Every single tire has been marked down for our Black Friday Tire Sale. Come in and get new tires to get ready for the harsh Michigan winter ahead. If for some reason we don’t have the lowest price on your tires, simply show us a competitor ad with the same tires and we will beat their price. We guarantee to beat all tire pricing, so why even waste your time shopping around?
Looking for a front-end alignment, oil change or a radiator flush? Let our Ford Certified Technicians take care of all your car repair needs. We have the best mechanics in Michigan and prove it again and again to our 185,000+ customers over the last 29 years we have been in Brighton, Michigan.
Simple tips on extending their life span and when you should get them changed.
To put it simply, driving is a matter of stopping and going. That’s why brake pads, which induce the act of stopping, are one of your vehicle’s most important parts. Without a proper set, you could be at risk of an accident on the road. So it’s a good idea to understand how they work and when to replace them.
TIP 1. REALIZE THEY WEAR DOWN WITH TIME The first thing you should know is that it’s not in a brake pad’s nature to last forever; in order to stop your vehicle, they squeeze the brake rotors to create friction, meaning they receive a lot of wear and tear. How quickly they diminish is based on a number of factors, from the material they’re made of to how hard you push them while driving. As a result, it’s difficult to give them an average life span. But there are certain things you can do to help them last longer.
TIP 2. AVOID PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL Sharp braking or braking frequently at high speeds will quickly wear brake pads down. You can help change this by anticipating stops sooner and braking gradually. Even avoiding hilly roads and rough terrain can be beneficial to your brakes’ overall health. Also, the heavier a vehicle is, the harder it is on the brake pads, so carrying substantial cargo for long periods of time will require you to change your brake pads more frequently.
TIP 3. LISTEN FOR WARNING SIGNS Perhaps the most important thing to do is take heed of any warning signs that it might be time to replace your brake pads. The longer you wait, the less responsive they become, which will reduce their ability to do the one thing they are designed to do: stop your vehicle. Brakes are designed to begin making subtle when they need to be replaced. By the time you start hearing screeching and grinding noises (perhaps caused by the deteriorated pads rubbing against the rotors), some damage could have already occurred. If you push it beyond that stage, serious rotor deterioration could become an issue—an expensive fix.
TIP 4. MAKE SURE THOSE NOISES AREN’T JUST NORMAL Importantly, hearing noises doesn’t always mean your brakes need replacing. Cold weather, for example, may cause them to screech the first couple times you apply the brake (the friction warms them quickly, so the sounds should disappear relatively soon). Even things like dust, sand and humidity can lead to various forms of clamor. The only way to truly tell is to get them checked by an expert. They can determine if it’s a normal noise or something more serious. Go to the Brighton Ford Service site to view service specials near Ann Arbor or even schedule an appointment online.
TIP 5. GET THEM CHECKED REGULARLY BY A SERVICE PROFESSIONAL A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes inspected every time you have your oil changed. With The Works Fuel Saver Package, you can have them inspected and rated based on how close you are to needing replacements. If it is time for a change, Brighton Ford auto repair offers deals for brake installation, including the recent Lifetime Brake Pad Guarantee* for eligible, recently purchased Motorcraft® brake pads. The importance of this will kick in later, when you have to make a sudden stop on the road. In those moments, effective brake pads can make all the difference.
*Eligible Motorcraft® brake pads purchased after July 1, 2014. Nontransferable. Requires completion of any other necessary brake service such as brake rotor service. Replacement Motorcraft brake pads must be installed by a Ford Dealership or Quick Lane® technician to be eligible. Labor costs not included. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See Service Advisor for details. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.
Chuck Weisman, Service Advisor Chuck has been in the automotive business for over 39 years and is fairly new to the Brighton Ford family (10 months). According to Chuck, the best part about his job is the atmosphere and working with Brighton Ford’s customers. He likes lots of cars, but if he had to pick one dream car it would be a Mustang GT 350. If Chuck could go anywhere in the world on vacation he would choose to go back to Spain, as he loved it when he visited there on his honeymoon. He likes rock n roll, especially the Beatles and his favorite team is the Detroit Red Wings.
Extremely cold weather can wreak havoc on your car’s engine, suck power from its battery and deflate your tires. And during a cold snap, temperatures can plummet overnight, putting your car at higher risk of breaking down on your morning commute. So make sure you monitor the forecast, and if you hear that a cold spell is coming, here’s what you can do to protect your vehicle.
