Before starting on that trip to ‘balik kampung’ or even to the nearby supermarket, you can save 

yourself hefty repair bills or inconvenient breakdowns by doing routine and simple checks on your 

car’s health status. 

Car maintenance tips

Can you remember when you last sent your car for a scheduled service? Not many people can.

Whilst regular servicing of your car is important, there are also some simple checks that you can do to

ensure your car is in good condition before you hit the road:



1. It’s a good practice to always check on fluid and oil levels, tyre air pressure and battery condition.

2. Ensure that your windscreen wipers are working and examine the wiper blades - replace them if

they are worn or torn or if the rubber has turned hard. Fill up the washer reservoir to the maximum

level too. It helps to have good clear vision while driving in wet weather conditions.

3. The fluid levels in the brake and clutch reservoirs should be topped up to the recommended

marks. Clean the covers before you remove them for filling and use only the correct fluid types.

4. Cooling system levels should also be checked and topped up only when the engine is cool to

prevent any injury. Try to inspect around the radiator and hoses to detect any leakages and

attend to them soonest.

5. Engine oil level should be checked by removing the dipstick, wiping it with a clean rag, replace

and take it out again to note the oil level which should be at the maximum line. Top up if near the

minimum level with a suitable oil.


6. With today’s modern batteries, topping up with battery water is a thing of the past as most are

fully maintenance-free and require only very minimal inspection. Take for example the Hitachi

MFX battery. The Hitachi MFX battery not only has a 2-year warranty but also a battery condition

indicator on the lid to make it super convenient for you to determine its health.

Check that the battery connectors are fixed firmly and tighten if loose. Clean off any corrosion that

you find around the terminals with a mixture of hot water and baking soda and dry all surfaces

after.



7. Do examine if there are any cracks or leaks on the battery casing and if any, get your battery

dealer or mechanic to double check the condition.

8. Tyres should be inflated to the correct pressures and their sidewalls closely checked for cracks,

tears, bulges and cuts. Make sure that there is at least 2-3mm of tyre tread for safe driving as

anything less is dangerous.

9. Do remember to check the spare tyre in the boot and make sure you have a car jack and

standard tool set for emergencies.

10. Balance and align your tyres and rims regularly for a smooth and safe drive.

11. Brake systems must also be checked for wear and tear and effectiveness by your mechanic to

ensure safe stopping always.

12. Lastly, take a walk around your car and note that all signal lamps, headlights and taillights are in

good working condition and that all glass windows are clean and clear of any obstructions. Do

drive safely, observe traffic regulations and have a safe and worry-free trip always.

This article is brought to you by Hitachi MFX automobile battery. The Hitachi MFX battery is 

available at over 5,000 dealers nationwide and in Sabah and Sarawak.

Earlier today I attended the Hitachi Automotive Battery launch and dealership signing ceremony between Hitachi Chemical Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd (HCAP) and Borneo Technical Technical Co (M) Sdn Bhd to appoint the latter as the distributor for the battery in the country effective May 2015.




The Hitachi MFX and ES series batteries can now be purchased from official distributors Borneo Technical Co (M) Sdn Bhd. The Hitachi battery are offered with two years warranty and are manufactured in Thailand. Borneo Technical intends to sell more than 30,000 units of Hitachi batteries monthly and aims for a 20% market share especially in the higher end battery segment with the MFX series of batteries.

The batteries would be available throughout Malaysia and its recommended sales price for the batteries start at RM250 for the ES and EM350 for the MFX series.


Press Release
HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY HITS THE MALAYSIAN MARKET
Borneo Technical is distributing the fully imported Hitachi car batteries in the country

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday (May 21, 2015) – Hitachi automotive batteries have hit the Malaysian market offering motorists a two-year warranty which makes it one of, if not the longest coverage to be extended in the country. The two-year warranty is for its top-end MFX series.

The Hitachi batteries which include the ES series are all fully imported. They are distributed in Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak by Borneo Technical Co (M) Sdn Bhd (Borneo Technical), a member of the Toyota Tsusho Group.

Carrying the tagline “built to last even longer”, the Hitachi batteries are totally maintenance-free, of high quality  and developed with 100% Japanese technology to offer car owners reliability, value for money and ownership with peace of mind.

The battery was unveiled today following a signing ceremony between Hitachi Chemical Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd (HCAP) and Borneo Technical to appoint the latter as the distributor for the battery in the country effective May 2015.

Putting pen to the agreement on behalf of HCAP was its Managing Director, Shigeru Fujita while Borneo Technical was represented by its President, Takuya Hirano. To witness the signing ceremony were Jackie MK Chuah, General Manager/Director, Sales & Marketing Dept of Hitachi Chemical Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd and YK Chow, Vice President of Borneo Technical.

According to HCAP’s Fujita, the company believes that there is a tremendous potential for the Hitachi automotive battery products to succeed in the Malaysian market.

“Malaysia has one of the largest markets for motor vehicles in the ASEAN region. Today, there are more than 20 million cars and other motor vehicles in this country. This number continues to increase as the economy grows and more people can afford to buy cars.

“This augurs well for us and we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Borneo Technical. The company has tremendous local market knowledge, experience and an extensive dealer network to support our products,” Fujita said.

He added that HCAP is optimistic for Hitachi to become a leader in the aftermarket/replacement battery sector in Malaysia, in particular the premium sector as its Hitachi batteries are technologically superior, of high quality and built to last even longer.

Meanwhile, Borneo Technical’s Hirano said, “We have just completed a successful dealer road show throughout the country as a run-up to the battery’s launch. Response from the dealers has been very encouraging and at the same time overwhelming. All of them are excited to have this opportunity to offer this premium quality product to their customers.

“We are committed to the successful rollout of the Hitachi range of automotive batteries and have in place, plans to ensure sustainability of sales moving forward.”

Hirano also said the automotive aftermarket is a key segment for Borneo Technical which was wholly acquired by Toyota Tsusho Corporation of Japan in 2014.  

The range of Hitachi car batteries is available at more than 5,000 dealers nationwide including Sabah and Sarawak. The MFX series is priced from RM350 onwards per unit while the ES series starts from RM250. The batteries are manufactured by the Hitachi Chemical Group’s factories in Japan and Thailand.