Showing posts with label Driving Tips. Show all posts

Thursday, November 8, 2012

5 Tips to Prepare for Winter Driving

BRIGHTON, Mich.- The temperature keeps dopping and the snow will be falling before you know it! Which also means slippery, snowy roads are on their way too. Don't get too nervous yet, with these 5 Tips to Prepare for Winter Driving from Brighton Ford, you'll be ready to take on the winter roads.

5 Tips to Prepare for Winter Driving:
1. Check the forecast. It may seem trivial, but knowing what the weather may do and whether it's going to snow or sleet will leave you much more prepared.

2. Get a quick tire inspection. We can make sure that your tires are inflated properly and that you have enough tread to ensure safe winter driving. If your tires are in rough shape we have Tire Discounts.

3. Know your parking habits. If you park in the same spot everyday where the sun beats down on only one side of your car, the exposed tire surfaces on that side can be prone to cracking.

4. What are the roads like where you live? If the roads are less likely to be plowed right away you may want to consider snow or mud tires for better traction. For most people, a good all-weather tire will keep you safe.

5. Evaluate your driving habits. When driving in snowy conditions, keep your foot off the gas as much as possible, avoid slamming on the brakes, and take slow, wide turns. Aggressive driving can cut your control of the vehicle in half!

When the snow starts falling and the roads get slick, keep these winter driving tips in mind and take your time. If you need a new vehicle before winter arrives, check out our Used Cars For Sale Near Howell. Check out Ten Tips for Brighton, Michigan Winter Driving for even more information. Brighton Ford is located at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives on customer satisfaction. For more information on Brighton Ford visit BrightonFord.com or give us a call at (800)-836-8206.

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Five Components and Tips for Safe Teen Driving around Livingston County

BRIGHTON Mich. June 6, 2012 – Getting your drivers license can be a very exciting experience for teens but can also be quite stressful for parents. The GDL (Graduated Drivers License) is a trend that is spreading, one where states put restrictions on novice drivers in a bid to reduce accidents and lower death rates. An analysis conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute has found that if every state adopted all five components of the toughest driving laws in the nation, then more than 9,500 collisions could be averted, saving at least 500 teen lives annually.

The five components described by the IIHS are permit age, practice hours, license age, night driving, and passengers. We will go through these five components and give you the IIHS best recommended GDL provisions and see how Michigan compares to other states in the country. Let’s take a look:

1. Permit age of 16 – There are 8 states and the District of Colombia that have a minimum age requirement of 16 to get a learners permit. In Alaska teens only have to be 14 years old to obtain a learners permit. In Michigan teens can begin drivers education at 14 years and 8 months and will have to demonstrate supervised driving experience before moving onto segment 2 of driver education.

Michigan teens must complete 50 hours of supervised driving.

2. Practice hours – The majority of the states require a set number of practice hours before a teen driver can get their license. Pennsylvania has the most required amount with a minimum of 65 hours. Some states like South Dakota, New Jersey, and Arkansas have no minimum supervised driving requirement. In Michigan teens must practice at least 50 hours of supervised driving and at least ten of those hours must be driven at night.

3. License age – In South Dakota teens that are 14 years and 3 months old can obtain their license if they have completed driver education. In states such as Idaho, Montana and North Dakota teens can get a license at 15 years old, but New Jersey teens won’t be getting behind the wheel by themselves until they are 17. Michigan falls in with the majority of the country with an age requirement of 16 years old and completion of driver education and a driving skills test.

Here is the age requirement by state for teens to get their drivers license

4. Night Driving – Most states have restrictions on night driving for teen drivers. In states like Connecticut and Arkansas teens cannot drive at night until their 18^th birthday. South Carolina teens can only drive until 6:00 PM. Michigan teens are restricted from driving between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM.

