1500-km Trip Highlights

Latest update: 10:00am Nov. 16th 2011.
More videos and pictures were added in scroll boxes]

Just returned home from 1500+km round trip to East Coast and Southern States of Malayan Peninsular.


DAY 1: November 6th, 2011 BBBangi-KLipis-GMusang-Machang (453km)

0029hrs

Pushed off from home in BBBangi, near Kajang. At the beginning the car was OK. However, after entering PLUS and during hard acceleration there was an indication of "something abnormal" with the turbo pressure.

Due to uncertainty about the engine condition, I decided to reroute the trip. Instead of driving north to Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands [E1 & Route #59] I detoured towards Karak Highway [E8] and continued driving in auto-cruise mode at speed limits for 42km. Arrived at Gombak Toll Plaza about 30 minutes later.

0057hrs

After the toll plaza I started to build up speed little-by-little while observing if there is some irregularities in turbo pressure. After everything was OK, I started to drive as usual like a typical nite-rider does... not too fast but faster than anybody else.

[Scroll down to view more videos]

0104hrs
The last ascend before Genting Sempah Tunnel. The car was getting better. The torque was strong as before... handling was superb.

0106hrs
Entered Genting Sempah Tunnel.

It took 35 minutes to drive from BBBangi Exit to Genting Sempah Tunnel. Then continued driving leisurely at moderate speeds all the way to Machang, Kelantan.

0517hrs
Arrived at Machang Interchange safely!

Despite of turbo pressure loss at the beginning, and at a few more occasions along Day-1 Trip it took less than 5 hrs to drive from BBBangi to Machang. Otherwise it would have taken just slightly a few minutes over 4 hours. Never break 4-hr barrier to drive from BBBangi to Machang yet. From Gombak toll plaza, "yes" of course.

Be a nite-rider to arrive at destinations earlier, safely!

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DAY 2: November 7th, 2011
Machang-Penarik-KTerengganu-Kuantan(385km)

I had to cancel driving around Kelantan due to the infamous Raya-Time traffic jams - despite of being the state with the largest number of car in-flux during festive and holidays, Kelantan is the only state in Malaysia that does not have inter-city double-carriage way yet. I was also worried the turbo pressure would give problems there. There is no Authorised Peugeot SC in Kelantan.

1351hrs

Left Machang on Route #4 towards PPutih and drove south along Route #3. The traffic was getting congested.

[Scroll down to view more videos]

1512hrs
Left Route #3 and detour towards Pantai Penarik on routes T140 and T1.

Suddenly total loss in turbo pressure. Had to drive slow again before stopped at Pantai Penarik [N5 30.960 E102 58.939] for 15minutes to take a few photo shots...

Continued driving south along beautiful coastal road T1 before going south-west on T9. It was drizzling.

1753hrs

Entered the newly opened ECE2 at Ajil interchange. Without turbo pressure the car took very long time to speed up to 176kph [180kph on speedometer], otherwise I would have braved enough to add at least another 30kph more!

...faster than other cars though. Probably other drivers were enjoying the scenery.

2012hrs
Arrived at Kuantan near RMAF base. Dinner was ready. Spent overnite there.

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DAY 3 - November 8th., 2011
Kuantan-Pekan-Endau-Mersing-KTinggi-JB (374km)

0647hrs

Turbo pressure failure persists. Left Kuantan and drove the car in AutoCruise mode at speed limits on the new Route #3 [Jalan Sultan Abu Bakar], double carriage expressway connecting Kuantan and Pekan.

0743hrs
Stopped at vintage town, between Pekan and Nenasi for about 40 minutes to snap a few frames of photo...

...then continued driving south along Route #3.

0913hrs
Stopped over by the seaside at Kuala Rompin for 20 minutes for another photo session ...

...then continued driving towards Endau. Suddenly 'Depollution Fault' displayed. Continued driving at very slow pace in auto-cruise.

1015hrs

Stopped for 30 minutes at Pantai Pasir Laun [Pirate Sand Beach?] about 18km to the SE of Endau town.

Contacted a SC in KL for advice what to do and to ask whether it is OK to continue driving without turbo pressure and with 'depollution fault' warning on. I was suggested to drive at slow pace to a SC in JB [160km/100miles away] for a diagnosis to find out what went wrong. I had to cancel the trip/stay overnite at Desaru.

Continued driving south by taking a new untracked bypass road.

I've submitted the tracklogs to Malfreemap where most Garmin and Papago users in Malaysia & Singapore get the latest routable maps for their GPS's. I'm one of the "valued contributors" to the Malsingmaps and Malfreemaps mapping communities since 2007. Probably I have submitted thousands of km of new road track-logs to date. Hopefully this is my 'amal jariah' to everyone who uses GPS navigation to drive on Malaysia Roads.

While driving between Mersing and JB there were a few occasions when turbo pressure returns but not for long enough to enjoy it...

1314hrs
Arrived at a Peugeot SC in JB. It was lunch hour and I was told to return and drive in straight away into "ICU" any time after 1400hrs. No documentation required for the emergency case. Excellent. So I went to lunch first with my son.

1414hrs
Drove the car into "ICU" for a complete diagnosys. Found out there is a "communication problem" between AL4 gearbox and the engine control unit [ECU]. The ECU did not get info when there is upshift from 1st gear. Such input is required to request the ECU to boost up turbo pressure and to inject more fuel wrt to the load and throttle position, hence incorrect air-fuel mixture. The problem was resolved. I was too happy and didn't bother to ask how did they rectify it.'Loss in Turbo Pressure' problem resolved. Back to normal except high end of the power band was not at its best. Century accel. also defecit by 200ms. Nevertheless not too bad.


1521hrs

Drove the car to a sister house in Taman Impian Emas, about 15km away to spend a nite before continuing trip to the southernmost point of Asia Mainland.

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DAY 4 - November 9th., 2011 JB-Piai Cape-Pontian-BPahat-Muar-Melaka-BBBangi [371km]
0746hrs

Left JB. Driven by 'co-pilot' to Piai Cape. Stopped over for a photo tour in the mangrove reserve for 2 hrs... Click HERE for special edition of "the Mangroves"

... and then continued driving north along coastal road all the way to Batu Pahat before we stopped for Lunch. Then I took back the steering wheel and drove up north.

Play Play with a Modded Vios

This particular Modded Toyota Vios had been following and cucuk me since Tanjung Agas near SMS Muar. At a traffic light I gave way and let it pass and to see how fast it can pull away. I just followed 'slowly' from a distance until the car disappeared below the horizon before I started to chase back and expecting for a drag at the next traffic light.

Just 'suka-suka' to avoid 'mengantuk'. Was not too serious with a less powerful car like Toyota Vios.

BTW, watch what happened...

By the time arrived in Melaka I was too tired and decided to drive leisurely on PLUS in AutoCruise mode at speed limits all the way home ...

1605hrs Arrived home safely but the car looks dirty as if it is not cleaned for more than one month.

Fuel Consumption for the entire 1584km trip:
RM262 [136.5 liters of RON95]

The overall average fuel consumption normally was around 7.5liter/100km for similar trip i.e 1 liter less for every 100km. Still not too bad for a sick lion being 'forced' to run more than 600km w/o enough air to breath in though.