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

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How to Check Your Brakes During Brake Safety Awareness Month

WESTLAND, Mich.––This August is dedicated to brake safety. While they may not always be on your routine maintenance schedule, they should be! Your brakes may only need to be replaced every once and a while, depending on your driving style and frequency of use, but they can be easily inspected to ensure your safety on the road. There are also signs you can look out for in the case your brakes have a problem or need replacing. Below we'll tell you how to check your brakes during Brake Safety Awareness Month because we care about your safety on the road!

First off, let's go over how brakes work! Although it may seem simple, it's a system made of many parts and has the big job of stopping or slowing down your moving car. Your brakes use hydraulic pressure so a simple press of your brake pedal can be transferred into pressure on the brake rotors. Check out the video below for a visual example of brakes in action.

Now we'll go over some signs you may be having brake issues:

-You hear squealing or grinding while braking. If you hear grinding, don't wait any longer for a service appointment because your brakes are too worn and won't be able to effectively stop the car. A squealing noise may not need immediate service, but will need attention soon. Your brakes are designed to make that noise to indicate that the pads need changing.

-Your brakes feel soft when you press. Are your brakes taking more pressure to stop? Or does the brake feel 'soft' or 'spongy'? This could mean your brake fluid needs replacing. You'll want to get your car into our Service Center as soon as possible!

-Your dashboard brake warning light is on. Even if you don't feel or hear anything strange when applying your brakes, you'll still need to have them inspected. The sensor on your brake detected something in order to make the light turn on. Check out our new Dashboard Warning Light Guide for a full run down of all your dash lights, what they mean, and what to do when one lights up.

-Your steering wheel shakes when you brake. This could mean you have warped brake rotors. The uneven surface of the rotors is what causes the shaking when you brake. If the shaking is intense enough to disrupt your driving, it's time to schedule a service appointment as soon as possible. Your brake rotors will need to be replaced eventually, so it's a good idea to have them inspected even if the shaking is minimal.

-Your brakes are visibly shedding metallic flakes. This is a clear sign your brakes are wearing quickly. If you see flakes near your brakes, have them inspected to ensure your brakes structural integrity on the road.

Testing your brakes is as simple as using them and paying attention! You can otherwise check with your eyes. Most vehicles allow you to see the brake pad through the wheel. If the brake pad looks too thin, think less than .25", then it most likely needs replacement. Some brake pads have a wear indicator slot in the middle. If the slot looks like it's not there, then it most likely needs replacement. If you need help checking your brakes or would like a more thorough inspection, we'd be happy to do so at your next oil change at North Brothers!

We want to ensure you have a reliable vehicle that can get you from point A to point B without compromising your safety. This all depends on the routine maintenance you do on your vehicle, and we're here to help make that happen. We'll not only show you how to check your brakes during Brake Safety Awareness Month, but also provide you help on everything else. We regularly update our website with helpful information and tips about routine and seasonal maintenance. Plus, you can schedule your service appointment online, so your entire routine maintenance experience is easy. We're always here to help and answer any questions you might have regarding brake service or any other auto service you might need. Don't forget to check our coupons page for ways to help you save on auto service at North Brothers.

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+