5. Passengers – Teen drivers are already at risk of being involved in an accident simply because driving is a newer experience to them. Add the distraction of additional teen passengers and the chance of an accident significantly increases, and in some cases can be deadly. About 15 states and the District of Colombia do not allow teen passengers at all. The Michigan GDL requirements states,

“ Drivers shall not operate a motor vehicle at any time with more than one passenger in the vehicle who is less than 21 years of age except: when additional passengers are immediate family members; when driving to or from in the course of employment; while performing an authorized activity; or when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or legal guardian.”

In general Michigan GDL requirements are above the average standards compared to the rest of the states. Teen drivers should remember, getting your license is a privilege and something to be proud of but it also comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. Parents, share this article with your teen and our other Teen Driving Tips articles to help them stay safe behind the wheel.

Brighton Ford is located at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives on customer satisfaction. Brighton Ford proudly serves the Brighton Ford dealership needs, Howell Ford dealership needs, Fowlerville Ford dealership needs, South Lyon Ford dealership needs, Whitmore Lake Ford dealership needs and Ann Arbor Ford dealership needs. For more information on Brighton Ford visit BrightonFord.com or give us a call at (800)-836-8206.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Tips to Remember When Your Car Breaks Down

BRIGHTON, Mich. May 21, 2012 – If you are like the majority of drivers on the road today then you probably have experienced a vehicle breakdown. For those of you who haven’t, especially teen drivers this article is for you (experienced drivers will also want to give this a read as well). The article, “7 Things to Remember When Your Car Breaks Down” from The Car Connection provides great advice to get you fully prepared in the event your car breaks down on the road. Take a look:

America is in the midst of graduation season, which can only mean one thing: high school graduates across the country are motoring around in their very first cars, taking their first road trips, and buying their first (and last) air-fresheners disguised as fuzzy pairs of dice.

But along with those joys comes another, less pleasant first: the very first breakdown. How will your teen driver perform in the face of adversity? The folks at AutoMD put together a quick checklist to help them through the rough patch, and we're going to share it with you, along with a suggestion of two of our own.

(Note: this list is directed at novices, but it really applies to drivers at every level of experience. Have a look. You might learn something.)

Photo Credit - The Car Connection

1. First things first: get your car off the road. Even when things go seriously wrong, moving vehicles don't usually stop working entirely, so hopefully, you'll have some time and momentum to get your car to the side of the road. (If not, turn on your hazard lights and skip to step 2; don't get out of the car while it's stranded in traffic, especially if you're stuck on a busy highway.) When you reach the side of the road, put the car in park, engage the emergency brake, and spin your steering wheel away from the road. That way, your car won't accidentally roll out into oncoming traffic. Turn on your hazard lights, too.

2. Call for help. According to the Pew Research Center, about 77% of American teens have cell phones, so odds are good that this won't be a problem. (For the remaining 23% of teens, parents might consider stowing a limited-function feature phone in the glove box, just for emergencies. Or you could purchase a roadside assistance device like OnStar FMV, which is now on sale for $99.)

LED flares are a great alternative to the traditional road flare

3. Let other drivers know that you're in trouble. Hazard lights are a start, but they don't necessarily shout to the world that you're having car problems. (For example, you might've pulled over to take a call.) If you can get out of the car safely and if you have road flares available, place a couple of them about 50 feet behind your car. Raising the hood isn't a bad idea, either.

4. Stay with the car. For at least two reasons, it's usually best if you stay with your vehicle. First, if you've called AAA or another roadside service, they typically can't do anything to a vehicle without the driver present. And second, as we mentioned above, roadways are dangerous places for people on foot -- in fact, about 4,000 pedestrians are killed each year in the U.S. The situation is far more deadly when cars are flying by at 60 or 70 miles per hour.

5. Now probably isn't the time to take a blind stab at auto repair. If you've got some
tinkering experience, you might be able to identify a loose battery cable, but if your problem is a flat tire and you've never changed one before, leave it be unless the situation becomes desperate. Changing tires can be tricky, even under ideal conditions -- and frankly, perched on the shoulder of a highway isn't what we'd call "ideal". If you do know how to change a tire, proceed with caution. In the best of all possible worlds, you'd wait until a police officer shows up, just to help slow down traffic.

