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TeCanadian Champion, Tuesday, February 23, 1 gg --61 B ob's Auto gets tîrst pollution busting licence rnwlu uy ,3rMnrm f,1-4 Roger Lyles checks for vehicle pollution In his rois as a certifled omissions Inspector for Bob's Auto Service. New i.gisiation wili make tl mandatory for most cars to pass>an air quallty test startlng this AprIl. By IRENE GENTLE The Champion For tise next few months, Milton should boast thse cleanest cars around. Afler sbelling out for somne beavy duty equipment, Milton's Bob's Auto Service was tbe first licensed emission testing sbop in Acton, Georgetown and Milton. The licensing is part of the government's new Ontauio Drive Clean Programn. The prograrnt requires Usat cars and light-duty trucks between tbree and 20 years old take the emnissions test. The ides is to curb pollutants froro cars, wbicb along with buses and trucks are Iabeled tise largest smog cre- ators in Ontario. Tise program ensures compliance by hooking itself around licence sticker renewals. In otiser words, witisout proof thse car bas passed tse test a sticker won't be given out. Testing began January 1, 1999, in the greater Toronto area, tisough enforcement doesn't start until April 1. Tise program will spread tbroughout thse province over Use next few years. Since January 2, Use shop at 18 Commercial Street bas been doing a brisk business cutting thougis the haze of veisiclê emissions. "We've been doing about a dozen cars a day," said, Kevin Wilson, son of owner Bob Wilson. The new business came at a cost. Aside from springing for the equipment, the shop also invested staff time getting tisree mecbanics licensed as inspec- tors. Two of Usemn have gone on to earn a repair licence as weII. That meant taking a course, complete with a written and practical test. Tise test itself coss about $30, not including taxes. A re-test is about haif that amnount, provided it's done as Use samne sisop. The procedure is as simple as driving in assd waiting for a haîf hour or so while the veisicle is put on a dynamometer, a kind of treadmill for cars and light- Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Roger Lyles looks over the resuits of a vehi- cie pollution test. duty tnucks' The treadmrili lets Use car 'drive' up to 40 kilometres per isour in one spot, allowing Use inspectors to isook a probe to tise tailpipe. Tise probe measures environental villains such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Before even mounting Use treadmrill, tecisnicians will inspect tires and exbaust systems to ensure tise car is fit to be tested, said Mr. Wilson. The readinga take into accounit Use make and year of thse particular car, so Usat a 1985 car is not held up to 1996 standards. "Tie specifications for eacis vehicle are in Use comn- puter," said Mr. Wilson. "Then it just prints out a report." About 80 per cent of tested cars pasa. 0f tise remaining 20 per cent, moat only need a tune-up to get Use job done. If Use car fails, repaira are capped at $200, ensuring Usat savings accounts don't go up in amnoke as well. If Use car fails a re-test, a receipt from a drive dlean shop proving Usat $200 wortb of repaira were made will buy two years of free time until tise next test roîls around. In 1999, even model year veisicles will be tested, wiUs odd model year tests following in 2000. Ih esbewyt u a car or truck Rica RD$GNI SALES NOURS SERVICE HOURSCE VR LTG D M BL Frlday ....... omrm Tues....C E R 1E ml SM BL Satuniay . n4m Saturday ..... ue HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RD., MILTONI