20260809 The Fogged up Car

When you have no knowledge

 When you need something done and you do not have the know-how to do it, there are a few options:
1. Learn the skills yourself,
2. Pay someone else to do it, or
3. Try do do it yourself and then pay someone else to clean up after you failed.

  For me, it would be the second option. It saves me time and I do not have to worry. However, for my case, things went from bad to worse. This is why most people tell me, once you have that 'good mechanic', never ever let him go or forget him. I learned this the hard time when during my Younger days, I was modifying the alarm, the sound system and other what-nots. Each modification has a certain amount of SNAFUs, which, the guilty culprit refuses to take responsibility. So you have to go back to the other shop to get it rectified and the same happens. This means going here and there because some ass-hat f*cked on a wire or borked a part.

 

The Downhill Journey of the Aircon 

 Driving for 15 years does a lot to a car. There are a lot of things to worry about once the 8 year mark comes. But for me, it was the Air-conditioning. Although I do not use them every I start driving (because it saves on fuel), I only use them during raining or when sudden temperature change fogs up the windshield.

 Wiping the glass stops being effective very fast. Driving at the speed of a speeding chicken without being able to see and react to situations outside the car can be Financially (Insurance) draining. And then there is the matter of confronting the Driver without a weapon and of course, the wrath of the Police. 

 And so, after some time, the aircond was fixed (but not without more issues), there were some post operation time-bombs. One of them just did me in a few days ago.

 

This was the second guy who did my aircond within a 5 week period. I gave them ample time but they still did not do what was right (forgive me for not swearing when I needed to). Right after I left, I discovered when they put back the (swear word) front bumper in, the (swear word) bonnet release lever was (swearing, swear swear words) trapped.

 The Second Time-Bomb

   It was on dark morning where I needed some bright lights to scare away some caterpillar. I could not use my headlamps as they're so aged, you can see the cracks on the clear plastics. So, they're effectively as good as bright spots on a car. So, when it was time to turn on the fog lamps, there was noting. I know the right lamp has melted sometime after the turn of the Century but come on. The left should have worked. But it is not.

And as I peeked into where the wiring was, much to my dismay, my hunch was correct. The A/C guy did unplugged my fog lamp cable when they were removing the front bumper. Once they closed it up again, the job was obviously done in a hurry because the bonnet lever was trapped under the whole bumper assembly. And now this.

 

 

The condition is so bad on these leaking head lights, it was time to change. I mean, it was supposed to be changed maybe around 2020 or so when I start to notice every car threw brighter lights than mine, as if mine was never switched on.

Another few days later, I got a new Spot for the right side. The price was quite reasonable for around RM40.00 which also comes with a 9006 bulb. If I bought it then the price would be higher. But then again, I have to remind this is not an original even though the the Bengmobile is out of production since 2012.

 

 

The firs thing you need to do is to pull out this cover. Try not to yank it by force as the plastic has aged and can be brittle. You can already see that there is no bulb (because it has melted off and dropped out).

Carefully use a toothpi... er a flat-bladed screwdriver to push the metal connector to the side (or left) so that the lamp's horizontal pillar can pop out.

Do the same for the other side too. Don't mind my yellow thumb as I was spray painting some numbers at work.

This is the 9006 bulb which has since long burned out...

As evident in the reflector's plastic.

The original 2011 Spot with the OEM on the right. Although the dimensions are the same, its the black glossy finishing which confirms that this is an OEM.

To install the new Fog Lamp, you just align it and make sure the alignment clip (yellow arrow) goes straight into the hole. You see, both the left and right side round pillars allows the Lamp to pivot up and down. It is this screw that aligns the light. But you'd have to open up the wheel arc insulator from the inner side to turn the screw. So I just make sure the screw position is the same as the original...

This is the left side of the Fog Lamp. Just as I suspected, the (swear word) did not clip it back when they re-inserted the front bumper. Luckily the bulb is still working.

 

Finally, the bulb is working. As for the front head lamp and the left Fog light, they're effectively fogged... Funnily enough, this reminded me of Ultraman.

 OK, so now I know how to change the Fog Lamps. Which should be easy peasy when I continue with the left one next payday. As for the main head Lights, they would take more that just 15 minutes since this would involve removing the front bumpers slightly. Then again they are long overdue as it is quite a challenge to drive at night or early morning.

