Jan. 23, 2012
It was Jan. 2, 2012 morning, my wife, son, my mother and my wife's niece headed to Baler...... again. Bongabon - Villa - San Luis - Baler route again. We used Suzuki Jimny 4x4.
We were somewhere in that unpaved road and saw that the "noisy" bridge between Nueva Ecija and Aurora was no longer existent. Maybe flash flood ruined it.
We had to cross the river. I treaded the river on foot, water was slightly above my knees, there was presence of current. The width of the river was approximately 10 to 15 meters. We made it through the other side, then the check engine light went ON. Then OFF after 2 minutes or so. I knew the fuse box and other electrical things were wet, and then fortunately dried themselves. Of course I opened the hood to check.
We went on and on, the road was wet and muddy, the road deteriorated, maybe due to rain, it was unlike months before. There was this huge enough rock hiding in the mud that hit my fuel tank. Fortunately, our fuel didn't leak. When we reached Villa, another river crossing, this time, the water was higher than the 1st river crossing. Again, we made it through the other side, again the check engine light went ON. After 5 minutes, the check engine light went OFF, the fuse box or any electrical system dried itself, fortunately again. JIMNY was designed well by SUZUKI engineers, the IGNITION coils and SPARK plugs were covered with plastic to prevent from getting wet. We never stalled.
Driving in the mountains can be unpredictable, there are times the road / trail is just ok, there are times the road / trail is NOT ok. Landslide, mud, high water level in the river, falling rocks, road / trail becomes narrow, etc.
That was one of the most stressful drive in my life. I tell you, I really thought JIMNY wouldn't make it. When we reached Baler, we checked in at Bahia De Baler then ate lunch at Bays INN.
We enjoyed Aurora again going to Museum in Baler, bought fish in Baler market, went to Diguisit beach, went to PAGASA radar again. We were about to go to DICASALARIN cove, but it was not open to visitors that day. (DICASALARIN COVE visit is for free when you check in at BAHIA DE BALER or 300 pesos per person if you didn't check in at BAHIA DE BALER). We slept tight in Bahia. It was a long day.
Jan. 3, 2011, we woke up, ate our breakfast at Bahia, then headed to AMPERE beach for picture taking, and also to buy fish along the way (Aurora is rich with tuna and other big fish). Then headed to CAUNAYAN FALLS in San Luis, Aurora.
When we headed home, there was a weird sound at the driver's side rear wheel, I knew that our wheel bearing was busted. When we reached Rizal town near Pantabangan, the sound became so loud, that when I checked, axle oil was already leaking. I continued to drive to Cabanatuan via Bongabon - Palayan route. When we reached Cabanatuan, I decided to drive to Manila and took the risk. I wanted that the bearing replacement would be in Manila instead of Cabanatuan. I knew that the bearing replacement would be a 1 to 2 day affair, I didn't have time for that, my mother had flight on Jan. 4 morning.
We used Santa Rosa - SCTEX route. I told myself that we should safely reach SCTEX, then if the worst happened, it should be in SCTEX, so that towing will be available. The grating sound of the wheel bearing was scary. It was dark when we reached SCTEX. Then we continued NLEX then stopped at CALTEX NLEX. I could feel the heat at the wheel, i knew that the remaining bearings started to melt. We continued and VERY LUCKILY reached Quezon City. If it were a weak vehicle, we wouldn't reach Quezon City from San Luis, Aurora in that VERY LIMP mode. That was one of the most stressful drive of my life.
Our jimny is 2003 and has almost 100,000 kms on it. Our jimny went to dirt roads many times already, went to Casiguran, Daraitan, Atimonan, Majayjay, Lucena, Lobo, Baguio, etc., so i couldn't blame that busted bearing. JIMNY is a tough vehicle, and well built. That is based on our experience. Our jimny is OK again after 2 days, the rear wheel bearings replaced. Those were 2 very stressful days with mixed emotions..... :) Would I cross Bongabon-Baler again via Villa? .... I wouldn't tell.... :)