CHECK THE BATTERY
Battery issues are the most frequent cause of breakdowns, and low temperatures can drain batteries far faster than high ones. Examine your battery’s terminals and cables, making sure they’re tight and free from corrosion. Brighton Ford offers free battery checks at our Service Center all winter long.
COAT THE BATTERY TERMINALS
Coat the battery terminals with automotive grease or petroleum jelly to prevent deposits from forming. If the battery looks swollen or if the casing is cracked, take your vehicle to a local Ford Dealer Service Center to be checked right away.
MONITOR YOUR CAR’S TIRES
Tire pressure drops considerably in cold weather, affecting your vehicle’s handling and stopping ability. Check your tire pressure monthly, and fill the tires to the proper level as listed on the label found on your driver’s side doorjamb. Brighton Ford offers free tire checks at our Service Center all winter long.
CHECK AND CHANGE THE OIL
Do this regularly. Colder temperatures cause oil to thicken, impeding its ability to travel through the engine. This can lead to a breakdown. Consult your owner’s manual to find out the best oil for your vehicle.
INSPECT BELTS AND HOSES
Look for cracks or fraying—in winter belts and hoses are more likely to get brittle and break. A damaged belt will reduce the engine’s efficiency, and a leaky hose could lead to an overheated engine and costly repairs.
FILL UP THE GAS TANK
Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid a gas-line freeze-up.
MAINTAIN THE COOLANT LEVEL
Check your coolant level whenever you fill up the gas tank. Running low on coolant—also known as antifreeze—can be catastrophic, potentially ruining your engine.
EXAMINE THE WIPERS
In cold weather, windshield wipers need to be in top shape to remove snow and ice. Examine them and replace your wipers if the rubber is cracked, broken or falling off. And be sure to use a windshield washer fluid with the necessary freeze protection for your area.
INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD
Inspect your car’s windshield, looking for any cracks or chips. When temperatures drop below freezing, cracks are more likely to spread because the glass becomes more concave, and any moisture that collects in chips can freeze and expand.
AVOID FLYING DEBRIS
To protect your windshield while driving, be on the lookout for flying debris, especially from snowplows, which can launch stones, ice and chunks of asphalt.
TAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT
Prepare a winter emergency kit for the trunk and check it regularly, making sure your portable jump starter and spare cell phone are charged. (Often 911 calls will go through even if the phone has no service plan.)
The kit should include:
Tire chains
Road salt or kitty litter for traction
Jumper cables
Jump starter
Cell phone
Phone charger
Small shovel
Ice scraper
Flashlight
Rags or paper towels
Blankets
Flares
Bottled water
Energy bars
MONITOR THE FORECAST
Always keep on top of your local forecast and stay off the road when there are advisories. Stay safe—and warm!
Brighton Ford offers free tire and battery checks at our Service Center. Any questions or need help with any of these items to get ready for the cold Michigan winters, give our Service Department a call at 888-826-4760 or stop in at 8240 Grand River, Brighton, MI 48114.
Just a friendly reminder that Brighton Ford will close at noon on Christmas Eve to observe the holiday. Our Sales, Service, Parts and Body Shop will all close at noon. Parts and Service are open from 7am - 12pm, our Body Shop is open 8am - 12pm and our New and Used Sales Showrooms are open from 9am - 12pm. We hope you and your families have a Merry Christmas!
Santa is coming to Brighton FordTuesday, December 13th! Due to Santa's visit, ourService Departmentwill be closing at 4pm on Tuesday. Our Service Department will open back up for normal operating hours (7am - 6pm) on Wednesday, December 14th. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but please feel free to stop by our New Car Showroom and Service Center Drive with your entire family to enjoy pictures with Santa, TV giveaway, bounce house, obstacle course, balloon artists, face painting, free pizza, and fun & games for all!
BRIGHTON, Mich.- While driving, have you ever noticed that your steering wheel is difficult to control, vibrating, or pulling to one side? These are just a few indicators that you probably have a problem with your vehicle's alignment, which is the way your vehicle's wheels are positioned. Why does alignment matter? Above all else, a proper alignment keeps you safe on the road, but it can also improve your gas mileage, lengthen the life of your tires, and ensure a smoother ride.
Making sure that your vehicle is in proper alignment is an important part of maintaining your vehicle to keep you safe. Brighton Ford's service technician, Travis, showed us how to properly conduct a 4-wheel alignment. Take a look as he shows you step-by-step what needs to be done to ensure a straight drive.
