know your ride!

KNOW YOUR RIDEFor everyday vehicle drivers

LINEUP OF ITEMS Quick tips for buying a vehicle Quick tips for selling your vehicle Different drive systems Useful tools Frequent checklist Economical driving General know-how

BUYING A VEHICLE Common buying options

From the agent (Toyota, AMW, DIMO etc…) From a registered vehicle importer (Car sale companies) From a private importer Import it on your own Registered vehicle purchase (2nd hand)

Buying from the registered owner (Owner, who's name is in the CR is selling the vehicle)

Buying from a non registered owner (Seller’s name is not in the CR)

Buying a vehicle imported under government permit scheme (Applicability of the transfer tax)

Buying a vehicle owned by a company Buying a mortgaged vehicle

BUYING A VEHICLEFrom the agent

There is nothing much to be told here. You go to the dealer, select the model you want, pay for it as per the buying agreement and get the vehicle.This will be bit more complicated if you are buying a vehicle using somebody else’s import permit, but the agent will guide you. (different agents handle this differently)This is one of the safest and easiest ways to own a brand new vehicle. Or a pre-owned registered vehicle certified by the agent.

And of course, this method will cost you a few extra bucks

BUYING A VEHICLEFrom a registered vehicle importer

Most registered vehicle importers give you the option of selecting a vehicle from their local stock or to import directly from Japan/UK or Singapore.If you are importing, you can select a vehicle, inspect the vehicle’s documents over the internet, get a drive away cost estimation and make your decision.If you are buying a vehicle from the local stock, it is strongly recommended that you go to a reputed vehicle dealer first.

BUYING A VEHICLEFrom a private importer

If you are importing, you can select a vehicle, inspect the vehicle’s documents over the internet, get a drive away cost estimation from a clearing agent and make your decision.If you are buying a vehicle from the local stock, it is strongly recommended that you perform a physical checkup first, check the documents and get the vehicle verified by the local agent before making a decision.A vehicle imported under the name of a private importer (could be a person or a company) will have to register the vehicle under importer’s name first. Hence there will be a double transfer happening and you will become the 2nd owner in the CR.

BUYING A VEHICLEImport it on your own

If you are importing, you need an account with a supplier in the exporting country.You need to have a minimum amount of funds in the account to bid in the auction.Once a bid is successful, you are given a grace period to settle and take the vehicle out. (Your supplier will have to do this for you)Some suppliers demand immediate an wire transfer to secure the vehicle for you.Supplier will send the Performa invoice indicating the CIF value of the vehicle so you can open an LC from a bank in Sri Lanka.Vehicle will be shipped, you will get the documents and a key thru the bank.You will have to hire a clearing agent to handle the local tax stuff and get the vehicle out from the Hambantota harbor.If everything happens smoothly, nearly after 5 to 6 weeks you can get the vehicle you purchased.

BUYING A VEHICLERegistered vehicle purchase

Buying from the owner who’s name is in the CR is the best option.Buying from some intermediary person could lead to issues like information credibility, transfer issues (open papers) and may be authenticity of the vehicle + documents.Buying a vehicle imported under permit schema would require you to obtain the tax document (customs B copy) for you to get the transfer done to your name. Plus there will be a special tax of 10% of CIF to be paid in the first transfer.Buying a vehicle owned by a company requires you to submit more documents than a person to person transfer. Make sure you are getting all the required documents in such case.Buying a vehicle which has a mortgage will have an absolute owner listed in the CR. To get the transfer done, you need to obtain the letter of revocation of absolute ownership from the financial institute.

BUYING A VEHICLEGeneral checklist in vehicle purchase

Physical examination of the vehicle Interior condition, repainted panels, panel alignment, glass serial

numbers, break disk wear & tear, break pedal condition, steering wheel condition, cabin filter condition, wiring tamper marks, seat belt information, engine/chassis numbers, rust and repair check, beading check, engine smoke test, coolant leakage test, relay box check, engine vibration tests, steering rack test, accelerate & idle test, etc…

Document check Owner’s information check, engine/chassis no tally test, revenue

license and tax payment check (if applicable), absolute ownership, which owner condition*, age vs mileage tally test, service records check (including model specific repairs)

Trial and mechanical test (easiest is to take the vehicle to the agent for a checkup)