6. Use common sense. Every breakdown is different, depending on where you are, what you're driving, the time of day, the underlying problem, and so on. For example, if you're on a quiet stretch of road and you know what's wrong -- say, for example, you ran out of gas and you're certain there's a gas station nearby -- it's probably okay to ignore item #4 and hoof it. Just exercise caution, and don't exit the car on the same side as traffic is flowing.

7. Be wary of strangers. Your parents probably told you that a thousand times when you were young, but it bears repeating. There are plenty of good Samaritans out there, eager to help folks in trouble. However, there are also a handful of bad eggs that can really spell trouble. If a stranger pulls over and offers help, it's probably best to remain in the car with the doors locked. Roll down the window a bit and tell them that help is on the way. Call the police if need be. Sorry if it seems that we've lost all faith in humanity, but if you've ever been to a cutthroat garage sale, your views are probably a little jaundiced, too.

If you have any questions on what to do in the event of a break down or any other auto maintenance questions, please feel free to contact us, our service experts are more than happy to help. Remember, all of our Ford Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles come with 24/7 roadside assistance!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

10 Most Common Driving Mistakes.

Everyone has made some silly driving mistake in their life. If you’re lucky, nobody got hurt or there was nobody around to see you do something embarrassing. We found the article “10 Most Common Driving Mistakes” from netcars.com and we wanted to share it. Take a look:

I’ve come up with a list of 10 driving mistakes that I am familiar with, in no particular order. By familiar with, I have either witnessed somebody else do them, or in many instances I am guilty of them myself. It is only natural to get a little sloppy having passed your test but how many from my list are you guilty of?

1. Forgetting which switch turns on the back wiper - I’ve been driving my car for months now and I still can’t remember which stick I need to pull or push to get the back wipers on. I usually end up putting one, if not both of the indicators on at some point, cue confusion for the car behind. I really wish I just had a button for it.

2. Forgetting you are still in gear when parking - An old habit of mine that I’ve thankfully grown out of. I’m not one of those people who ever leaves the car parked in gear so it was always done by mistake. The clutch would come out and the car would rock, dashboard lights would come on, I would look around hoping nobody saw but somebody always saw. Oh the shame!

Remember - If you do have an accident, NEVER just drive away. That will only make things worse.

3. Having to remind yourself which way to give way to - Probably just applies to me again this time but on some days I have to remind myself to which side do I give way to. It sounds pretty awful but I assure you that I always remember in plenty of time despite not being engrained into my brain.

4. Trying to accelerate using the wrong gear - I’ve seen many people guilty of this one, common situation is that they’ve slowed down significantly for a roundabout and then forgot to lower their gear causing the car to shudder and choke as it slowly accelerates. Particularly uncomfortable if the gap you took was not the biggest but then again it is still better than trying to accelerate from a stationary position in 3rd gear and stalling completely (it was a friend who did that not me I swear).

5. Not closing the door properly - An unusual sound or a slight breeze in the car might lead to the first suspicions. If doubt rises the classic question of ‘are the doors shut properly’? will follow. Some may choose to pull over to assess the situation; the braver amongst us will just slow down, open the door and ram it shut, the braver still will merely ignore it and carry on driving. Often it will be the passengers fault, but as the driver, you are responsible for those in your car.

6. Thinking the fuel cap is on the other side – No matter how long you’ve had your car, sometimes you just can’t remember which side the fuel cap is, especially if you have more than one car. Some of you might be fortunate enough to have a passenger with you on the way to the petrol station of who can confirm the correct side. Lone drivers might just have to gamble and possibly face the awkwardness of trying to extend the pump across around the other side of the car.

7. Not being completely sure how to undo the fuel cap -Delight that you’ve managed to pick the appropriately sided petrol pump can soon be cut short by the realization that you aren’t sure how to undo the fuel cap. It’s a task that can take several minutes and if there is a long queue forming then pressure can mount. Fortunately, this is should only be an issue for infrequent drivers and/or the first couple of fills.

