Signs of failing automotive battery 汽車電池需要更換的跡象

(中文於英文後)

Signs of failing automotive battery

1) Starting up the car is longer than normal.

2) The dashboard background light is flicking when you are starting up the car.

3) Open up the hood to check the battery indicator. (AGM does not have indicator)

The change of indicator is a sign that it's needed to be replaced, either soon or immediately, depending on your start engine situation. If you are unsure, my advice is, just change it. 

https://tyrehood.blogspot.com/2023/07/battery-issues-indicator-shows-replaced.html

4) 

(in the case of BMW,  Mercedes Benz, and LandRover) 

A warning MESSAGE telling you that there is an issue with the car battery. (** It is a text message, not dashboard icon) It is not known if you need to replace the battery immediately. But I can assure you that your vehicle can still be driven as long as you do not switch off the engine.

(Not too sure if all the 5 series are having this system, but my BMW 523i 2007 has such function telling me about the car battery. So I believe all 5 series should later than 2007 should have such function.)

If you did not use your car for ONE month (or around, some probably less), you probably couldn't start up the car

The above are common signs that your vehicle battery is failing. Some vehicle owners claimed they did not experience these signs and the battery still fails to start up the car. But most of whom I have surveyed shows that drivers did not observe their vehicle signs of start up.

And you should NOT use the time installed to decide changing the battery as external factors may affect and speeds up battery failing.

With a year experiment and data obtained from customers, automotive battery usage is really long. So long that I believe the current price that I am selling is a little too low, so I have decided to mark up a little more at the end of this year. 

For EV 12V battery, I have not experimented anything yet as I do not have any EV to be tested. Some mentioned that their 12V battery lasted at most only 2 years, in which I do not think it will be the case. Afterall, a hybrid do normally use longer than 2 years commonly. But I do not have any data to find out the reason at this moment.

汽車電池需要更換的跡象

1) 著車起動時比平時長

2) (著車起動時)錶版背景燈會閃下閃下

3) 打開睇下您粒電池所顯示的標記. (AGM 沒有轉色標記的)

The change of indicator is a sign that it's needed to be replaced, either soon or immediately, depending on your start engine situation. If you are unsure, my advice is, just change it. 

https://tyrehood.blogspot.com/2023/07/battery-issues-indicator-shows-replaced.html

4) 

(BMW, Benz, LandRover) 錶版會出警告*字眼*燈話粒電有問題 (係字, 係文字, 唔係有形狀的標記).  雖然不能夠提供跌夠信息告知是否即時需要更換電池, 但有樣可以肯定, 只要您部車引擎仲著, 就唔會死火. 

(不知其他5系是否都有相同系統但2007年的BMW 523i 就有這功能. 相信07後的都應該有這功能)

如果部車放置(大約/可能更短)一個月, 您應該係著唔到車.

上面為電池有問題都通常會見到既情況. 部分車主話從未見過以上情況出現但都著唔到車. 大部分我訪問既車主, 著車時其實從未留意過著車情況及錶版.

另外提提唔好用安裝時間以作判斷幾時換電池, 因為有其他不同因素會影響電池, 加速電池損耗.

經過一年的實驗及數據來源自客戶, 汽車電池好多時候係可以用好耐的. (應該係時間要加一加價).

因為冇電車用, 所以電車既 12V 電池冇實際實驗過, 但聽聞都只係用到2年. 理論上我就覺得應該唔止. 因為混能車好多時都唔止2年. 但冇數據得知點解.

賽輪 Sailun - Atrezzo ZSR 高性能輪胎 High Performance Tyre

 *English version at the bottom*

係Tyrehood網上面最經濟型既輪胎, 一定會係賽輪呢個牌子.

其實(中國)賽輪已經都可以話係有名既牌子, 因為一早已經做出口係其他國家到賣. 賽輪都係其中一個, 係咁多年入面熱賣既牌子.

早幾年我地都有裝到20寸既賽輪係部Benz vito 輕型貨車到, 但當時我並冇紀錄底任何資料. 最近買左部二手車本身諗住用黎寫program debug 用, 就順道裝埋賽輪又寫下打手報告.

Size: 225/55 R16 ZSR

Model: Sailun - Atrezzo ZSR

Installed Year: 2021

Installed Vehicle: BMW 523i

執左部車少少野之後最近先可以行一行高速再次感覺一下ZSR.

