4 Car Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Ford in Great Shape for Years

An overheating engine can blow a gasket or even seize up altogether. Your cooling system prevents this from happening. But without a fully functioning radiator, your engine won't stay cool for long. So if you ever notice the following three signs of radiator problems, visit your local Ford dealer right away for radiator repair. Does Your Ford Need a Radiator Repair? Your Engine's Overheating The first sign of radiator trouble is often an overheating engine. When this happens, you'll usually hear loud ticking or thumping sounds as your engine starts to malfunction. You might detect a burning smell, the engine's power will drop, the hood will become hot to the touch, and you might even see smoke emerging from the front of your car. Always keep an eye on the engine temperature gauge on your Ford's dashboard. If the dial begins to creep up, pull over and check your engine and your cooling system. More often than not, overheating is caused by a faulty radiator. You Find Rust on Your Radiator Engine parts can become exposed to moisture over time, especially in cold or damp environments. Any build-up of rust will eventually damage a radiator, creating coolant leaks or interfering with the mechanical parts. The more you use your car, the less likely its parts are to gather rust. This is because the heat of a working engine steams away moisture. So if you live in cold or damp conditions, try to use your vehicle at least once a day. Also, check your engine often and scrub away any initial signs of rust while they're still minor. more You See Leaking Coolant The steady flow of coolant is what keeps your engine from overheating. This specialist fluid plumps through a system that takes it continuously from the engine to the radiator and back again. As it flows, the radiator cools coolant down. And if your coolant leaks, it will no longer be able to serve its cooling function. Coolant usually has a bright color, such as yellow, green, blue, or red, which makes it easier to spot a leak. You can also check the level in your coolant container, which has markings to indicate the appropriate level. Leaks can sometimes spring around the radiator hose connections or elsewhere in the radiator. A technician will find and fix a leak for you. How a Ford Dealer Inspects Your Radiator First and foremost, a mechanic at your local dealership will check your coolant levels and top up as necessary. They'll also inspect your radiator and entire cooling system for indications of corrosion, rust, damage, or leaks. This process includes running pressure tests on various components such as the radiator cap, thermostat, and fans. Have your radiator examined today by experienced technicians at Ken Ganley Ford West. We're the dealership of choice for Ford drivers in Northeast Ohio. Our welcoming team of knowledgeable professionals is dedicated to giving every single customer the region's very best service.

Most Ford vehicles need to have their tires rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. This interval varies by model, so be sure to check your owner's manual. You might be wondering why switching your tires around is so important. In answer to that, here are four good reasons to visit your local Ford dealer for tire rotation two or three times a year. 4 Benefits of Getting a Tire Rotation for Your Ford Stay Safer on the Road The tires of any car are put under an unequal amount of pressure. The uneven weight distribution or power of a front or rear-wheel drive ensures that one or two tires are wearing down faster. This uneven wear occurs in the tread depth of each tire. Tread depth is the primary thing that keeps your tires from losing traction on sharp curves of the road. It's unwise to let just one or two tires wear down to a much farther degree than the others. All it takes is a single tire losing traction to cause a skid. Regular rotation greatly mitigates this risk. more Keep Proper Wheel Alignment Various factors can cause ever-so-slight misalignment in your wheels. It might be an underlying issue with your suspension or steering or resulting from a pothole impact. Also, a worn ball joint, faulty strut, or worn down tie rod might cause camber issues: a slightly tilting wheel. When left undetected, these problems lead tire treads to wear excessively on the inside or outside. This will further exacerbate the misalignment or camber issue, which eventually poses a safety risk to the driver and also forces you to replace your tires more frequently. Each time you go in for rotation, your technician will detect and repair any such problems. Save Cash on New Tires As tires are almost always bought in sets of four, replacing your tires isn't an insignificant cost. Tires typically last for 40,000 to 60,000 miles. And periodical rotation helps your tires survive closer to the 60,000-mile mark. Over the entire lifespan of your Ford, this might mean just four or five sets of tires rather than six or seven. That could easily be an extra one or two thousand dollars, or even more, in your pocket. Keep Your Warranty Valid Last but not least, it's always worth maintaining a valid warranty. If you have a tire warranty, you can rest assured that your tires will be replaced at no cost in the case of premature failure. But all tire warranties stipulate regular rotation as a condition for validity. So check how often both your warranty and car owner manual recommend rotation and stick to the suggested schedule. How a Ford Dealer Rotates Your Tires When you go in for rotation, the whole process usually takes about an hour. The technician will raise your car and inspect the tires, wheels, and axles. Any underlying problems found can be fixed at this point. They'll then swap the tires around using one of three patterns: the rearward cross, the forward cross, or the diagonal cross. The choice of the pattern depends on your vehicle's make and model. Have your tires inspected, rotated, or replaced today at Ken Ganley Ford West. We're the region's one-stop shop for all things Ford.

As a four-door pickup with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and a roomy interior, the 2023 Ford Maverick offers off-road versatility alongside impressive performance. With a shorter bed length than many of its rivals, it can more easily pivot its way out of tight spaces, while its cabin comes with the latest in cutting-edge tech features to make every drive enjoyable. For a closer look at the all-new Maverick, here's a sneak peek of some of its many standout features. A Sneak Peek at the 2023 Ford Maverick Performance With three distinctive trim levels available, XL, XLT, and Lariat, there are plenty of different performance options available, including two powerful engines. The first is a full hybrid engine that sports 191 horsepower, and with this gas-electric combo, you can get an estimated 500 miles down the road before you need to refuel again. The other option, a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, churns out 250 horses and gives the truck a 4,000-pound tow rating when you pair it with the 4K Tow Package. more Interior Although it has a shorter bed than many other trucks, which gives it a unique appearance, the Maverick's cab is a spacious SuperCrew-styled one. This leaves plenty of room inside to seat as many as five passengers, and the seating options themselves vary from power-adjustable heated seats to a rear-folding bench seat in the back. To protect cargo that you don't want to leave in the bed, there are 33 cubic feet of space available in the cabin, as well as an under-seat storage container, where it can stay hidden and out of the way. Technology To stay connected to the Internet, access satellite radio channels, or make and take phone calls while driving, there's both SYNC 3 and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot available. SYNC 3 is an infotainment system that pairs with an 8-inch touchscreen display to give you your choice of using either your voice or your hands to control everything from music selections to navigational info. The mobile hotspot allows you to connect up to eight devices simultaneously, and if anyone's smartphones need to be charged, there's a wireless charging pad available, as well. Safety The Maverick's safety features are all impressive, such as the Blind Spot Information System, which warns you of nearby vehicles, while the Auto High-Beam Headlamps automatically adjust to different lighting conditions. There's also the intuitive Adaptive Cruise Control, which lets you pre-select a speed for the truck to stay at while it uses both braking and acceleration to keep some distance between you and other vehicles in your lane. As stylish as it is easy to handle, the 2023 Maverick is perfect for both work and play with its off-road versatility, modern technology, and multiple performance options. Contact us today at Ken Ganley Ford West to see all of its other features or to get behind the wheel for a test drive.