Summer Car Care Tips

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– Vacation season is here, which means you'll be out and about a lot this summer! Making sure to take good care of your vehicle and to keep up on routine maintenance during the hot summer months can help you avoid the headache of car trouble on any trips, whether it's your commute to work or to somewhere out of state for vacation. Take advantage of our summer car care tips to protect your vehicle from sun and heat damage, keep you and your passengers comfortable, and to keep your car running well on the road!

Check Your Air Conditioning System

On scorching summer days, you won't regret keeping your A/C system properly maintained! If your A/C system is letting out little to no air or it's not cooling your cabin as quick as it used to, it may be time to have your system inspected. In some cases, your vehicle's air filter may need replacing. Getting your air filter replaced can be extremely beneficial as it will help your fuel efficiency and remove any pollen in the filter which can affect any allergies you might have, making it difficult to breathe. You'll be thankful once you get it replaced when you're stuck in traffic on a humid day!

In other cases, not receiving cool air could mean a more serious problem with your radiator or cooling system. If you're experiencing this, make sure to have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible for the sake of your engine!

Get a Car Wash

Grime and dirt can build up over time on your vehicle and it can be difficult to pay attention to, especially when you're busy having fun all summer. Although it's an easy task to ignore, it's important to keep up on car washes! This excess grime and dirt on your vehicle can cause micro scratching on the paint, which can lead to unsightly rust on vehicle's exterior. Whether you give your car a wash at home or have it washed at the car wash, make sure to top it off with a wax to even further protect your vehicle's paint. If you choose to wash your car at home, use gentle materials and soap formulated for automotive purposes to avoid any abrasion to your car's exterior. 

Park in the Shade

Whenever you get the opportunity, park in the shade! Your vehicle can heat up fairly quickly. Overtime, your vehicle's interior can become discolored and worn from UV rays, so regularly parking in the shade can help fight the aging process. The hot temperature can also wear down other components like tires, brake fluid, belts and hoses, and make them more susceptible to damage. As simple as it seems, parking in the shade will help to extend the life of your vehicle. Plus, you'll be thankful when you get back in your vehicle and it's not blazing hot. 

Replace Your Coolant

One of the most important parts of your vehicle, engine coolant, is used to regulate the temperature of your engine. Whether it's cooling down a warm engine on a hot day or a cold day, engine coolant plays an important role of regulating temperature in your vehicle's regular running function. Because it gets much warmer in the summer, your engine is simply more susceptible to overheating if the coolant is leaking or needs replacing. Engine coolant is typically replaced every 30,000 miles, or at the specified interval in your owner's manual. If you aren't sure when it was last replaced, we'd be happy to take a look and recommend a service date. 

Check Other Essential Fluids

Besides coolant, your other vehicle fluids should be replaced regularly to ensure your vehicle can withstand the heat and get you through all your summer adventures. Whether it's engine oil, wiper fluids, or brake fluid, each plays a very important role. Engine oil is usually replaced every 3,000-5,000 miles. Wiper fluid should be replaced as it's used to ensure you have enough liquid to clear your windshield. Brake fluid isn't something that needs replacing often, but it should be inspected if your brakes are feeling too soft or if it's taking you longer to complete a stop.

Feel free to give us a call if you have any other questions about caring for your vehicle this summer. Follow our summer car care tips for a great season on the road, and stay tuned to our blog for more car care tips, hacks, and more. If you need help with any vehicle maintenance, like an oil change, coolant flush, or vehicle inspection, let us know or schedule an appointment online. Looking for a new ride this summer? Take a look at our inventory of new Fords and stop in for a test drive. It's our goal to find you a vehicle that fits your needs and budget for all seasons! 

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+

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+

5 Tips for Washing Your Car At Home

WESTLAND, Mich.–– Everyone loves a good cleansing car wash from the sky. Yes, we're talking about purposefully parking outside for a "free car wash" when it rains; however, rain doesn't actually clean your car all that well, and it definitely doesn't provide the protection your vehicle needs post-wash. Getting the shine that you want, and the protective barrier your car's paint needs, isn't terribly difficult to do at home if you've got the right tools and tips! We're here to help. Check out our top 5 tips for washing your car at home and get to sudsing up your ride while the weather is still nice!

