The emissions cash grab, and a warning about telephone marketers posing as SSGM staff

Jim:

In response to Ontario Drive Clean changes, I do not agree with the so-called improvements of the program. Testing older vehicles is just a waste of time as they account for only a small percent of total vehicles. Newer vehicles that pass should not be charged at all. Why should we have to pay when we did not break any laws? This program has been a cash grab right from the start. If our Environment Minister truly wanted to reduce pollution, he would have made the auto manufacturers responsible.

I am sure they can build vehicles that would not start if emission levels rose above a specified amount. A sensor in the vehicles exhaust system monitoring emission levels and preventing it to start is a good starting point. Such a system is used in theft deterrence, why not emissions? This type of system would put the cost on people that neglect their vehicles and break the law. Cleaning the air by reducing vehicle emissions is not hard when left up to the right people (manufacturers) to do it. Leaving it up to government and the public creates only opportunities for dishonesty, money grabbing and confusion.

Mike Citrigno, Owner, Bridgeview Auto Repairs, Port Colborne, Ontario

Editor Jim Anderton replies:

Mike, I agree with your assessment of Drive Clean as an ineffective program that’s been mismanaged from the start, but I have reservations about placing the burden on the manufacturers entirely. Why? Because the additional sensors will add more complexity that we’ll have to troubleshoot. Evaporative emissions is an example. Charcoal canisters were introduced in the ‘Seventies to cope with evap, and that’s fine, but look how sophisticated the systems are now. That’s because they’re expected to cope with conditions like the displaced vapours that result from the rising liquid fuel level during a fill-up. Why not recover those vapours at the pump nozzle? Because it’s easier to regulate the auto manufacturers than force oil companies to re-equip with new pumps. It doesn’t make sense. I think a good alternative to Drive Clean would be an option to delete the test if the drive can demonstrate regular maintenance. Show the tester the log book, signed by licensed techs, and get a “free pass”. DIY’ers and service neglecters, take the test. And how about the poor garage owners who spent a bundle on dynos?

Dear Jim:

I read your publication faithfully and always glean more knowledge. I was quite surprised to learn that a representative from your magazine had called our business and asked for the names of our mechanics. The premise was that you are starting a new publication, just for mechanics and each employee would receive a copy of your publication. The names were provided and amazingly, a phone call was received the next day from a recruiting agency, soliciting information on anyone looking for work. Our Manager suggested that this agency go away, and never call again. Phone call #2 happened for the next mechanic on the list. This time our Manager made himself very clear and the company has not called again. How many other automotive businesses have had the same phone call? Head Hunters posing as magazine reps! How deceptive!

Keep up the good work.

Lois Cookson, Owner,

Kal Tire, Lacombe, Alberta

Hi Lois:

We at SSGM are a magazine for the auto service trade and are not recruiters. Anyone calling claiming to be from SSGM and asking for the names of shop personnel is doing so under false pretenses! The only time we’ll ask for names is if we’re interviewing or following up on a story or news item for the magazine, and then the call will be from a writer or editor affiliated with the magazine. Thanks for bringing this to our attention and remember, if you’re ever in doubt about the I.D. of someone asking for info claming to be from SSGM, please contact us as soon as you can.-Jim Anderton

Woodstock, Ontario’s Craig Shoemaker says “bring it on” to more vehicle electronics:

I was reading the editorial by Jim Anderton the other month and it certainly made me think. Then I read some of the letters to SSGM in this month’s edition commenting on the editorial and again it has made me think. The general gist of the article and letters were the fact that more and more “useless electronics” are being installed on the newer vehicles. Now I have to ask you people with this notion, what the hell do you think we are going to be doing in the future? I have been in this business for 24 years now and I have seen lots of changes, and most for the better, but the biggest change that I have seen is the fact we are not doing the same repairs and services like we use too. Gone are the days were a tune up was done in the spring and fall. Gone are the days of valve jobs and ring jobs. Gone are the days of seeing your clients at least every three months for something. I could go on and on. The vehicles that are produced today are so far superior than what has come before, I believe because of the electronics. And yes they are adding lots of electronics devises for every convenience imaginable. So if we are to stay in business we are going to have to learn to service and repair these “useless electronic” devises. I truly believe that we will be paid very good money to fix these devices when they break. Will vehicles go to the auto recyclers when they are 7 or 8 years old because of some electronic device has failed and it is going to cost a few thousand dollars or more to fix? I can’t say, but when a new vehicle cost upwards of $50,000 and beyond, it still maybe cheaper to fix than to replace.

When I read between the lines of this and many other articles and letters that I have read, I hear people that don’t like change. I can’t believe how many people that I have worked with over the years that have this same mind set. Why did these people get into this business. Change is constant and we in the automotive industry see this on a daily basis. I myself look forward to the change. It challenges me to strive to be the best that I can be, because I know that if I can stay up with the changes my future is very bright. I know we as an industry face many challenges, but sitting around and complaining on how the manufactures are putting in “useless electronics” that our clients want and are paying good money for, is going to fix the problems of our industry (I can’t believe how many technicians that I know that say they want to go back to carburetors). Also I hear and read stuff about information lock out or the availability of the proper tools and equipment. Well everything is available, it’s just a matter of how much. It’s not going to be cheap. I know from working in this industry that there are some very smart people out there in the independent aftermarket repair sector. If we can work together to help train ourselves, to grow and evolve as an industry, then the future will be very bright with all of this “useless electronics”. All I can say is bring it on.

Craig Shoemaker, DC Automotive

Woodstock, Ontario

Jim Anderton replies: Go get ’em Craig! The more we know about the vehicles the better, but the issue I was talking about was the systems that no one can properly repair. A certain German manufacturer, for example, just withdrew their “brake-by-wire” system because it was too unreliable, and software is getting more glitch-prone every day. And with software, it may be downloadable to the vehicle from anywhere, including the factory, so I still see some issues in an otherwise bright future. As far as going back to carburetors is concerned, for those folks, small engines are still an option. I still like single point TBI, however, with a simple bypass pressure regulator.