Car Care

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

| A23

north shore news nsnews.com

INSIDE: ! Considering racks to carry bikes ! Summer road trip tips

PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH

! Mustang show photos

A special feature of the

Johnny Aylward checks tire pressure on a car at Johnny’s Automotive in North Vancouver. Plan for some maintenance when planning summer road trips.

See story on page 25.

NORTH SHORES FIRST AND ONLY I-CAR GOLD CLASS RECOGNITION WITH PLATINUM TRAINED PROFESSIONALS

Service Ltd. Since 1959

COLLISION REPAIR & AUTO SERVICE CENTRE All Collision Insurance Company’s Lifetime Guaranteed Repairs ■ New Car Warranty Approved Services 174-176 Pemberton Ave. 604.985.7455 ■

w w w. t a y l o r m o t i v e . c o m

GOVERNMENT LICENSED INSPECTION STATION S-2564

E K A M L L A p o t S e n O R U YO CELEBRATING 58 YEARS OF QUALITY WORKMANSHIP & TRUSTWORTHY SERVICE

A24 |

nsnews.com north shore news WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

Racks offer solutions for carrying bikes on cars

BEN BENGTSON bbengtson@nsnews.com

The era of rain gutters on cars is mostly behind us, but luckily the racks that would have once seamlessly attached to those gutters have evolved with the times.

Steve Niewerth of Rack Stop in North Vancouver says you’d probably have to look back several decades to find

cars sporting exterior rain gutters – lines that would run along the edge of a vehicle just below the roof, funneling the water away from a driver’s head after opening the door during or after a heavy rainfall.

While the phasing out of rain gutters on cars was a boon to vehicle esthetics and aerodynamics, for bikers, kayakers and skiers it made things a little trickier.

CATCH A WAVE AND YOU’RE SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD

(NOT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR A TOW)

999 West 1st Street, North Vancouver 604.924.5330 | johnnysauto@telus.net

“People used to go to Canadian Tire and for $100 you’d be able to go and get a rack that hooked onto the rain gutter,” says Niewerth.

“Now cars don’t have rain gutters. All the rain gutters are internal. There’s a rubber seal around the inside of the door and around the door itself.”

Since gutters have gone internal, modern retailers have found a way to continue installing car racks, but the skill and precision required to make it work has increased substantially. Not many people know that, Niewerth insists.

“They’re overwhelmed by the complexity of putting racks on cars, they thought it’d be very easy,” he says about people’s reaction to car rack installations. “They don’t realize then, as we go through our spiel, how complicated it can be.”

Niewerth also adds that over time cars have been getting smaller and bikes have been getting more intricate, adding a layer of difficulty in a consumer culture that’s constantly shifting and changing.

“We have probably over 300 different types of kits – fit kits, we call them – that hook into the door frame, all contoured specifically to each car,” he says.

Rack Stop is a one-stop shop for outdoor recreationalists who need car rack support. Their biggest customers are bikers, who year-round are looking to outfit their vehicles with racks that’ll effortlessly allow them to transport their bikes to the nearest North Shore

MITSUBISHI & SUZUKI SERVICE CENTRE

SUZUKI MOTORS

INSPECTION & TIRE ROTATION • Change engine oil, install a new Mitsubishi/Suzuki Genuine oil filter and report • Check all fluid levels & report: a) Transmission fluid b) Differential fluid c) Transfer assembly fluid d) Clutch fluid e) Brake fluid f) Engine coolant g) Windshield washer fluid • Check and inspect air filter and report

68 95

$

mountain, bike route or other destination. In the last few years, biking culture has seen a rise in popularity throughout the Lower Mainland, and along with it a demand for specialization.

Niewerth explains there are three ways to carry bikes on cars: Attaching it to the trunk or hatch; attaching to a trailer hitch; or attaching to a car roof. And there are pros and cons for all those options, he notes. For example, using a car’s trunk or hatch is a fairly inexpensive and flexible form of racking a bike for transportation.

But there are challenges, too. Some bike manufactures don’t recommend hanging carbon fibre bikes by their

frames. And what would you do if your car was too tall for you to easily stow a bike atop it? “We’d recommend that they get a trailer hitch and put a bike on the back,” Niewerth says.