1. Use specialized car cleaner soap. 

Car cleaner soap, or sometimes called shampoo, is formulated to remove debris from your car's exterior without doing any damage. Other household soaps like laundry or dish detergent might seem like a good idea in a pinch, but are much too harsh for your car's paint. We recommend Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner, but any car soap will work!

2. Use microfiber tools only. 

Microfiber, along with other specialized drying tools like synthetic sheepskin, get the job done without scratching the surface of your vehicle. Even a simple dish sponge can be too rough for the paint. If you're having trouble removing smushed bugs, tree sap, and other spots, seek out specialized cleaner. You can use other methods like hot water and newspaper for removing sticky things, and dryer sheets for getting rid of stuck-on bugs.

3. Rinse your tools well and switch out the bucket water frequently.

If you're not rinsing your tools and dipping into the same bucket, you're washing your car with old grit and likely creating micro scratches on the paint. It may be tedious to rinse and repeat, but taking your time and washing your car right can help better protect your car's exterior for years to come.

4. Rinse and wash one side at a time.

To get the best shine possible, wash your car in the shade, or when the temperature is cooler. If you can't do this though, rinse and wash one side or one section at a time. When it's too hot and the sun is fully out, it's easy for your water and soap to dry directly on the paint, leaving deposit spots all over the vehicle.

5. Don't skip the wax or polish. 

It may seem time consuming, but it’s more than worth it to wax or polish your car. There are plenty of suitable products, including Nu Finish Wax-Free Car Polish, you can use after your car has completely dried. These types of products help to keep dirt and grime from scratching your vehicle, while also providing UV ray protection. Like washing, make sure to do this in the shade, or during the cooler hours of the day.

Your vehicle is what gives you freedom, and gets you where you need and want to be. It's a big investment, which is why we want to help you protect and maintain it with our 5 tips for washing your car at home. We want you to enjoy it for however long you have it, and help keep its value with car care and routine maintenance at home or in our Service Center.

In fact, we've always got information to help you out with anything from car buying and leasing, to Ford SYNC technology information, to tips and tricks on vehicle maintenance at North Brothers Ford. Make sure to also check our website for service coupons you can take advantage of to save a little bit of cash!

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+

Show Your Car Some Love with a Pre-Spring Cleaning

WESTLAND, Mich.–– One thing that goes a little neglected in the winter is our vehicles. There is routine maintenance we take care of to keep our cars running well in the winter, however the interiors of our cars probably need a little TLC. The cold weather and the early setting sun make it easy for us to head inside and snuggle up on the couch until bed time. Now that we're seeing a little warmer weather in Michigan, and we're getting closed to spring it's the perfect time to get a jump start on some spring cleaning. Valentine's Day is over but you can still show your car some love with a pre-spring cleaning. It doesn't have to be a complete overhaul, but there's a few things you can do to make your ride feel refreshed and get you prepped for that spring feeling.

• Clean off your floor mats. Take them out of your car and give them a good whack to release the salty dust, and make sure to brush off any crumbs, dirt, etc. 
• Vacuum your seats and floors if you can. There are vacuums available at some carwashes, otherwise you can use your home vacuum and an extension cord to get the job done. 
• Wipe off your plastic surfaces. Lysol wipes are perfect for doing the job, and some varieties are anti-bacterial incase you've been driving around with a cold. You may also consider a plastic restoring polish to make the inside really shine, which you can find in the car isle at your local grocery/department store. 
• Put the windows down. Weather permitting, you can air out any strange smells with a drive around the block with the windows open. 
• Get a car wash. It's necessary if you want to care for your car during the winter, especially if you park in a garage. Rust and corrosion can occur when oxygen meets condensation on metal, and salt can speed up the process. Getting a car wash will make it look good on the outside and help get rid of the harmful salt buildup. 
• Install an air freshener. There are plenty of choices of scents and types like ones that hang from your rearview mirror, ones that attach to your vents, and ones that sit in your cupholder that will make your car feel fresh.
• Clean out the trash. Take out all the trash from your front and back seats including what's in the door and seat pockets. You can keep a bag to help store all your garbage in one place in the future. 

A new car is a big investment, and we want to encourage you to take care of it to extend it's lifespan. We can help you achieve the more complicated stuff like winter maintenance services including oil changes, brake inspections, tire installations, and more. We'll keep you updated on how to take care of your car all year on the seasonal maintenance page on our website! 

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+