What's wrong with always-on backlit meter cluster?

Recently, the news of always-on backlit meter cluster has been taking its round, stating it is dangerous and not conforming to international safety standard.  I am not going to argue or take side on this, and as a driver myself, I could only admit that it happen before to myself on the forgotten headlight issue as the car meter cluster is always blasting its lightwaves in front of my eyes beautifully.

Looking at 2 cars that I am driving now, both are equipped with always-on backlit meter cluster, and both have an indicative light whether the car headlights are on, as pointed out in the photos.

The first photo is taken from a Citroen C3 and second photo from a Honda City.  Thus one could easily see that smart manufacturers would have given the always-on backlit cluster some deeper thought to add in the headlights "on" indicator.  And by the way, the Citroen C3 is a 2003 manufactured car, and the Honday City is a 2009 unit.  These add to the doubt that in fact, in some countries, this indicator might be a compulsory item for the always-on backlit meter cluster.  Or there were too many complaints that forced manufacturers to put this in place.

Advise to engineers out there...tiny little indicator does not cost much, yet it is solid proof on whether you are smart to think further as a user, or just having a plain flat brain.

Nissan Almera, the no-frills Japanese car

You have limited budget, where National's and Korean's cars are not in your shopping list, and you "die die" want to get a Japanese car for its reliability, ease of maintenance, second-hand value, then stop shopping around, as the Nissan Almera is your one and only choice.  With the price staring from RM67k and RM70k for the down-to-earth basic manual transmission and autobox variants respectively, no wonder people are flocking to Nissan's showrooms to let go of their pay cheque.   As simple as the Almera gets, is a 1.5-litre CVVT engine, capable of 101hp/139Nm of power.  Just decent enough to ferry your daily workload in the city and cruise through your occasional vacation along the highway.  4-speed autobox and 5-speed manual transmission variants are available.

On the safety side, the basic E variant come with only driver-side airbag, which is a shame here as even our National's cars come with minimum of two nowadays.  Choosing the upper range of V and VL variants, you will then get dual airbags.  However, it is good to see that all variants are equipped with Anti-Lock Braking system and ISOFIX mount point.  The rest of the features where you pay extra for are stuff like front fog lamps, remote trunk release, automatic aircon, steering wheel audio control, push start button, keyless entry, and some garnishes here and there.

Nothing much to shout about with the Almera, but the rear legroom is incredibly huge, and it is the largest when compare with others in the same B-segment.  Nissan has make this a real comfort and economy car to own.  Uh...the "underwear" look of the steering wheel really need to be updated.  With a splash of the Nismo bodykit, the Almera does look slightly better.  But, in my humble opinion, it still looks like a Nissan March with a boot bolted on at the back.  It is now in the facelifted generation, and in another 2-3 years, let's hope for a real handsome looking Almera.  For now, the price of the Almera so attractive, making it hard to resist for first time Japanese car buyer!

Nightmares of AMT, Automated Manual Transmission (Semi-Auto Gearbox)

Semi-Auto gearbox started in the early 2000, with some car manufacturers pushing it as the next generation technology.  Designed mainly to fit lower displacement small car, one could also see some higher end vehicles using this type of Automated Clutch Gearbox.  Essentially, AMT is a manual gearbox, couple with "robotic" arm and motors to engage and disengage the clutch, effectively shifting the gear automatically for the driver.  Since it is a manual box, with its own ECU controlling it, such gearbox can obtain excellent fuel economy, while giving the driver full control of the gear selection when needed in the Manual mode.

 

Having own a Citroen C3 with Sensodrive, and driving it for almost 12 years now, it's time to share the nightmares with those that are considering a car with this technology.  Firstly, an AMT, being a manual gearbox, does not hold the car in drive position while on a slope, it will roll backward!  Handbrake control is very important here, as there is no clutch for one to depend on.  Secondly, the gear shift speed is at a tortoise speed as the "robotic" clutch need to move in and out to disengage and engage the gear.  Most manufacturers learned and went ahead with dual-clutch gearbox years later.

Aside from the operational change of the driver, reliability of such gearbox is a big concern as there are additional moving parts in the system.  Whenever things move, failing is imminent.  The AMT will usually has two actuators, one the changes gear and another to control the clutch.  In addition to that, another component that will fail is the gearbox ECU.  The clutch plate maintenance is standard for all manual gearbox as well.  Within the first few years of ownership, the gearbox of my AMT has encounter a failure with the clutch actuator, as seen above.  The moving arm (where the black rubber enclosing it), refused to move, causing the gearbox stuck at whatever the last gear number it is in.  Driving it further in one low gear will cause the gearbox to overheat and give up, thus towing is the only option.  Luckily, this was replaced under warranty (Cost about RM3k).  Do however note that servicing and maintaining a AMT need special program that connect to the car ECU, to ensure the arm is retracted in a correct position and calibrated precisely.  Sending it to those Ah Beng workshop is as well as trashing your gearbox!

Second part that failed was almost 12 years later, which should be considered as worth the praise of the built quality.  This round was the Gear Shift Actuator as shown above.  This part is expensive, costing about RM5k, and it is heavy and huge, with 2 motors built into it, controlling the gear selection!  When this failed, the car either will be stuck at a gear or in neutral, and usually the car could failed while driving, which was what happened to me.  With no gear, and in neutral, the car slow down ad stalled!  After which the ECU protection came into effect and disallowing it to be driven or started anymore.  Both parts are manufactured by SACHS of Germany, thus quality should be high, but with a lifetime!

So, are you still considering a car with AMT gearbox?  Think again!  If it is without the Hill Start Assist, normal driver will take times to get used to operating on a slope.  If things start to fail, pray hard the car is still under warranty.  Summary of cost if one were interested:

1. Clutch Actuator = RM3,000
2. Gear Shift Actuator = RM5,000
3. Clutch Maintenance every 80k-120k km = RM3,000
4. ECU = unknown, as mine still working

By the way, Citroen has updated my gearbox ECU many times, mostly are safety enhancement.  For now, cars in the market with AMT would be and not limited to:

1. Greatwall Haval M4 (a lot of pending orders, which it could not deliver and might due to reliability issue of the AMT, start saving money folks!)
2. Alfa Romeo Selespeed models where Sime Darby has stop distributing.
3. Citroen Sensodrive and EGS models (no longer being sold under Naza, and all Citroen brought in by Naza uses normal torque converter automatic)
4. Proton Savvy (where production has stopped)
5. Smart ForTwo and Roadster (not available for sales in Malaysia anymore)

If I were to buy an automatic gearbox car, CVT or normal torque converter type is a must.  No more AMT!  Those having or going to have one, Good Luck!

RON97 & RON95 is now @ RM2.25/litre & RM1.95/litre respectively

With the increase in crude oil price, naturally, the March 2015 announcement of petrol price will follow suit.  A RM0.25 increase per litre across all grades, making RON95 RM1.95/litre and RON97 RM2.25/litre.  Some petrol kiosk has even stop selling trying to reap in the profit now.  Our businessmen are mostly unethical, where during announcement of price drop, they star complaining about their loses, but when the price increases, they try all ways to reap the benefit.  In Malaysia, keeping 3-day of stock is a regulation and this line of business is regulated.  The government should heavily fine them or put them in jail.

Looking at Brent Crude Oil price now, it is about 18% difference from previous month.  Thus the RM0.25 increase is about right!