Weng Fatt Motor Engineering

Cheap, Fast, Good... choose 2. That's a fact of life for most situations. The component you see here is actually for the rear boot latch and you can see a "Tamiya Hyper Dash" motor (sorry, uncle joke). In most failures for this latch also for your folding mirror and door locks, it's either caused by a faulty motor or broken gears. The Fast but Good fix is naturally to replace the whole latch, side mirror arm or even door lock actuator. However, an option that most ADs and some workshops don't talk about is the possibility for repair. One reason why is that while the repair may just cost you 20-50% of the cost of replacement, typically the repair may take up to 2 days as the workshop may have to dismantle the part, hand it over to a bench repairer who will take it apart and replace the faulty motor, gears or other components before handing it back to be re-installed. Still, at least now you know what's going on behind the covers and options for the most satisfactory job done. That's what she said... If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

I encourage all parents out there to get your kids playing TCGs (Trading Card Games) rather than spending all their time stuck behind a phone or a screen. Firstly, you get to interact with REAL people and learn concepts such as language, rules, match, logic and situation awareness. If unsure, read the instructions and the card. Reading the card tells you what the card does. If only it's so simple for adults. I often get the question "Hi Vince, I need to top-up coolant and just bought some from the petrol kiosk/spare parts shop/internet and I don't know how much to add or mix." Firstly, there are thousands of brands out there and each have different requirements so it is impossible for me to advise without reading the label which you should be doing yourself. Still, lucky for those of us who don't speak or read Indian, Thai, German or whatever language is on this label, the diagram below shows how much you should dilute. Basically, if you are driving in conditions below 50 degrees C add 2 part water to 3 parts coolant and in our case which we don't go anywhere near below 24 degrees C, It's 2 parts coolant to 3 parts water. Now if I can only figure out the instructions for washing labels, I'm golden. Jokes aside, if you really have difficulty figuring out the dilution or mixture, just get pre-mixed (with the ed which means it's already been mixed to the correct dilution) instead of pre-mix (without the ed which means you have to add water). Coming also from the generation that skips EULAs, I know your pain. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

This is why we often tell our customers we prefer to do physical checks rather than follow the technical manual blindly. A customer came in to inform us that he has to do "higher servicing" which involves replacing the drive belt but upon checks, we discovered that the belt was replaced very recently as part of another repair. Most belts are rated to be good for at least 75,000-100,000km and for this case, the belt was so new that even the wordings are clear as day. Bottom line is, talk to your mechanic. Some people hop around workshops and it may be a good idea to just get it replaced regardless if you do not keep track of the repair and the workshop do not do physical checks. Also, physical checks are not possible for some parts. Still, waste not, want not and with the whole world going green and reducing consumption, it may be time to rethink if blindly following something which is "dead" and have no situation awareness is such a good idea. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

"Wah... why so expensive, last time I change not so expensive". This is what I have to deal with on a regular basis. While the easy way out is to just say "Inflation loh, last time you buy house at Tangling for $10,000 40 years ago, now go up to close to $1,000,000, I buy from you at $10,000 you want to sell?"... fact is, sometimes there is a reason for why prices go up. Take this boot release latch from a BMW for example. While the new and old latches are for the same model and are both electronic latches, the old latch had a relatively high failure rate and it's pretty common for us to replace them ever so often. After some constructive criticisms from consumers and mechanics, BMW have actually made improvements to the latches making the electronic contact a seal component thus reducing the rate of failure. While it cost slightly more, having a longer MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) actually means you spend less in the long run. Naturally, some customers will insist on having the cheaper option and spare parts shops and workshops are more than happy to sell you to obsolete spare... just don't mind others laughing when you are locked out of your boot and have to call in a pro to help you open it and spend even more getting it replaced. Everyone needs a clown and a good laugh at times ya. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

