I like my Subaru XV 2.0.  Not too big. Nice shape. Right height. OK colour. The steering wheel feels a little heavy when parking, but otherwise, all good. On average, I drive it twice a week. In the four years that I’ve had it, I’ve clocked up a very low mileage of under 20,000 km. That’s good, yes? Less CO2 emissions into the environment.

A month ago, I took my car in for a regular service at an authorised centre nearest to me. I was told that the air conditioner had a problem, and it needed to be looked at. I declined. I questioned whether it was really needed. I don’t know much about car air-conditioners but a previous experience made me wonder about the vague diagnosis.

For my car’s 2-year birthday service, I was informed that it required the 40,000 km inspection. Despite the low mileage, the engine oil had to be changed as it could have gummed up or turned sludgy. The manager gave me an analogy of milk in a fridge. Just because it was sitting in a fridge, doesn’t mean it won’t go bad. Agreed, if I planned to drink the car oil. Other parts that helped the car run smoothly also needed to be checked. I was in a dilemma. I’m the first to admit I know very little about what’s under a car’s bonnet, and how the different parts function. I gave my John Hancock for the service but I was dissatisfied.

Why? Because all 17 items on the service list were checked, filled, drained, renewed and replaced. I was puzzled as to why/how in two years, so many things needed so much attention. I was also puzzled about the quality as the car battery (this was not part of the 17 items) needed replacement in 24 months.

The bill was RM1, 800.00. It was a big hit on my wallet. The service took four hours. That’s a long time to sit and wait. I got a Grab, which cost me RM24 in total. RM11 to my home, and RM13 back to the service centre. No courtesy car or ride was provided. My husband offered to drive me to the service centre but that would have meant sitting in traffic both ways, together and separately, for him. Prior visits were under RM500.

What was my takeaway from the service? It didn’t matter whether I drove my car regularly. It didn’t matter that the mileage was low compared to the average driver, who probably drives daily to work and back, and on weekends. It didn’t matter that I didn’t leave it idle. To collect dust and problems. Again, I am no expert on cars. I thought low use, not no use, meant less wear and tear. And, a reduced need to renew and replace parts, unless they are broken, dirty or empty? Belatedly yet useful was reading, “What’s the service interval for a low mileage car?[1].”  Two years later, I still can’t shake the feeling of uncertainty and lack of trust.

Back to October this year. Three weeks on, my car air conditioner broke down. It released hot air. The service centre did point out that my air conditioner needed a look at. Something was obviously wrong. I avoided the service centre. Instead, I chanced it and went to an air conditioning repair shop that my husband had used to successfully top up his air conditioner. Unfortunately for me, despite the top up, it was hot again in a few days.  

What to do? I tried another air conditioning shop recommended by my long-time mechanic, Peter. The shop was about 33km away in Selangor. The owner, Ah Meng, gave the air conditioning system a once over and speculated that the cooling coil could be the problem. He telephoned his parts supplier for a quotation. After that, he explained, which I half understood, the process that needed to be undertaken to put right my air conditioner.

The to-do list was quite long. It included replacing the cooling coil with an original product, and servicing the condenser. Vacuuming, and filling gas and using branded car oils, additives and gas.  Plus dismantling the bumper to clean the filter. He gave me an estimate of the items and work involved. It was over RM1500. I agreed to it without much hesitation.

I had just met him in the morning. I’m not the best judge of people but I felt I could trust him. Was it because he was recommended by my mechanic? Was it because he took the time and effort to explain the process to me? Was it because he ran a smaller business that relied on goodwill?  Or was it because he was kind to a playful stray kitten that was all over his shop. Hmm. I don’t know…