AEE REIGN EPPS EAMETS IO ERS AMR DN ARLE, @ * x Odyssey ari Tony Cité Southam Newspn pers MOST of our children would have us believe we operate in the dark. But that condition is a real possibility if you own a 1999 or 2000 Honda Odyssey. There are nearly 11,500 of the minivans on ~ Canadian streets, and Transport Canada says \ [N78 Pemberton, North Va many could have an electrical problem that will leave drivers unable to read their van's instrument panel at night. The problem is a circuit in a control unit that can be damaged by heat if the panel lights are kept dimmed. This could cause a transistor to short out and result in the loss of instrument cluster lighting. The control unit will be replaced by Honda dealers. a00 About 39,000 1997-2000 Dodge Dakota pickups are being recalled to have a potential brake problem repaired. _ -* Transport Canada says a rear axle vent hose could contact and eventually wear a hole in a rear brake line, resulting in a loss of brakin power in the rear wheels, ¢ lines will be inspected for evidence of wear and replaced if censnt In addition, dealers will shorten the vent hose and install a clip to ensure there is no more rubbing. Water the only waste ’ From page 7 cient fuel and can be pro- ’ duced in any desiced quantity _ from water. Combustion in ’ the engine results in nothing ., but water or steam emerging ~ from the vehicle s tailpipe. If - the electricity, used in pro- -- ducing the fuel is generated by wind, water or solar ener- gy, the result is an energy source that’s just about as - environmentally friendly as it could possibiy be. » At Munich airport’ Ss unique filling station, hydrogen is produced right on the premises in a facility comprising just a couple of small shipping container-sized buildings. The hydrogen is dispensed automat- ically using a robot arm, which reaches out in response to inserting a credit card and probes for the filler location. It even lifts and replaces the gas cap flap. ~The downside to all this is cost, though it should be borne “in mind that if hydrogen was in wider use, the price per litre ~ could drop dramatically. At the Munich airport filling station, hydrogen costs close to 80-cents a litre and the energy density in the fuel by volume is a quarter that of gasoline. You need four litres of hydrogen to travel the same distance you would -in‘a gasoline-powered vehicle on one litre. - The bottom line, though, is that one-day we'll run out of “fossil fuels but hydrogen will always be available as long as _ there is water around to make it from. BMW clearly believes ” the fuel has a big future and is certainly putting its money where its mouth is — though it might be a while before you _sée a BMW 750hL at your local dealership. Tony Whitney’s column appears. courtesy of the B. Cc. “Automobile Dealers’ Association (BCADA). [FALL SPECIALS crx. : Alt SERVICE SY GOVT. REGISTERED TECHNICIANS $2564 : “te GAY SS - Luss, Ow & Furen ; |. Check battery, antifreeze, belts & hoses tires & brakes, visual inspection report* ou; ~; Possibly North Shores most professional lube Jobs. All above with written B.C.A.A., inspection <4 report, rotate tires, top up all fluids road test. _ OFT. ALIGN. CHK, PRINTED REPORT $15. too up fade {uae THE BEST Fa Finest cordless Hunter computerized ¥ alignment, by certified technicians, fF Produces full before & after report & id : ” technicians road test - your choice - tit} . ali foaw. me TASKING YELLOW PAGE Annointments ave. _ 965-7455 (5 biks South of Marine Brive} : xd Srscusrs | vers face p Motors- standard & auto, off f° -- 1265. Transmission, Brakes, Clutches, monn ar ¢taxes Differentials, Tires, Batteries, fj 4 motels Exhaust, Full Suspension Repairs, Minor & Major Tuning .- . by BC's top AirCare Technician, ae Chrysler is also recalling the 1997 Dakota because of inadequate clearance between the fuel ling and the cab underbody, which could lead to a fire, The models affected by this recall are those with 131-inch wheelbases. Engineers believe constant rubbing of the fuel line on the cab body will eventually wear a hole in the line. If that happens, the chances of a fire are high. The trucks will be inspected and fuel lines with inadequate clearance will be replaced with a redesigned line. 2352 General Motors has vet to determine what the fix will be for a faulty sensor that controls the side air bags on its 1998-1999 Cadillac DeVilles. According to Transport Canada, about 5,200 of the luxury cars were built with modules that may set off their air bags without a cause. Owners will be notified shortly as to GM's repair plans. General Motors also wants owners of its 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XLs to bring the big sport-utility vehicles into the shop to have 2 brake hose rerouted. Kinks in the house could lead to increased stopping distances if not corrected. Q00 A small number of 2000 Ford Explorers may have faulty sen- image BMW BIW Is operating 15 duei-fuel 750hL. models on a daily basis in both Munich and. Hanover. When running on hydrogen, the car's 12-cylinder engine develops 204 horsepower, tops 700 km/h in 9.6-seconds and is capable of atop Speed of 226 km/h. Haid invites all hts past and future ouetomer® fo | aiid Rokani 4 Sales & Lease Consultant ) Cel: 328-2500 90: NOE ssible sors that will set off the air bags if the seat-belts are tugged too sharply. The sport-utility vehicle’s side crash sensor may deploy the side air bag if the ignition is in the run position and the seat-belr web- bing ts forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a jerking Motion, says Transport Canada. If the side air bag deploys unex- pectedly, it could injure an occupant. Ford dealers will replace the sensors with a revised design ver- sion. oo A fuel line that_ may disconnect during a crash has prompted Ford to recall its 2000 Windstar van. The fuel line end may be too small for the connector. In a severe collision, the line and connector may separate, spewing gasoline over the engine. Chances of it happening are remote, says Transport Canada. In any event, dealers will install a special clip on the line to ensure it doesn’t come apart. : G09 Ford has also agreed to recall the 2000 F-series Super Duty stripped-down chassis to correct a possible problem with its brak-~-- ing system. The chassis is used in motorhome construction. _ ‘The vehicles may have a missing or partially installed retaining clip on a pushrod between the brake pedal and the master cylinder. If the clip is missing or falls out, the brake pedals would be dis- See Motorhomes page % 1 eps B ‘"eomaner Now the concept of ownin SUV is no longer beyond be ief. : ‘s almost too good to be true. We could hard- | by wait to share the good news. The 2001 rand Vitara is now the lowest priced V6 4X4 SUV in Canada: Almost as excit- ing, keyless entry, a CD player, ABS . and power door locks and mirrors” are standard fare. se. insurance 4 tases extra -’ Starters, Altemators, Fuel Injection, etc... 2001 Grand Vitara V6 5289" 48 months OAC “Based on 44% lense cate, DP $2,150. POE & fresgtis $855 purchase Siscac - Up to 36 months