Rack Stop has been helping people solve problems like this for a long time. In 1956, Niewerth’s parents opened Skyline Sports, one of the North Shore’s first sporting goods stores, selling everything from fishing equipment to football helmets. In the 1990s, the arrival of big box stores spurred the Niewerth family to focus on consumers’ appetite for specialization.

“Customers were requiring more knowledge and there was more selection out there.

It’s very difficult to be everything to everybody,” he says.

For a while, they focused on selling ski gear, but ran into the issue of what to do during the summer months when the ski slopes went dry.

“That’s when we decided to get into car racks,” Niewerth says. “We’d sold car racks since day one. We probably sold the first car rack on the North Shore.”

They opened Rack Stop and five years later, Skyline Sports closed its doors.

But Rack Stop is still going strong, carrying forward the legacy of Niewerth’s parents, whose penchant for customer service helped make Skyline a North Shore mainstay for decades.

Steve Niewerth, owner of Rack Stop in North Vancouver, loads a bike onto the roof of a car. New car designs need new solutions for attaching bikes. PHOTO MIKE WAKEFIELD

LEXUS REFLECTIONS PREMIUM DETAILING PACKAGES

*

• Lubricate all locks, latches and hinges and verify proper operation • Check and adjust tire pressure • Check the operation of all lights and horn and report Synt • Rotate tires h Upg etic rade • Inspect front brake $ 30 pads and report

May not be combined with any other offer. *Mitsubishi/Suzuki vehicles only. Plus taxes and levies. Expires July 30, 2017.

EXECUTIVE PACKAGE

CAR $180, SUV $215

PRESIDENT PACKAGE

CAR $275, SUV $315

Price subject to a vehicle walkaround. See Jim Pattison Lexus Northshore for complete details.

THIS OFFER IS AVAILABLE TO ALL VEHICLE BRANDS AND MODELS

RX

FROM $55,900

NX

FROM $42,950

ES

FROM $43,300

IS

FROM $40,150

WWW.NORTHVANMITSUBISHI.COM Marine Dr. NV MITSUBISHI

Bowser Ave

604-983-3911 1695 Marine Dr, North Vancouver

Tatlow Ave

NORTH VANCOUVER MITSUBISHI

Garden Ave

YOUR ONLY AUTHORIZED MITSUBISHI & SUZUKI SERVICE DEALER ON THE NORTH SHORE Freight and pdi $2,040 and administration fee $395. Dealer #23190

Northshore Auto Mall | 845 Automall Drive, North Vancouver, BC | 604-982-0033 | JPLexus.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

| A25

north shore news nsnews.com

Some tips for summer road trips ROSALIND DUANE rduane@nsnews.com

Summer officially starts this week, which means the summer road trip season won’t be far behind.

FILE PHOTO MIKE WAKEFIELD

BC Hydro warns drivers about downed lines

We checked in with Kory Aylward, co-owner/operator at Johnny’s Automotive in North Vancouver for some tips to get drivers ready for summer travelling.

North Shore News: What

are some of the systems a driver should check to make sure their car is ready to travel?

Kory Aylward: With today’s vehicles it can be difficult for the operator to find things under the hood with covers/protectors obscuring any visual inspection.

Inspecting lights, signals, fluids, tires, tire pressure, air conditioning, heating, belts, hoses, safety harnesses, loose shrouds, torn

boots, worn steering components, brakes, battery.

Checking if fans are working.

The list is long.

North Shore News: What are some parts of the car that a driver may be able check and repair on their own?

Kory Aylward: It is a good idea to read your owner’s manual for instructions on how and what to check before embarking on a road trip. Inspecting windshield

wipers for tears, nicks, cracking. Checking oil levels, windshield fluid/ bugwash, windshield spray nozzles, tire/tread wear, tire pressure, transmission oil (while running) lights/bulbs, signals, battery, oil/filter, air filter, cabin filter. Carefully check overflow bottle levels and anti-freeze quality. Read the manual to safely check fluids, etc.

See Overheating page 26

B.C. roads are busy during the spring and summer months, and car accidents are not uncommon.

Over the past five years, public fatalities and injuries involving cars and power poles have doubled. BC Hydro wants to remind drivers how to stay safe in the event of an accident involving a power pole.

A recent survey commissioned by BC Hydro revealed almost half (47 per cent) of British Columbians do not know what to do if a power line falls on their vehicle. Power lines carry potentially fatal levels of electricity. To stay safe, always assume that any vehicle that comes into contact with a power pole that results in a downed line is energized even if it is not sparking, smoking or making a buzzing sound.

