Winter Road Trip Tips

WESTLAND, Mich.,––Despite the great feeling of staying inside, being wrapped up like a burrito in a fuzzy blanket, and having Netflix on the TV, there are things to be done that require a little travel. Whether you're taking a shorter trip to a relatives house an hour away, or a grand trip out west to do some serious skiing/boarding, there are some things you should do to prepare. The cold weather and snowy roads can make it harder to travel, and there is a higher risk of accident, but some simple inspections and maintenance services can do the job to keep you and your passengers safe. See our winter road trip tips below, and let us know if there's any way we can help!


1. Inspect your tire's inflation level. If they don't meet the requirements on the sticker inside your driver's door, fill them up accordingly.

2. Make sure you have your spare tire ready to go & the proper supplies to change it if need be.

3. Check your oil. If it's low or looking dark and gritty, get it changed BEFORE you go. Even if it's good, you'll want to consider how many miles it has been since you've had it changed, and how many miles your trip will be.

4. Pack supplies for emergencies and bad weather:
   -Extra gloves, hats, sock, and other warm clothing
   -Hot packs for your hands or feet
   -A flashlight & multi-tool
   -An ice scraper and snow brush
   -Jumper cables
   -Extra windshield wiper fluid
   -An extra cell phone charger
   -Extra cash

5. Pack supplies for you and your passengers:
   -Tissues and hand wipes or sanitizers
   -A bag for trash
   -A first aid kit & necessary medications
   -Water, beverages, and snacks
   -Extra charging cables


We hope this brief list of tips provides you what you need to travel safely this winter. Make sure to check out even more tips and information on winter vehicle maintenance on our website. At North Brothers Ford, it's our goal to help keep you safe on the road by not only selling reliable new, used, and CPO vehicles, but also by providing you knowledgeable, trustworthy, and affordable vehicle services. But, just because we're a Ford dealership, doesn't mean we can't help if you drive a car of another make. Our service technicians can help change the oil and inspect your tires on any make and model vehicle. We can make the service experience even easier with online scheduling!

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

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How to Care for Your Tires This Spring

WESTLAND, Mich.,––It's Spring in Michigan, and that means the roads will be wet, messy, and full of potholes. Because your tires are what connect you to the road, they're pretty important and worthy of your routine care. There are a few easy things you can do this season to ensure your safety on the road, your car's efficiency, and help you avoid the pain of tire repair. Here's how to care for your tires this Spring:

1. Inspect your tires tread wear

There are no special tools needed to inspect your tires wear. Your eyes will work just fine. Taking a look every few weeks or so for damage, cracking, under inflation, and uneven tread wear is the easiest way to tell if your tires need care! For an easy way to check tread wear, try the penny method! If by sticking your penny in upside down in your tire's tread you can see all of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to get new tires.

2. Check your tires air pressure

Checking your tires air pressure is typically done with a tire gauge which measures in PSI (pounds per square inch of air pressure). Having properly inflated tires can help you achieve good fuel economy and extend the life of your tires. If your tires are under inflated, your car will have to work harder to move which means you'll be spending more on gas. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the sticker on the inside of the driver's door, or in your Owner's Manual. As temperatures fluctuate throughout the year, the air outside can affect your tire's air pressure. It's best to check your tires in the morning at least once per month for the most accurate reading.

3. Have your tires balanced and rotated regularly

Another routine maintenance task to help you achieve best fuel economy and extended tire life is rotating them! This is a tire service that should be done every 5,000-7,000 miles or for most people about every other oil change. Tires can wear differently depending on their location, rotating them regularly will help cut down on uneven tread wear so they are all on the same page, so to speak. Having your tires balanced will also help to minimize uneven or premature wear.

4. Keep your car's load weight in mind

While your tires hold the entire weight of your vehicle, they can only hold a certain amount of excess weight. Excessive weight on or in your vehicle can lead to weaker tires and possible damage. We recommend not overloading past your vehicle's recommended rating to avoid potential tire blowouts. Although the chances for a blowout to happen are low, make sure to check your Owner's Manual to find the rating specific to your vehicle and keep your car's load weight in mind.



