Cleaner air not only benefit

THE FACT that once a year
everyone has to get their cars
checked by AirCare has not
only helped clear the air, but
also made everyone a lot more
aware of their cars’ emissions.

By Robert Galster
Contributing Writer

AirCare has established various
standards for cars depending on
their age and make. As a result,
older cars are no more unlikely to
‘pass than newer cars.

According to Norm Zuips of
Regency Chrysler the most common
problem encountered by drivers of
older cars is failure on the oxides
and nitrogen sections of the AirCare
test.

This is usually a result of a mal-
function of the exhaust gas or circu-
latory valve (HR valve).

“In most cases it’s only a matter
of cleaning the HR valve. Through
tegular maintenance this can be pre-
vented.”

Zulps said the single biggest fac-
tor contributing to an HR valve mal-
function is short driving distances,
This is because the engines don’t
have time to warm up properly,
leading to carbon build-up

“Highway driving is defiaite:y
better for the car because the engiae
warms up and bums the gases itt che
engine cleaner.”

Zulps added that it is also very
important for motorists lo to warm
up their cars before going through
AirCare.

“tf the AirCare station is only
five or 10 minutes away, people just
drive down, line up for five or 10
minutes and that doesn't give the
catalytic convertor enough time to
heat up and get to where it is work-
ing fully.” suid Zulps,

“It turns out that if the customer
had driven the car on the highway
for 10 or 1S minutes first, they
would have passed.”

Newer vehicles often ran into
computer problems where the vari-
ous settings are out of whack. This
can't be prevented, but can easily be
fixed,

The cost of preparing a vehicle
for the AirCare test varies from $70
to $100 and, as a result, Zulps
advises motorists to take the test
first.

AirCare costs $16.05 and an ini-

“tial test can save motorists from

spending a lot of money only to find
out they would have passed any-
way,

Rob Harrison of Harrison
Performance Engineering added that
another imnortant component of
passing AirCare is a clean air filter.

“An air filter that looks reason-
ably clean may not be clean enough
to not affect the various readings,”
said Harrison.

He also added that even though a

NEWS photo Mike Waketleld

TECHNICIAN EARL Adams of Regency Plymouth Chrysler uses
a computer to diagnose a vehicle to check its emissions levels.

SUMMER HONDA SPECIAL

By Factory Licensed Technicians

ICBC CLAIMS
ACCEPTED

THPRO AUTO ttn.

986-9868

1130 W. 44th St.

North Vancouver
Sanng Spocials Expita Jury 31-3

lot of people talk about various
gasolines and their effects, there is
only a minimal difference in test
results,

Quality Service For:

JAGUAR, MG

ROVER, TRIUMPH

VOLVO, SAAB
BMW, AUDI
Gov't inspections

ICBC claims
AIR care

JAYLOAMOTIVE

D RNC COLLISION CENTRE
1.C.B.C. - B.C.A.A.» A.R.A. APPROVED CENTRE

COLLISION SPECIALISTS oF

FREE COURTESY CARS FOR COLLISION 36TH

LIFET'ME GUARANTEE «CONSULTATIONS
174 PEMBERTON AVE. N.VAN. 985-7455

UAR

HOLDINGS LTD.

Repair Centre
#50467

| FREE OFFER!

Bring in this Ad for a
Complimentary BCAA
25 Point Written
inspection

Appointment in advance is required.
Offer valid until July 31, 1994

S322 factory trained mechanics

‘FREE 5
Full Free.
Replacement

1525 Welch St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 1B5

Flat Tire... &
‘Repairs For: §
The Legal i
Ufe of Tread &

Rubber Valvel
Stems”. ons.
Kilometers

. ENGINEERED FOR TH

w

4

‘f Sale ends July 31/94

2504 MARINE DR.
\UNDARAVE | WEST VANCOUVER

Pirelli
P500

Pirelli
P44

Cas ese Fae
DWIGHT MAHER
Owner/Operator

Ware S.
926-7301