Service Tips and Tricks from Our Ford Certified Technicians

WESTLAND, Mich. -- At North Brothers Ford, we're committed to making sure your vehicle is running at its best. Having regular inspections and keeping up with maintenance can prevent small issues from becoming big problems, which both saves you money in the long run and keeps you safe on the road.

In this blog, we'd like to share with you some service tips and tricks straight from our Ford Certified automotive technicians. While you're at it, why not schedule a service appointment to experience their expertise for yourself?

KEEP UP WITH SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

Oil changes, tire replacements or rotations, wheel alignments, brake inspections, wiper blade replacements, filter exchanges, and fluid fill-ups are all a part of routine and scheduled maintenance. Completing these services at the right time can eliminate unnecessary wear, damage, and even accidents that can result in costly repairs. Keeping up with routine service also helps to keep you and your passengers safe on the road. You can even set up a customized maintenance schedule with Ford for your specific vehicle to help you keep track of your vehicle's specific needs. 

KEEP A SERVICE RECORD

Keeping a service record helps to keep you on track and on time for future services. Our service technicians will always help keep track of your routine maintenance needs, like oil changes and tire rotations. How you do it is really up to you whether it's on your smartphone, mobile device, or personal computer. You could also keep a physical file folder at home with papers and receipts from past services. Either way, you'll be better equipped to schedule services at the right time and avoid missing important maintenance services. 

USE THE CORRECT FUEL AND FLUIDS


Each vehicle is built differently, and thus require different things to keep it running properly. When it comes to fuel, you should only fill up with the type your vehicle requires. Most times, you'll need to use Regular or Unleaded fuel, but if you have a performance-based car or heavy-duty pickup, you might require Premium or Diesel fuel. As for other fluids, there are many different kinds used throughout your vehicle including oil, power steering fluid, wiper fluid, etc. If you use the wrong kind, you can potentially cause damage to your vehicle's internal components, which can cost you more in repairs. Our service techs can tell you what your car's specific needs are, as can your owner's manual.

GO EASY ON YOUR VEHICLE


If you take care of your car, it'll take care of you. Driving carefully, as opposed to driving aggressively, can help you save on fuel and on service in the long run. Avoid frequent hard stops whenever possible, frequent "pedal to the metal" starting, and excessive speeding and idling. You can also fill up before your gas gauge hits E, avoid hitting potholes and curbs as best you can, and avoid taking frequent trips that are under 5 miles. It's especially important to take it easy on your car if the engine is new or under 1,500 miles. It's recommended to avoid exceeding 75 mpg, excessive idling, towing or carrying heavy loads, and pushing the engine to the higher rpm range. We also recommend letting your car warm up in the winter by idling for only about 30 seconds or up to 5 minutes maximum when the temperature is below zero. All of these recommendations will help your engine run it's best, help your car run longer, and help you save on fuel. Check out Ford's fuel saving tips online for more info. 

CLEAN YOUR CAR REGULARLY


The weather in Michigan can take a toll on your vehicle inside and out, but it's up to you to keep it clean and protected. Regularly washing the exterior can help avoid grime and road salt build-up, which can slowly become corrosive to the paint and exposed components over time if you don't wash your vehicle. We also recommend keeping the interior clean to protect the surfaces and materials from diminishing or deteriorating. If you choose to do vehicle cleaning at home, make sure to only use cleaning agents formulated for automotive uses!

Those were some service tips and tricks from our technicians. If you have any questions or are in the market for service, don't hesitate to give us a call or schedule an appointment online! At North Brothers Ford, we're happy to help you with anything you need to take care of your car.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Get Your Ford Ready for Spring

WESTLAND, Mich.–– The beautiful spring season is finally upon us! As we look forward to warmer weather and blooming flowers, it's the perfect time for some spring cleaning. Prep your vehicle for the sunnier days ahead and rid it of the negative impact it received during the long winter. It's important to take care of your investment all year round. Get your Ford ready for spring with these car care tips!

