Motor Trader Journalist's car nearly got hijack with this new method. Here's his article :
“Hey, brake awak sudah pecah, minyak keluar (your brake is broken and oil is coming out)!” Normally, a warning like that from another motorist would alarm you and you would immediately stop and jump out to look. But these days, that’s not such a wise idea, even if you are worried about the brakes leaking. This is because one of the tactics of robbers now is to use that warning to make you stop and get down – as this writer discovered this afternoon. Fortunately, however, I am not an average motorist who doesn’t know a lot about cars and whose first two thoughts were: “brake leaking… why didn’t the warning light come on?” and “two guys on a motorbike… be careful!”.
Fortunately, the second thought made me hesitate about getting down and in fact, even when they (two Indians on a motorbike) drew alongside me in the jam along Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, I only wound down the window a bit to ask them what they were saying. As I stopped the car, I was still thinking about the absence of a warning light which would normally come on because a leak will drop the brake fluid level and the sensor (which most cars have) will pick it up.
As I pulled over, the two guys stopped their motorcycle in front of me and the tall pillion rider got down (which also struck me as suspicious because most people usually shout a warning and then go off). It could be that because they were both wearing dark blue shirts with a Shell logo, they expected that unsuspecting motorists would let their guard down thinking they were mechanics. Anyway as the tall guy was getting down, I noticed that in his hand was a small container (like an Eye-mo bottle) and that immediately stopped me from getting out. I immediately drove off and kept an eye in the mirror but didn’t see them following me.
I drove on looking for a spot with plenty of people so that I could check on the front wheel and turned into the carpark at Muzium Negara. I was still alert for the possibility that they followed me so I quickly ran to the front to check – no oil, nothing visibly wrong – and as I rushed back to the door, around the corner they came! I jumped in and they did a u-turn and went off.
So be alert for this tactic which may be a new one. They may not want to hijack the car and probably just want to steal things and that container may have soapy water or something that can burn your eyes and as you are blinded, they open the doors and steal whatever they can find. So whatever you do, don’t get down and don’t stop further along thinking it is safe. If it is a brake problem, just drive carefully till you get to somewhere that has security guards nearby. And it is best not to head straight for home because you never know if they may still be following you, determined to rob you (hopefully, you were an unlucky random choice).
While on the subject of modus operandi, as the police have warned, be alert when you are rammed from behind and don’t get down. Drive to a police station to make your report – you are not committing an offence if no one has been injured and you can tell the police you were suspicious of the car that rammed you. Also, do not think that if there is just one person in the car that rammed you, it is safe because there have been reported cases where another car comes up and stops ahead and two guys get out with parangs and do their nasty things. You also need to be alert for the possibility that if you are talking to one of them one one side from inside the car, it is not safe because the others can smash the glass on the other side and grab you.
Sadly, it’s a dangerous world we live in these days and being alert and staying calm enough to be able to recognise danger signs is critical.
Signs of Oil leaks.
1) If your brake fluid is indeed leaking you would notice that the pedal is softer and there will be a sinking feel when you step on it. Either that if it leaks badly you will surely hit something LOL!!! Your OIL indicator warning will be lighted on your Dashboard display.If its leaking on one side then you car will be pull to the sides as you hit the brakes.
2) Engine oil leaks will also bring up the OIL indicator warning lights. Once your engine oil/Engine lubricant (china man calls it black oil) wears off your engine will cease and your car will just roll till stop.
3) Clutch/ Auto transmission Fluid(ATF) its the same oil used for your brakes. If you're losing this, you'll notice your clutch is very much shorter than your usual step all the way to the back. Will eventually give you problem engaging your gear cause your Clutch is not engage properly.
4) Gear box oil, very seldom this will leak. If it does, please read number 3. Same problem engaging gears.
5) Fuel/Gas leak. Can you tell your car is on fire from your Mirrors?? Or feel the heat DUH!!
Careful, lately 4 wheel drives are still on top of the list, Hondas are also quite hot. If you drive a Proton like me then you wont have any problems. Dont flash your fancy Gauges and stereo sets in your car, you're inviting trouble. Just saw a Satria GTI smashed up in MidValley last 2 weeks after watching a movie, nice turbo car and pity the owner of the car. All the fancy gadgets gone. My co-worker's Mitsubishi Storm nearly got hijack few months back after he's done partying in KL, one car just ram into his rear at the traffic lights outside of Brickfield's Police station. Second car stop next to him and 3-4 fellas came out tried to take his keys but he fought back and drove off.
