The Ups and Downs of Car Care

I had been putting off the inevitable for quite some time. But, as with all things certain, caring for one’s car is a chore one can only set aside for so long. My trusty old Japanese sedan had been showing signs of aging. And I knew that it was only a matter of time before I had to face the painful (particularly to the wallet) truth. It was only a matter of time before I had to address my trusted vehicle’s needs. Thus, one rainy morning in June, I finally set forth to live up to my responsibility as a vehicle owner.

It all started with a little leak in my car’s cooling system. Given the symptoms (my car needed to quench its thirst at least twice a day – but only whenever I had to use it), I knew that it was merely a matter of changing one of the tubes that was a part of the entire cooling system – and not the radiator itself. I sent my car to the shop and had them find and subsequently replace the damaged tube. The entire procedure cost me a couple of hours and a few hundred pesos.

The moment I drove out of the shop, however, I felt an ear-cringing grind whenever I’d turn the steering wheel. Obviously, something was awry in my car’s steering mechanism. I went back to the shop and had them investigate. In a matter of minutes, they had ascertained that a couple of rubber bushings that were preventing the metal parts of the steering column from grinding against each other had apparently disintegrated – the result of several years of wear and tear, no doubt. They took the system apart and showed me the pitiful state of the bushings. Obviously, I had no choice but to give the green light for repairs. Two hours later, I was a couple of thousand pesos poorer.

I drove home from the shop that day and had one of the most satisfying drives I’ve had in my old jalopy in a long, long time. Gone was the steering uneasiness that I had unfortunately (and, in hindsight, mistakenly) forced myself to grow accustomed to. So happy was I with my car’s improved performance, in fact, that I decided that the next morning was to be spent treating my car to the new suspension system I had been promising it for a couple of months.

I went to Speedlab along Quezon Avenue the next day, as I had already placed an order some months back for a set of new shock absorbers from the guys who specialize in such after market replacements. They were waiting for me, of course, ready to replace the bouncy (yes, not anymore pillowy) system that I had also unfortunately (and also in hindsight mistakenly) forced myself to grow accustomed to. Another couple of hours later, I was several thousand pesos poorer (this one went all the way up to five figure digits, sigh...).

Again, however, my reward came instantly. My car ran so well, I swear, I could almost kid myself into believing that it was almost as good as brand new. Almost.

A week or so after the entire suspension episode, I decided that I wanted to actually feel like I was driving a brand new car. Next stop, Mothers car care center, which is a more than decent detailing shop. I treated my car to an inside and out detailing experience – exterior, interior and under the hood wash down, baby! These days, my car feels so darn clean that I almost regret having to take it out on the road on a daily basis.

The point of this entire story? We who have cars are a fortunate bunch. Driving, after all, is a privilege, not a God-given right. But as with any privilege, it must first be earned – then sustained with a reasonable amount of responsibility. Keeping one’s car in tip top shape is not only rewarding, it is also quite simply the responsible thing to do. There’s this unwritten pact between car owner and car that must always be respected. We really do need to care for each other on an even level. Responsible motoring, after all, begins and ends with one’s self.

Tara is back home

It had been almost a year since I last used the plight of Tara Santelices as a springboard for a call for road safety in these very pages. For those whose memories need to be refreshed, Tara was the victim of a gruesome hit and run robbery in a jeepney in the Ortigas Extension area. She was robbed then shot by her assailant and all but left for dead. Her just as irresponsible co-commuters even had the gall to call for the jeepney driver to stop as they were rushing her to a nearby hospital! The incident left her in a coma for almost a year.

I wrote then that, despite the unfortunate turn of events, this young lass’ resolve knew no bounds. And that her will to live was much stronger than her injuries or the debilitating effects that they brought to her body. I wrote then that I truly believed that she would one day get up and be the living, breathing example that the human spirit is much stronger than irresponsibility on the road.

Well, Tara is not only awake. Tara is back home. Don’t get me wrong. She isn’t 100 percent out of the woods. She’s still on the road to recovery. But this development has brought a huge amount of hope to her family, friends and supporters like me who have worked and prayed tirelessly for her to get back up on her feet.

The significance of Tara’s improved situation goes well beyond what I write in this space, of course. Hers is a story of indomitable will and the triumph of good over evil. But also, Tara’s story will always be a reminder to us all to be better road users – either as motorists, pedestrians or passengers. God speed, Tara. You truly are an inspiration. And, through your story, may we all learn to be more responsible road users not just for and to ourselves, but for the benefit of all.

Here are some of your Backseat Driver comments from last week’s How to beat bad SLEX by Andy Leuterio… 

There should be a discount to users of SLEX, with the fuel consumption of each vehicle suddenly zooming up due to the traffic. Aside from the hassle created, users now have to wake up earlier than usual so as to be able to make it to their destinations. We’ve tolerated Citra & PNCC too much. It’s about time we stand up to them. – jopet.moran 

I agree... SLEX must drastically reduce its rates because we are not getting our money’s worth! Imagine traversing hell on SLEX from C5/Nichols until Alabang costing motorists P65 whereas from end to end of NLEX only costs P180! Also not to mention the wasted fuel while crawling your way through traffic. This is a classic example of getting raped! – botingting

Here’s one on the Going Green article…

Regenerative breaking? You mean braking! As in whenever the brake is applied, it uses the energy generated also to charge the batteries! Then because this is a new technology for us Pinoys, the government charges us with exorbitant taxes so we can use this fad? Back in the USA, customers get tax incentives. Here we get penalized for driving a “green car”, how stupid! – JoseParco (Ouch! Yes, you got me there on the “braking”. That was a typo we obviously overlooked. Our apologies. That little mention of “heavy tax requirements” on the other hand? That was very intentional. Glad to know we still have the most attentive readers in the country!)

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