Interior

• Collect all garbage off the floor, under the seats, inside the center console and side storage pockets, and any other space you have items laying around.
• Organize all your small in-car items.
• Use coffee filters to dust your dash and plastic surfaces, as they don't leave behind fibers.
• Wash away the streaks on your windows using a vinegar-based solution and semi-wet microfiber rag. Wipe clean with a dry rag.
• Take the rugs out and shake the loose dirt and particles. Then, vacuum both your seats and your floors, making sure to get in those hard to reach places.
• Add an air freshener to make your car smell extra fresh.

Exterior

• Use a specialized car cleaner soap and soft sponge to scrub the dirt off your vehicle's exterior.
• Take dryer sheets and rub them on your grille and hood to get those nasty bugs off.
• To remove tree sap, use very hot water and a soapy microfiber rag.
• Remember to fully rinse your vehicle before and after the suds.
• If you can, try to rinse the undercarriage of your car to clean out dirt, salt, and any other gunk from the parts that matter most.
• Make sure to change the water if it gets too dirty and to continuously clean out the sponge.
• Rinse and wash your car one side at a time to ensure the soap doesn't dry.
• Waxing is a crucial part of maintaining your vehicle's paint and keeps dirt and grime from scratching the exterior.

Maintenance

• Change your oil and oil filter at regular intervals, as indicated in your owner's manual.
• Check your vehicle's fluids. These include transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper solvent, and coolant.
• Your wiper blades take a beating during the winter from all that snow. It's a good idea to get them replaced to ensure they'll be able to wipe away rain during spring showers.
• Get your car battery tested. Cold temps can do a number on your battery, so getting it replaced may be a good idea.
• Taking care of your tires and consistently checking to make sure they are in good shape is crucial. Measure the tire pressure to make sure it is set at its specified setting. Check your tires for any signs of major tread wear, irregular tread wear, abnormal bulges, and cracks in the sidewall.
• Your vehicle may be in need of an alignment if the steering wheel vibrates, it pulls to the left or the right, the tires squeal, or if there is any uneven tire wear.

Get your Ford ready for spring with these tips that'll expand the life of your vehicle and ensure it's ready to hit the road at all times. Dedicate a day to cleaning out your car, giving it a wash, and bringing it in for routine maintenance. You'll be thankful you did. Schedule an appointment online with our service team for any oil changes, vehicle alignments, tire rotations, or other service needs you have. We'll be happy to help you get your car ready for the spring season!


North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

3 Simple Tips for Taking Care of Your Car in the Winter

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– The cold temperatures, the ice and snow, and the road salt can take a toll on your car in the Winter season. Your battery can struggle to start the car, your oil can move like molasses through your engine, and the road salt can eat away at your car's exposed metal components, etc. This can not only cause your car trouble running regularly in the Winter, but can age your car prematurely. While it's cold and easy to get away with being lazy, we want to give you a few easy tips that you can follow that your car will really benefit from. Here are our 3 simple tips for taking care of your car in the Winter:

1. Take it through the car wash once a week. This is a simple thing to do, but it can provide your car's paint and external components the TLC it needs during the Winter. In Michigan, we regularly salt or sand the roads, which is great for reducing slippery spots and making the roads safer. However, this salt and sand can cause corrosion on the underside of your vehicle and can scratch your paint. Getting your car washed will take off all that salt residue and condition your paint. Make sure to pick a wash package with wax included and keep your eyes open for unlimited monthly packages some carwashes offer so you can go often for a discounted price.

2. Have your oil changed at the regular 3,000-5,000 mile recommendation & have your battery tested. The really cold weather like we've recently experienced can make it that much harder for your battery to start your car and for your oil to remain viscous enough to move around the engine. So, if your battery isn't in good condition or your oil is bogged down with debris, your car will struggle to start and to warm up. Having old oil run through your engine isn't good in any weather, so just keep up with regular oil changes. When you're in for an oil change, ask for your battery to be tested so you know how it's performing. Batteries should only need to be replaced every 2-5 years depending on use.