8. Forgetting to turn your lights on when it’s dark - In a well lit up area it can be easy to forget to turn your lights on, particularly when you jump in the car when it’s already dark. In my opinion, people turn their lights on way to early sometimes but when it’s 1am even I can recognize that my lights need to come on. People may flash you down the street, are they being friendly or are they angry? It sometimes takes you a while to realize that they are doing it because you’ve spent the last 20 minutes driving with no lights on.

9. Spending too much focus on profanities directed towards other drivers - It happens, people annoy you, other drivers chop you up, choose not to drive even though there is a huge gap or they drive far too slow. Putting too much effort into swearing at them and being too mad can lead to mistakes on the road. Whilst I can understand those of you who might like to stick two middle fingers up to some reckless drivers, you certainly cannot drive as well without any hands on the wheel. Put your Elton John CD in and calm down, there is no need to come down to their low level of driving etiquette.

10. Going the wrong way down a one way street - I haven’t done this myself due to a lack of one way streets where I live I imagine it must happen from time to time. I mean, in a new environment it must be quite easy not to notice a little sign saying no entry. I have committed a related crime though as I once wrongly believed that I was on a one way street when it was just a normal, two lane road (it turned out it was the street I turned into that was). Following the rules of a one way street I went in the right hand lane as I wanted to turn right but I was in fact simply on the wrong side of the road, thankfully nothing came my way though.

Those of you with more adventurous bad habits such as doing flips over roundabouts and reversing down motorways then I do apologize that you might not be able to relate to this comparatively tame list. If this is indeed the case then I would love to hear any mistakes that you readers are guilty of, I’m sure there are a few that haven’t been included!

If you have any questions about your vehicles features please feel free to contact us. We would be more than happy to help you avoid any of these mistakes.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Tips for Surviving Driving Emergencies

When something unexpected happens involving your vehicle while driving, it can make you feel like you’re going to have a heart attack. A great article from Edmunds.com called, “How To Survive the Top 10 Driving Emergencies” gives great instructions for how to handle potentially life-threatening situations to keep you from getting seriously hurt in the event something goes wrong on the road. We are sharing the first four emergencies with you. Take a look:

Emergency #1: Tire Blowout

To survive a tire blowout, pretend you're the bad guy in a police chase: Push the gas and drive straight ahead. The shotgun-blast noise of a tire blowout makes most law-abiding drivers do exactly the wrong thing: attempt to slow down quickly and get off the road. With a rear-tire failure, any turning at high speed will likely result in a crash.

If you experience a blowout DO NOT immediately hit the brakes - use the accelerator to maintain control and allow the car to slow down to a safe speed before turning onto the shoulder.

I've taught hundreds of drivers how to correctly handle a tire blowout: I sat in the passenger seat and exploded a gaping hole in the tire with plastic explosive. Not one lost control. Here's how they did it.

If a tire blows:

· Squeeze the gas pedal for a couple of seconds. This puts you in control of the car and directs the car straight down the road. It also prevents you from committing the mortal sins of braking and turning. After a couple of seconds, gently and smoothly release the accelerator pedal. The drag force of a completely flat tire is so potent that pushing the gas will not allow the vehicle to go faster.

· Most importantly, drive straight down your lane. Keep your feet away from the brake (or clutch).

· Allow the car to coast down to as slow a speed as is safe (30 mph is good). Engage your turn signal and gently turn toward the shoulder of the road that's on the same side as the blown tire: This lessens your chance of losing control and will make the tire change safer. If the situation requires, you may ever so lightly squeeze the brakes.

Almost all highway blowouts and tread separations occur with the car traveling in a straight line on a very hot day at high speeds with an underinflated tire. The repeated flexing of an underinflated tire causes the failure. Check your tire pressures!

