Favourites - OpenRoad Driver

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OpenRoad driver |
Ask the Experts
THE PANEL [from left]: Jonathan Jaehrlich, Greg Dowswell,
Cameron Ma, Sharon Timmons
We gathered our four service experts
together to let you in on some of their
service favourites. You’ll be surprised
to learn some of their secrets and
some unexpected answers too. Happy
reading and happy motoring!
Q Hi everyone. We’re here to talk about our service
favourites and ’tis the season for giving. Tell
me, what is your all-time favourite free service tip
to share with our readers? Something that won’t
cost them a dime.
Cameron: That’s a good one. make sure you keep your air conditioning
/ climate control system on “fresh air” setting, or you’ll have
bacteria buildup in your evaporator, and your vehicle will smell like
a locker room when you run your a/C. The reason being is that if you
have the system on “recirculate” it keeps the air trapped inside the
cabin of the vehicle, and this will promote bacteria growth. With a
constant supply of fresh air, the bacteria will me minimized.
Sharon: Well, mine isn’t exactly free, but I think you should
always keep a good pencil case with a zipper in your car, the kind
that fits into a school binder. It goes in my glove box and contains
important items: business cards of the dealer I take my car to, the
number of my ICBC agent, the number to roadside assistance, my
cell phone charger, a copy of my extended warranty, the number
to the body shop I use, a quarter for the payphone and a small bag
of m&ms. In the unlikely chance I’ll be waiting by the side of the
road, gotta have m&ms for comfort!
Our Panel of Service Experts
Answers Your Questions.
Jonathan: my favourite free thing is visibility. That includes
seeing and being seen. It doesn’t take much to keep both the
inside and outside of your windows clean. after all, it’s important
for a driver to instantly recognize all that’s happening on
the road. It’s paramount to everyone’s safety. Visibility also
includes your vehicle’s lights. at the very least, you can check
your lights at each gas fill up, not only for proper operation, but
also cleanliness. a quick clean of your lights could save a life.
Greg: I can attest to that. But having driven across Canada at
least a dozen times, I’d like to offer a few free tips to ease the
chore of distance driving. That’s really safety related too. first,
plan your route, then let someone know where you’re going and
when to expect you back. Get some sleep and don’t stay up all
night packing. driving fatigue is a leading cause of car accidents
and you can reduce that risk with a good night’s sleep. I also take
water on road trips. In the summer people tend to use the air
conditioning in their cars. Part of the job of a/C is to dry the air
and everything inside. When you breathe, you expel moisture in
dry cabin air, which dehydrates your body. When dehydration
reaches a critical level, you become tired and lethargic. drinking
water during long trips can help prevent the effects of a/C dehydration.
Good for safety and good for you too!