How to do a 4-wheel alignment with Travis at Brighton Ford:
Are you concerned about your vehicle's alignment from driving on rough, pot hole filled roads? We can help you make sure that your vehicle is in proper alignment, just stop by Brighton Ford's Service Center! We can help you save on all your service needs with our Coupons and Tire Discounts.
Brighton Ford islocated at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives for customer satisfaction. For more information on Brighton Ford visit BrightonFord.comor give us a call at (800) 836-8206. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+
BRIGHTON, Mich.- Now that the first official day of spring is behind us, we've all got spring cleaning on our to-do lists. But who wants to spend a whole day cleaning? We sure don't. So instead of trying to reverse the toll that winter may have taken on your vehicle all at once, freshen up with our Simple Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Vehicle! Each task takes only 10 minutes or less!
Simple Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Vehicle - Freshen up in 10 minutes or less!
-Ditch the garbage. Grab a bag and get rid of trash or anything you don't need.
-Wash your mats. Grab your mats next time you get out of the car and give them a quick rinse off, hang them to dry and then put them back next time you get in the car.
-Dust it off. Add a microfiber cloth to your glove box, and wipe off the dash whenever it gets dusty.
-Wash your windows. Get rid of that dirty dusty film on your windshield and the fingerprints in the back seat.
-Get a car wash. And ask for a wash that includes the undercarriage to get rid of all the winter salt and mud.
-Use a Vacuum. Stop by the do-it-yourself car wash next time your out and use the high-powered vacuum.
-Check your wipers. After harsh winter conditions, if your windshield wipers are streaking or cracked, it's time to replace them.
-Check your tires. Make sure your tires have adequate tread and are properly inflated.
If you don't want to waste your whole afternoon cleaning your vehicle for the upcoming months, try our Simple Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Car and in just 10 minutes a day, you'll have your vehicle ready for Spring in a week! If you don't feel like cleaning at all, then just bring your car by your Brighton Area Ford Dealership's Service Center and we'll take care of you! Brighton Ford islocated 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. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+
BRIGHTON, Mich.- Whether you're a new driver or experienced driver, you may wonder what to do when one of your Vehicle's Warning Lights goes off. If you're confused about what your vehicle's warning light means and what action you should take, then you've come to the right place. We've got all of your vehicle's basic warning light explanations covered.
Service Engine Light-
If your Service Engine Light turns on, no need to panic right away. Usually this means that your vehicle needs maintenance soon. So, although you do not need to rush to your local Service Garage, you should make an appointment to get your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. The Service Engine Light will be reset once your vehicle has received maintenance.
Battery Light-
Your Battery Light should be taken more seriously. If your Battery Light turns on and stays on, you should get your vehicle serviced right away since your vehicle's electrical system may have malfunctioned. If you ignore your Battery Warning Light, you could possibly experience engine failure.
Check Engine Light-
When your vehicle's Check Engine Warning Light goes off, the reasoning isn't so straightforward. The Check Engine Light could be warning you about a variety of issues, some as simple as not tightening your gas cap enough. However, it could also indicate a much more serious issue, so do not ignore it. To address the issue, you'll need an OBD2 diagnostic tool to read the fault code, or you can visit your local service garage and they can take a look at your vehicle for a small fee, or sometimes even for free!
Oil Warning Light-
Beware, when your Oil Warning Light turns on, you'll want to have your vehicle serviced right away! Most likely when your Oil Warning Light goes off, it means that you have low oil pressure. Ignoring this warning could cause your engine to malfunction or be completely ruined.
Coolant Warning Light-
If you realize your Coolant Warning Light has turned on, you'll want to take action immediately. This Vehicle Warning Light indicates that your your coolant is low and the engine temperature has exceeded the safe maximum, which causes accelerated wear on your vehicle's engine. Pull over immediately, but do not try to open the hood if you notice steam.
Brake Warning Lights-
Depending on your vehicle, the Brake Warning Light can have multiple meanings so you'll want to check your owner's manual for the exact meaning. If your vehicle is ABS-equipped and the ABS Warning Light comes on, you should have your vehicle looked at right away since this means that something is wrong with the system. If the warning light is blinking you'll want to exercise even more precaution since this can mean that your brakes are dead or dying.
Let your Livingston County Ford Dealer help you understand what your Vehicle's Warning Lights mean and what actions you should take to make sure you stay safe out on the road. Don't forget that you can save on vehicle maintenance with our Oil Change Coupons, Tire Rotation Coupons and Brake Shop Discounts. Brighton Ford's Service Center 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.
