Letters

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SHOP FEATURE

DON’T EXPECT THINGS TO BE AS THEY WERE

Concerning your story about the drop in kilometers driven, I believe this pandemic will change driving habits for many people. When the virus is gone, many businesses will still have staff working from home to reduce their operating costs. Less commuting will have many rippling effects on the economy, especially in the auto service and repair sector. Nothing will be the same as it was. We need to be realistic and change our operations to suit new trends.

Bob Ward

The Auto Guys, St. Thomas, Ont.

SANITIZING VEHICLES IS A DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP

I fully support the initiative by the Mobile Air Conditioning Society to provide our industry with proper procedures to clean and disinfect vehicle interiors. Currently, there is very limited information on cleaning methods. The fogging devices used in ambulances and hospital rooms are cost prohibitive, and could damage vehicle electronics. Similarly, heating units which raise the cabin temperature high enough to kill the virus without melting everything (the way they treat homes for bedbugs) take a long time and really won’t work in our industry. Problems like these are why we chose to close our business until there was a guaranteed safe way to operate that would ensure everyone’s health and safety. The government’s say so is not enough. It’s not worth the risk for a few dollars in the short term. While I understand that shops need to open and get rolling again, I personally think it’s premature (if not foolish) to think that it would be safe enough to put people’s health in danger just for a tire swap or oil change.

Daren Hodgson

Atelier D.H. Tech Pro, Ste-Marthe, Que.

GOOGLE MECHANICS ARE AT IT AGAIN!

I enjoyed your recent EyeSpy page (April 2020). Another perfect example of the work of Google mechanics! I’ve been a certified Red Seal mechanic since 1972 and have worked both for Chrysler and Toyota. I’ve also had my own automotive repair business for over 25 years. I’ve seen some dangerous work done by customers. Most of the time I was allowed to repair them properly. Other times I wasn’t. Yearly provincial vehicle inspections by certified auto mechanics would really help to solve this problem. Customers would then have to have their vehicle repaired properly or they would be taken off the road.

John Rinaldi

Terrace, B.C. What’s on your mind? We want to hear from you about anything you read in CARS magazine. Send your email to allan@newcom.ca

FRONT-LINE WORKERS DESERVE A BREAK

I enjoyed your web story about shops that are giving health care workers a break on auto services. We have been giving Alberta Health Services workers 50% off oil changes and 25% off all other work since the end of March. That’s our way of showing our appreciation and support for front-line workers. We’ve met a lot of very nice people in this process.

Steve Morros

S.M. Automotive, Calgary, Alta.

GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOOD RESOURCE ON SANITIZATION

I agree with the need for accurate information about how to safely clean cabin interiors, but I strongly disagree with the choice of experts that the Mobile Air Conditioning Society has turned to. I would not trust what the government says is OK. Why don’t some of our industry organizations do some research on commercially available methods, or call on shops that already perform fog-sanitizing with success.

Brian Willard

Willard Garage, Waukee, IA

Got a memory you’d like to share? Send a high-res scan to allan@newcom.ca

Uni-Select retiree Sean Corcelli sent in this painting of his dad’s Texaco Station in London, Ont., based on a photo taken in 1950. Joe’s Texaco was where Sean  rst caught the automotive bug. “I pumped gas and knew where every fuel port was hidden in those classic vehicles!” he wrote.