BUYING A VEHICLEGolden rules in vehicle purchase

You will get what you pay for, so know what you are getting European and Korean vehicles are comparatively expensive

to maintain over common Japanese vehicles Never get in to a desperate mode Pedigree is very important If you are going for a loan/lease, avoid over stretching the

budget Don’t buy something you don’t like Always buy vehicles with clean documents and maintain

them in a clean state

SELLING A VEHICLEHow to sell and forget! (making a profit is a bonus)

Selling with open paper is discouraged. Fill MTA-6 A & B forms with correct information, remember to

put dates. Keep MTA-6A2 with you and send MTA-6A1 to the RMV and

obtain the receipt. If the buyer is opting for a lease, you might have to get the

transfer done to the new owner before you get the money, hence make sure that it’s a reputed financial institute providing the leasing facility.

Please keep in mind that any sales agreement, even if you sign across a stamp, is not valid unless it is attested by an attorney.

** Negotiate and be clear on all the conditions with the seller before accepting an advance. Selling to a lease is an added burden to the seller so prefer cash deals first. If selling to a lease, no point in reducing the price too much

PETROL/DIESEL/HYBRID & ELECTRICDRIVE SYSTEMS

Petrol and diesel vehicle taxes are so high at the moment compared to the hybrid and electric. Hence, in terms of price, hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming popular.With the increased number of units on the roads, there is a fair second hand market created for hybrids and electric vehicles.

Ranking popular hybrid systems among locals by efficiency & engineering (low/mid range markets)1. Toyota HSD2. Honda Earthdreams3. Mitsubishi PHEV technology4. Nissan hybrid drive5. Honda IMA6. Suzuki hybrid drive7. Mazda Skyactive*8. Nissan PureDrive*

* Not hybrid drive systems, but only powering systems.

PETROL/DIESEL/HYBRID & ELECTRICDRIVE SYSTEMS

The most popular electric car in Sri Lanka would be the Nissan Leaf. However, there has been an increase in sales of Mercedes Benz B-Class electric, Tesla Model S and BMW i3 reported over the past couple of months.

It’s too soon to comment on the success of these models, especially as a country which is not ready to support the electric car infrastructure.

Our electricity generation is still mostly dependant on coal & diesel. Hence charging vehicles using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels is just simply adding another step to the energy conversion process, thereby increasing the overall wastage.

USEFUL TOOLSFew tips on tools

Every car comes with a set of utility tools including a jack, wheel brush, plier, spanner and possibly a few more extra items depending on the vehicle model (such as a tire puncture repair system).

Before we check for more tools, it’s good to know whether the tools we are supposed to have are in the vehicle

Plus it’s very important to know that they are compatible with the vehicle. One of the most popular example is the wheel brush and the wheel nut/lock nut compatibility.

And always keep the tools (for the vehicle) inside the vehicle, not outside!

USEFUL TOOLSMore helpful tools

Jumper cable Toyota hybrid users can jump start their vehicles by using a normal two core wire that can handle 12V ~4Amps load.

Jump starter kit with power bank

USEFUL TOOLSMore helpful tools

Electric tire inflator pumpPair of rubber gloves

Domestic body scratch repair solution

Apart from these a hazard light, flashlight and contact details for a breakdown service are always helpful to have

FREQUENT CHECKLISTEveryday running

Check tire pressure (visual inspection) Check how the engine starts (battery condition) Listen to the engine sound for couple of seconds when you start

the engine Check whether you have any red or orange lights still on after

the ignition Check whether there are any fluids on the ground leaked from

the vehicle Check mileage, see whether you have exceeded the

maintenance mileage Check whether you got the license and insurance certificate

with you

FREQUENT CHECKLISTAt least once a month

Check and adjust tire pressure. Check for possible tire punctures. Check coolant level (never mix different coolant types) Check engine oil level and its condition Check break fluid level. Never top up. If it has gone down below

the low mark, take the vehicle to a mechanic Check the battery fluid level. For non maintenance batteries,

check the indicator placed on top of the battery. For dry batteries & Toyota hybrids, you can skip this step

Check wiper fluid level and clean wiper blades using a cotton cloth Check the tire wear pattern. Get your tire alignment checked at

least every 10,000kms. Check CV boots (could save the cost of a whole CV joint)

ECONOMICAL DRIVING Frequent acceleration and deceleration causes terrible fuel

economy and increased wear and tear in the vehicle parts. Irrespective of the drive system used, this should be managed in any vehicle for a greener and economical drive.