對比之前用過, 同埋用緊既 Dunlop, 係有唔同既. 但對比原先買番黎個兩條(非中國製)既呔, 我就感覺唔到有咩唔同. (包括聲音, 咬地性能), 可能我行得唔夠快?

岩岩最近落雨即時走上高速行番轉, 係法例規定內行駛既速度, ZSR 都行得好好.

睇黎要再遲啲先試到, 再行快啲個陣既體驗. 因為最近實在太多車, 又塞車. 

越黎越多牌子進口到香港, 不少都係中國製輪胎. 但歷史都有咁上下既賽輪都有歐盟label

Source: ebay

早前出口到德國, 德國其中有名雜誌測試 ZSR 並有可觀的結果 (Auto bild approved)

https://www.sailun-tyres.eu/

再提提, EU label 係香港只作參考. 始終天氣同地都唔同. 

https://tyrehood.blogspot.com/2020/12/wrong-about-tyres.html

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Talking about the most economical tyre sold in the Tyrehood product list is undoubted the Sailun brand.

Sailun is actually a well-known brand (manufacture in China) that sold around the world. It is also one of the hot sale products chosen by customers, including private vehicle, light goods vehicle, and heavy goods vehicle.

Few years back we installed sailun R20 size on the light goods vehicle but I did not record down any data on it. This time, I got these two to install on the recently bought vehicle (in which is supposed to be used for ECU programming)

Size: 225/55 R16 ZSR

Model: Sailun - Atrezzo ZSR

Installed Year: 2021

Installed Vehicle: BMW 523i

Some issues with the recently bought vehicle that I need to DIY to replace some worn parts (T.T) so I couldn't go on highway at first. Hope there aren't any more issues after fixing. But I drive around the area and the first impression is:

 "there is difference between the dunlop that I tried before, perhaps because of the size and vehicle model, but I dun feel the difference with this Sailun ZSR and the previous tyres (not made in China) "

On a rainy day at high way, ZSR are still up to expectation within legal speed limit. 

For higher speed experience, I am still waiting for chances when there are fewer vehicles on the road. (there are just too many cars and congestion on a highway recently )

More brands imported to HK and many are Made in China. Undoubtedly sailun also had eu label standard.

Source: ebay

Sailun also exported to Germany for sale, and the ZSR was tested by one of the famous Germany magazine test. (Auto bild approved)

https://www.sailun-tyres.eu/

EU label standard is only for reference in HK. Weather and material used in HK differs from Europe afterall. 

https://tyrehood.blogspot.com/2020/12/four-tire-information-misinterpret.html

Dunlop 輪胎 - Sport Maxx 050+ 高性能輪胎 High Performance Tyre

**English version scroll to the bottom**

又係打手出黎時間

如果只係香港市場去睇, 好多人想揀高性能輪胎都會偏向揀番 (個幾個) 大牌子既輪胎. 但係 Dunlop 高性能系列入面既 SP Sport Maxx 會令人有所改觀. 特別平時有部分人成日話Dunlop 麻麻地.

幾年前 Dunlop 香港 既 Sport Maxx 050+ 做左個超級大優惠. (應該唔會再有, 我都想佢再有). 所以趁機都買左兩條自用. (又係用係 Toyota Estima)

Size: 215/55 R17
Model: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Manufacture year: 2018
Installed year: 2019

Vehicle: Toyota Estima

玩左差唔多兩年. 

050+ 乾濕地, 落雨天, 咬地力, 剎車性能依然一流(有feel). 渡過四季, 瀑雨, 風球都仲好行. 

可惜唔係所有尺寸都有. R16 只有少部分, 都係R17 及以上先有得揀 Sport Maxx 050+

雖然某程度上都有少少嘈音, 但我平時開車都會聽radio 或者音樂, 所以呢方面我就唔係好覺有太大影響. 用係歐洲車到既話相信嘈音都唔會係一個問題.

其實用落真係唔錯. 都係覺得各位值得一試. 

1) 舒適: 用得高性能呔都唔會諗住想要咩舒適感.

2) 聲音: 少嘈係正常. 唔想就當然要揀 Dunlop 既靜音呔 LM705

3) 濕地: 行足 100km/h 我自己就冇問題, (行到110 我就未試過. 反而我用大陸呔我就試過). 始終載人既7人車自己都唔會開快.

