Car Tip Of The Week: How To Clean Your Windows With No Streaks

Have you ever cleaned your windows in your car and it ends up looking worse than when you started?  Those streaks can be so hard to get rid of...until now.  The easiest way to clean your windows with no streaks is to used newspaper instead of paper towel or cloth.  Simply spray your window cleaner on your windows and use some newspaper to wipe, you'll be pleasantly surprised when there are no streaks left behind.  Simply, easy and convenient, just like car buying at Brighton Ford!

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Auto Tips For Women

BRIGHTON Mich., - If you’re a woman then you probably know how dangerous it can be to break down by yourself in an unfamiliar area, but knowing a few important tips about cars can keep you safe as well as prepared. 

Tires

If your tire begins to lose air it should be noticeable, so start getting used to looking at your tires before you jump in your car.  If the tire does look low then add air or change your tire immediately, don’t wait!

Another warning sign of an ensuing flat tire may be that your car begins to pull left or right.  If this should happen then pull off to the side of a safe road and take a look.  You may need to change your tire.

Before taking a long trip, you should always check your tires for worn spots on your tires where wires may be popping out.  Seeing wires is a bad sign, so you should buy new tires as soon as possible.

Overheated Car

 

If your car begins to overheat then turn the air conditioning off and turn your heater on as high as it will go.  This will bring the heat away from the engine.  If pulling over right away isn’t an option then coasting can help to cool the engine.

If for more than 90 seconds you are sitting in one spot then switch to neutral to take some of the pressure off of the engine.  Never remove the radiator cap when your engine is hot because you risk volatile heat.

Battery Cables & Connectors

At some point during your ownership of a vehicle you may find that a fuzzy, green substance has enveloped your battery.  This substance is battery acid so be careful not to touch it without protective gloves and eyewear.  This can be an easy fix, simply pour some Coca Cola on the fuzz.  If this doesn’t work then you’ll need to first remove the cables and scrub them clean with a wire brush.

Brakes

Chances are that if it’s raining then you’re probably going to have to drive through a puddle or two.  You’ll have to dry your brakes after this happens so be sure to accelerate slowly while pushing your brake, so that it is open to the air.

Living in Michigan you see a lot of potholes, so if you can’t avoid them then simply do not apply your brakes while driving over them.  Otherwise, your suspension may be damaged.

 

Misc. Tips

If it is windy out and you feel your car being pushed while you drive, then try rolling down your rear windows a little bit, this way the wind will flow through the car instead of pushing it. 

If your car smells bad then take dryer sheets and tuck them in various places inside.  Leave them until you no longer notice any unpleasant smells.

Do you have problems with pet hair sticking to every surface of your interior?  Use Static Guard to detach it. 

Remember to always be prepared with a fully charged cell phone as well as things like blankets or a jacket just in case you get stuck somewhere for a while.  Check out our other Brighton Ford blog with more tips!  If you have any other questions or just want more tips then you can come and talk to us or call us at Brighton Ford.  We are here to help!

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.

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10 Tips to Help Extend The Life of Your Car

Taking care of your car or truck is the only way to ensure that it lives a long life. Bringing it in to Brighton Ford for an inspection is one of the easiest ways to make sure everything's in order, but we've compiled a list of 10 simple things you can do yourself to prolong the life of your vehicle.

Break it in like they tell you
First thing’s first. If you’re driving a new car BE PATIENT during the break-in period! I know it’s hard not to step on it and see what your new ride’s got, but you’ll be thankful you waited later on. Think of it like an extra-long first date -- take it easy.

Don’t fill up if the tanker’s there
Okay, so it this one might sound a little backward to some of you. After all, if the tanker’s there you’re getting the fresh stuff, right? Not necessarily. When the tanker is filling the underground tanks at your local gas station there’s a pretty good chance the pour is stirring up all sorts of nasty sediment, which could end up in your car and cause serious damage. Come back another day or go somewhere else.

Pay for good insurance
Finding the cheapest deal out there isn’t always the best way to go. It might good for your bank account on the short term, but it probably won’t be good for your car. When you’re searching for insurance find and insurer that will pay for OEM parts and guarantee the work that they authorize.

Fix bad weather-stripping
If your doors or windows are letting rainwater or melting snow seep into your car, take a look at it. Many times you’ll be able to repair it with adhesives or foam rods available from local auto parts stores. If you can’t fix it don’t use generic products, they won’t last and you will just be wasting money. Matching weather-stripping can be ordered to fit your car exactly and it’s the best way to protect your interior.

Fix small scratches and nicks, ASAP
Sure, they’re not an eye sore now, but if you try to put touch up paint on spot that has already started to rust you won’t have much luck. If you do it right away you’ll prevent it from rusting at all and your car will stay looking good longer. Touch up paint is relatively cheap, so its not a bad idea to keep some on hand.

Tape that cracked taillight
A crack in your taillight or headlight really isn’t a big deal, but it can allow water to get inside, and that could cause serious problems. Pick up a roll of the red or clear tape designed specifically for this and you could save yourself a bundle.

Wash in winter
You’re not the only who doesn’t wash your car in the winter, but it really isn’t the best way to go. The problem is washing is even more important in winter than any other time. Sand, slush and ice mixed with salt from the road is exactly what you need to make your car rust. Be sure to keep the undercarriage and other areas prone to rust as clean as possible during the winter.

Buy a fender cover
Simple maintenance and fixes can be an entertaining project for a summer afternoon, but things can turn bad quickly if your dropping wrenches on that freshly shined paint job. A fender cover drapes over the side of your car and provides a safe place to rest tools while also protecting the paint from your belt buckle as you lean into the engine compartment.

Rotate your tires
This one is pretty basic and definitely worth doing every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. Rotating your tires will spread tire wear evenly and is a very necessary way to make sure you get the maximum life out of them before buying a new set. Consult your Owners Manual for the correct rotation pattern.

Run your AC in the winter
What!? Yea, I know. It sounds crazy, but you’ll be thankful you did it when summer rolls around. Turning the system on a few times during the colder months will help prevent moving parts of the compressor from seizing up. The circulating refrigerant will also keep seals in good shape.

If you have any questions about car or truck maintenance please feel free to Contact Us or Schedule an Appointment. We would be happy to help in any way we can.

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.

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!

 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.

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