3. Check the inflation of your tires every few weeks. With the temperature changing so often, so can the inflation level of your tires! Having the safest tires to run on means having them properly inflated and rotated. Having the best kind of tires for the weather helps, too. Even if you only have all-season tires for Winter, it's still valuable to keep them properly inflated. You can check with a gauge at home or have us at North Brothers check for you. Just by driving your car over our specialized tread machine, we'll be able to tell you concerning spots of wear on each tire, the inflation level of each tire, and more.

We hope these 3 simple tips are easy enough to follow, so you can take the best care of your car even in the cold Michigan weather. Please let our wonderful, knowledgeable, and experienced technicians know if there's any way we can help keep your car running great. The Service Department at North Brothers Ford is not only equipped with a great team of technicians, but advanced technology so you can be sure we'll do the job right on your Ford vehicle! Schedule your next service appointment online or by giving us a call.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbrothersford.net

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

7 Affordable Car Hacks

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– Want an inexpensive and great way to spruce up your car's exterior? How about some easy organization for your vehicle's interior? We, at North Brothers Ford, have put together the a list of 7 affordable car hacks to make your car, crossover, SUV, or truck look and feel great inside and out! Several of these solutions use materials you may already have at home and the rest can be found at the convenience store of your choice. From repurposing old objects to using household items in new unique ways, take your car to the next level with these hacks!

1. Use Toothpaste to Clean Your Headlights

Believe it or not, toothpaste, especially whitening toothpaste, works wonders on headlights. Scrub toothpaste on your headlights with a rag, then wipe it away with a clean, dry rag. Use toothpaste, not the gel, and you'll have sparkling clean headlights before you know it!

2. Turn a Cereal Container into a Trash Can

Using an old plastic cereal container and a trash bag, you can create a mini trash can in your vehicle with a closable lid! Avoid trash buildup in your vehicle and keep it all contained in one place with this easy hack. It's also a great way to encourage your passengers to take care of their mess. 

3. Use Carabiners to Organize Your Vehicle 

Tired of hearing your items roll around in the back of your vehicle? Carabiners can be used to hold groceries, shopping bags, purses, and more in place and off the floor! Plus, it frees up leg room for any passengers you bring along, too.

4. Repurpose Your Shower Caddy Into a Food Holder

Are you a person that's always eating on the go? Turn your old shower caddy into a food holder to make driving and eating a much cleaner and easier process! Instead of having to shuffle through your bag to find what you want, you can put everything in a neat and organized caddy to reduce the chances of distractions on the road and avoid messes.

5. Fix Small Dents With a Toilet Plunger

With some hot water and a toilet plunger, you can fix small dents on the exterior of your vehicle! Be careful and wear gloves if need be to protect yourself from the hot water. Watch the video above for a quick tutorial on how to do this dent removal hack. Can't get the dent to budge? We'd be happy to help you fix it at the North Brothers Collision Center! 

6. Remove Stickers With Warm Newspaper

Have an old registration sticker you just can't quite seem to peel off? Wet a newspaper in warm water and place it over the sticker for 10 minutes. The warm water will penetrate the sticker, removing the adhesive and allowing it to fall off into your hands. You can use this method for interior and exterior stickers. 

7. Organize Your Vehicle With A Collapsable Shelf

Using some easy to find hardware and supplies, you can make a collapsable shelf that can help you organize everything in your trunk! You won't have to worry about smushed groceries, mixed up luggage, or misplaced items again with a collapsable shelf in your trunk.

