Unlucky fortune for the Year of Rat

My car broke down today and I had to forked out RM310+ to repair it. Actually, that is the price I paid for the dry car battery. Apparently it is maintenance free and guarantee for one year. I can almost wings on my ringgit flying to the sky...

It all happened this morning. Mom & I decided to go look for dried pork especially those with the three layer meat from somewhere in town. We left from my dad's shop at Seng Goon garden at around 10am. There was jam EVERYWHERE! I mean, in Kuching, to be stucked in a jam for more than half hour at one time is really crazy. Everyone seems to have taken off and going for last minute shopping.

The car show absolutely not sign of having any trouble this morning. It started as normal and I even remember thinking to myself that this is a good car to have. Very reliable and fuel efficient. But come to think of it, those little minors problems that I been having with the car must have been an indicator. Once, the aircon wouldnt turn on properly but after a few push of the button, it works just fine again. I forgotten all about that as it never happened again after that. Other time would be the car alarm went abit crazy. Sometimes the central locking would not work and other time it is perfectly ok. But I thought that is because the car key is falling apart. Guess little did I know, the car has been trying to tell me that he (yah, I think of the car as HE) needs help.

Right, back to this morning, we bought some three layer dried pork at CKC and then decided to swing to a house behind the old Upwell building before they moved to Jalan Song to check their dried pork. The shop sometimes sell the bits of dried pork that is not shaped nicely for cheaper price, roughly RM50 per kg. Since it still taste the same and at the end of the day, you will still cut them before serving, no harm in getting this right? Unless of course, it is as a gift, then this is not so presentable. Last year, by the time we managed to get there, those ugly bits were already sold out but this year there were still plenty left. After getting those, mom & I got into the car and as I start the engine, a big loud bang can be heard.

At first we thought someone rammed into the rear of the car. It was that loud! But after checking around and see no other car that looks like it is hurt too, I realised that the engine wont start at all and the engine is making funny noises. I told my mom to get out of the car quick in case it does some other weird things. I opened the hood of the car and realised that the loud bang was actually 2 of the battery cap flying off and hitting the hood. We of course immediately call for the calvary, my dad! hahaha...

Later, upon further inspection by the mechanic, we discover that the battery might have short circuited. The top cover was actually loose like the cover of a container not being closed properly. So we suspect that normal water mixed with the battery water and making the whole battery become a mini pressure cooker. Thank goodness it only affected the battery and only the cap exploded. I cannot imagine what will happened if the whole battery explode. And also thank goodness the car was not moving when it happens. Or else I dare not think what disaster that will bring.

Thank goodness also that dad didnt follow us and he was able to be the knight in shinning armor, brought us a new battery which was not in the right size by the way but the mechanic were a miracle worker. He temporarily tied the battery with some wires so that the car engine can at least start and I can drive it to our usual garage in Hui Sing. All in all, it was a morning wasted but were very lucky that no one was hurt and the car was ok.