4) 耐用度: 咬地既呔通常都係冇咁耐磨. 但呢對都玩左2年. 

今日050+ 玩到退役, 換左都係 Dunlop 兩條頂級性能既 Maxx RT2. 又係趁Dunlop 出優惠既時候買既  Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2. 行左轉既 first impression... 原來頂級真係有分別. 可惜冇乜人識欣賞. 唯有留番黎俾自己人玩.

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When it comes to choosing high performance tyre, people tends to go for a more well known brand in the Hong Kong market. But the high performance tyre category (SP Sport Maxx) may change your impressions on its high performance category. (I don't know why some people have a bad impression on Dunlop)

Few years back, Dunlop HK has a GREAT promotion (which I do not think it will happen again) on Sport Max 050+. I took the opportunity to buy 2 for myself and installed on the vehicle (once again, it's the Toyota Estima)

Size: 215/55 R17
Model: Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+
Manufacture year: 2018
Installed year: 2019

Vehicle: Toyota Estima

These two lasted for two years.

And they do not disappoint. The 050+ traction, cornering, and braking distance are excellent. (Tested under the legal limit on the high way, I couldnt' say I drive over 160km/h right, nah I don't.) They even went through heavy rain and typhoon. Unfortunately this product model is limited to a few sizes for R16, and more stocks for R17 and above.

If you are looking for high performance tyre, and have never tried the 050+ product before, this is one of the products that you should try it out, whether it's 2 qty, or 4 qty.

1) Comfort: You should think of comfort and high performance to be invert correlated.

2) Sound: A slight noise is normal. Otherwise you should choose Dunlop LM705

3) Raining Experience: Driving up to 100km/h has no issue for me. Never try 110 before but I did it on the China brand tyre. Afterall the 7 passenger vehicle is commonly used for more people aboard.

4) Wear:  Traction is also invert correlated to wear. Afterall these two lasted for 2 years. It is considered quite a long mileage to me

Now these 050+ is finally worn off and got to change another new pair. The Sport Maxx RT2, 215/55 R17, to replace the Maxx 050+. 

yea, the Maxx RT2  has a promotion recently for this size. After driving for a round, I realize there is really a difference between Max performance, and high performance for the Dunlop category.

OBD2 Scanning System 汽車電腦掃描

*****English version below*****

(IT 人及現時自己做緊OBD2既興趣者 既請看英文版本)

總算黎到最後一個步驟既(first) project. 用左太耐既時間去研究點寫個程式出黎. 

(skip 呢個 paragraph 如果您知咩係OBD2)

 OBD2 其實係一個方法去讀取汽車電腦. 汽車電腦係成部車既"腦", 控制, 計算, 及安排汽車既協調. 汽車電腦都會存您既行駛紀錄. 如果部車有咩問題, 汽車電腦就會發出信息令到部車既錶版燈著去提示駕駛者有關問題出現. 您都可以利用電腦接駁汽車電腦去check 個問題. 

要詳細去講解有關OBD2 同埋汽車電腦, 就咁寫幾百頁都應該唔夠. 但現時其實有好多只係for 興趣既人都自己整番個 program 去讀取汽車電腦. 

(Picture depicting the RPM and Speed of the vehicle)

現時市場上都有大量既 OBD2 汽車電腦掃描系統. 由非常之平既 HK$10 一粒, 去到非常之貴既 HK$10萬以上一部. 至於佢地各方面有咩唔同我就唔知啦. 不過我自己就試過買粒平平地既諗住玩下, 點知粒野唔岩部車用. 但最後自己都成功左寫左段code 係部車2007 Toyota Estima 拎data.

能夠成功地接駁住汽車電腦, 就能成功連繫住現時既 Tyrehood Zone 應用程式. 利用兩者就能得到汽車數據, 了解更多有關自己部車同埋自己. 就算您唔識睇呢堆data, 我都可以解釋到俾您聽. (因為我前身就係 business analyst, 直到而家都仲係)

當然 data 唔止係我想要既野 😏. OBD2 都可以用黎發出信息俾汽車電腦, 如重置汽車電腦去番原廠模式 或者係 處理好問題後熄左個錶版上既問題燈. 