$2000-6000 for a head rest? Crazy? Well, if you have been through an accident as bad as mine and suffered from whiplash, it may actually be a small price to pay. Imagine having to turn your whole body just to face somebody and getting the feeling of someone stabbing you at the back of your neck and head each time you forget about your condition and turn your head. Now imagine the same pain happening for 6 months first then reoccurring at random for the rest of your life. I can imagine people willing to pay 10 times that amount to avoid this injury. Thanks to BMW and some other car makers, you don't have to. If you look at the first 2 photos, you will notice that the head-rest are extended compared to the next 2. This is because the anti-whiplash safety feature was deployed. It basically involves detonation of a spring loaded system that pushes the headrest forward when you are being thrown forward thus catching your head, which is about the weight of a bowling ball, before it snaps back. Resetting or replacing the head-rest often involves the use of controlled items and computerized calibration after installation thus the high cost. Still, the fact that the senior passenger involved in this accident could not only walk it off but also laugh about the whole incident proves that it works. Now looking at it, a $2000-6000 price tag seems a lot whole worth it compared to a life time of pain and suffering. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

Yup, I play Magic the Gathering. You can look me up for a few fun games of commander and it is not uncommon for players (nope, not me, definitely not me in case my wife is reading this) to spend tens or even hundreds of dollars on cards to up their game. Same can be said about cars. Some people are willing to spend thousands just to squeeze in an additional 5 horse power to their cars. Still fact of the matter is, most people look at Magic cards as luxury carboard rectangles and modifications to cars as dangerous shenanigans that don't increase the value of the car and makes it harder to maintain. Even a well tuned car which is mod and kitted for better power and efficiency will breakdown eventually and repairs will often cost a whole lot more than a stock vehicle. Not to mention a poorly kitted car needs to be de-mod to pass inspection costing you possibly upwards of $1200. Thing is, most drivers will avoid vehicles that are modded and even enthusiast may not be keen as they may wish to kit the car themselves rather than getting which is already modded. Bottom line is, like any TCG, the market is niche and do know what you are getting yourself into before you commit. You do not have to take a loan or mortgage to play Magic but most people may have to just to own a car and you can't trade it in at a LGS when you decide you don't wanna play anymore. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

You don't bang people, people bang you... "That's what she said". But seriously, unless you're the luckiest person in the world, sooner or later, you will get rear ended "that's what she said". But seriously, unless you are also moving forward when you get hit from behind, the impact is often bigger than you think. High school physics tells us Force = Mass x Acceleration so if you are at 0 km/h and the other fellow is at even 50km/h, you have at least 1 ton of mass hitting you at 50km/h. Often, nice customers will try to settle the accident on the spot thinking it may not be worth getting looked at or that the damage looks minor. My suggestion is simply NEVER DO THAT. Take this BMW for example. It was rear ended by a vehicle which claimed it was not going at anywhere above 40k/h and from the surface the damage looks minor. But when you have pe*******on, the cost goes up (That's what she said) as it typically means the bumper should be replaced as a repair may show cracks in the even of future, even minor, impacts. At the same time, the reverse sensors may cost upwards to $300 for a full set and some damages can only be confirmed after we dismantle the bumper. Racking the vehicle to straighten it and the subsequent paint and rust-proofing works can also cost upwards of $400. Conclusion is, sometimes, it's best to get a 3rd person involved and... that's what she said. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

My friends... this is why we don't do simple things like changing bulbs late into the evening. Especially for vehicles we are not familiar with. It is no because we are not experienced but it's because we are too experienced. If you take a close look for the Benz, you will notice that the wire shielding is starting to fail and cracks have started to form on the surface of the wire and some metal are actually exposed. This happens more often then you think, especially for some continental vehicles which are not really climatized. During the bulb change process, the cracking may get worse as we shift the wires to access the bulb making a cheap and simple job of replacing a bulb either an expensive affair of replacing the whole headlamp or a time consuming job or re-wrapping the wiring. The alternative is a possible chance of a blow fuse if you are lucky or a vehicle fire if you are not should a short-circuit occur. It is often the little things that kills us so now that you know, always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and please... come early for repairs. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

SRS/Airbag lamp lit after you lent your car to your friends? Well, in the first place we often tell our customers 3 things you shouldn't lend to your friends are your money, wife and car. But seriously, while in some cases, it may be due to abuse from your friend or just a coincidental failure, often it may be because the passenger airbag was switched off. People do it for a variety of reasons but typically it is to prevent the deployment of the airbag during a accident when a child seat or baby chair is installed as it may cause significantly worse injury in case of impact. While it may differ from car to car, the passenger airbag is typically disabled/enabled via your car key with a turn switch typically located at the passenger side either at the edge of your dash or in the glove compartment itself. Some settings as done via the OSD (On Screen Display) of your car console so do check your owner's manual. Now you know how to toggle your airbag system and possibly mess with your friends. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