It's our goal to keep you safe on the road this Spring and provide you a great deal on tires! Follow our How to Care for Your Tires This Spring tips on this blog, and schedule your service appointment online at North Brothers Ford. We have plenty of coupons that you can clip online to help you save on vehicle service and new tire purchases!

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.northbros.com

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

Scare-Proof Neighborhood-Driving Tips for Halloween

WESTLAND, Mich. –– Halloween might be all tricks and treats for kids, but for drivers it can be a night of fear-driven anxiety and goose bumps as they cruise down neighborhood streets hoping the goblins, ghosts, and ghouls stay on the sidewalks as they creep from door-to-door shouting for candy.

While we recommend that you don’t drive on Halloween in order to avoid any potential hazards due to an influx of kids strolling the nighttime streets, if you must drive somewhere, be sure to follow these scare-proof neighborhood-driving tips for Halloween that will help you keep the trick-or-treating kids in your area safe.

Stay off neighborhood streets.

That is, stay off neighborhood streets if you’re able to. Of course, this is a lofty demand, and we don’t expect that everyone will be able to carry it out. If you have to drive somewhere during trick-or-treating hours, try to find the safest possible route out of your neighborhood based on where kids are and aren’t trick-or-treating.

Take it easy on the gas pedal.

It’s important to keep your driving speeds low during Halloween when you’re traveling through a neighborhood. Driving slowly give you more time to react in a situation that could require quick thinking, such as a group of trick-or-treaters running across a street without looking your way first.

Be a beacon of light.

Meaning, don’t be afraid to use your brights, or fog lights, when you’re driving in dark areas of your neighborhood that may not be lined with streetlights. Using your brights will give you a broader scope of vision in these instances and allow you more time to react quickly in situations like those mentioned above.

If you see a stop sign, stop.

You know who you are, rolling stoppers. The truth is the majority of drivers never come to complete stops at stop signs, although we all should because it’s a safety law. But specifically on Halloween this law is vital for drivers to follow religiously. Most kids don’t look both ways before crossing a street, despite what their parents taught them. By rolling through a stop sign, you aren’t giving yourself enough time to check your surroundings before continuing, but if you come to a full stop you have plenty of time to make sure there aren’t an ghosts lurking on corners, ready to take flight in front of your vehicle.

Yield sign or no yield sign, slow down at intersections.

This tip dovetails with coming to complete stops at stop signs. However, in this case we’re recommending that you slow down at intersections and check your surroundings before proceeding, even if there aren’t any yield signs telling you to do so. Again, most kids aren’t paying attention to anything but candy and creepy costumes on Halloween, so it’s your job to look out for them.

We hope with these scare-proof neighborhood-driving tips for Halloween, you and all your little ghouls and goblins make it home safe with loads of candy in hand! One easy way to stay safe on the road and keep your vehicle running well is with routine maintenance. Check out all our Fall Car Care tips and schedule your auto service online!

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+

Carpool Maintenance Checklist

WESTLAND, Mich.––Are you planning a carpool for this school year? Maybe it's with a family friend that lives down the road, or with some kids in the neighborhood. Whomever you're toting around, we first of all commend you as a group for making an effort to save on gas, but we want you to be safe doing so. When you're carpooling, you're not just responsible for your safety, but others' safety as well! With our Carpool Maintenance Checklist, you can easily ensure your car, crossover, SUV, or van is ready to get everyone where they need to be, safely.

1. Check Your Tires

This August was National Tire Safety Month. In fact, we have plenty of resources including our Tire Maintenance tips blog, that you can use when you're doing routine maintenance. The main tips to use when checking your tires are: 1.) Make sure each tire is inflated properly and equally. You can find this number on the sticker on the inside of your driver's door. Do this while your tires are 'cold', or haven't been driven in hours. 2.) Have your tires rotated at your next oil change to ensure your tires are wearing evenly. This can help extend the life of your tires. 3.) Visually inspect your tires for any uneven tread wear, tread depth, and for any bulging or unusual looking damage.