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It finally comes to the end of the (first) project. Or rather, the end stage of the beginning. It took me way longer than expected to come to this stage. I am alone working on all IT projects as well as other operations. (Reminiscing about the past working with colleagues)

(skip this paragraph if you know what's it, just an introduction on OBD2 in general)

 Back to the topic on OBD2 scanning,  it serves to read the car computer data. The car computer is the brain of the vehicle that controls, calculates and works on your vehicle coordination, and store your journey along the way. If there is anything wrong with your vehicle, the car computer triggers the light (flashing or continuously on) on your car board to warn you something is wrong. You plug in a device to the car OBD2 and read what the computer is trying to tell you.

There is a lot to explain about OBD2 and car computing in a technical way. OBD2 has come to a very long journey and a lot of hobbyist are playing around with it using their vehicles. There are other discussions and arguments on the future of OBD2, but as at this moment, OBD2 can still be played around with.

(Picture depicting the RPM and Speed of the vehicle)

There are lots of OBD2 scanner device in the market. The cheaper ones (HK$10) to a very expensive one (over HK$100k above). I got no answer on what are the differences between these products, but I bought a cheap one that actually do not work on my car (ops...). Thankfully I still manage to get the code going and get what I wanted on the 2007 Toyota Estima. 

I called this the final stage of my first project, because I need to connect the "brain" of the vehicle to my existing Tyrehood Zone application. With that you get to know yourself better driving your vehicle by looking at your own data. Even if you do not know how to look at the data, I can still explain those data to you. (I was a business analyst afterall, and still doing it today)

Of course data is not the only thing I want. 😏 With OBD2, it's not just receiving data, but sending out data as well such as resetting the car computer (in the case of error code occurs). 

This project is still in a beginning stage but I am looking forward to moving in a more advanced level, and open to share this work to people who are interested in working on obd2. (only if you are developing on it). I dun see many working on it in Hong Kong, but Let's keep in touch if you are working on OBD2. Feel free to invite me if you have a community sharing too.

迫力鉗噴漆 Brake Caliper Painting (DIY)

 **English version at the bottom of the page**

今日係 OBD2 project 一大突破. Depress 左成個月解決唔到既問題終於有啲眉目. 其實呢一大突破只係暫時搵到一個新方向. 希望之後會好順利.

為左係depress 其間冇咁depress, 我決定玩左一玩噴鉗.

今次實驗又係另一樣想試下到底噴完之後可以玩到幾耐. 下圖就係幾日前岩岩噴完既效果. 暫時未見有即時啡番既現象. 睇落我自己就覺得唔錯啦. 

噴鉗就好簡單, 買噴漆, 拆左個轆出黎之後再搵野包住個迫力碟再噴就搞點.

但所需時間就要長啲啦, (因為要等一等佢乾). 我就用左3個鐘頭左右先裝番個轆. 

等多一年左右, 再上載相睇睇一年後既效果. 

待續...........

----------------------------------------

Finally manage to get a breakthrough in OBD2 project. Over the month I am at a state of depress, almost reaching the limit, and finally manage to get a new direction to proceed. Hope it is gonna to be smooth for the rest of the steps.

During the depression period, I decide to paint the brake caliper to relax a bit. 

This will be another experiment to find out how long can the coloring last after spraying to a different colour. (image below) It is the effect of painting after a few days. (It looks pretty great to me in my opinion)

Simply take out the wheel, cover up the brake disc, and spray the caliper. That's all you need to do. 

But it is the time to let it dry that eats your time. I waited for around 3 hours and install the wheel back.

Let's wait for another year to see how it will look like.

To be continued..............

Pirelli 輪胎 - Cinturato P7 (p7c)

**English version below**

作為 F1 賽車sponsor 既 Pirelli , 俾大家既感覺都係跑車呔feel. 其實佢其中一個系列, Cinturato 係偏向行較靜及舒適既方向. 

作為一個打手.... Sorry係用家先岩, 點都要試下有好耐歷史既Cintuarto

 (感謝 Pirelli 香港總代理可以俾我試一下使用 pirelli p7c 既感覺)

安裝尺寸: 225/50 R17

安裝型號: Pirelli p7c

安裝汽車型號: Toyota Estima 

(尾呔用緊 215/55 R17 Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+, 呢個遲啲再講.)

部車原裝尺寸係用緊 215/55 R17. 但我將佢轉為 225/50 R17. 放置於前行駛. 

1) 舒適: 如果用開, 或者有用到一排高性能呔, 用p7c係feel 到個行車舒適感覺. 

