Why Ford Maintenance Matters So Much

After the engine, your transmission plays the most important role in your car. When a transmission runs into trouble, your wheels stop turning. If transmission problems aren't caught and fixed early on, they can rapidly lead to extremely costly repair or replacement jobs. With this in mind, let's look at four clear signs that you need transmission repair. Your Fluid Is Leaking The heat and pressure generated inside a Ford car's gearbox require a high level of lubrication. Transmission fluid services this function, as well as keeping the temperature down, cleaning out debris from the gears, maintaining hydraulic pressure, and preventing a buildup of rust and oxidization.If your fluid starts to leak, your transmission will rapidly overheat and run into all kinds of trouble. Transmission fluid is most often reddish in hue, and you'll often spot it pooling under your car in the case of a leak. Don't hesitate to have a mechanic inspect a potential leak of transmission fluid. more Your Gears Are Slipping Any difficulty in changing gears indicates significant gearbox problems. Gear slippage can be caused by worn-down gear teeth, issues with the torque converter, or low fluid levels.When gears are slipping, you'll also hear unusual engine revving whenever you shift gears. Sometimes, your gears will even change all on their own or suddenly shift into neutral. This puts you and your passengers at risk, so the only place you should drive to with slipping gears is your nearest automobile repair shop. Your Hearing Grinding Noises When fluid is aging or leaking, lubrication is low and gears begin grinding loudly against each other. If you hear grinding from below when you gearshift, then there's a great deal of damage happening in your transmission. It's best to have it checked before the problem gets any worse. You might only need to top up your transmission fluid. You Smell Burning Fluid When left unchanged long enough, transmission fluid begins to wear down and even burn in the relentless heat of the gearbox. You can sometimes smell this burning from inside the cabin. It's never wise to ignore a burning smell in your car, no matter the source. Change Your Fluid Every 30,000 to 60,000 Miles The lion's share of transmission problems are caused by aging, burning, or leaking fluid. You can avoid most gearbox trouble by always keeping your fluid fresh. For Ford drivers, it's recommended to have your transmission fluid changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Because you can ruin a modern Ford transmission by putting in the wrong type of fluid or too much fluid, it's best to have a professional do this for you. Visit Franklin Ford today to have friendly, experienced technicians refresh your transmission fluid and repair any gearbox faults too. We're a well-established, locally trusted dealership and we pride ourselves on the consistently high quality of our customer service, whatever your needs might be.

An alternator is a mini electrical generator. This mini generator is powered by the turning crankshaft and produces electricity for all your car's systems. In time, the alternator can get worn or damaged and you'll need an alternator repair. As your Ford dealer, we can repair or replace it. These are a few signs that your alternator may be failing. Dead Battery A dead battery could be due to age, or it could be a sign of a worn alternator. A car battery has a lifespan of three to five years before it wears out. If your battery is newer than this, the most likely cause of the problem is a worn alternator. As your alternator ages, it will become weaker and produce less electricity. The alternator is responsible for charging your battery. The battery uses a large amount of power to start your engine, and it depends on the replenishment of this energy by the alternator. A weak alternator, however, may not fully recharge your battery. Each time you start your engine, your battery will weaken until it dies. We can test your alternator and replace it if it's worn out. more Grinding Noises A grinding sound from the engine is never a good sign. This noise suggests that a component has broken, and the broken parts are causing additional damage. When the crankshaft turns, the alternator belt runs across the alternator pulley and causes it to spin. The alternator is connected to the alternator pulley, and it sits on bearings that allow it to turn. The bearings are subject to friction, and this friction can damage them. If one of the bearings breaks, it will produce a grinding noise as the damaged bearing continues to move. Your alternator will become weaker as the damaged bearing prevents it from spinning as fast as it is designed to. Our technicians will examine the bearings, and we can replace any damaged ones. Dim Lights Dim headlights could be a sign that the bulbs are about to blow. If your cabin and dash lights are also dim, the most likely cause is a worn alternator. As we saw above, a worn alternator gradually produces less and less power. This reduced power supply will eventually mean that even components that require limited power will suffer. The dim lights mean your alternator is close to failing. You will also see that the check battery light will illuminate due to the limited available power. If the alternator is the cause of the problem, your electrical problems will disappear when we replace it. There are many other signs of a worn alternator. Call us at Franklin Ford, and our technicians will test the alternator for you.

The Ford Explorer's been around for more than 30 years, and for good reason. It delivers durability and strength while adding all of the features that modern drivers love. Go from towing a heavy load to listening to your favorite music on a relaxing night drive with ease. Here are just a few reasons why we love the 2022 Ford Explorer. 1. FordPass Remote Start Get your Ford ready to drive without stepping foot in the vehicle. From the comfort of where you're sitting, you can use the FordPass app to remote start your car. This option is great for warmer and colder weather when you want to give the car a few seconds to heat up or cool off. You can also use the remote system to lock and unlock your Explorer. 2. Hybrid Model Drive the car of your dreams without spending too much on gas or contributing a high amount of carbon emissions. The Limited Hybrid model lets you become a driver of the future while giving you an opportunity for adventures: it's fully capable of off-roading. more 3. Towing and Trailer Sway Control Explorers are no joke when it comes to towing. Your Explorer may be able to tow 5600 pounds. Explorers build on AdvanceTrac technology to help manage your load and prevent swaying by adjusting the brakes and engine power to keep you in control. You can also choose from the available Class IV Trailer Tow package on your 2.3L EcoBoost Engine. It's standard on the 3.0L engine. 4. Real-Wheel-Drive Speaking of towing capabilities, each Ford Explorer comes standard with RWD, the best two-wheel driving choice for towing. Not only does RWD allow you to tow more strongly and safely, but it also allows for the Explorer to have the sporty design it does. The Explorer's RWD is paired well with its customized display system and drive modes: Eco, Sport, Slippery, Normal, and Deep Snow/Sand. 5. Bike Yakima FrontLoader Let your bikes go anywhere you do with the Bike Yakima FrontLoader package. The package consists of roof-mounted bike carriers and locks. You'll also get accessories crossbars, floor mats to keep your vehicle clean, and a cargo area protector that goes behind the third seat. A Ford professional will take care of installing the system so you can secure your bikes on the roof and drive with confidence. 6. Available Twin-Panel Moonroof Everyone's had the experience of feeling a little boxed in on a long trip. Feel connected to nature even after hours in the car with the Explorer's available twin-panel moonroof. When you're driving, you can enjoy the fresh air and feel the sunlight on your arms as they grip the steering wheel. When you're stopped, the moonroof lets you stargaze from the comfort of your front seat. Few other vehicles match the breadth of features and reliable reputation that the Ford Explorer has built for itself. If you haven't driven an Explorer before, now's your chance. Contact us at Franklin Ford to see what's available.