2. Have Your Oil Changed

As simple as it might sound, this is one of the easiest ways to keep your car in good shape. This will help your engine components run efficiently, wear less quickly, and help prevent your engine from overheating. Every 3,000-5,000 miles is when you should have your oil changed. Most times, synthetic or a synthetic blend will be used or recommended, which can help extend the service interval towards 5,000 miles.

3. Inspect Your Brakes

Your brakes are one of the most important safety components, so having them checked will ensure you have the stopping power needed in any situation. If you don't know your way around the brakes, you can have them checked quickly at your next oil change at North Brothers. Some signs you can look out for if your brakes need service include: a squealing noise when applying brakes, soft or spongy feeling brakes, shaky steering wheel when stopping, and a visibly worn brake pad.

4. Put On New Wiper Blades

You can do this step right at home, but we can take care of it at your next oil change if that's more convenient for you! We recommend investing in a quality pair of wiper blades so you're prepared for any foggy, rainy, or snowy (yes, it's possible in Michigan) morning. Remember, your wiper blades allow you to see the road clearly and can be a lifesaver in some situations.

5. Test All Your Seat Belts

Whether you have a short or long drive to your destination, your seat belts are of the utmost importance. Taking a minute or two to check and test all the seat belts in your vehicle will give you peace of mind. Make sure to enforce a seat belt policy with your carpool group so everyone is equally safe.


If it's just you doing the carpooling and would like help completing your checklist, bring your vehicle into our well-equipped Service Center and we'll have you taken care of. If there are multiple participants in your carpool group, send this Carpool Maintenance Checklist out so you can ensure you and/or your child is safe when others are driving.

You can raise your awareness on what your car needs throughout the year by referencing our Seasonal Maintenance and Routine Maintenance pages. We're here to help you with anything auto. If you have any questions about your Dashboard Lights, Ford SYNC technology, or have auto service or collision service needs, please let us know!

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+

The Ford Fiesta is One of KBB's 10 Best Back-to-School Cars

WESTLAND, Mich.––The Ford Fiesta is a great compact car for a number of reasons including it's fuel economy, fun attitude, and safety. It's an especially great car for students heading back to school this season. The Ford Fiesta is one of KBB's 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2016. Although it's a great award, the Fiesta is no stranger to the list, as it also made the top 10 last year.

Kelley Blue Book picked the top 10 Best Back-to-School Cars based on a few factors they consider important to our youth and future leaders. Affordability, practicality, and safety were extremely high factors in deciding which vehicles would make the list. The Ford Fiesta was listed as a KBB 10 Coolest Cars Under $18k again this year, so deciding it met the affordability factor was no stretch.

"The kids involved prefer to have a car they’re happy to be seen in, which suggests style is part of the equation too. Ford Fiesta addresses all of these wants, with an array of features returning students are sure to appreciate.” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

The 2016 Ford Fiesta, though small, be but mighty in style! The Fiesta comes available in a sedan or hatchback style with bold and smooth Ford styling. The interior is comfortable and includes technology, like the newest version of Ford SYNC, a young driver would want, lending to the overall style. 

While there were many factors kids considered important, safety was the most considered and highest rated factor by KBB and parents alike. No matter how long your young driver has been behind the wheel, you still want the most advanced safety features included in their vehicle. The 2016 Ford Fiesta comes with a total of seven airbags and plenty of driver assist technologies like blind spot mirrors, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, and more. 

The Ford Fiesta is one of KBB's 10 Best Back-to-School Cars, and one of KBB's 10 Coolest Cars Under $18k, which means it's one of the best new Ford vehicles you can get for your student! If you'd like to test drive one yourself, or want to bring your student in to get behind the wheel, stop by North Brothers Ford.

We'll help you get prepared for the back-to-school season with new vehicles, used vehicles, and a wealth of knowledge to keep you safe on the road. Make sure to check out our Dashboard Warning Light Guide with your student before sending them on their way, and complete seasonal maintenance so they're safe on the road wherever life takes them. 