With non-plugin hybrid vehicles, it does not matter whether you have a battery in the car – the sole source of energy is just crude oil. Hybrid systems can only contribute to the economy of the drive by capturing and storing the wasted energy in the batteries, mostly while braking and on downhill runs. So make sure your battery is charged through braking and deceleration, rather being charged by the engine itself. (If you run too much on the battery alone, the engine will start to generate electricity, which is not very economical.)

Manage your drive. When you are reaching the destination, if the battery has enough charge and if the vehicle supports EV mode, switch to EV.

ECONOMICAL DRIVING Keep your tire pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended

rating. A tire gives the best comfort and fuel economy when the tire wall is angled at 45˚ to the ground. A higher pressure increases this angle giving you a tougher ride. A lower pressure decreases this angle and increases the contact between the tire and the ground, reducing the fuel economy.

Use correct tires. Most of the time, manufacturer rated tire types help achieve the best fuel economy.

Don’t skip service intervals. Use the recommended engine oil type(s) & gear box oil type(s).

Engine tune-ups at least every 40,000kms could help Get your vehicles serviced and repaired by trained mechanics

only.

GENERAL KNOWHOWFew common problems and remedies

Fan belt screaming There are adjusters, however you might not be able to adjust these belts

at home. Pouring some kerosene oil on to the surface of the belt can reduce the screaming sound until you reach a mechanic.

Engine heat up Mostly happens due to a loss of pressure in the cooling system. Never

open the radiator cap when it’s boiling. Keep the engine running instead, open all your windows and switch the vehicle to the heater mode.

Cracking noise when taking sharp turns Most probable reason is wearing off of the CV joint. Mostly caused by

broken joint boot but once it starts making noises, there is no remedy other than replacing the part. So frequent checks on joint boots are a good thing.


No A/C Could be due to many reasons starting from electric/relay failure to

gas leak or clutch failure. Does not matter what the cause is, if the A/C is not working, refrain from running the car with A/C on. Just use the blower until you reach a mechanic.

Stiff steering Stiff steering could be a problem for vehicles with power steering

as its an unexpected situation. If you have electric power steering (EPS), this could be an electric or motor failure and if you have a normal belt driven power steering system, this could be due to loss of fluid, belt failure or any other related mechanical component failure. If it’s the belt, better to go to a mechanic soon as it could be a shared belt which is driving more pumps attached to the engine.


Petrol & Diesel swap If you pump diesel to a petrol engine, your engine will stop. You will

have to tow the vehicle to a mechanic and flush the tank to get it back to normal. However if you pump petrol to a diesel engine, your engine is at a risk of being ruined by pre-ignition. Hence stop the engine immediately and tow it to a mechanic for a complete fuel system flush.

Tire expiry All tires have expiry dates, irrespective of whether they are used or

not. Hence when you are buying tires (especially for discounted rates) make sure they are not expiring soon or already expired. (DOT code below)

Don’t buy vehicles to park at home!


Mouse/Squirrel breach Don’t just park the vehicle without using it for extended periods. If you

keep the blower air intake to suck air from outside, then these creatures can come inside the vehicle and cut the cabin filter, ruin A/C and may be even damage the interior and wiring. If such is noticed, disconnect the battery immediately and get the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic.

Rotten egg smell from exhaust Says that you have hydrogen sulfide coming out from the exhaust. This

happens if you have at least one plug that is not working as expected. Check your plugs/wires/injectors by a qualified mechanic. Ignoring could result in sudden loss of power.

Noise when breaking There is a pin attached to dish break pads to touch the dish when the pad

wears out. This is an alarm to the driver to replace the break pads before they completely fall off.

GENERAL KNOWHOWSome best practices

Park on flat ground with front wheels straight This reduces the strain on steering rack, coil springs, bushes and

various joints. Good for maintaining the car noise free. Manual gears, take your foot off from the clutch pedal

This enables 100% contact with the drive shaft to the engine and eliminates the unnecessary friction acting on the clutch plates.

Avoid switching to reverse while moving forward Synchronizer ring is missing in the reverse gear. Hence shifting the

gear to reverse while moving forward is not as similar as shifting gears forward while moving forward. In ECT gear boxes, this is electronically controlled, but in manual box, this can ruin the transmission if done with excessive force

know your ride!

Automotive