BC Hydro encourages drivers involved in accidents with power poles to stay in the car and call 911. A BC Hydro crew will isolate and ground the damaged equipment to make it safe.

If staying in the car is not an option, follow these tips: ! Remove any loose fitting clothing before exiting the vehicle and do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. ! Jump out and away from the vehicle, taking care to land with feet together. ! Do the shuffle: when exiting the vehicle, shuffle with feet together. Don’t walk, step or pick feet up off the ground.

Shuffle at least 10 metres away, the length of a bus.

Occupants of vehicles that come into contact with power lines are not the only ones that risk serious injury or death.

The same survey also found more than one fifth (23 per cent) of British Columbians did not know how far back they should stay from the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a downed line. If a vehicle makes contact with a power pole, stay back at least 10 metres (about a bus length) and call 911.

For more information on electrical safety, visit bchydro.com/ besafe.

Greater Vancouver Motorsport Society Presents the

5TH Annual Shipbuilders’ Square

Car Show

2017 AMG C 43 4MATIC SEDAN

2017 C 300 4MATIC SEDAN

Steer into your best summer yet.

Drive off with one of this season’s most exceptional offers. Plus, current Mercedes-Benz Financial Services customers receive a 1% rate reduction on their next new purchase.2 THE 2017 AMG C 43 4MATIC SEDAN. TOTAL PRICE STARTS AT $59,360.* Rates Starting At

2.9

%

1

45 Months

Lease Payment

$583

1

$6,545 Due on Delivery

** Fees and taxes extra.

THE 2017 C 300 4MATIC SEDAN. TOTAL PRICE STARTS AT $47,060.* Rates Starting At

2.9

%

1

45 Months

Lease Payment

$483

1

$6,024 Due on Delivery

** Fees and taxes extra.

Sunday, July 2nd | 10am – 4pm Shipbuilders’ Square - Lower Lonsdale Fun for the whole family!

75+ hot rods on display – DJ spinning tunes Awards presentation MEDIA SPONSOR

For inquiries, contact Sylvia Braddick

604-786-3702

Mercedes-Benz North Vancouver 1375 Marine Drive, North Vancouver | Open Sunday: 11am–5pm | D#6277 | 1-855-544-6490 | mercedes-benz-northvancouver.ca © 2017 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 2017 C 300 4MATIC/AMG C 43 4MATIC Sedan with optional equipment shown above. MSRP starting at $44,000/$56,200. *Total price of $47,060/$59,360 for advertised vehicle includes MSRP plus all applicable dealer fees. Freight/PDI of $2,295/$2,395, dealer admin fee of $595, air-conditioning levy of $100, EHF tires, filters, batteries of $25, and PPSA of $45.48 are due at signing. Lease offer based on the 2017 C 300 4MATIC/C 43 4MATIC Sedan available only through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time. 1 Lease APR of 2.9% up to 45 months is only available through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on approved credit for a limited time (excluding AMG).

Lease example based on $483/$583 (excluding taxes) per month for 45 months, due on delivery includes down payment or equivalent trade of $4,405/$4,500, plus first month lease payment of $541/$670, security deposit of $550/$700, and applicable fees and taxes. Total cost of borrowing is $3,870/$4,787. Total obligation is $29,272/$35,338. 12,000 km/year allowance ($0.20/km for excess kilometres applies). Please note the delivery credit of $3,500/$5,500 is a one-time credit for deals closed before June 30, 2017 and has been calculated in the monthly lease payment. 2 The loyalty program offers a 1% rate reduction off of the lowest posted lease (minimum lease rate is 0.00%), retail finance or star Advantage rate on new and demonstrator Mercedes-Benz passenger car vehicles (minimum finance rate is 0.00%). To be eligible, a customer must have leased or financed a new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and currently have an active account or had an active account within the last 6 months. Certain limitations apply. Vehicle license, insurance, registration, and taxes are extra. Dealer may lease or finance for less. Offers may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Vancouver Retail Group dealer for details or call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Relations Centre at 1-855-544-6490. Offers end June 30, 2017.

