6 Essential Services You Can Find at Your Ford Dealer

Repair costs are an aspect of car ownership that can easily catch any driver unawares. Proper, consistent maintenance is the most effective method to prevent these costs from building up. Here are 6 useful Ford maintenance tips that will save your car: more 1. Regularly Change Engine Oil Wear and tear is an unavoidable consequence of long-term driving, but regular oil changes are a simple way to ensure this degradation is kept to a minimum. With Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life monitor, all you have to do is input your driving habits for an automated reminder when your next oil change is due. 2. Change Transmission Fluid Similar to engine oil, your car's transmission fluid should be changed periodically to avoid future issues, especially if you often drive under high-stress conditions and put your gears to hard use. You can assess if your car is in need of a transmission fluid change by checking your transmission fluid dipstick, or by heading to a mechanic for more specialized service if your car does not come with a dipstick. 3. Rotate Tires A tip that is often neglected by drivers, despite being on Ford's own basic maintenance checklist, is to rotate your tires approximately every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. This provides both greater fuel economy and smoother handling for your vehicle, while also extending the lifespan of your tires. 4. Washing and Waxing Every car owner wants their vehicle to not only perform well but to look good at the same time. An easy way to keep your car looking brand new is with frequent car washes to remove accumulated dirt and grime, which can often cause minor scratches and damages that add up over time. An annual or biannual wax job will also provide your car with additional protection from the elements 5. Using Genuine Ford Parts Another essential guideline when engaging in vehicle maintenance is to always use genuine OEM Ford parts. This means that the quality and performance of these parts are guaranteed by Ford, often contractually through warranties, and that they will fit perfectly with your vehicle. Settling for cheaper aftermarket parts will only sacrifice your peace of mind and possibly lead to more expensive repair jobs in the future. 6. Consistent Maintenance A common thread in the above tips is regularity in carrying out car maintenance, which is the most essential advice we can give. While it can be tempting to hold off on maintenance jobs when you are preoccupied with work or family, the costs of doing so can often be astronomical. Putting aside some time to frequently maintain the condition of your vehicle is undoubtedly the most effective way to save your car for years or even decades to come. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of car maintenance steps we've discussed? Not to worry! Schedule an appointment at Palm Coast Ford today, and our highly qualified mechanics will handle any maintenance or repair jobs your vehicle requires, using only genuine Ford parts and accessories for every step of the process.

Your car's alternator is a key part of your vehicle's electrical system, as it turns the energy from the crankshaft into electricity to power the electric components and charges your battery. Without a functional alternator, your car will be dead on the side of the road, so make sure you understand these signs that your car needs an alternator repair. more Warning Light Comes On The first main indicator of a failing alternator in a car is the warning light that illuminates on your dashboard. It might say "alt" or "gen," but they both mean the same thing: your alternator needs attention. Even if you don't notice any other signs that your alternator is going bad, pay attention to this warning light and have your car serviced right away. Ignoring this light could leave you stranded when your battery can't charge. Flickering or Dimming Headlights Your headlights are connected to your vehicle's electrical system, which means if the alternator starts acting up, it will affect your headlights, either making them dimmer than usual or causing them to flicker. You might also notice problems with the lights in your cabin, radio, or other electrical components as well. You'll want to get your car into a service center as soon as you can because eventually, they'll stop working altogether when your alternator fails. Unusual Sounds While this is a vague sign, bearings that are rattling around in your engine could indicate an alternator failure. You may not know what a specific sound means, but any time you hear something out of the ordinary, it could mean there's a problem with one of your car's components. If it is your alternator making these sounds, you probably don't have very long before it fails entirely, so have your car inspected to find the source of the sound. Car Stalls or Doesn't Want to Start Your car runs on more than just fuel; it also needs the electricity that is generated by the alternator to power your spark plugs, which then ignites the fuel. If your alternator is not capable of generating enough electricity needed to run the car, it's possible you'll have trouble starting it or it may even stall while you're driving it. This could cause an unsafe situation, especially if you're in the middle of traffic when your car stalls. Battery Dies The alternator is responsible for using the electricity it generates to charge your battery, and while batteries can certainly fail on their own, you'll want to make sure the alternator isn't the cause before investing in a new battery. Otherwise, the new one will drain as well and you'll have to get your alternator fixed anyway. Have both your battery and alternator checked at your service center at the same time to pinpoint the actual problem. If you ignore the signs of a failing alternator long enough, you're bound to be stuck on the side of the road when your car won't start. Come by Palm Coast Ford to have your alternator and battery inspected to ensure your car keeps running the way it should.

Just like you schedule your physicals and routine dental appointments, you should also take the time to schedule routine maintenance for your car. It's very easy to forget the last time you had your oil changed, or maybe you're not sure if the fluid you're seeing on your driveway is normal or if it's just a leak. It's best to go to the pros for all your service needs at your local Ford dealership. more 1. Oil Change Almost all cars require regular oil changes, though each car has different requirements. Some cars need to have their oil changed every 3,000 miles while others are every 10,000. And while this is something that you may be able to do yourself, it would be much easier to just head down to your local dealership and allow them to do all the messy work for you. 2. Battery Services Do you know how old your battery is or how much life it has left? Sometimes it's easy to tell if your battery is failing, like when your car struggles to start up or when the battery or check engine light turns on. Maybe you smell rotten eggs after your car is started, or maybe you go to start your car to find out that your battery is completely dead. A trained service technician will be able to tell you if your battery is good or if it will need to be replaced soon. Let us replace your battery with one that's perfect for your car so you only have to use the excuse of "My battery died" for when the line at the coffee shop is a little too long. 3. Tire Rotation Remembering to have your tires rotated is like remembering when you last had your teeth cleaned. Was it six months ago? Last year? Longer? Wait, don't they rotate every time you drive? Not the same thing, though you could tell your mechanic friend that to see the reaction. Rotating your tires helps prolong their life and even helps to prevent a flat tire from happening while you're on the highway. 4. Headlight Replacement and Restoration Have you ever driven down a dark road and wondered if your lights seemed dimmer than you remember? Over time, the lens covers on your headlights can get foggy and need to be restored. Maybe your headlights aren't dim, just one of them is burnt out. While you could make it home with one headlight, you really shouldn't. Driving with one or even no headlights is dangerous and could result in something worse than a ticket. Changing it on your own, while feasible, might be more trouble than it's worth. Allow the pros at your local dealership to change it for you. 5. Vehicle Inspection Sometimes you just don't know what's wrong with your car. Maybe the check engine light has been on for a couple of weeks or you start seeing a mystery puddle under your car that wasn't there before. Rather than pretending that you don't see the light or the mystery puddle, it would be best to take it to a dealership. If your car needs some TLC, come visit us at Palm Coast Ford. Our trained technicians are available Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.