Emergency #2: Tread Separation

Though the recovery techniques are nearly identical, a tread separation is more dangerous than a blowout. This is where the tread rubber and underlying steel belt partially or completely come off the tire. This creates a giant Weed Eater with a blade of steel-backed rubber spinning around at about 1,000 rpm. It'll scythe through the fuel tank, brake lines, inner fender panels, rear seats, side windows and, of course, flesh and bone.

An impending tread separation is usually announced by a consistent thumping noise, which will increase to a slapping sound, and then a metal-tearing jackhammer pounding. Sometimes this process takes days, other times only seconds. If you hear this, immediately slow down and take the tire to a professional for inspection. If you can see damage, put on the spare before proceeding.

If the tread begins to fly off:

· Squeeze the gas pedal for an instant and gently release it.

· Drive straight down your lane.

· Allow the car to coast down as much as is safely possible. You will likely have to apply the brake slightly in order to reach a safe turning speed.

· Engage your turn signal and smoothly turn toward the shoulder of the road that's on the same side as the damaged tire.

Tread separation incidents are similar to blowouts but the outcome can be much more dangerous

Another reason why tread separations are more dangerous than blowouts: When the tread leaves the tire, the bad noise stops and some people think the car has magically cured itself. But instead of rolling along on grippy rubber, they're riding on fabric. Polyester will offer little grip when they take that next freeway off-ramp.

Emergency #3: Stuck Throttle

Thanks to things like loose floor mats and a poorly placed race car throttle cable, I have experienced stuck throttles. Although this will be a rare occurrence for most drivers, if your engine starts racing away uncontrollably, it must be stopped immediately.

Take these actions:

· If the engine started racing when you pushed the brake, release the brake. If the engine stops racing, you were actually pushing the gas by mistake.

· Put the transmission in Neutral (and/or push in the clutch). Don't worry about the engine when you shift into Neutral: Engine speed limiters on modern cars will prevent damage. And it's OK if you get Reverse: The engine will either stall or act as if it were in Neutral.

· If you can't get Neutral, switch off the ignition as a last resort. Today's cars don't allow the key to turn to the locked position if the car is not in Park, and the car will be much harder to steer once the engine is off since the power-assist will not be working. Fortunately, with the engine off, there's still plenty of reserve braking power to stop the car. Of course, if the car is equipped with a newfangled keyless ignition, getting Neutral may be your only hope.

Remain calm - shift your car into neutral, if necessary shut the engine off completely

If you're a passenger in this situation and the driver fails to act, you can reach over and put the car in Neutral or switch off the engine. But to have any hope of acting properly with a stuck throttle, both driver and passenger must practice first. Find a training partner and an empty parking lot. First practice with the car stopped, just to make sure you know the drill. Move the shift lever from Drive to Neutral. Then turn the key off. Next, restart the car and accelerate to no more than 10 mph, then push the gas pedal to the floor (to simulate a stuck throttle) and hold it there through the rest of the exercise. Immediately, put the car in Neutral and switch off the key. Repeat the process but with the passenger working the shifter and key while you're still in the driver seat. Then, swap seats and repeat.

Emergency #4: Sudden Acceleration

Also called "unintended acceleration," this is identical to a stuck throttle...except it's not a mechanical failure but rather the driver accidentally pressing on the gas. As an instructor, I have had numerous panicked students push the gas in the mistaken, but unshakable, belief they were on the brakes. (Left-foot brakers more familiar with automatics frequently push the clutch.)

Know this: In every well-maintained modern car, the brakes will easily overpower the engine. If you're truly pushing the brakes as hard as you can, the car will stop even with the engine going full speed.

The corrective actions for sudden acceleration and a stuck throttle are identical. Check the list above.

Be sure to check out our other articles on Driving Tips as well! Come into Brighton Ford and see our great selection of safety award winning New Ford’s.

Brighton Ford is located at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives on customer satisfaction. For more information on Brighton Ford, visit www.BrightonFord.com or give us a call at (800)-836-8206.