A26 |

nsnews.com north shore news WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

Overheating not uncommon in the summer From page 25

Johnny Aylward of Johnny’s Automotive tops up a car’s fluids. Checking and topping up fluids is an important part of getting ready for summer travel. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH

North Shore News: What are some summer maintenance and repairs that a driver should not try to do on their own?

Kory Aylward: I would advise an air conditioning service, especially if it hasn’t been used during winter months. A professional technician can examine steering and drive train components, and exhaust systems with an experienced eye. Really for peace of mind a pre-trip inspection is a good thing to have before any lengthy driving.

Some general don’ts: Don’t open the radiator cap if it is hot or even warm.

Don’t check transmission fluid without emergency brake on when car is running (actually all kinds of things can go wrong here, look ... where are the kids?).

Don’t pull off hoses or tug at wiring.

Don’t fill fluids with just any type of fluids, use recommended brands with proper SEC standards, viscosity or thickness. Don’t

fill tires without a proper PSI gauge. No guessing.

North Shore News: In general, what type of wearand-tear can a driver expect or should be aware of, on a car if travelling great distances?

Kory Aylward: Long, continuous, high-speed driving will cause failure of already compromised components or parts. Fresh fluids will minimize wear and tear. Tire wear obviously, windshield nicks from rocks, air filters clog up, general use and mileage can cause wear on all moving parts. If travelling more than 3,000-5,000 thousand kilometres getting an oil change and lube would be beneficial during the trip.

North Shore News: Do more engines overheat in the summer? What should drivers do if they notice steam coming out and think their car is overheating?

Kory Aylward: Oh, yes!

Overheating is summer!

If you notice steam or an excessively high temperature gauge pull over immediately and call for help. Do not open the radiator cap. Do not pour cold

water in or on anywhere.

Do not try to make it to the next exit/shop/restaurant/ town. Call a tow truck.

North Shore News: What are some concerns about being stuck in summer traffic for long periods of time?

Kory Aylward: Overheating can occur while stuck in traffic. Turn off the A/C, turn on the heater to cool the engine down. Watch the gauges or warning lights.

Keep fuel topped up. Don’t rest your foot on the brake.

Keep supplies of water and snacks, maybe a honey pot/ toilet paper for the kids(or yourself).

North Shore News: In general, how does summer (and hot roads) affect tires?

Kory Aylward: Obviously you will have better traction with warm rubber. Tires will wear faster and have higher pressure with heat. Old and worn tires may have cords separate or blow.

North Shore News: A lot of summer road trip travel includes getting caught in congestion. Do you have any tips and/or concerns about stop-and-go traffic?

Kory Aylward: Check with

DriveBC website for closures and clogged roads, try to avoid using them. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge or light/ any warning signals for overheating or a draw on the charging system. Use a lower gear and try to avoid heating up the brakes.

Having highway tires or a low-to-the-ground car is not conducive to off-track driving. Smooth tires and sharp rocks don’t go together well.

Gravel is not friendly to paint or body work. Twigs and bushes scratch paint.

Dirt and dust gets everywhere. But hey, clean smooth highway driving can be boring and monotonous.

Breaking down in the bush is always an adventure, like walking out listening to the coyotes howl.

North Shore News: Anything you would like to add?

Kory Aylward: I find a lot of people don’t realize that air conditioning systems need to be maintained as well.

There is oil that needs to be changed too. Also using the air conditioning during the off season helps.

Visit www.pacifichonda.ca for Additional Savings!

GET YOUR HONDA READY FOR SUMMER WITH OUR

“SUMMER MAINTENANCE PACKAGE” ($150 DOLLAR VALUE) FOR

$99.88*

Package includes:

- Oil and filter change - Comprehensive “Multi Point” vehicle inspection

INTEGRITY

- Battery performance test - Tire rotation, pressure adjustment and tire

NEVER

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE ON OIL AND FILTER CHANGES Starting as low as

GETS OLD

$53.88*

*Price for 5W20 oil changes, other oils extra. *Plus Materials and taxes

Receive $10 off an Air Conditioning system check and receive 15% off additional repairs.

condition and tread wear inspection - 4 Wheel brake inspection - Cooling system and coolant condition test - Top up of fluids including windshield washer fluid Op Code 35HOSUMMER2017 Valid From June 15th to July 15th 2017 *Plus Materials and taxes

FREE TIMING BELT SPECIAL!

