queuing up along MRR2 not far from Bukit Antarabangsa, the engine suddenly felt sluggish. I thought nothing much of that. But suddenly it stopped. Luckily, the traffic was crawling, and I managed to restart the engine, to find somewhere to stop.

I planned to drive first her towards a petrol station but the ringing stopped again about 2 minutes later.

That was it. I parked at the curb and called for a tow truck - luckily I could call one for free as it was covered by my insurance.

Half an hour later the car was safely parked at my in-law's place in Gombak. I was still able to drive the car up and down the tow truck while it was being sorted out, so hopefully the damaged was not too extensive.

My car was already 14 years old, and there was a light indicating the coolant level being low coming on for the last week. I was planning to have the car serviced later in the week, but I was obviously too late. Or maybe the car caught wind that I test drove another car last weekend? Hopefully it wouldn't turn on me again after this....

So, let's see how the damage going to be like later today...

Lumut Trip Cancelled

Nope! It wasn't my fault. I did not plan it. The MPV was in the garage for the weekend for some major work. Cost us a bomb and we were glad to get the van back on Monday in time for the planned trip to Lumut on Tuesday. I would be left behind since I would be on call a couple of days this week. So, everything was fine at the beginning of the day, apart from Anita suffering from a slight sniffles. Even the boys went to bed early in order to get an early start for the drive.

At around noon, as I was finishing my morning clinic and waiting for admission at the Doctor's Lounge before lunch, I got a call from Anita. An hour out, and Tanjung Malim,smoke started coming from the engine and the temperature gauge went up. The stopped the car at a lay by and called in the mechanics and tow. But they would only be able to tow to the nearest highway exit. We would have to pay extra to get the van back to KL and the tow truck was too small to fit everyone in. Plus, there were no taxis at the lay by.

I got one of my colleagues to cover - thanks Nor Liza - and drove from Subang to Tanjung Malim and drove everybody back to KL. Our driver decided to drive the van slowly back to KL, and he everybody, including the van made it back to Gombak in one piece.

The van went straight back to the garage, and guess what? Everything checked out fine! Strange. The van did not give any problem on the drive back to KL not when the mechanic stressed the engine later.

Sadly, the trip was already cancelled, and I was on call, so the boys had to spend the time in KL. Not sure what the plan was for today. My mother-in-law might take a drive down to the apartment in Port Dickson instead. Anita was not feeling too excited to go as she was still carrying a cold. Idlan especially was disappointed. Had to make plans for tonight I think …..