Goo Problems

Sometime last week, we started smelling fuel somewhere in our engine compartment whenever we switched off the engine. We didn't know what the smell was and there was also a strange rattling which we couldn't quite identify.

Earlier in July we had changed the fuel tank float. The fuel tank float had been giving us problems intermittently for nearly a year. Occasionally, the dashboard display would show that we were driving on reserve when we knew that we had something like a 3/4 tank of diesel. We monitored our fuel tank by checking our trip meter which we reset at every diesel top-up. It served us well enough until we got too busy and sometimes just put in $20 to keep going till we had more time at the station. Then I would worry that I would forget and drive the tank to empty - which is disastrous for a diesel engine.

Then we had problems with the alternator dying on us in August. We managed to get it to the workshop for it to be repaired before I went away for the National Day holidays in Singapore.

So imagine us being puzzled by the noise and smell in the front section last week.

I decided to drive the Goo to the workshop on Thursday for it to be checked out. The Goo had other ideas - it spluttered to a halt along Upper Serangoon Road on Wednesday night around 10:30 whilst we were on the way home with V and Junior and Torrent packed in!! HORRORS!!

HH called K for help - to transport V and Junior and Torrent home. We then called the tow company run by Jeannie (I think AutoJag) for help to tow the Goo to Renault at Leng Kee Road.

Jeannie's tow truck came and the very efficient tow Uncle loaded the Goo on his hoist and took all the details. K came just after to the rescue on his way home from work and sent V and Junior and Torrent home. Junior and Torrent were not happy to go into the doggie cage at the back of K's SUV - strange smells and strange car. Anyway, they made it home.

HH and I jumped into the tow truck and went for a ride to Leng Kee Road to settle the engine problems. The ride to Leng Kee was uneventful - the tow truck uncle told us about haunted houses and spots in Singapore and it made the drive interesting. We did agree that driving slowly and steadily was the way to go these days - no need to rush and get all worked up.

The next morning, the workshop called us and asked "what happened??" - so we said something about the fuel pump and the fuel line and the alternator (we had figured it by then) and asked them to check it and solve the problem. They could not promise us that they could resolve the problem so quickly after they checked.

Anyway, Woei Lee our very sweet service advisor said that the Goo would have to stay in the workshop for the weekend as the problem could not be solved by Friday evening. However she made it easier for us to live without our Goo by letting us have the use of the Renault F1 Kangoo till the workshop returned our Goo today.

So on Friday evening, I made it down to the Renault service centre and collected the zippy F1 decorated Kangoo. What a breeze to drive. It is new (below 6 months and ran about 12,000km only) - our Goo is approaching its' 8th vehicle inspection next month and has done over 230,000km. The engine is some turbo charged 1.5 diesel thing - our is just 1.9 diesel, no frills basic engine.

We managed some F1 driving stunts because of the lighter clutch and steering. We stepped on the gas and the F1 Kangoo surged forward. We nipped in between vehicles and switched lanes with ease. We overtook slow laggard weekend drivers and incompetents with ease. The reverse sensors made parking easy. BTW, I don't have problems driving a van with blind spots - I can park the vehicle with just the mirrors for assistance.

There were leather seats. There was also padding along the side panels and the top so the whole cabin was quieter. Such refinements compared to our Goo the work horse water buffalo. It was tempting to consider getting the new Kangoo, but we do love our Goo - warts, spots and scars!!

I think we must be the oldest agent maintained Kangoo still going to the workshop for services and parts and repairs. The Renault people are always trying to get us to buy a new vehicle, either car or van but we see no reason to change our Goo at the moment as it has served us well over the past years.

We have had a lot of fun with our Goo and has served us well - it has made numerous trips to Malaysia and even got booked for driving 133km/h on the North-South Highway. We still haven't paid that outstanding speeding ticket - naughty!! We have hauled plants from PJ to some land along the Karak Highway. We have carted home many bargains from Ikea and save the $40 delivery charge. We have played driver to many friends who needed a ride or a tumpang if they didn't mind the van. The Goo has also helped friends move home or office and been packed to the gills with stuff.

We once stuffed the Goo with 3 humans and 8 doggies for a dog show. Us and Junior and Buzzi, then we swung around to pick K with Quanto and Xena and forward to LHT's home to collect his 4 GSD puppies for the show. Imagine the crowd in there that tumbled out when we arrived. There was also all the bits and pieces for the show so it was really stuffed.

It was a real relief when I heard from Woei Lee last night to say that our Goo would be ready this morning for collection.

Many thanks to the wonderful people at Renault at Leng Kee Road who keep us on the road!!