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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

10 Driving Tips For Your Teen Driver

Parents are you getting ready to take your teen to All Star Driver Education or AK Services to get their learners permit? Is your teen ready to get behind the wheel on their own? We found this great article on Edmunds.com, “10 Things Teens Should Know About Cars and Driving” and we wanted to share it with you and your teen driver.

When a teenager gets a driver license, it signifies freedom and the lure of the open road. But with this newfound freedom comes a host of new situations and possible problems that most teen drivers have never encountered before. It's a good idea to review these scenarios with new drivers in your family, and discuss how to handle them before they happen for real.

From traffic stops to road rage, here's a primer on what you need to tell teen drivers as they take to the roads.

Putting your teen behind the wheel can be both a proud and scary feeling for any parent. Help them be road ready with helpful advice and practice.

1. What to do when you're stopped by a police officer
Safely pull to the side of the road, turn off your car, roll down the window and keep your hands visible. Don't make any sudden moves or argue with the officer. Do your arguing in traffic court.

2. How to deal with a flat tire
Pull completely off the road, even if it means destroying the tire. Call roadside assistance and let that person change the tire. If you have a spare (many cars now only have an inflation kit) and know how to change the tire, make sure you are out of traffic and in plain sight of oncoming traffic before changing it yourself.

3. What to do when the "check engine" light comes on
If there is any change in the car's performance, any mechanical noises, smoke from the tailpipe or electrical smells, stop the car and call for assistance. If there are none of these symptoms, take the car to a dealer and let them diagnose the problem. However, if you just bought gas, the light might just be indicating that the gas cap is loose. Tighten the cap and continue driving. The light should go off on its own.

Take your teen out for lots of practice, provide them with advice, they'll listen.

4. How to deal with a friend who is about to drive under the influence
Don't get in the car. Do anything not to drive with an intoxicated person, and that includes calling your parents for a lift or paying for a taxi. Your next move is to try to prevent your drunken friend from hurting themselves or someone else.

5. How to drive safely while talking on a cell phone
Most states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers, so be sure you know if these provisions apply where you live. If it's permissible to use a cell, always use a hands-free device so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Learn how to pair your phone with the car's Bluetoothsystem. Don't even think about texting while driving (no, not even at stoplights).

6. How to get an honest quote for an automotive repair
Search Edmunds.com's Car Maintenance Guide or the Web to get an estimate for how much the repair should cost. Search online for garages with high customer ratings and ask friends for recommended garages. Call the garage and ask for a ballpark estimate and let the garage know you are contacting other places for their best quote. Use your intuition to make the final decision on whom to trust.

7. How to buy a new car
Don't just wander onto a dealership's car lot. Instead, contact the Internet department of several dealerships to get multiple quotes and compare these with Edmunds.com's True Market Value^® price for any car you're interested in. Make sure you check incentives and rebates. Follow up with phone calls to the Internet managers of these dealerships to verify the terms of their offers. Finally, ask the dealership to deliver the car to your home or office to avoid the hard sell in the finance and insurance office.

8. What to do after an auto accident
If the car is drivable and there are no serious injuries, turn on your flashers and pull safely out of traffic. Call the police to report the accident. Exchange insurance information with the other driver but refrain from discussing the accident and who is at fault. Make notes and use your cell phone's camera to take pictures of the cars involved.

Slow down when driving in the rain or snow and leave more distance between other drivers.

9. How to drive in rain and snow
Reduce your speed and leave more room between your vehicle and those in front of you. Understand how to handle skids. If possible, practice reacting to skidding in safe conditions, such as a snow-covered empty parking lot. Understand that a car might hydroplane on a rain puddle on the road and learn how to react to driving with reduced traction and visibility.

10. How to avoid road rage situations
Understand the severe consequences to you, your car and your driving record when minor disagreements escalate to life-threatening situations. When someone offends you, take a deep breath and know that your anger will dissolve in minutes. Don't anger other drivers by cutting them off or tailgating. If you've inadvertently angered another driver, don't get drawn into interacting with them. Ignore them or, if necessary, change your route. Finally, repeat this phrase: It's just not worth it.

