Do I need to Rustproof?!

Applying rust proof coating on the rear door of a Toyota Vios

This question is actually debatable and can garner various answers. The option to rust proof or not really depends on the owner of the vehicle. 

Short Answer: OPTIONAL!

To help you decide on whether you would want to rust proof your car, read on to learn more about the pros and cons and whether it is beneficial to have it done.

Generally, car manufacturers today have different types of metal and treatment that protects the car from rust and other elements straight out from the factory. However if a car has been in an accident, and unprotected steel was exposed, there's still a chance of rust occurring. 

Applying rust proof coating on the interior door of the driver's side

But what is rust?!

Rust is a form of corrosion. This happens when iron (which is in steel) and oxygen mix with air or water which leads to rust. Eventually, rust over the body of a vehicle will cause it to disintegrate, leaving holes on the body of your car. Corrosion can also occur when dirt or moisture accumulate in a car's body.

A major contributor to rust is salt. 

Chemicals on the road, as well as the humidity and huge variations in temperature is also a contributor to rust.

Rust proofing will protect the body of your car from moisture, salt and other harmful elements. Basically, it can lengthen your car's life. To add it also protects other portions of your vehicle such as electrical areas like battery terminals, wiring harnesses, switches and plugs from moisture. Lubrication of moving mechanical parts like brake cables, suspension components, and door hinges is another benefit from having a rust proof. Keeping these areas protected will greatly reduce repair cost and vehicle breakdown.

Especially in the Philippines where automobiles are not cheap and we want to keep it running for a long time, investing in rust proofing is highly beneficial. Not to mention that we are surrounded by numerous contributors to rust from the sea and humidity.

On the downside, rust proofing is not cheap and can go from P3,750 all the way to P11,000 depending on the make and model of the unit.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. If you can afford shelling out for a rust proof and want your peace of mind, then by all means do so. There is no harm in making sure that your car is well protected against any elements out there.

Auto Insurance 101: Third Party Liability

Third Party Liability (TPL), which is included when you obtain a comprehensive insurance, covers the liability (expense you have to shoulder) in the event you accidentally injure a third party (pedestrians, other drivers, or your passengers that are not members of your household or family and are beyond the second degree of consanguinity).

Although it does not cover liability to any sort of property, whether it's the vehicle, other vehicles involved in the accident or damage to standing properties in the scene of the collision. This is where Property Damage or PD comes into play.

The PD will cover the extent of the damaged property within the accident. This coverage pays for damage you (or someone driving your car with permission) may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damages to someone else's car, but also includes damages to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings, or other structures your motor vehicle may hit.

The advantage of having the TPL as well as the PD coverage with your car under a Comprehensive Insurance is that on the occasion that an unfortunate incident occurs, asides from saving on repair cost, you will also benefit from the hassle of paying for physical injury, doing paperwork and legwork.

Rather than jumping from one government office to another, waiting in line and getting documents stamped, the insurance company will aid you in this process saving you time and the hassle. So all you have to do is bring the proper documents and insured unit to the authorized repair shop and that's it.

To know what to do when you get into an accident and the proper documents needed to claim from your insurance. Watch out for next weeks post!

MECHANIC'S CORNER: Rattling Noise on a Toyota Avanza

Rear view of the Toyota Avanza

This week an owner of a Toyota Avanza came in the shop and complained about rattling noises from the rear portion of the vehicle. Initially he thought that there might have been a problem with the rear suspension and thus brought his car to the shop to have it inspected by a professional.

Removing rear spoiler

To locate the specific source of the problem, our technicians took the unit for a test run along the N. Bacalso highway. Once completed they have diagnosed that there is no problem with the suspension of the Avanza and that everything is working well except the rattling noise by the back door of the vehicle. Upon close inspection, it was found that the rear spoiler was loose after years of placement.

Application of double sided tape to the spoiler

To fix the problem, our technician removed the rear spoiler (as seen above) and placed double sided tape on the spoiler (seen on right). The adhesive is placed to ensure a snug fit upon reinstallation of the spoiler as well as tightening the screws that hold the spoiler in place.

With this circumstance, we can learn that we should not jump into conclusions as to the source of the problem but rather we should learn to analyze and take a close look as to the real source of the problem as to avoid unnecessary expense and repair of your vehicle.

We can also see from this illustration, that certain fixes are as simple as adding double sided tape and ensuring that all the screws are tightly placed.

As they say, "Prevention is better than a cure." So whenever you face any minor problems and noises that are not normal, do not hesitate to have it automatically checked by a professional near you. Better to spend a small amount now to prevent a problem than wait later on until the damage is extensive and will cost more.

A Guide to When Your Vehicle should be Registered

In the Philippines, it is required to have your vehicle registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) annually. Here is a guide to know when you should take time to have your registration renewed.

It's all in the plate. One look at your plate number will tell you the proper time to renew them. Firstly take a look at the last digit which corresponds to the month of registration:

    1- January

    2 - February

    3 - March

    4 - April

    5 - May

    6 - June

    7 - July

    8 - August

    9 - September

    0 - October

Old Plates on Top and New Plates Below

The weekly deadline can be determined based on the middle digit:

    1 / 2 / 3 - Day 1-7

    4 / 5 / 6 - Day 8-14

    7 / 8 / 9 - Day 15-21

    9 / 0 - Day 29-31

So given the sample provided above, the owner of the vehicle with the plate number YFE 959 should have their car registration renewed between the 8th to 14th (middle digit is 5) of September (last digit is 9).