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+

2015 Ford Mustang Earns NHTSA Top Safety Rating

WESTLAND, Mich. – Ford Motor Company's brand new Mustang is not only one of the most stylish vehicles on the market (so what if we're biased), but it is also officially one of the safest cars out there! How do we know? The 2015 Ford Mustang just earned a Top Safety Rating - a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program testing!

The 2015 Mustang isn't just one of the best pony cars ever built, it's also a beast when it comes to protecting its passengers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's New Car Assessment Program is designed to test new vehicle designs on performance vs. safety threats, and the testing was a piece of cake for the 2015 Mustang which earned FIVE star ratings in the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover crash tests!

With these top scores, the 2015 Ford Mustang earned a NHTSA Top Safety Rating, but it wasn't without the help of the car's new safety, semi-autonomous, and driver assist features. When it comes to basic safety, the new Mustang has doubled the number of airbags in the car, enhanced exterior lighting, added an all-new inflatable airbag seatbelt design, and adopted a full suite of peripheral crash sensors. Not to mention, semi-autonomous technologies like Adaptive Cruise Control and driver assist features like BLIS cross-traffic alert, and SYNC 911 Assist, are all also available on the 2015 Ford Mustang.

So as you dream about the glory of owning the brand new 2015 Ford Mustang, you can let your dreams run wild knowing that it has earned a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program testing! If you're ready to make your dreams a reality, come see us! 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.
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Summer Driving Safety Tips

WESTLAND, Mich. - Each time summer rolls around, many can't wait to experience driving with the windows down and the wind in your hair. As summer is usually associated with nice weather, nobody tends to think about the dangers of driving during these warm months. In fact, according to Ford Motor Company, a new survey showed that many parents and teens believe the winter months to be the season with the most accidents - especially for teen drivers. This is, in fact, not true, as summer has revealed to have the highest number of teen driver fatalities.

While it is a combination of multiple factors, the survey seemed to suggest that this is because many drivers speed because of nice driving conditions; there are more distractions such as loud music and friends; and safe driving habits are not enforced. Knowing that it is important to be safe, no matter the season, we have a few summer driving safety tips:

Be Aware of Holidays
Did you know that July 4th is the deadliest day of the year to drive? With so many people traveling to be with friends and family, be aware that there will be a large amount of people on a small stretch of highway. If you can't avoid the highway, be vigilant and aware of those around you. By practicing safe driving habits, the holiday can be a safe and happy one for all.

Prep Your Car
The summer heat takes a toll on all vehicles, so make sure to check your fluids and listen for any abnormal sounds.  If you have any questions or concerns, or simply need help maintaining your car, we can assist you at North Brothers Ford.

Limit Your Distractions
It's easy to be distracted during the summer since it's so tempting to roll the windows down, blare the music and have fun with your passengers. It's okay to have fun, but limit your distractions by having a passenger adjust the radio, navigate GPS, make phone calls, text, etc. Let your passengers assist you with the distractions, while you focus on getting to your destination safely.

Don't Speed
Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination so you aren't tempted to speed. During the winter, we're used to accounting for weather conditions to make sure we arrive safely and on time. But give yourself time during the summer too, and make sure that you're obeying all traffic laws too.

Buckle Up
This is possibly one of the most important safety tips we could give you, as buckling up is so important - and against the law if you don't! Statistics show that seat belt usage is lowest among teenagers, even though seat belts are the number 1 life-saving device in accidents.

Summer is a great time of year, especially after spending anywhere from 5-8 months in dreaded Michigan winter. By following these summer driving safety tips, you can ensure the safety of you, your passengers and your fellow drivers. Summer is about having fun in the sunshine, so enjoy the warm months and be safe!

Want to get your vehicle looked over before the heat sets in? Bring it in to our Plymouth Area Ford Dealership location and our specialists can answer any questions that you may have! We can also help you get into a new vehicle if you're looking for a new ride this summer. With a huge selection of Low Mileage Pre-Owned Cars and Certified Pre-Owned Cars For Sale, we can help you find a car you will love.

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+