Gina’s first major surgery

About two weeks ago, the front right tire of my Hyundai Getz started to squeak really loudly when I fetched my wife from work. We’re not talking the kind of bicycle-tire iki! iki! iki! sounds. We’re talking the kind of loud EEEEEEEEEEEEK! sound that attracts attention because it’s so darn loud and painful to the ears.

After driving a few hundred meters, I pulled over to the side and examined the tire. It looked okay, but when the car moved forward – even at snail’s pace – the front right tire made that horrible shrieking sound. So I decided to replace the tire with the spare tire, thinking maybe the sound would go away with a different tire. Big mistake. I managed to replace one nut. When I worked on the second one, the nut wouldn’t budge. After stepping on the ratchet – or whatever you call that thing you pop into the nut to loosen it – the head of the nut suddenly broke off, leaving the rest of the bolt’s screw inside the hole.

Well, we’re screwed now, aren’t we?, I thought to myself. The squeaking sound wouldn’t go away, we were miles and miles away from Hyundai Global City, and I didn’t want to travel any further than we should because at that point I thought our tire might just fall off! My options were Hyundai Manila Bay along Macapagal and Hyundai Otis, so we proceeded to Hyundai Otis.

It was there that we found out the extent of Gina’s sickness. Two of the nuts on the front right tire had fused into the metal plate behind the tire. To remove these would require sawing through the metal and basically breaking the plate. Replacement and labor: somewhere near Php2,000. Wait, it gets worse. As they went to check the driveshaft, they discovered that one of the central points of the mechanism was broken. The entire pipe would need to be replaced. With labor and parts, total cost was somewhere near Php9,000.00 total, despite a discount given by the service department of Hyundai Otis.

No choice, diba? So I gave the go-signal and basically lived without Gina for two days. This was the first time ever that I’d been separated from my Hyundai Getz overnight. For two nights. The separation anxiety was ridiculous. I commuted to work for the first time ever, and found that it wasn’t as bad as I would’ve thought. (And once the MRT line is complete along EDSA, stretching down past A. Bonifacio, I’ll definitely find it easier to commute.)

When I picked Gina up from Hyundai Otis, she was obviously in much better shape. All parts original, all service original, all bayad original (hahaha). I’m glad she’s okay.

How are your Hyundai Getzes? Any major surgery like Gina’s?

6 Responses to “Gina’s first major surgery”

1. Joel says:

   January 28, 2010 at 11:16 pm

   Hi Ganns,

   I’m sorry to hear that sad story for your Gina. It’s really annoying Actually, I just would like to know your servie experience with Otis. Since I bought my Getz last Aug 2007, I have it serviced at Global City. Unfortunately most of the time, my service experience with Global City were bad (sometimes really bad, I tell you!) except when Jay Doria handles it. I’m residing in Makati and I’m planning to change service station. Perhaps you can recommend a better choice. Apparently, the service I’m expecting from them (based on your comments before – which influenced me to chose it) have not been met. Actually, I tried to be very patient and always think that might just be a one time lapse but sad to say it’s systemic. The nearest I think from our house is Macapagal.

   Hope you could help me on this.

   Hi Joel! I’ve only had experience with three Hyundai service centers: Bonifacio Global City, Otis, and E. Rodriguez (from where I bought Gina). I’d rank ‘em 1,2,3 in that order. Sorry you’ve had a bad experience with them. A fellow from the Global City branch once left a comment on “Life With Gina.” I’ll try to dig it up and send you his information. Maybe your experience will change if you speak to someone a little higher up the food chain.

   Let me know how Macapagal goes; I’ve always wanted to take Gina there but it’s really far from where I am.
   Thanks Ganns. God bless!
2. Mao says:

   February 4, 2010 at 7:36 pm

   Hello Ganns,

   Its nice to hear that Gina is okay already. What happend? What was the cause of it?

   Hi Mao! In a nutshell, fused nuts, bolts, and a plate. Wear and tear, basically. At least ok na. Kamusta Getz mo?
3. jess says:

   February 9, 2010 at 4:26 am

   It happens to the best of us. By the way I had my seat cover made by MG Square. Nice fit. Officemates are making kulit that I bring them there too hehehe

   Hi Jess! Talaga? Picture naman jan!
4. vince says:

   February 22, 2010 at 10:08 pm

   Yes, what happened? what was the cause of the fusion of the bolts? Aren’t Hyundai responsible for that? is there a question of quality of the nuts?

   According to the fellow at Hyundai Otis, iyan daw ang sakit ng Getz. (As if the Getz has been around long enough for them to determine what is and isn’t the common problems of a particular car model! lol) Regardless, I had to pay for it because of wear and tear. It’s been more than two years; most of my warranties would have run out my now.

   To my recollection, I’ve never had a problem with my front right tire. No flats, no issues, nothing. Maybe that the bolts and nuts may have fused together because they were never actually moved. That’s what I’m chalking it up to. Gina’s been taken care of immaculately, and all parts and replacements are all-original. (Well, save for the time I had her headlights smoked.) She’s still in pretty good shape despite this mishap.
5. hi says:

   February 23, 2010 at 9:24 pm

   you deleted my comment, why?

   I did no such thing, Hi. I don’t have a record of your comment in any of my files. Please repost your original comment.
6. Ramon says:

   February 25, 2010 at 5:24 am

   Hi Ganns,

   Off-topic, where can we find the chassis and engine serial number on hyundai getz, i need a stencil copy (good topic for your site too).

   Hi Ramon, good point. I’ll ask the folks at Global City. I’ll have an answer for you by Wednesday.