Nope, you're at the right place. It's still Weng Fatt Motor Engineering and we fix cars not handphones. Still, with experience fixing car ECUs and circuit boards, minor repairs on mobile devices which we use for diagnostic purposes is not too much of a challenge. The point we are trying to bring across is that often, for items such as your car camera/DVR, the point of failure is typically your battery. While some brands such as BlackVue uses a high charge capacitor rather than a battery, most still use the typical Lithium Ion batteries as seen in the pictures here. Most batteries have a lifespan of about 2 years and do expect to get them replaced about then. If your camera is cutting out early or the battery starts to bloat, it's time to get it looked at. So why should you bother? Well, in the unlikely case of an accident, your DVR may not be working correctly and you may loose crucial footage which may otherwise help you in a complicated case. Another crucial point is often these devices takes a reference from your battery which means for 24/7 recording, it may cause excessive drain to your battery pending set up. And yup... it may just means your car cannot start when you need it to. Still, the most critical point is that there is a chance, though slim, that the battery may blow up in your face. Worried? Now is as good as a time to get your DVR checked out and if you have other devices such as an external TPMS, do verify that it's working and there is no signs of battery wear. If you found this useful, do share with your friends and like us to get more useful tips and info. Cheers.

OK, the thing about car repair is that, like people, there is often a wholistic approach to fixing any problem. While it's true some repairs and checks are situations where "the risk outweighs the benefits" or is considered BER (Beyond Economical Repair), often an insignificant fault may lead to another. The example here is a lower arm. The vehicle suffered from minor/moderate engine oil leak which the owner decided not to fix due to cost but as you can see, the engine oil had leaked onto the rubber portion of the lower arm. While it may not be an issue in the short term, long term exposure of the chemicals in the Engine Oil has caused on side of the arm to wear faster than the other (as you can see from the 2nd picture). Often other rubber parts like drive belts may suffer from the same issue if exposed for long enough. For this case, while the driver is ok with some minor oil leak, he couldn't take the excessive sound when moving across humps and uneven roads. End up... everything change. Do note that if you are ok with both, you may be able to squeeze another 6-12 months or 10-20,000km before replacement so always talk to your workshop and find the best solution for you personally. Do share if you find this useful and wanna help your friends and like us to get more info and updates. Cheers

Servicing decals from the 80s/90s...

It's almost on a daily basis that I get a call with a customer or friend telling me their vehicle broke down and there are X number of warning lamps. I have to admit, I get calls like this so often that I have make it a point not to sound "dismissive". The reason for that is mainly when the engine is running, you should not get any warning indicators BUT when you are at ignition 2 (when vehicle is turned on but engine is not running or we call it KOEO, Key On Engine Off) it is normal for the car to first through a BITE (Build In Test Equipment) Test and end with a lamp test which means all the available warning lights come on. This is also true when your car has stalled and is in the KOEO state which is why mechanics are typically not interested in the fault indicators which have appeared in this stage. When the engine is running (KOER or Key On Engine Running), you should be out of the lamp test stage and any warning indicators now are actual indications which we (mechanics) are interested in knowing as it will assist in fault finding. You may want to get yourself familiar with the fault indications at KOEO so as to not confuse yourself in case of emergency. You can go into KOEO mode by turning the key to the ignition mode (2 clicks typically and leaving it instead of al the way to the 3rd click which will start the engine) or with a push start, press the start button twice without stepping on the brakes. You will typically see all the warning lamps come on (lamp test) and some will go off after their BITE test are completed. Do share if you find this useful and wanna help your friends and like us to get more info and updates. Cheers

People often ask how much it cost to fix an oil leak. While it is generally cheaper for Japanese models than Continental vehicles due to parts cost and complexity, The general rule of thumb is, it's cheaper if you can see it and any experienced workshops honest and worth their salt will tell you a range rather than an fixed figure. The pictures shows this partially dismantled engine of a BMW 5 series. The job is supposed to be for a simple oil leak fix but after dismantling, we discovered some of the internal plastics/fiber components have also became brittle and were starting to break off. It really do not make sense not to get them replaced at this stage and this is a pretty common occurrence for a number of jobs. Not being able to give a fixed figure for come jobs is not a sign of inexperience but rather a sign that some workshops or mechanics are experienced enough to know the complications that MAY or will likely arise during another's repair. Do spend some time talking to your mechanic if they can spare it and you may avoid a sudden "heart attack" when the final bill hits you. Do share if you find this useful and wanna help your friends and like us to get more info and updates. Cheers

Yup... We seem this before... Unfortunately it did not survive...

