Brady Fothoringham
Contributing Writer

WHEN it comes to
carving out a niche
market in the automo-
tive business, Keith
EXubert honed his auto
repair skills by invent-
ing and investing
$400,000 into a diag-
nostic machine that is
now marketed world-
wide.

Caricaks.com, Hubert’s
new company in Nosth
Vancouver will develop and
sell machines designed over
the past two years tha: detect
water leaks in vehicles.
Presently = marketing — the
machine through a different
company, Carleaks.com will
officially be up and running
this fall.

Traditionally when a car
comes off the assembly linc,
* many holes in the floorboards

and body contribute to noise
vibrations and corrosion as
water works its way through
the bedy shell.
After spending cight years
running his own auto repair
: business, Westcoast Auto-Seal
in Langley, Hubert poured
$300-$400, 000 of his compa-
‘ny’s and family’ 's moncy inte
research and design work
developing his bodyfault diag-

nostic system. Some invest- ~

- ment from the B.C. Research

Corp. ($30,600), was afso
pumped into the project —
the . first of its kind in the
world.

The diagnostic machine
introduces ozone gas into a
_car where the interior is pres-
“surized.. Soap © and water
poured over the outside of a
car revéals bubbles where
there ase water leaks, much
like a leaky inner mbe in a
bathtub.” Onte detected, a
sealant is 4 Pe a to the defec-
tive area o!

. The body fault “iiagnostic
machine also. drys and
deodorizes the: interior. of a
musty or smoky. car. by. sin-
gling out carbon particles in
the upholstery and carpets.

.. Hubert’s machines are in

use in automobile. dealerships —

in Japan, Korea, Germany and

the United States. Ford

Motor, Co. ‘and Snap-On-

Tools are just some of his cus-
. tomers.

The body fault diagnosiic.

“machine sells for $6,060 US,
and d over $5.5 million
in sales over the past year and

- Bute aus

Specializing ta
~.MERCEDES BENZ
SERVICE

82 SMW Motorcycle, onty
24,0G0km, must be seen
87 300 £. )

Ciesed For Holidays
July 26 to Aug 9
(Rave massage)
j Non vancowet "887-3133

$

Bee rete es

photo Brad Lacwidge

NORTH Shore inventor Keith Hubert of Carleaks.com displays his P-2010 auto-
body fault diagnostic systsm that detects water leaks in automobiles.

a half. Hubert is now working
on an improved version of his
P-2010 model.

Promoting the machine
over the past two years to 2ato
dealers around the Lower
Mainland and overseas,
Hubert is trying to recover
financially from several
negotiated business deals that

Ed

i Zi inspect a brakes for wear % and conc#ion

1 a f inspect tre wear and pressure

8) inspect bral calipers, wheel cylindars and perking brakes

have severely strained his
finances.

By redesigning the
improved version of the diag-
nostic machine this fall,
Hubert plans to finally recoup
his investment and turn a
profic.

“Everybody hates water
leaks but I Jove them because

I THis § servica 2 includes: "Drain au eystem,

i Replace coclant/aniifreeze, Inspect radiator cap

i and hoses, Check thermostai/temperature gauge
i operation, Check operation of radiator and A/C

i condenser paris, Pressure-test system, Check

i water pump for noise, loose pulley and condition of
i belt, Test coolant protection lavel, Battery ioad test.
j
i

i]

i

$

it provides an opportunity to
make money. Someone told
me years ago that no one will
ever invent a solution to this
problem but I thought differ-
eat,” Hubert said.

Hubert took that state-
ment as a challenge, and fiun-
nelied his energy into his new
company.

ai rapect ive be condton (exces ting be
Inspect distributer cap, rotor and wires.

df lnspect windshield wipers, washer jets and blades
Gh inspect exhaust system

i inspect springs and shock absorbers

@& inepect all fights and bulbs

@f inepect and lubsicata door locks, latches and handles

ateering
applicable), brake fluid level, cluich fluid level, (# applicable)

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\Vacation Siagecis—Uls

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Nerds Van

984-0331

Lube, Oi & Filter chai "4. ecks,
ibe, ge 14-95 ” fis sng tem Yrs cee 129.90
Frout Bri Brakes ads includes
CV joint haot
Ge parts) irom ‘35.00

Tianinrg, belt 7 from °65.00

from *99.95

Rear Brakes (aves pndsy,
most cars from *45.00

Engine Analysis 4. Tene-U
4 cyl "39.60 MG cyl '29.06
8 cyl 59.00
Prices frekude: Engine scope reports, engine installed
shampoo G spark plugs rawen 95

90 Mercedes-Benz CLKS20
silver w/black tat., SK, $60,800

98 Mercedes-Benz ML 320E
silver w/gray int., 50K, $43,900

97 Mercedes-Benz S562
Ravy, w/parchment int., 12K, $78,800

97 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG
silver w/black int., 17K, $49,800

97 Acura 3.2 Ti
havy w/tan int., 15K, $20,900
Phone for details :
Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

1375 Marine Dr. 984-9351

Nerth Vancouver
www.vancouver.mercedes-benz.ca

“GO TOPLESS!