From painless sticker removal to easy dent removal, these 7 affordable car hacks should give you all the tools you need to make your vehicle look and feel good as new! You can keep your vehicle running well with our tips and tricks, and keep your vehicle protected from the hot sun this season with our summer car care advice. If you need help taking care of your vehicle, whether it's a simple oil change or auto body work, we're here for all your auto maintenance and repair needs! 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: http://www.northbrosford.net

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Tips for "Spring Cleaning" Your Car

WESTLAND, Mich - In honor of the first day of spring being only a few days away, why not get in a "warm" state of mind? After this brutal winter, spring weather may seem like a distant thought, but soon enough we will be driving with the windows down! Along with the rest of your spring cleaning rituals, you cannot forget to give your car a good scrub down. We are here to give you some of our favorite Tips for "Spring Cleaning" Your Car. 

1. Rinse off the underbody. With all of the snow we have had this winter season, tons of salt, dirt and other grime has more than likely built up on the undercarriage of your vehicle. Leaving the build up can cause corrosion and rust issues, which in turn can make your vehicle very difficult to drive.

2. Replace your wiper blades. Surely you used your wiper blades a lot throughout the season and will continue to do so with upcoming "April showers".  Wiper blades get a work out during the winter, so be sure to replace them to avoid poor visibility. Remember - wiper blades cannot do the job on their own; fill up your washer fluid as well!

3. Check your tires. Us Michigan drivers know how rough the potholes are around town and the toll they take on our tires! It is important to keep on eye on the inflation of your tires as well as have a wheel alignment and/or a tire rotation done as part of your "spring cleaning". 

4. Clean your carpet. Between the snow, salt and slush, your carpets are probably a disaster! Use a carpet cleaner with a scrub brush on the end to get underneath the winter residue.

5. Go through your glovebox. Are you guilty of shoving everything into your glovebox and forgetting about it? Start spring by clearing out the glovebox and get all of that junk out of there! Be sure you don't throw away your proof of insurance and registration. Keep your documents in an easy-to-grab spot!

What else are we forgetting? Do you have some more tips for "Spring Cleaning" your car? We want to hear them! Leave your cleaning routine, tips and tricks in the comments section below. 

Looking for a brand-new vehicle to start off spring with? Visit us at North Brothers Ford! You won't believe our outstanding variety of new, used and pre-owned Ford vehicles. Check out this 2014 Ford Taurus or 2014 Ford Escape online before you come in to the dealership for a test-drive!  North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ 

Spring Car Care Tips

WESTLAND, Mich.- While it hasn't exactly warmed up yet, the first day of spring is behind us. That means it's time to add a little spring cleaning to your to-do list, and that goes for your vehicle too. Winter weather takes a toll on your vehicle, so it's time to freshen up and reverse the damage. If you don't want to spend all afternoon cleaning out your car, attempt one of our Spring Car Care Tips per day and your ride will be squeaky clean before you know it!

Spring Car Care Tips-

-Give it a good wash. If you can't hand wash your vehicle, go to the car wash and ask for a wash that includes the undercarriage so you can get rid of all the salt and mud from the winter. A good waxing goes a long way too. If you notice any paint chips or scratches, take the time to touch them up so that you can prevent rusting.

-Clean the windows. Inside and out, and the windshield too. Getting rid of the dust film and fingerprints will increase visibility. While you're cleaning the windshield, keep an eye out for any stone chips that can be repaired before the spread, and take a look at you windshield wipers too to make sure they aren't cracked or streaking.

-Clean the carpet. First give your vehicle a good vacuuming. If you have mats, take them out next time you get out of the car, rinse them off, and hang to dry. If you don't have mats or if your carpet is especially salty from the winter months, it's important to give it a good shampoo to prevent rusting under the carpet.

-Tune up. An easy way to get your car ready for spring is to bring it in for a tune up to make sure all fluid levels are adequate, oil and filters are set to go, and tires are in good condition and properly inflated.

Start the season off right with our Spring Car Care Tips, and you'll be ready to cruise into warmer weather. For more information, check out our Maintenance Tips or stop by our Service Center! North Brothers Ford, your Wayne Area Ford Dealership, is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185. We are proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+