More than 5 years running and still counting. Thank you all for your continuous support. We look forward to being of good service to you for many more years to come. Being the best 3 rated workshop just means we must keep our standards high and you happy. Cheers.

I don't usually encourage people from getting a Diesel vehicle unless their millage and use justifies it. Still, if you do have one, here's a quick tip that may save you thousands of dollars. Firstly, there have been little changes for Diesel engines since the 90s and the common rail system but diesel emission have been getting lower. This is often accomplished using DPFs ,or Diesel Particle Filters, of various designs. Some designs make use of AdBlue or a filtration system. Unfortunately, Singapore being an Ultra-Urban driving environment, the DPF often gets choked. The thing to note is that the clearing system (often called re-generation) is automated most of the time but deep cleaning is often required. This process involves heating up the DPF and expelling contaminates. Some vehicles have this feature build-in but others will require special equipment and a scan-tool. The import thing to take note is NEVER interrupt the process as it may cause the carbon to dislodge and NOT get expelled. This may mean an expensive machine washing or even a replacement of the DPF. Hope you find this useful and do share and like if wanna help your friends out and find this info useful. Cheers.

If your car does not come with HID, chances are the light emitted is yellow in color. Many drivers often ask "Why yellow and not the cooler looking white looking light?" Well, which white lights do give a clearer view at clear nights, they tend to have more reflection during foggy, snowy and raining nights thus making it more of a safety issue than anything else. However, if you do really what the white headlamps, an alternative is to use Xenon/white bulbs like the ones in the picture. They are LTA/street legal but do note the issues raised previously. DO NOT modify the vehicle with LED/HID bulbs as not only are you talking about a $500 fine if caught, it is also a safety concern as these bulbs gets extremely hot during use and may cause holder/headlamp assemblies to melt and cause fires. Hope you find this useful and do share and like if wanna help your friends out and find this info useful. Cheers.

The exterior of the car might look nice after a car wash but often the interior paintworks may look it's age. If you think cleaning or washing the car is painful. The interior is often even worse with all the strange angles and uneven spots. The trick my car detailer use is to first spray down the area with a non-corrosive cleaning agent and using a brush. If you do not have that few hours to spend cleaning it yourself, why not get him to do it for you. Prices start from $120 and on-site services available pending booking. Do contact us for more info. Hope you find this useful and do share and like if wanna help your friends out and find this info useful. Cheers.

People often complain that some workshops are being dishonest and getting them to replace things which are all just fine or working. Well, all I can say is the best defense for this is to either go to a trusted workshop (hint hint... lol) or arm yourself with knowledge. Tyres are one big ticket items that some workshops scare their clients with. Fact of the matter is, manufacturers do put wear indicators on their tyres. You can see strips in the deep grooves of the tyres in the picture. Basically, if the strips are flushed or aligned with the wear of the thick portion of your tyres, it needs to be changed. Just a quick tip, as some of you know we handle quite a bit of insurance claims and one of the first thing accidents surveyors look at is the wear on your tyres. Hope you find this info useful and do like us and share to help out your other friends. Cheers.

Nothing like chilling in you car under the night sky looking at the stars and the moon... unless it's raining and water is seeping into your cabin. Most of the time, it's due worn seals around your mood/moon/sun roof. While a simple seal replacement may resolve the issue, you may have heard some drivers complain about the cost. Well, that's because the replacement sometimes involves dismantling the glass roof and mechanism just to assess the seals. The "Please don't Do it" thing I want to highlight here is PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT try to DIY by pumping silicon sealant into the gaps or roof. Most of the time it will not help and you will often end up having to pay A LOT more extra to get the silicon removed during the replacement and possibly re-spray the whole roof to cover the paint pealed off in the process. It cost a driver an additional $800 just to undo his blotched repair. Hope you find this info useful and do like us and share to help out your other friends. Cheers.