 

 

 

 

 

20240818 The best Car Interior Light in the World

 Ever since I realised VeeChai's courtesy light has burnt, I was on the lookout for a replacement. This time, I preferred something along the lines of NOT being a incandescent bulb. Like any other bulbs, this W5W is not different. It does give you a nice light but at the same time, because it can get hot and affect the clear RM30.00 plastic cover.

Using COBs

I replaced the roof lights in my first Bengmobile quite some time ago and the LEDs were OK. It was not spectacularly bright but it was alright. Fast forward more than a decade later, it is VeeChai's turn. And so, I got this off the Internet or to be more specific, Shopee.

This time, this is a COB (Chip on Board) version as it is supposedly brighter than LEDs.

 

This is a 48 LED version and it comes with at least three different connectors. And this COB is quite thin. The thickness you're seeing are actually the double-sided tape.
Mine was a W5W connector (lower left)

Damn, my roof is dirty after all these years. Anyway, I just need to pry off the cover (from near the switch side) and I can start with the replacement.

The W5W bulb is held by a very strong set of metal connectors. I just have to push the left connector a little to the left and the bulb will drop out. Inserting the W5W adaptor is quite tricky since it is fighting me all the way.

Finally, the COB plate is in and boy, I am so underwhelmed by the 48 LED's brightness.
Actually, two LED elements are out, with another two on its way.

The W5W bulb which is burnt.

The term sucker immediately comes to mind. I need to make the surrounding darker so that I can use the dim COB LEDs... or maybe, cover the whole car with a black cloth instead...

 Summary

So, yeah, I am not too happy about this dim COB. Which means I would need to get another set somewhere. One day. Soon. Maybe.

24032016 The Lights of me Lamp

As my mood changes, so does the my sensitivity towards lighting. Being slightly depressed and also pressured, I need the lighting to be muted. The only thing that can do this would be to shine a table lamp towards the ceiling. This creates a very nice diffused or muted ambiance which I craving am now.

However, tempted as I may, I did not want to buy a table lamp as they're too 'short' or had small shades which stops it from spreading light into a larger area. And so I had this stupid idea of creating my own lamp, using large metallic dish or wok as reflectors. However, the challenge was on how to secure these large and heavy objects on to the existing lamp. In the end, the solution presented itself in the form of an IKEA Melodi lamp. How IKEA stuff came to Kuching without an IKEA store, is another story. And with one custom made plastic ring, courtesy of the Utility Department, my Lamp is done!

This is how my room looked like in February with a 15Watt

By pure luck, I found a shop which sells this E27 extender when I was looking  for some parts to make a new 'lamp'.

This was how the room looked with the bulb extender and the 18Watt lamp. It's too bright to me but when my Wife came  over, they said it was OK.

Everynight, I tell you. Everynight this was how the ceiling looked. Well, not really as I needed to tone down the exposure to get this pattern

Then I got the Utility Department to help create a large 3" washer from some 5mm plastic scrap

And sliding it into the IKEA (Yes, IKEA. IN Kuching) Melodi lamp  shade, my new lamp is now ready!

This was how the room looked with the new 18Watt bulb after I removed the extender as I could not stand the harsh lighting. The reflector from the bulb casts a very harsh shadow line on the curtains and walls.

And now, the light seemed softer, bright but softer. This  is the best I can get for now, without having to break the wallet or the ceiling...

One day, I'll need to look for a very large draft/tracing paper to diffuse the bottom of the shade

Downlights

Nowadays, with new buildings and renovations, you are faced with two types of false ceiling: plaster or plaster sheets (I am not sure of the terminology for this one). For those who are using plaster ceiling, I noticed that the only type of lighting suitable for them are the round ones called downlights, which usually have flourescent bulbs in them. Depending on where you buy them, these downlights come in a set, which is the fluorescent and the fixture, and the cost could be anywhere from RM28 to a whole lot more.

Recently, there are some new design which has a glass lens at the bottom and you can also choose to have either a gold or brushed metal ring finish instead of the more common white. So, I am going to help source for these lights as we need to move back home soon.

Unfortunately, these energy saving fluorescent lights cannot be dimmed unless we buy the more expensive versions.

This is how it would look when placed on the ceiling. You do not
see the rest of the lights, just the opening at the bottom. This
version has its own starter, etc.

This is the view you would see if you look up the ceiling.
The fluorescent bulbs are different

See the metal clips at the ring? Its used to hold the
silver reflectors in place and if its too loose, then the
reflector would fall off

I do not like this type of fixing as knowing Murphy's Law,
they will fall when you try to change them or use a stick to
poke at. So, I am going to use the screw on types, which is
more common and easier to buy in cases of emergency