Ensuring timely and professional car maintenance for your Ford is by far the best way to maintain your vehicle’s value. Even more importantly, keeping your vehicle in good condition will help you avoid potentially dangerous situations on the road. Below is some friendly advice from our service experts on how you can ensure a long and healthy life for your Ford car, truck, or SUV.
1. Pay Attention to Warning Lights
Your Ford is a sophisticated machine that will communicate with your dashboard when something isn’t working quite right. There are numerous warning lights in your Ford’s computer system and you might not know what they all mean – that’s fine, just make sure you check in with your dealer when these signals pop up so that we can investigate. There is usually a simple fix, but a warning light that is ignored can eventually snowball into a bigger issue.
2. Don’t Ignore Leaks
If you notice a stain or wet spot under your car, this can be a sign there is fluid leaking from your vehicle. There could be any number of culprits, such as brake fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, or power-steering fluid. Whatever the source may be, a leak needs to be fixed in a hurry! Dwindling fluids can have a severe negative impact on your car’s components.
3. Get Regular Oil Changes
As far as vehicle maintenance goes, this one is the most basic. Regular oil changes by a certified technician are a must to keep your Ford in the best shape possible. Recommended oil change intervals are usually about 6 months. Make sure you also swap out the filter!
4. Check Your Tires
Our hot San Antonio weather puts a lot of wear and tear on your tires. The constant friction of rubber against hot pavement can run your tires down in a hurry, so it’s important to regularly check the pressure and look for spots that are getting thin. Tires that aren’t inflated properly can really affect your traction and stability on the road.
5. Do a Coolant Flush
Maintaining your vehicle’s cooling system in good working order is important no matter where you live, but extreme temperatures make your cooling system even more essential. Waste matter can build up in old coolant making it impossible for this vital fluid to work efficiently. A coolant flush can easily solve this problem – ask your technician!
6. Don’t Forget The Spark Plugs
A sometimes-overlooked component of your vehicle is the simple spark plug. These small plugs are critical elements of your Ford’s engine, ensuring that all the electrical components work together smoothly. Over time the plugs and wires that connect them to your engine can start to break down. If the plugs and wires aren’t replaced in time, your car might not start.
7. Get a Brake Inspection
If there’s any part of your vehicle that needs to be in perfect working order, it’s the brakes. Brake pads should be replaced after about 50,000 miles, but you may need new ones sooner depending on your driving habits. The brake rotors will last much longer than the pads, but should still be checked on a regular basis.
8. Give it a Good Wash
Keeping your car clean is not just for show! Leaving residue on the surface for long periods of time can eventually dull the finish. Some material, such as bird droppings, can actually be corrosive to the paint finish if not removed in a timely manner. Taking the extra step of adding a coat of wax once or twice per year can keep your car looking shiny and new for years to come.
9. Stay in a Regular Car Maintenance Routine
The biggest favor you can do for your vehicle is ensuring regular service checkups with a Ford-certified technician. A qualified service expert will be able to spot any small issues before they become major (and very expensive) repairs.
Let us help you keep your Ford car, truck, or SUV in top condition! Contact us at Jordan Ford in San Antonio, TX to schedule your next maintenance checkup.
Connect with us