Be sure to share this information with your young driver and for even more driving tips visit Edmunds.com and our Driving Tips articles.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

How to Keep Your Vehicle In Shape When the Roads Are Rough

Potholes can be your tires worst enemy

BRIGHTON, Mich., Feb. 14, 2012 – While on our daily commute, most of us encounter at least one nasty pothole, especially those who have to drive down Chilson and Brighton Lake Road. Aside from the initial jolt from hitting a pothole or the rumbling of driving over a “washboard” patch, the damage to your vehicle can really add up if you don’t properly maintain it. Potholes can even be deadly for motorcyclist and drivers traveling at excessive speeds. At Brighton Ford, we want to give you some advice for handling potholes and what you can do for you vehicle after hitting them to keep your vehicle in safe driving conditions.

The first question we often hear is “What is the best way to deal with a pothole?” The answer is to avoid it completely. If you know there’s a big pothole on your daily commute, try finding an alternative route. We know that is easier said than done, but it is the only way to guarantee your vehicle be free of damage. If you have to drive over a pothole, the best way to go about it is to accelerate over it so the weight of the car is shifted to the rear. By hitting the breaks the entire weight of the car is shifted to the front and can result in more damage. Don’t get us wrong… We aren’t condoning speeding, but physics play a major role in your vehicle condition. By accelerating instead of breaking, you greatly reduce the chance of the damage being catastrophic.

Ok, they might not be this bad but there are still some nasty potholes around Livingston County

Another safety tip to keep your vehicle in shape on rough roads is to be aware of pooled water on the road. Not only can pooled water cause a potential hydroplaning situation, but they also can conceal large and dangerous potholes.

Hitting potholes can potentially pop one of your tires and can also affect your vehicles alignment over time. Each time you run over a pothole in your vehicle, the wheels become less aligned. This can cause uneven wear on your tires and cost you extra money in tire replacements and repairs. If you find yourself running over potholes frequently, bring it in the Brighton Ford Quick Lane Service Center for a free vehicle inspection by one of our ASE certified technicians. They will check your alignment and check your tires for signs of damage and premature wear.

The Quick Lane Service Center at Brighton Ford is your one stop for all of your tire and alignment service needs

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

10 Tips For Driving Green and Saving Green

BRIGHTON, Mich., Feb. 1, 2012 – Most people today are constantly looking for ways to save money. By driving “green” you will not only be helping out the environment but you will save money as well and the planet and your wallet will thank you. Here are ten things you can do to drive green and save green:

1. Get you air conditioning system serviced properly – A/C systems contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gasses that harm the ozone layer. Our service technicians at Brighton Ford Service Center can capture the CFC gases during service instead of allowing the gases to escape randomly on the road.

2. Slow down – mileage decreases exponentially as speeds increase. The marginal time added by slowing down on the highway can add 2-4 MPG over an extended trip.

3. Keep tires properly inflated – When your tires are underinflated the engine has to work harder to move the vehicle, as well as wheels that are out of alignment. Properly maintained tires not only help you improve fuel economy, but they last longer saving you money on tire replacement and less tires have to be discarded which is beneficial for the planet. For a great “how to” article on tire inflation and maintenance check out Edmunds.com


	You can't "tune-a"fish, but you can tune an engine!

4. Keep the engine in tune – minor details such as a misfiring sparkplug can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%! Be sure to follow the service schedule listed in your owners manual

5. Plan your daily trips – routing logistics isn’t just a practice for big business. Consolidate your daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving. Plan trips for lighter traffic times to avoid stop-and-go conditions and you can reduce the amount of gas wasted idling and help reduce the emissions your car produces.

6. Avoid Idling – when you’re waiting to pick the kids up from school or stopped at railroad crossing, turn the engine off, even if it’s just for a couple minutes. The minutes add up which equals wasted fuel and increased pollution.

