Swordie Bloggie

Everyone has seen bar codes… the black and white bars representing texts and numbers… a very short code of texts and numbers represented by stripes of black and white bars. Usually it is less than 15 texts and/or numbers.

Then comes the Quick Response Code or QR Code… a two dimensional type of bar codes… but it’s not really like the normal bar codes… it is much more complex and it can take 250 characters, just like the length of SMS.

QR Code was invented by TOYOTA subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. Although QR Codes are longer, it was actually designed in such a way that it can be decoded at high speed.

Although it was invented in 1994, the usage is more confined within the manufacturing industries. But in the past few years, it has gain so much popularity that you can see advertisements carry this QR Code to represents their URL or websites. It was made more popular by the smart phones which has application to decode QR Codes. And airlines are using it by printing their passengers’ flight information in QR Code in their ticket so that passengers can use it to check in thru the kiosk at a fast rate.

To create and print QR Code is easy… you can make it online and print it. Or you can get a QR Code printers like the zebra labels printer which can print on plastics labels such as inventory labels for you electronics devices. To read the inventory QR Code label, all you need is a smart phone with QR Code decoder apps… 😀

OK, my last posting was like more than two weeks ago… as usual I’m too preoccupied with lots of stuffs… mainly work thingy.

So, my last post seems to be waiting for an answer… well, I called them the next morning, 2nd March, to enquire about my car coz the day before, they told me I have to pay extra somewhere RM800 for some parts which were damage… I was mad when they told me that… coz when I sent my car in the morning, I drive it without any problem… but when I went to pick it in the evening, it was no longer safe to drive… the car was jerking… misfiring… as if one of the spark plug is faulty.

Anyways, when I called them the next morning, the service advisor said he will not say much for now coz his boss is handling my case and they have taken photos of the broken parts and send it to their HQ in Kuala Lumpur for decision or advice… I donno how true was it coz that really makes my case very serious. I said fine, but keep me posted…

About a couple of hours later, the service advisor called me to inform me of a good news… he said, since I’m a MERIT customer… hahaha… meaning a member of their ‘VIP Customers’ club who spend a lot of money servicing at their service center, I don’t have to spend extra for the fixing. Of course I’m not supposed to be billed for something not caused by me… I already spent almost RM900 the day before for the schedule maintenance… 😛 Lucky it was a good ending, else it could have end up in the tribunal court. Anyways, the Toyota MERIT membership is by invitations only… one gets invited after spending certain amount of money for car servicing and other stuffs. I was invited a few years back and the benefits include discount for servicing, priority for next purchase of Toyota cars and a few more.

So it was a blessing in disguise coz without the case, I would not have spend my time to come over to watch the Prius C launching. I went to pick my car around 1.30pm and all are good except they did not wash and polish my car coz not enough time… 😛

In my last posting, I said there is only one Prius C test drive car… but I was wrong, there are actually a few… and they did not only launch the Prius C, but also the New Prius… the ‘upgraded’ original Prius. Taken some photos… but will insert them here later… 😀

Tomorrow UMW Toyota KK will be launching the new Prius C Hybrid car. I was lucky to get a closer look at the new Test Car at UMW’s compound on Wednesday when I was there to service my car. There is only one available for test driving, so I guess it’s going to be a long queue starting tomorrow.

Well I might have a chance to test drive it since I have to be at UMW tomorrow coz my car was not serviced properly so it has to stay there until tomorrow… which really sucks… if they can’t fix it properly tomorrow, I’m going to write the whole story about it here… so they better fix it properly or it’s going to be nasty… 😛

Anyway, let’s forget about the servicing for now… it’s time to talk about the new Toyota Prius C Hybrid car which was showcased in KL on 20 February 2012.

Toyota is the leading hybrid car manufacturer in the world. Over here we have two brands available… the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight. If I have to choose one, I definitely pick the Prius… furthermore I like Toyota… I’m not a fan of Honda.

Toyota Prius technology are much more advance since Toyota has been there much longer than the rest in hybrid car manufacturing. Prius can run on electric alone, fuel alone or combination of both. With fuel pump like Autobest electric fuel pump, Toyota Prius has good fuel efficiency and with its super-efficient electric motor Prius really a great saving. With hybrid car, you are not only able to save petrol but making the environment cleaner with less or emission-free drive.

So, if you planning to get a new car, get the Toyota Prius C… over here, it’s only RM98,936.80…

Toyota Prius C Photos . . . Continue Reading »

Press Release…

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia): UMW Toyota Motor has confirmed that only eight Toyota Crown models it had imported from Japan might be affected by a brake master cylinder leak.

In a statement, the company said it would contact all affected customers and hold a special service campaign to replace the brake master cylinder seal.

The affected vehicles were produced between Nov 8, 2004 and Jan 4, 2006 in Japan.

If unattended to, a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

No other Toyota and Lexus models are affected by this campaign. Lexus vehicles sold by Lexus Malaysia was produced in the end of year 2006.

Customers may also contact UMW Toyota Motor free phone line 1-800-8-869682 for further information or assistance.

What is wrong with Toyota?… re-call after re-call… it’s like endless… are they being sabotage??? There is something really wrong… Toyota supposed to be having one of the highest safety standard in their vehicles.

