GOOD MOTORING
Say no to spurious spares
H. Kishie Singh

It’s a reputation that we Indians established decades ago. We can duplicate anything almost to perfection. With a number of new cars on our roads, there has been an increase in the demand for spares. From simple nuts and bolts to rings, pistons, brake linings, clutch plates, shock absorbers, lights and filters — everything is available in the "desi market". But remember, spurious parts are injurious to the health of your car. They can also endanger your life.

The most common and easily available parts are brakes, shock absorbers, clutch plates, filters and bearings. They all reduce the road-worthiness of your car. It is senseless to have modern cars like Toyotas, Hondas, Lancers and Sonatas and still compromise on parts like brakes. These are high-speed cars and your spurious brakes may let you down when you need them most.

A lot of mechanics will tell you that shock absorbers can be "recharged". Don’t believe them. They will "recharge" the shock absorber but the efficiency and longevity will always be suspect. The "recharged" shock absorbers could adversely affect road-holding even when the car is travelling in a straight line. While cornering or braking, they could lead to a disaster. Avoid it at all costs.

Duplicate filters are also readily available. The job of a filter is to strain out the impurities and to supply clean fuel or oil to the components. An engine oil filter that will not do its job can lead to a seized engine.

The gasket which holds the filter assembly to the engine block has to be of a very good quality. The oil circulates under extremely high pressure and if the gasket is weak, the oil will leak out. And the result — a seized engine.

Putting your engine in order could set you back by Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the make of the car and the amount of work involved. It is easier and cheaper to buy an original filter.

The fuel filter is another important item. It is an accepted fact that the fuel available — petrol or diesel — is of substandard quality. You need a good-quality filter for clean fuel to get into your injector nozzles. Clogged-up nozzles will put an end to your motoring plans. And, again, the repair bills could be high.

This also means your car could be off the road for two to three days. For people who depend on their personal cars for mobility, this could be a great inconvenience. The manufacturers could also annul your warranty if you use non-original parts.

There is another problem. The roadside mechanic that you have been using for years may not how to deal with your car. These are high-tech machines, the age of the screw driver technology is over.

If you have bought your car in the last few years, it is possible that you may not have a tool kit. The manufacturer supplies only a jack and a rod with a wheel brace. This is about the only kit you get with the car.

There is another down-side to desi parts. According to the Auto Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA), these components are manufactured underground, so the loss to the government in terms of excise and taxes is more than Rs 1,500 crore annually.

Happy motoring.