2) 聲音: 睇每個人既感覺. 屋企人就覺得對呔行駛時係靜的. 我自己就唔係太感覺到, 因為我行車好鐘意聽music / radio, 

3) 濕地: 由新呔直到現在, 濕地行駛冇問題. 雨天時行駛感覺到渣既實在感. 唔係飛下飛下. 而直到現時都冇客有complaint 呢條呔

4) 耐用度: 至於耐用度.... 會唔會太耐用左少少? 估計都仲有排先可以用完呢對 p7c. 

------------------------------

The feeling that some of the ppl have in Pirelli is , sporty and high performance running tyre. Actually, Cintuarto is one of the Pirelli categories that focus on comfort and silent ride.

I got to try out everything right? 

(Thanks to Pirelli HK Sole Agent for these two p7c tires experience)

Installation Size: 225/50 R17

Tyre model: Pirelli p7c

Vehicle: Toyota Estima 

(The rear is using 215/55 R17 Dunlop Sport Maxx 050+, which will be commented in the future. It's also another very nice performing tyre.)

The original size for the car is 215/55 R17 but I change it to 225/50 R17 and placed it in front.

1) Comfort: After driving high performance tyre for some time, it is easy to feel the comfort of the tyre that it gives to the driver and passenger. 

2) Sound: Due to different people sensitivity, I couldn't comment much on the tyre sound but my family members comment that it is definitely quieter than before.

3) Raining Experience: Even up till now, the tyres have no problem during (heavy) rainy season. 

4) Wear:  I dun feel like commenting about the long mileage that p7c has. The usage of p7c seems to be longer than expected. It looks like it will take some time to wear off these tyres.

呔鈴噴漆 DIY (Rim Spraying)

The  English version paragraph is after the Chinese version 

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每一次去到呢啲時間都係最辛苦既時間, 因為Year end processing 又黎了. 😭 

好在較早前手痕又想試下啲野, 唔想用咁多錢但又想改下呔鈴, 用左最簡單既做法就係噴漆啦.

(因應尺寸及呔鈴款會有所改變) 4支噴漆 (for 呢個case, 其實最好係5支).

所需時間, 我實際上分開左4日去整. Sadly 我一直冇時間一次過搞. 如果綜合應該一次過搞既話會用到4個小時至少. 

由於我係拆呔出黎噴鈴的, 所以都試左係第一次裝拆呔既情況下唔會因為車呔同呔鈴既磨擦而甩色. 當然我都幫過唔少客裝拆呔時, 發現有部分客拎左噴完既鈴黎裝呔, 一裝呔, 有一少部分呔鈴位就已經甩色. 係咪因為噴漆既問題, 定係手工既問題, 呢個我就冇data, 唔知啦.

噴完後到底可以last 幾耐呢? 其實我都唔知, 因為我都係岩岩玩左兩個月. 但我自己認為, 可以玩到至少一年既話, 其實已經好好. 您睇下出面有幾多車新買番黎既呔鈴, 可以玩到幾耐, 發現鈴面同鈴邊都花晒?

我會每隔幾個月都會繼續更新呢個post, 上載番隔一排之後既相, 睇下到底噴漆可以玩到幾耐先會甩色. 

English version below

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Every year at this period of time is the most cumbersome period due to year end processing

😭 

Earlier this year, I attempted to try something within a very small budget to change something about the car. So I decided to do some spraying to the rim, which is the easiest way to change the appearance.

(The number of spray varies according to rim size and style) I use 4 can of spray for this case. It is better to get 5 can of spray actually.

It took me four separate days to complete all the rims as I do not have much time to  do it in one go. If I were to accumulate the timing, it will probably take at least 4 hours to spray all 4 rims simultaneously.

As I dismount the tyre to spray the rim, I have tested that the spray did not fall off or diminish upon mounting the tyre (as the tyre may rub off the spray upon contact with the rim side). 

However, there were cases in which the spray indeed got rub off  slightly by the tyre upon mounting when some of our customers brought their newly painted rim to our store to install the tyres. I am unsure if it is due to the spray quality, or the work done to the rim.

How long could it last? I dun know. This thing has been with me for 2 months now, and it still looks great. In my opinion, if it last for at least a year, it worths the price and time spent. Afterall, how many cars (did you see) which have their new rims installed, got stratches at the surface and at the side?

(Two months later)

I will keep updating the post to upload the images every few months to see if there is any changes and how long could it last.