7. Less junk in the trunk – lighter loads means better mileage, simple as that.

"Whatchya gonna do with all that junk, all that junk inside that trunk?"

8. Keep the windows up – open windows create aerodynamic drag while driving making the engine work harder. Some experts say that open windows while freeway driving can reduce fuel economy by as much as 10%.

9. Take it easy on the accelerator – “stomping” on the gas pedal to get up to the speed limit quickly greatly reduces fuel economy. Use cruise control on open roads when possible. Avoid slamming on the breaks, coast to a stop when possible, this will help you save fuel as well as reduce wear on your breaks.

10. Buy the right type of gas – fill your vehicle up with the type of gas prescribed by your owner’s manual. Using premium grade fuel doesn’t improve fuel economy if the vehicle is designed to run on regular and will only end up costing you more at the pump.

Brighton ford is located at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives on customer satisfaction. For more information on Brighton Ford, visit www.BrightonFord.com.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Ten Tips for Brighton, Michigan Winter Driving

BRIGHTON, Mich., Jan. 23, 2012 – We all know how hectic winter driving can be around Brighton, MI. Now that winter has arrived, here are ten tips for winter driving.

10. Get your vehicle winter ready – Equip your vehicle with snow tires and sandbags (for rear-wheel drive vehicles). FWD vehicles are better for the road than RWD, and AWD is better than both.

9. Check your tire pressure – Proper tire inflation is important for driving in all seasons and with the temperature fluctuations tire pressures can change as well. For information on tire pressure and inflation check out this how-to article at Edmunds.com

Seems silly right?

8. Get new wiper blades – Keeping washer fluid levels up is important but won’t do any good with worn out wipers. Come visit us at Brighton Ford and get your car equipped today.

7. Scrape ice off your windows before departing – Defrost and scrape ice off of your windows and windshield. “Peep-hole” driving is both dangerous and awkward looking.

The essentials for a winter driving survival kit

6. Pack an emergency survival kit – Some emergency food like trail mix or granola bars, a flashlight, some hand and feet warmers, a blanket, and small shovel are essentials for your winter roadside emergency kit. All of these things can be found at Meijer. If you find yourself stranded be careful about letting the car run to stay warm, carbon monoxide poisoning is a real danger in those situations.

5. Allow a few minutes for your engine to warm up – This is important for engine health and your car will be warmer for your trip to work or school.

4. Give your ride a thorough inspection and perform any necessary maintenance - The winter is the worst time to have a roadside break down. Give your vehicle and good once over or bring it into the Brighton Ford Service Center and get it winter road ready. Check out the coupon page on our website at www.brightonford.com to get a coupon for a FREE winter check up

3. Check the antifreeze – The correct quantity and dilution of antifreeze is important for your engines long-term health.

2. Keep gloves on hand – Frostbite is a concern but just having cold hands is uncomfortable and avoidable.

Practice! Take it slow and get a good feel for how to handle the slick conditions

1. Practice! – After a light snow take your car to an empty parking lot and get a feel for accelerating, breaking, turning, and Carefully practice sliding so you can get a better feel for how to handle the winter road conditions and make the proper steering corrections. Its not a bad idea (if there is no cars behind you) to give the breaks a good tap as you leave your house to get a feel for how slick the roads are and to give yourself a better idea of how much distance you will need to safely stop.

Brighton Ford – Livingston County’s Ford Auto Dealership, Used Cars, Auto Service, Auto Parts and Collision

Brighton Ford in Brighton, Michigan is Livingston County's Largest Ford car, SUV & truck dealership. Serving our customers is our #1 priority. We offer New Vehicles and Used Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and Vans, while our Service Department and Collision Shop services all makes and models of vehicles.

Our auto dealership is packed with 20 acres of cars, trucks, crossovers, SUV's and a huge selection of used cars available for you to choose from to ensure you can get the car you want with the options you need.