Time for New Tires? Visit Your Ford Dealership

There are many different signs that your vehicle needs maintenance or a repair. As your Ford dealership, we want to tell you some of the signs you need to visit us for a professional service. Strange Smells Musty, earthy smells in the cabin, the odor of burning plastic or rubber, or the smell of hot metal are all signs something is wrong. As time passes, components gradually wear out, and this can lead to trouble if they're not replaced. Regular servicing prevents all these issues, as our technicians can identify potential problems and fix them. Burning plastic usually means damaged wiring. Electricity will continue to flow into a wire up to the break, causing it to overheat and burn the protective insulation. A burning rubber smell is caused by old transmission fluid overheating in the hot transmission. An earthy, musty smell means bacteria have infested the AC ducts and need to be removed. Our technicians can quickly fix these and any of these issues. more Illuminated Warning Lights Your Ford contains a vast network of sensors that receive instructions from and relay information to your car's computer so it can make decisions. The sensors also monitor the component they're connected to and warn the computer if the component is malfunctioning. If the computer can't correct the issue, it logs it with an error code and illuminates the warning light most directly related to the problem. If a warning light comes on, contact our service department and we'll investigate. Sensors can detect minute changes in their connected component, so the quicker we fix the issue, the greater the chance we can prevent a serious problem. Colored Exhaust Smoke Normal exhaust smoke is often difficult to see. If the exhaust suddenly vents blue, black, or thick white smoke, it's time to visit our service department ASAP. Blue smoke means an oil leak into the cylinders, which can be caused by damaged cylinder seals or a worn gasket. Thick, white exhaust smoke is caused by an engine coolant leak due to a crack in the head gasket, a protective seal that prevents oil and coolant from mixing in the engine. Black exhaust smoke means the catalytic converter isn't correctly converting the dangerous chemicals produced by combustion. If your Ford isn't working as well as it should, we can fix it. Contact us today at Courtesy Ford in Altoona, PA.

Replacing your car's battery before it dies saves you from the headache and hassle of being stranded by a vehicle that won't start. But how can you tell when it's time for a new car battery from your Ford dealership? There are several signs that your battery may be nearing the end of its life. Your Car Doesn't Start As Easily as It Used To Does it seem more difficult to start your vehicle? If it takes a couple of tries to get your engine to turn over, or if your engine shuts down soon after your start, your battery may be declining. The battery provides the power to start your engine, and starting can become difficult if the battery is holding less of a charge. If you have to frequently resort to jump-starting to get the vehicle going, that's another sure sign that your battery needs to be checked out and possibly replaced. Your Battery Looks and Smells Bad It's a good idea to pop the hood of your vehicle and check your battery out every once in a while. If your battery case appears swollen or bulging, it may be about to rupture. And if your battery is emitting the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, your battery may be emitting sulfuric acid and need replacement. Sulfuric acid is a fire hazard, and it can cause other types of damage to your car, so you'll want to act quickly to replace the battery. Your Dashboard Light Is On Sometimes it's easy to miss the cues that your battery is starting to decline. Life has a way of getting busy, and maybe you hadn't noticed that your car was slowly becoming more difficult to start. Fortunately, most vehicles today have a dashboard warning light that comes on if there's an emerging battery or starting issue. That warning light doesn't always mean that you need a new battery, but it does mean that you need to get your battery checked out. The next time that light comes on, schedule an appointment with our service department. Your Headlights and Other Electrical Functions Seem Weaker In addition to providing the power to start your engine, your battery also powers a host of other electrical functions on your vehicle, including the headlights, cabin lights, windshield wipers, and the stereo system. If your lights don't seem as bright, or if those other electrical functions seem sluggish, you may need to have your battery checked out. We can quickly and easily test your battery and determine if it's time for a new one. When you're ready to schedule your next service appointment, give us a call at Courtesy Ford Lincoln.

Your Ford requires regular checkups and maintenance to allow it to work at its best. If you're in Altoona, PA your friendly Ford dealership can provide all the services your car needs to keep it in great shape. These are just a few of the many types of services that we offer. Oil Changes Most drivers never really think about their oil, but clean, high-quality oil is vital for your engine's performance. Oil is continually pumped through the engine by the oil pump, and it lubricates all the moving parts so they can work more efficiently. Many engine parts produce friction, and lubricated protects them with a friction-resistant coating. Healthy oil also reduces rust and protects against engine blockages. Your car's manual lists the type of oil your engine uses and provides a schedule for its replacement. As time passes, older oil loses many of its special properties, and this reduces engine efficiency. During an oil change, we test the oil, then drain it and refill your engine with clean oil. We will also remove and replace the oil filter to allow the oil to flow freely. Wheel Alignment Wheel alignment refers to the angle of your wheels. The correct angle for your wheels is scientifically engineered to ensure fuel efficiency, reduce wear on your tires, and ensure safety when driving. When you first get behind the wheel of your new Ford, its wheel alignment is perfect. As time passes, your wheel alignment can veer off track, and this can result in unnecessary wear and tear. During a wheel alignment, we'll raise your car on a hydraulic lift and connect it to our wheel alignment computer. This machine will analyze your Ford's wheel alignment and compare it to the correct alignment for your model. The computer then proceeds to make a series of adjustments to the wheels until they're correctly aligned. You'll notice the difference as soon as you drive away. Brake Maintenance Your brakes are the most important safety feature of your Ford, as they allow you to control your speed at any time. The braking system consists of numerous components. All of these components require regular maintenance to allow your braking system to work effectively. Some components, like the brake pads, need to be replaced on a fairly regular schedule. We also provide a complete brake service, where our Ford-trained technicians will carefully examine all the braking system components. During this service, they make any necessary adjustments to the braking system, replace worn or damaged parts, and check for any potential damage. We have numerous other services available. Call us today at Courtesy Ford Lincoln.