The first heat wave of the year ended in rain, for most of the Bay Area. But the heat will be returning. So, now is a good time to bring your car to Berkeley Bob's to get your summer AC check.

Here are some tips to help you evaluate your car’s catalytic converter health.

You may have an opportunity to do so. Polestar, a division of Volvo, is partnering with Hot Wheels to offer another design contest for 2024. Their mission statement “change needs to happen” encourages change and inspiration to bring about a more sustainable future. The finalist(s) will be chosen by a panel of designers and will then work with a team from Polestar to come up with the final design for the concept car which will be made into a 1/64 scale model by Hot Wheels and distributed in stores worldwide. Polestar has set the guidelines for entrants to be as imaginative as possible, incorporating performance with design. Also bearing in mind the design will need to be converted into the toy without too much difficulty. Participants can be anyone, whether they are studying design or actually working in the field. Last year’s winner(s) spent six months collaborating, two of them creating the exterior and one the interior design. The completed concept car, called Synergy, was displayed at the Munich Auto Show and in California at one of the Hot Wheel’s Legends Tour stops. The winner along with the privilege of having their design made into a Hot Wheel toy will also receive a tablet to aid them in future design efforts and exclusive merchandise. 

1. What is a cabin filter? The cabin filter is a different filter than the engine air filter. Both have similar construction but do very different things. While cabin filters vary depending on car manufacturer most have either a cardboard or plastic form that holds an accordion of folded paper impregnated with fiber or charcoal. 2. How does it work? The cabin filter filters the air coming from outside the vehicle into the passenger compartment. When air passes into the cabin filter, it’s pleats trap debris and contaminants like dust and pollen and prevent it from entering into the vehicle via air ducts and vents. 3. What type of debris does the cabin filter stop? A clean cabin filter will prevent dust, dirt, smoke, smog, pollen, mold spores and exhaust gases from entering the cabin through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. It also stops rodent droppings, bugs and leaves from entering the cabin. 4. What can happen if your cabin filter is dirty? The debris that the cabin filter traps eventually builds up to a point where it is no longer working efficiently and can prevent air flow into the cabin. 5. Are there risks if you don’t replace a dirty cabin filter? Yes. The most common risk is allergens entering the cabin, raising allergy and breathing concerns amongst passengers. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems will work harder trying to push air through a clogged cabin filter and ultimately can cause blower fan motor to overheat and fail. In winter months the windows won’t defog or defog slowly because of the reduced air flow coming through the vents. A musty smell coming from the air vents especially when the defrost or air conditioning is on. The smell can also indicate mold is present, which occurs when moisture due to normal temperature changes builds up inside the air vents and ducting because the air flow has been reduced or blocked by a dirty cabin filter. 6. How often should it be replaced? When it’s dirty obviously, but most car manufacturers suggest every 15,000 miles. If you commute or drive in a busy, air polluted metropolitan area your cabin filter will need replacement every 8,000 to 10,000 miles. And if you travel on dusty or dirt roads the cabin filter will need replacement even more often. 7. Is it hard to replace? Yes, it can be on some vehicles. Most of the time you will find the cabin filter is located under the vehicle dash or behind the glove box on the passenger side making it hard to access. No special tools are needed but part of the under dash needs to be removed to gain access to the filter. Once the filter is in sight it can be awkward to remove, sometimes they are stuck in place, this is where patience and knowledge are handy. Be careful not to break clips or body panels when doing it yourself.

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1. What is an engine air filter? The engine air filter is a rectangular or square shaped rubber, plastic or cardboard frame that contains a pleated paper accordion. The paper has fiber or cloth filaments to help prevent contaminants from penetrating it's surface. The contaminants are dust, dirt, road debris, insects and other air borne material from entering the engine’s combustion chamber and intake manifold. 2. How does it work? It works by filtering the air going into the engine intake manifold. The paper accordion traps contaminants from entering the engine. These contaminants are dust, dirt, pollen, bugs, leaves, other foliage and debris that floats in our surface air. 3. What happens if I drive with a dirty or clogged filter? It has been suggested it may negatively affect the cars gas mileage. Recent tests have disproved this theory as modern fuel controls adapt well. What does happen is the engine performance is reduced. When the intake manifold received less air due to a dirty engine air filter the fuel system computer cuts back on the amount of fuel sent to the manifold. This reduction varies amongst different car manufacturers and models. But overall the power (acceleration) could be reduced by almost 15% in some models. 4. How often should the air filter be replaced? Annually we suggest the engine air filter be checked and replaced if dirty. If the car is not driven the national average of 12,000 miles a year, the filter may be OK. If the car is driven in areas with a lot of dust, pollen, smoke or other air born debris the filter will likely get dirtier quicker and have to be change more frequently. But regardless of the miles driven the engine air filter should be examined annually. 5. Is it hard to replace an air filter? Generally speaking, no, the air filter is usually on top of the engine and access is relatively easy. It does not require special tools but the air filter housing is usually sealed with rubber gaskets and held together with screws or plastic clips. The clips can be brittle due to heat transfer from the engine and can break easily.

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