Given the LTO's new plates, it is still uncertain how registration of your car will proceed in the upcoming year. Possibly the same process will be carried over to the next. Let us wait and see.

Auto Insurance 101: Comprehensive Insurance

In the previous post on automotive insurance, we talked about the mandatory CTPL or the Compulsory Third Party Liability. Today we will discuss the most common and highly advised type of auto insurance which is the Comprehensive Insurance.

Basically the Comprehensive Insurance covers all types of coverage as listed below:

     1) Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL)

     2) No Fault Indemnity

     3) Loss or Damage

     4) Excess Liability Insurance

            - Excess Bodily Injury

            - Third Party Property Damage

     Additional Optional Coverage:

            a. Auto Passenger Personal Accident

            b. Acts of Nature (Act of God)

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage

Since the prevalence of unfortunate events in the Philippines the past few years; such as Yolanda, earthquakes and the like, insurance companies have opted to offer certain coverage as an additional cost such as the Acts of Nature (AON) on top of the comprehensive insurance that a motorists acquires. Adding an AON on your policy will just be an extra P1,000 up to P2,500 on average for the coverage of your vehicle (depending on make and model), which is not that bad compared to having to pay for the damages of unforeseen circumstances in the future out of your own pocket.

Comprehensive auto insurance pretty much covers all the damages of your car when you get in a jam. However certain incidents are not covered when for instance your car gets a dent from a falling coconut. For this, it is a distinct advantage to add Acts of Nature in the coverage which covers the damage to your vehicle resulting from events that are not man-made (including the coconut).

The following week, we would tackle what is a Third Party and the liabilities involved. This is very important to learn as we drive our vehicles around Cebu/Philippine traffic.

Be courteous and Drive Safely!

Photo Courtesy: moneymax.ph

MECHANIC'S CORNER: Leaking Brake Fluid

This week an early 2000 Honda Civic came in the shop with the complaint that there was fluid that was leaking in their garage. Taking a peek under the hood, it was seen that the brake master cylinder has a leak.

A master cylinder is a control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure (from a driver's foot) into hydraulic pressure.

Seeing as there is no damage to the master cylinder except for that small leak, the remedy to this problem is to fabricate a gasket to seal the leak. This was achieved by taking a rubberized material (designed for gasket use - as seen in the image at the right) and cut-out the shape that would make a snug fit to the leaking portion of the master cylinder.

Further inspection also showed that the leak was not only caused by the master cylinder but a leak was also found in one of the brake hoses. This problem is easily resolved by replacing the leaking hose with a new one.

In this modern times, it is common for mechanics to replace parts rather than repair them. However the art of repair is a skill that should not be overlooked and is still an effective and cost-efficient way of taking care of car problems today.

Auto Insurance 101: Is Car Insurance Necessary?

Many people who own cars in the Philippines would wonder whether car insurance is needed or is it just an added expense. The short answer is YES, car insurance is required but it also has other perks.

Firstly, car insurance is a mandatory requirement for car registration. Under Republic Act 10607:

Per Sec. 387 of the Omnibus Amendments to the Insurance Code

“It shall be unlawful for any land transportation operator or owner of a motor vehicle to operate the same in public highways unless there is in force in relation thereto a policy of insurance or guaranty in cash or surety bond issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to indemnify the death, bodily injury, and/or damage to property of a third-party or passenger, as maybe, arising from the use thereof.”

As mandated by law, this type of insurance coverage is called Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL). It is a very basic insurance coverage that only covers the death and/or bodily injury of a Third Party victim in an accident caused by the Insured Vehicle.

Yes! Car Insurance is needed and should be desired.

Asides from abiding the law, the perks of having car insurance is being able to save money, time and having the peace of mind that your car is covered in case of any accidents that may occur. 

So it is advisable to have car insurance, that in case of any fender benders that you might encounter in the future, you will be secure knowing you've got insurance to take care of the damages as well as you'll be able to save time and money in having your car repaired with us or in any accredited auto repair shops in Cebu and around the country.

Next week, we would talk about the different types of insurance coverage and other add-ons to make sure that you have your car covered in any situation that may arise. To learn more and not miss out on any automotive information like us on Facebook here.

Photo Courtesy: moneymax.ph

MECHANIC'S CORNER: Aircon cannot beat the heat!

This week a Chevy Aveo drove in the shop and had their aircon checked out. The owner said there was no cool air coming out from the vents.

Upon inspection, we found out that there was a leak with the aircon compressor. Now there are 2 options: (1) is to repair the compressor or (2) to replace the compressor. Provided the experience in dealing with aircon problems, the best option is to replace the compressor as to ensure it's longevity.

Yes, replacing a car part may have a higher cost but that would make the owner more confident that this problem would not arise soon. Unlike if the compressor was merely repaired just to make do, it cannot be guaranteed that it will last as long.

Chevrolet Aveo Aircon Compressor