• Tire Pressure Checks at AirCare
• What to do After a Conditional Pass
• AirCare Quality Repair Award Winners
• Easter Hours

TOP STORIES

Tire Pressure Checks at AirCare

For almost a year, AirCare has piloted a program to check vehicle tire pressure at the Langley and Surrey AirCare Inspection Centres. Prior to the emissions inspection, all vehicles have their tire pressure measured and recorded, and if necessary the tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended setting. Results from the pilot show that tires with low pressure are quite common. Almost half of the vehicles tested had at least one tire with low pressure. Only 25% of the vehicles tested had all four tires at the correct pressure.

The AirCare Research Centre has also been conducting tests to determine how much difference low tire pressure makes to the fuel consumption of vehicles in normal use. To date, tests have shown that in "city" driving scenarios, the effect of low tire pressure can make a difference of between 1% and 3% in fuel consumption. For an individual vehicle that typically uses about 1,600 litres of gasoline per year, this equates to between 16 and 48 litres of gasoline, which represents between 36 and 110 kg of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

The possibility exists to apply tire pressure checks to all vehicles going through AirCare and remedy any that are incorrect. If this could remediate 200,000 vehicles per year it would deliver up to 7,000 and 22,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction each year.

Here is a link to a YouTube video featuring Envirotest Canada's General Manager, Ed Theobald showing the possible effect tire pressure can have on fuel consumption.

What to do After a Conditional Pass

All vehicles diagnosed and repaired at an AirCare Certified Repair Centre (ACRC) will receive a conditional pass if the vehicle fails an AirCare re-inspection.  Conditional passes represent less than 1% of the test results recorded at AirCare. 

Conditional passes are classified by the program as either a "Cost Waiver" or a "Qualified Waiver". A cost waiver indicates that the motorist could not completely fix their vehicle due to financial reasons. The cost waiver is intended to strike a fair balance between environmental and economic considerations by allowing for gradual repair in cases where the cost of all needed repairs is substantial. It is hoped that the motorist will voluntarily obtain the remainder of the needed repairs as soon as they can afford to.

Qualified Waivers represent vehicles that have had all recommended repairs performed but still have emission issues. This may be due to a misdiagnosis, ineffective repair or possibly a defective replacement part.  Whatever the reason, AirCare staff have observed that a lot of motorist simply accept the conditional pass rather than return to the ACRC to have them explain why the vehicle is still failing despite authorizing full repair. Here are the advantages of going back to your mechanic:

• You get what you paid for, a vehicle with properly functioning emission controls that emits less harmful pollutants.
• If your vehicle is 1992 and newer, you will be on a biennial test schedule. Vehicles with a conditional pass only receive a 90-day AirCare expiry certificate.
• If you are selling the vehicle, it is nearly impossible to do so with a conditional pass.
• The defective replacement part is still under warranty. If addressed later, the warranty may be over, which means you pay twice for the same part.
• Failing emission parts if ignored can lead to degradation of other components, which can result in a bigger repair bill in the future.

AirCare Quality Repair Award Winners

AirCare is pleased to acknowledge Certified Repair Technicians who consistently excel in the field of emissions repairs. This quarter, 10 technicians received AirCare Quality Repair Awards.  These technicians received their first award:

• Eric Maitland - Delta Automotive
• Craig Reynolds - Delta Automotive

Easter Holiday Hours

AirCare inspection stations will be closed network-wide on Friday, April 2, 2010 in observance of Good Friday.  The inspection stations will resume normal business hours on Saturday (April 3) and Monday (April 5).  Please note: the AirCare administration office (PVTT) will be closed on Friday and Monday.

OPERATIONAL STATISTICS
February 2010 (YTD) 
Total Inspections: 39,864 (81,909) 
Pass: 34,942 (72,069)
Fail: 4,784 (9,539)
Conditional Pass: 138 (301)