Just few months ago, Toyota US paid a huge amount… in billions of dollars… to the US Government as penalty after recalling millions of their Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Even their best hybrid car, the Prius, did not escape from the safety issues fiasco… it even went to live national TV shows when one of the Prius encounters brake failure… probably all the Los Angeles auto repair shops ceased their work to watch the incident on that day.

I feel pity and sad with Toyota… coz Toyota cars are my favorite although I did own a Honda Civic EG8 before… well that was during The Fast And The Furious season 😛 And I was really saddened when they pull out from the Formula 1 this year… someone even made a joke… “If Toyota were in F1 this season, they surely gonna win… they are unstoppable!”… coz they don’t have brakes 😛

And today’s news, 22 October 2010, reported Toyota Singapore will recall 1.53 million vehicles globally to fix a brake-related problem that may cause fluid leaks… AGAIN?… The models affected by the recalls are the Lexus GS300, Lexus RX300 and the Toyota Crown. But the actual number affected in Singapore is not known yet… and hopefully the problem will not go further than brake fluid leakage… if Toyota start recalling for engine problem like faulty head gasket, I think people will stop buying Toyota or Lexus soon… I just hope Toyota can fix all these problem.

Haiyoo… time to make booking with UMW Toyota… I need to service my car… it has exceeded 3,000 km from its regular 10,000 km maintenance. Maybe I need to replace the absorbers too coz I feel the car is a bit bumpy… the bump is quite hard… meaning there is nothing or very little absorber functions at all the absorbers… since I drive quite rough, I think I should use Ferrari parts so that the car is more comfortable… or make it lower… money fly again… 😛

Toyota is one of the biggest car producers in the world… and it has been the leader for many years. But Toyota is facing huge problem since a couple of years…

Toyota is the only Japanese car I like… and I support their F1 team together with Mercedes F1… but unfortunately their F1 team will not be racing this year… same with few other teams which were hit by the world financial meltdown last year.

For the past two years, Toyota has been recalling its vehicles… and it has recalled millions already. They are top in sales but they are also top in recall!!!

But almost all the recalled vehicles are with Toyota US!!! Not here in Malaysia.

Last year they were having problem with floor mat which will slip and cause major safety on the driver’s handling. Now they are having safety issues on the gas pedal… and recently there is a possibility safety issue on the brake system!!! But not all models are affected… only some…

If you are owning any of the US Toyota vehicles which has been identified as having safety issues, I think if you need term life insurance or do not have any right now, you better get it now… else you just have to keep your Toyota in the garage or sell it off… 😛

If Toyota keeps on recalling their vehicles, I’m scared they will vanish from the business very soon… I hope they can improve their safety standard or fix whatever problem they are having in the production line… I hope it is not caused by design flaw because Toyota has one of the best designs… hopefully it’s just caused by bad materials…

It’s time to send my car for servicing again… it has passed the 58k KM mileage… errr should it be read as kilometerage?… it’s really strange that we still refer it as mileage although we have been using the metric standard for so long… 😛

I always exceed the once in 3 months servicing schedule… coz my mileage within the 3 months period always less than 5,000 km… so I only service my car once in 5 months, once it has accumulated 5,000 km… although UMW Toyota said it’s not good for the engine, well, I don’t really care coz I’m using synthetic lubricant… lubricant from Toyota itself… 😛

It’s going to be the first servicing for this year… and I must do the servicing before the Chinese New Year… which falls on 14 & 15 February… which also falls on Valentine Day… and luckily my road tax and insurance are still valid for another 8 months… so I don’t have to worry about auto insurance quote… else more money need to be spent next month 😛

Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 3.8 million vehicles… the largest-ever recall they ever do in US. Previously, the highest recall they ever made was in 2005 when they recalled 900,000 vehicles to fix a steering issue.

This time they are recalling the 3.8 million vehicles for a dangerous floor mat!!!… Yes, a dangerous FLOOR MAT!!!… it was in the news today…

Floor mat can cause accident?… I know it sound so unbelievable… but yes, Toyota is recalling their vehicles for that reason… floor mat! Maybe only Tacoma car accident lawyer can explain this… 😆 Toyota spokesman said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver’s side and not replace it.

According to Toyota the models affected are Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius , the best-selling gas-electric hybrid.

The recall will affect 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon , 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra , 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

Yes I’m a fan of Toyota F1 team and I love Toyota’s cars. But when I read about a device, electronic signal detector, which can be used to disarm a car’s security alarm system, my heart sink when the police said it is used to steal Toyota’s and Perodua’s cars.

The device is so cool that thieves or syndicates who have the device can walk away with any Toyota Hilux, Toyota Vios or Perodua Viva easily. The device is estimated to cost about RM15,000.00 each.

My assumption after reading the news statement by the police chief of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Osman Salleh is most probably the device is to be used with the factory supplied alarm and immobilizer system.

Now the question is, if we are to temper the factory supplied car alarm and immobilizer system, will it make the car manufacturer’s warranty void? How about the car insurance? My guess is, it depends on how you are going to modify your car’s security system.

The usual method is to leave the manufacturer supplied car alarm and immobilizer system intake. Simply install a new car security system parallel with the existing security system. I guess by doing so, the car manufacturer’s warranty or car insurance will not get void… what say you?