How to protect your car's timing belt to make it last longer?

First of all, what is a timing belt and why is it important to your car engine?

It is basically a belt -- typically rubber with high tensile fibres -- that synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft in the engine so that the valves open and close at the proper times during each cylinder's intake and exhaust strokes, so that the engine of a vehicle can run. In other words, the timing belt keeps the camshaft and crankshaft of the car engine turning at the correct rate.

How to protect your car's timing belt to make it last longer?

It is such a critical part of the engine that if the timing belt breaks, the engine will simply no longer work. This is actually the best case scenario. 

Because in some engines, one or more valves may be stuck when the belt snaps, while the pistons will move upwards forcefully, crashing into the open valves. So, your engine will likely suffer from some broken valves and pistons. Worse yet is that the engine may be ruined altogether. This happens if the valves and rods push through the engine cover, while the pistons crash through oil pans as the crankshaft twists and breaks. 

One or more valves may be stuck when the belt snaps

All in all, it can be bad and expensive news if the timing belt breaks. That is why car owners are recommended to change their timing belts at regular intervals to prevent breakage and slippages.

While changing the timing belt is unavoidable, there is a way to protect it so it can last longer, thus reducing the need for frequent replacement. As with most everything in life, maintenance is key. For the timing belt, all it takes is a few sprays of the WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing. It penetrates the cord fibers of the belts to restore pliability and flexibility, and helps to eliminate squeaking and slipping.

WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing

To apply, start the engine. Then pick up the can of WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing with its yellow straw attached and shake it well, before spraying the product lightly on the inner working surface of the belt -- near the smallest or upmost pulley. Avoid spraying on the pulley directly.

Then, let the engine run a few minutes for the dressing to set. The solution can be reapplied if needed. These simple steps are all that is needed to give your timing belt a longer life span. To know more, check out the Specialist™ automotive line-up at https://wd40.asia/. 

MYFREEVIEW Digital TV Broadcast To Undergo Frequency Restacking

MYTV Broadcasting Sdn Bhd (MYTV) will conduct a restacking frequency exercise for digital TV broadcast at Bukit Fraser and Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter in Pahang Darul Makmur.  

Currently, digital TV broadcasts are transmitted via 2 frequencies at each station. This frequency rearrangement process involves changes to the second frequency only and will be performed from 1.00 am to 6.00 am at the following transmission stations:

Frequency restacking exercise will start from 1.00 am until 6.00 am on the following date:-

No	Transmission Station	Date	Old Frequency		New Frequency
			First Frequency	Second Frequency	First Frequency	Second Frequency
1	04/02/2020	Bukit Fraser	CH45 (666MHz)	CH49 (698MHz)	CH45 (666MHz)	CH43 (650MHz)
2	06/02/2020	Gunung Ulu Kali	CH45 (666MHz)	CH49 (698MHz)	CH45 (666MHz)	CH43 (650MHz)

Viewers are advised to put their decoders or integrated digital television (IDTV) on standby mode.  

If you are having trouble receiving signals after this frequency exercise, you will need to re-scan your decoder or IDTV in order to get a new frequency.

If a manual re-scan is required, viewers can refer to the list of new frequencies on the following link: https://www.mytvbroadcasting.my/pdf/Lists-of-frequency.pdf . We will update all information on this exercise through MYTV’s Facebook page or website. 

Should you require help, please contact the MYTV Customer Careline at 1800-18-1088.

BMW Malaysia Urges More Partners to Support Child Car Seat Subsidy Programme with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation

Over 25,000 parents have registered for the first phase of the subsidised infant carrier car seats in just two weeks, demonstrating an urgent need for child car seat subsidies for low-income level households.

BMW Malaysia Urges More Partners to Support Child Car Seat Subsidy Programme with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation

Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Malaysia said, “There is an urgent need for us to come together and take action. The overwhelming response to the first phase of the subsidy programme shows that more parents are now aware of the need for child car seats and are quick to adopt its usage given the opportunity. As such, to all partners and companies who have the means to help subsidise these infant carrier car seats, we welcome you to join in the subsidy programme to prioritise child safety in cars for all.”

The subsidy programme was introduced as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative. In its first phase, BMW Malaysia, Childline Foundation and Safe ‘n Sound made 150 units of the snskidz Ace infant carrier car seats available at a subsidised price of RM 100 each for parents in the B40 income group. Registration for the subsidy programmed opened 2nd December 2019 and have received over 25,000 registrations in the course of two weeks.

The infant carrier car seats were recently presented to parents from the Klang Valley region, while the remaining seats will be sent to recipients across the nation. The rear-facing infant carrier car seat, which retails at RM199, can be used from birth to 13kg and carries the ECE R44-04 certification. 

Interested parties can be part of the subsidy programme by writing to bmw@voxeureka.com with the name of the participating company and the amount of subsidy (in Ringgit Malaysia) they would like to commit by 13th February 2020. 

The subsidy programme is in line with the Malaysian Transport Ministry’s move to enforce the usage of child car seats starting this year. To encourage the adoption of child car seat usage, drivers will not be penalised for the first six months of enforcement but will receive warnings to install the seats.

“With the festive period just around the corner, we also want to remind parents to ensure their children are in the right child car seat, be it for the long or short distance; and we wish everyone safe travels this Chinese New Year,” Ambi added.