Beat the summer heat with $10 off an Air Conditioning system check! We will inspect your system, and report back with any possible concerns to make sure that it is operating optimally. Receive 15% off any additional air conditioning repairs.

You pay for the labour and receive a FREE Timing Belt!

Additional belts and parts not included.

Op Code 35HOZC10OFF Valid From June 15th to July 15th 2017

Valid From June 15th to July 15th 2017

Op Code 35HOTIMING0617

Book Online at www.pacifichonda.ca ELITE BODYSHOP 142 Fell Avenue North Vancouver, BC V7P 2J9 Tel: 604-987-4408

ELITE EXPRESS 860 West 1st Street North Vancouver, BC, V7P 1A2 Tel: 604-987-2033

816 Automall Drive, North Vancouver • www.pacifichonda.ca • 604-984-0331 *Not valid with any other, discount or voucher. Prices are plus tax, disposal fee, enviro levy where applicable. Additional charges if alternate oil is required. Offer to specific models. See dealer for details. Some conditional costs may apply if additional labour or parts are required. All coupons must be presented at time of appointment reception.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

| A27

north shore news nsnews.com

PONY SHOW Vince Chreptyk shines his 1964 Mercury Marauder in the photo above. The car has been in the family since 1966. It was passed down from his late father to his three brothers and now to him. Mustangs were the guests of honour at the Greater Vancouver Mustang Association’s 34th annual Spring Show at Harbourside Place May 28. More than 75 cars were on hand at the event with owners on standby to tell their stories. Club member Louise Eto takes some snapshots in the photo top left; a show attendee takes a look at a 1965 Cardiac Cobra in the photo far left; and Gerald Stevens and his three-year-old son Jayden Natrall take a look at the interior of some Mustangs in the photo at left.

PHOTOS CINDY GOODMAN

P

Trust Your Car

Canadian Tire

with the

North Shore

Auto Service Team

Get Road Ready with Canada’s Garage!

We’ll get you ready for your summer road trip!

Road Ready Package Starting from

$59.95

*

We recommend the Road Ready Package twice a year to increase the longevity of your vehicle and to give you peace of mind. This service includes:

SAVE

when you buy 4 SELECTED MICHELIN TIRES

• Oil change • Battery test • Tire rotation and inflation • Fluid top-ups • Lubrication of door locks and hinges Ask us about • Visual inspection of brakes, steering & suspension, drive axle boots/seals our Roadside • Analysis of timing belt (based on mileage) Assistance • Printout of your inspection report

Gold Plan!

SAVE TOUP

PILOT SPORT A/S 3+ PERFORMANCE

PROMO

152

245 when you buy 4

††

up

609

96

TOTAL PRICE/4 TIRES

OVERALL SCORE: 97.3^

$

BUY FOUR 19” TIRES

24 EQUAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS PROMO

49 25 month 42 ea,

reg 169.99 ea, up 205/55R16 91V

*Using conventional oil; synthetic oil is extra.

CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT DWS06 TIRES

70

$

PAR 4 376 YARDS WATER & SAND ON THE LEFT PARKING LOT ON THE RIGHT

SAVE

10%

SAVE TOUP $245

SALE: 982.36 /4 tires; 245.59¤/ea, up 40.93/month†† Reg 306.99 ea, up 255/35R19 96Y. BUY FOUR 18” TIRES

SAVE TOUP $230

AW II

SALE: 937.56 /4 tires; 234.39¤/ea, up 39.07/month†† Reg 292.99 ea, up 255/55ZR18.

71

160

BUY FOUR 17” TIRES SAVE $ UP TO

ALL-SEASON

PROMO

SALE: 639.96 /4 tires; 159.99¤/ea, up 26.67/month†† Reg 199.99 ea, up 225/45R17 91W.

††

up

Reg 78.99 ea, up 195/65R15

OVERALL SCORE: 98.7^

24 EQUAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS PROMO

09 11month 85 ea,

284

36

TOTAL PRICE/4 TIRES

OVERALL SCORE: 96.2^

EQUAL PAYMENTS no interest • no fee† for 12 months** on tires and auto service purchases totalling $200 or more.

See store for details. Balancing, sales tax, and eco fees are extra.

**†

1350 Main Street, North Vancouver 604-982-9102 • www.canadiantire.ca

PROUDLY CANADIAN... LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

183 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver 604.998.2650 www.kirmac.com | northvan@kirmac.com Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm