Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

There are probably not many people who don’t know what their “Check Engine” lights look like. This little mystery light has probably come on in almost every car ever made at one point or another. And the funny thing is that many mechanics are just as stumped as you are when you take your car in to see why the light came on in the first place.

Of course, there are the obvious reasons: you let the engine run too low on oil, there’s a short in the dashboard lights or any one of many other reasons. And many car owners experience the horror story of paying hundreds of dollars to fix the problem only to have the light come back on within hours of leaving the service station.

If you check your dash, though, you’ll notice that the warning lights are color-coded. The “Check Engine” light is yellow, which means that there’s nothing seriously wrong yet. But it’s in your best interest to get the car checked as soon as possible. The red lights are the ones that mean something serious is wrong and you need to pull over right away and turn off the car. By this time, though, the damage is probably done already.

But if you have a certified Ford, you don’t have to worry about any costs associated with the “Check Engine” light. As long as you keep up with the vehicle’s preventative maintenance such as oil changes, tune ups and other services, you won’t have out-of-pocket costs when the yellow light comes on. Think of how much peace of mind that brings to car ownership and visit a Ford dealer today.

Continuing on our series of posts regarding cars in the future, here’s the fourth thing your car will be able to do that it can’t do now:

Financial Transactions

How many times have you pulled up to the drive-thru at McDonald’s or another restaurant chain late at night and realized you had forgotten your wallet? This won’t be a problem with cars in 2020. A small microprocessor will hold all of your financial information. And by then, restaurants will have the technology to communicate with your car and debit your account in a matter of seconds.

If you live in a state with toll roads, you might already have an early version of this technology. Some cars already carry a microchip that a sophisticated toll booth can read so drivers barely have to slow down as they go through the toll area. But, according to car analysts, this is just an early “primitive” version of what’s to come.

You might be wondering how a person can authorize a purchase at the restaurant, though, if everything operates electronically. By then, most navigation systems might have an electronic pad that you can sign in order to authorize the purchase. You’ve probably seen these at department stores where the cashier asks you to sign a screen instead of paper. This will be the same concept. Devices might even use a fingerprint or a retina scan instead of a signature for extra security.

Can you imagine getting a certified Ford during the time when these cars are popular? You’ll be so retro! Let’s hope “retro” is as cool then as it is now.

Come back tomorrow for the final (and possibly most exciting) installment of this five-part series.

For a Ford vehicle in 2008, please visit our Ford dealers - St. Louis, MO and our Illinois Ford dealership.

We all know that we can use the cruise control feature on a certified Ford or other vehicle when we’re driving down the highway. But did you know you can use it in other ways to help you save gas mileage?

Intrigued? Keep reading.

By accelerating slowly from a complete stop, you save gas. You can accelerate slowly with the gas pedal, but you can also use the “accel” button on your cruise control feature. Actually, the label could vary, but it’s the button that allows you to accelerate with the cruise control engaged.

With this button, your vehicle will only accelerate in small intervals. When you click the button, you can accelerate between ½ mph to 1 mph with each click. Or you can simply hold it down and continue to accelerate smoothly at a slow rate.

Unfortunately, some vehicles only allow you to engage the cruise control feature after you reach a certain speed. But you can slowly accelerate up to that speed and then use the acceleration button from there when needed.

Instead of braking to cancel the cruise control, it’s much more fuel-efficient to simply click the cruise control button that cancels the feature. Only use this button when you don’t need to stop quickly. After a while, you can almost start driving with just your thumbs and barely use your feet at all!

For fuel-efficient Ford vehicles, visit our Ford dealer in Missouri or our Waterloo area Ford dealers.

Nobody ever wants to be stuck in a situation where a survival kit is needed. But once you find yourself in this type of predicament, it’s too late to wish you had put together some necessities beforehand. But do you know what you should include in an emergency kit for your certified Ford? Here are some suggestions to keep you safe until help arrives.

1. Water is the most important necessity. Keep a gallon of water or a few bottles of water in your trunk at all times. If you live in a region that gets cold during the winter, empty out some of the water or else the bottles could bust open when they freeze.

2. Food comes next. Canned foods that offer protein (beans, vegetables) are great if you keep a can opener in your car as well. Or, if you prefer, keep some beef jerky or other non-perishable and easy-to-eat foods in your trunk.

3. Keep some soft materials handy as well as a change of clothes. You might get out and explore where you are  once you get stuck. If it’s snowy or rainy outside, you’ll want to change clothes afterwards so you can stay warm. The soft materials serve as makeshift pillows and blankets. 

4. Emergency equipment is essential, too. Keep a pair of jumper cables with you at all times as well as a flashlight, a fresh supply of batteries, matches, candles, and a shovel for digging out your vehicle.

5. Keep a first aid kit in your trunk. Bandages, medication, gauze and other essentials will come in handy if you get stuck somewhere with an injury.

6. Even if you don’t like to have a regular cell phone, you can still get an emergency cell phone that will only call 911. This is a great item to keep with you in your vehicle. It could get help to you in a matter of minutes instead of hours or days.

Don’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere without the supplies you need to survive. A few minutes of preparation might just save your life.

With spring approaching fast and thoughts of snow-free roads dancing in our minds, you might be wondering what to do with those bulky snow tires on your certified Ford. If you live in a cold climate where it snows a lot during the winter, this is probably an issue you deal with each year. If you’ve always wondered about the best way to store those tires when you’re not using them, here are some suggestions to take out all the guesswork.

1. Make sure you store the tires in a cool and dry place that is also well-ventilated. Basements are a great place if you have that as an option because they tend to be cooler than a garage during the warmer months.

2. Try to keep the tires away from devices that create ozone. Motors, generators and furnaces can cause harm to your tires after a while.

3. Don’t place your tires on the ground when storing them. Instead, place a flat piece of clean wood on the ground and lay the tires on top of it.

4. Most people think it’s best to store tires on their sides, but that’s wrong. It can cause the tires to become distorted and possibly to wear unevenly. Instead, stack them upright as if they were on the car.

5. Store the tires in a place where water can’t reach them. Water can damage tires if present for a while. It can also bring mosquitoes and other problems.

6. Make sure the white lettering on the tires isn’t rubbing against the black rubber of the tires. This can cause the letters to become faded or even unnoticeable.

Have you ever thought about adding spoilers to your certified Ford? Chances are that you’ve seen these contraptions on other cars traveling down the road. And you’ve definitely seen these if you’ve ever watched a NASCAR race. But you might not know exactly what they do (besides make a car look uber cool).

Spoilers typically help make cars go faster. They do this in a couple of ways. First, they break through the air resistance that vehicles encounter at higher speeds. With dissipated resistance, your car can break through the air with less effort. This also increases the vehicle’s fuel efficiency because it takes less effort to move. You probably never noticed, but there are also spoilers underneath the front bumpers of some vehicles to break through the air resistance.

Spoilers also give the driver more control over the car. By adding weight to the back of the car, they keep the rear wheels on the ground at higher speeds. This gives the car better traction and performance when making fast turns.

You can find specialty shops that will install spoilers on your Ford. Many sports cars already come with these devices, too. But now that you know exactly what they do and what they are for, you can decide if you want to install an aftermarket spoiler or not.

One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle is to insure it properly. With the rising gas prices and increasing inflation, I know the last thing you want to think about is insurance. But fortunately, there are several ways you can save money and get great deals while still keeping your certified Ford covered. Here are some suggestions so you don’t need to break your budget when making your premium payments.

• Shop Online
With the Internet, it’s so easy to compare prices on almost anything. Auto insurance is no different. You can either go to your favorite insurance company’s website to get quotes or go to comparison websites where you can get the prices from several different insurance companies.

• Stay Claim-Free
It might be too late for you to do this, but if you don’t have any claims on your record, try to keep it that way. Of course, if you are involved in a major accident or something else major happens, you can break this rule. But making a claim for small little dents and other minor problems increases your premiums much more than the actual cost of fixing the problem.

• Listen to the Commercials
The Allstate commercial says that you don’t want to wait until you get into an accident before realizing you need insurance. That’s so true. Get insurance as soon as you pick up your car from the car lot or even before. If you get into an accident as an uninsured driver, that could cause higher premiums in the future.

• Go with a Reputable Company
These fly-by-night insurance companies can leave you stranded uninsured or even take months to approve your application. Stick with the companies that have been around for years to ensure you get the best coverage without any surprises.

• Maintain Good Credit
More and more companies these days are basing your premium prices, at least in part, on your credit score. Many times, maintain a decent credit score reduces your premiums.

To purchase a certified Ford, visit our Ford dealers in St. Louis MO or our Ford dealerships in Waterloo.

If you own a beautiful certified Ford, chances are that you want to keep it looking as new as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to keep your cloth upholstered seats looking fresh. Here are some tips to protect and preserve the seats in your car so you can enjoy it for many years to come.

• Don’t allow smoking in your car. Nothing can ruin a car’s upholstery faster than cigarettes. The odor of smoke can destroy the entire smell of the car. The smoke can also cause the upholstery to turn yellow. That’s not even mentioning the strong possibility of burning holes in the upholstery with a dropped cigarette.

• Vacuum the upholstery once every two to three weeks. This removes any dirt, debris and dust that has built up into the cracks and crevices. A regular cleaning schedule keeps the dirt from getting embedded into the cushions.

• Use a mild cleanser if you notice any stains or spots. Baking soda completely diluted in water is a safe choice for cleaning the spots. You can also find a variety of gentle cleaning products at your local auto parts store as well.

• Don’t allow pets in your vehicle. Their claws can tear  the fabric, and pet hair can make the upholstery dirty.

• Don’t allow riders to eat or drink in your car. This might be difficult if you have kids, but food and drink spills are tough (if not impossible) to get out of upholstery. And if one of your kids spills milk in the car, you can forget about getting that smell out for a long time!

If you want to save a few bucks on car maintenance, there is always the option of doing some things yourself. Checking and refilling fluids on your certified Ford is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your car running smoothly. But most car owners often forget about the power steering fluid. You might think you can do without this luxury if it happens to stop working. But chances are you’ve never tried to drive a vehicle without power steering capability after driving one that does have that feature.  Here are some things you should know about checking and filling your power steering fluid.

• It’s best to check the power steering fluid when the engine is cold. Many of the newer cars, however, have markings on the reservoir that show where the level should be when the engine is either hot or cold.
• The power steering fluid reservoir is usually on the passenger’s side. Look for the word “steering” on the cap or anywhere on the reservoir.
• Many newer vehicles have clear or nearly transparent reservoirs so you can simply look at the level without taking off the cap. Wipe the reservoir clean so you can get an accurate reading.
• If you must remove the cap, wipe it clean first. Dirt can mess up the power steering system.
• Once you remove the cap, you’ll see a dipstick attached to it. Wipe the dipstick clean and put the cap back on tight. Then remove it again and see where the level is for the most accurate reading.
• If the level is low, simply pour some more power steering fluid into the reservoir until it reaches the “full” or “max” level. Check your owner’s manual to see if any special types of fluid must be used.
• Reattach the cap tightly and you’re done.

It seems so simple, but power steering is one of the most important features you can have on a car. Be sure to maintain the fluid level to avoid any unexpected problems.

With talk of a recession and people trying to save money everywhere, letting your car’s fluids go unchecked is an option you just can’t afford. But many people are unaware of the best way to check fluids or even what to look for when they do check. If you own a certified Ford or another vehicle you’d like to keep for many years, preventative maintenance is essential to keep it running smoothly and prevent damage. Here are some tips for checking your transmission fluid so you’ll know exactly what you’re doing.

• Know what type of transmission fluid your vehicle uses. This might sound odd, but manual transmissions use a different kind than an automatic transmission. Check your owner’s manual to be sure which one your vehicle uses.

• For most vehicles, it’s best to check the transmission fluid while the engine is warm and running. Other vehicles require the engine to be turned off.

• Find the transmission fluid dipstick. Usually, it’s toward the back of the engine nearest the windshield, but every car is different.

• Pull the dipstick out and check the fluid level. There should be markings near the bottom of the dipstick to indicate where the operating level is and whether fluid needs to be added.

• Pull the dipstick out again to make sure your first reading was accurate.

• Wipe the dipstick onto a white piece of paper or paper towel. For most vehicles, it should be reddish and semi-transparent.

• Inspect for possible warning signs that could damage your transmission, including black flakes, black color or a burning smell. Take the vehicle to your nearest certified Ford dealer immediately as these could cause serious problems if not quickly addressed.

If your transmission fluid is low, you could have a leak. Transmission fluid doesn’t “burn” like oil does, so leaking is about the only way you could lose fluid over time.

• Add fluid in small amounts with a funnel. Keep checking the level to make sure you have the ideal level for operation.

Look for more tips this week to help prevent any unnecessary damage to your vehicle.