Under the hood 1

I've been thinking about changing the tower strut for a while, so I crossed a half-cut store that sells few adjustable Cusco struts matching the mounting specs for a Putra. The one I had in the bay (looks like Hurricane tower bars sold in ENEOS) is already distorted due to flexes taken on hard driving days, where it also marked a scratch underneath the front hood.

Bought the used strut for RM200, which I reckon can get cheaper about RM150 at some other shop. Guess I was just to lazy to joust into a bargain :P

So I had it replaced on a fine day during wheel balancing at a tyre shop, earlier this month.

Mounted tower brace

A few days ago, I bought some pre-cut hood sound dampeners from Brothers Accessories Shop in Kelana Jaya, so I just took my time pasting it underneath the hood to further help insulate the engine noise when it's running. Cost is quite cheap which is RM38 for a stock Proton Wira / Satria / Putra front hood. Just for reference, same insulation material retails at RM35 per square meter. The material looks & feels of an OK quality for the price offered.

Sound dampeners (insulation)

I wiped all access grease underneath the hood. Any tough grease got a good help from WD40 for removal & get the surface squeaky as much as I can with a dry cloth.

Day 1

Day 1: Halfway

Day 2: Completed

As we can see everything fits into place accordingly. Not too shabby eh?

Face-Lived

After sometime, the car's paint seems to be a bit in disorder due to peeled skin & unwanted scratches which oversees the true religion of the paint nature.
I had again ordered a touch-up activity from Din (my occasional spray painter) to help me about it.

Few things had been re-sorted:

• replacement of side skirts (Poly Urethane Perdana V6's trimmed length)
• installation of door trim (lining) with custom rear fender lining
  
• replacement of Asti Spoiler with custom duck tail version (non-Batman or so-called Asti-Z)
• refinement on front lips mount & paint work
  

Replacement of spoiler includes tampering the mounting holes with steel for permanent seal.

The works started on the 10th this month but seemed to dragging until Saturday, 15th since the rain was up & about during the works. Due to lack of sheltered ground, the works only completed that night about 1 am, when I was finished with my badminton activities @ New vision courts in Petaling Jaya with fellow ex-university mates.

Semakan Raya

Setelah semakan dibuat, rupanya beta punya rim 14 inci Racing Turismo yg bermasalah... berlaga dengan brake calipers. Selepas ujikaji di jalanraya dengan mengenakan rim 15 inci, masalah tidak lagi dihadapi. Walau bagaimanapun, semakan selanjutnya tetap dibuat pada bahagian bawah kenderaan.

Imej 1: Bush Lower Arm Kanan

Imej 2: Bush Lower Arm Kiri

Dari kedua-dua imej bushing yang ditunjukkan, kedua-dua getah bushing itu sebenarnya berkeadaan baik, cuma besi housing getah itu saja yang terkepak sedikit. Kena sesuatu kot. Jadi, tak perlu ditukar. Instead, bila dah check rupa-rupanya lower arm kanan tersebut memang longgar sikit pada absorber arm mount (aku belasah je istilah ni).
Bagi meningkatkan lagi keyakinan beta yang masih amatur, beta juga dinasihatkan untuk menukarkan bush 'sate'. Bush 'sate' ini adalah getah alas untuk besi pengikat lower arm dengan sway bar (lihat gambar dibawah);

Imej 3: Bush 'sate' yang agak lemau keadaannya

Imej 4: Bush 'sate' yang segar bugar setelah ditukar

Kini pemanduan beta adalah lebih bergaya & lebih rempit-able di selekoh-selekoh favourite.

Idling matters

Apart from having certain errands being forgotten, I had my car undergo an MUT check (possibly tuning) but halted when I was informed the idling stepper controller (or idling stepper motor) possibly out of order.

Without A/C (Normal: go around 12++ step)
On Idle: 0 step
Idle with 2nd fan initiated: 0 step

With A/C (Normal: go around 60++ step)
On Idle: 17 step
Idle with 2nd fan initiated: 39 step

These are readings from MUT-II, and standard figures based from the attending mechanic's explanation.
















Stepper motor | Throttle opening | Idling motor

As advised, few possibilities might have contributed this error:
1. Bad wiring
2. Dirty ISC
3. Disfunctional ISC

Proof or rarity

In the denial of my humble & strict parking practices, I have today came to a situation where my patience ran out too quick in waiting for a proper parking lot to clear up. So just parked at the roadside (yellow lines, L&G), where I later discover that I have just been booked for it.
And if there is any proof that the car is not as mass produced as any other models of PROTON (please, put aside Tiara & Juara), this is the proof or our rarity. This model, readers, was never produced even 2nd unit of it.


It's one of the best feelings I get towards end of 2007. Smiling. Like a madman.

The not so new Putra

Just about 2 months ago I got my Proton Putra after a hectic process of getting the loan approved, PUSPAKOM checks & insurance issues done... hahaha so happy got my own ride.
Apart from having my Putra after about 7 years of dreaming, there's quite some plan I have in mind & currently the car has undergo few maintenance works, performing great despite some minor squeaks here & there.

Specs:
Year made: 2000
Mivec1 full bodykit with mivec foglights (don't have switch, though)
Evo1 spoiler
Rota Battle imitation 15 inch

Interior:
Lost a Pioneer headunit & equalizer to robbers, got Sony Xplod cikai replaced
MOMO GSR steering wheel (4 spoke)
SGTI Gear console & gearknob
MP3 Modulator w/ remote (cool item, saves my money for CDs)
Everything else? Standard except for the Barney I hang from the rearview mirror

Some updates on maintenance done:
1. oil change to Castrol MAGNATEC 10W-40 [RM75]
2. spark plugs changed from BKR6EGP (old) to BKR5EGP for [RM35]
3. replaced compressor belt 4PK770 [RM25]
4. replaced alternator belt 4PK760 [RM18]
5. replaced uprated plug cables to stock Mitsubishi (got from halfcut) [Rm50]
6. replaced front bushings, changed springs from potong to cap ayam lowering sport springs (freakin stiff) [RM36, RM183]
7. changed front tyres to Bridgestone MY-01 (Techno replacement model), re-align & camber [RM165 x2, RM12]
8. H1 & low light bulbs [RM8 x2, RM2]

Others:
1. Passanger door window tints (Titanium Elite by Solar Gard) [RM100] due to robbery of my previous headunit, they broke the window, shiats

Alrighty, later I'll post some pics!