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Your car's differentials ensure smooth and safe cornering by allowing the wheels to rotate at differing speeds. It's quite common for drivers to overlook the differentials when thinking of maintenance. But this negligence can lead to costly and even hazardous problems. The following Ford differential maintenance guidelines will make sure your vehicle continues to handle corners with precision, balance, and optimal control. Change the Differential Fluid As with most vital car parts, the fluid is key to differential health. The gears inside each differential need this fluid to stay fully lubricated. Differential fluid also minimizes wear and helps to control the temperature. You'll need to change this fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, a straightforward service you can schedule with us. more Inspect the Seals and Gears At least once a year, it's advisable to have the gaskets and seals of your differentials professionally examined. If any seals are found to be wearing out, we can repair or replace them before the fluid starts to leak. Our technicians can also open up the differentials to inspect the gears and ensure they're not chipped, rounded out, or otherwise damaged. Identify Differential Problems All drivers should keep an eye out for mysterious pools of fluid under their cars. If you notice dripping fluid beneath the wheel axles, it's likely to be a differential fluid leak, which will need to be repaired at once. Other signs of a malfunctioning differential include whining or whirring noises, difficulty cornering smoothly, excess vibrations, and a burning smell. Keep Your Tires in Great Shape The wheels and tires of a car are directly connected to the differentials via the axles. If your tires are uneven, unbalanced, or misaligned, excess pressure will be put on the axles, suspension, and differentials. This is why it's so important to keep your tires in excellent form. Firstly, have your tires rotated at least twice a year. This keeps them uniform in size and helps them last longer. You'll also need to balance each tire. And continuous bumps against potholes and curbs can move wheels slightly out of alignment, which strains the differentials; so, every time you have your tires rotated, ask for an alignment check as well. Book Routine Ford Differential Maintenance Most drivers will struggle to inspect and maintain their car's differentials properly, so it's best to book differential service with a trusted technician. With our yearly checks, we can ensure your differentials are in great condition and let you know how soon you're likely to need new fluid. Visit Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH, today to keep your car well-maintained. We're a local, community-focused dealership dedicated to keeping our customers' cars performing at their best.

Each moment of combustion inside the cylinders of your car's engine requires a careful balance of fuel and oxygen to generate power efficiently, but a clogged air filter can restrict the airflow and interrupt the entire process. With a good Ford air filter maintenance procedure, as explained below, you'll keep your engine breathing and combusting smoothly for years to come. Replace Your Air Filter Once a Year Your engine's air filter primarily catches dust and dirt before it enters the engine. If you drive frequently in heavy traffic, your filter will also fill up with airborne contaminants from exhaust fumes. On top of that, filters have to contend with insects and occasional leaves, and other larger debris. In typical driving conditions, the air filter will be fine for a year before it starts to clog up enough to limit the inflow of air. A yearly replacement schedule is therefore usually sufficient to ensure a clean inflow of air. more Check Your Filter Before Each Oil Change It's a good idea to check your air filter before each oil change, just in case it's deteriorating more rapidly than expected. Then, if the filter seems the worse for wear, you can have a new one installed while visiting our dealership. The air filter is located inside the filter housing under the hood. You'll need to raise the housing cover to remove the filter and inspect it. Check between the filter's pleats and hold it up to the light. If there are large patches of clogged grime or the light barely passes through the filter, you probably need a new one. Notice Symptoms of a Clogged Air Filter If your filter is too dirty, you'll notice various issues relating to the engine. Your car is likely to lose power, and the spark plugs may misfire, causing the engine to sputter and shudder. Misfiring can lead to engine stalls when you slow down, and idling will become louder and less smooth. You may also see black smoke emerging from the tailpipe behind you as fuel leaks back into the exhaust pipes. This is sometimes accompanied by backfiring as fuel ignites outside of the cylinders. If you don't fix misfiring spark plugs quickly, the catalytic converter can become damaged or even destroyed. All these warning signs should prompt you to check your air filter at once. Allow our technicians to install a fresh filter in your engine compartment. Come to Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH. We can quickly return your engine to peak performance and keep it that way with regular automotive services.

Has your engine begun to cough and sputter? Is it taking longer to start in the morning? It may be time to replace one or more of your spark plugs, which are crucial for the combustion process to work. Here's a guide to Ford spark plug replacement and how long each type of spark plug lasts. Copper Spark Plugs The most widely used spark plugs are made of copper, typically with nickel alloy at the electrodes. These metals are wonderfully conductive for electricity but also have the broadest electrode diameter, which requires more current draw for each spark. As copper and nickel alloy are softer metals, copper plugs wear down fastest and will usually need to be replaced every two years (20,000 to 30,000 miles). more Platinum Spark Plugs While platinum is less conductive than copper, it's far more durable. Spark plugs with platinum electrodes can be expected to last 60,000 to 100,000 miles, or four to seven years. They sometimes have slightly worse sparking performance than copper plugs but make up for this in lifespan. Iridium Spark Plugs The gold standard of spark plugs are made from iridium, which is highly conductive and also has a much lower melting point than both copper and platinum. Your iridium plugs should last for 75,000 to 125,000 miles (five to nine years) and sometimes longer. The hardness of iridium allows for very narrow electrode tips and a highly concentrated spark, which equates to excellent engine performance. Signs of Worn-Out Spark Plugs If one or more of your spark plugs is fouled or faulty, your engine will misfire. This means the spark plug is no longer igniting the fuel properly inside the cylinder. Your car will lose power, making it harder to accelerate, and also idle roughly, sputtering and shaking as it clearly struggles to stay alive. You may also experience backfiring and see smoke emerge from the tailpipe as unburned fuel leaks back into the exhaust system. Misfiring spark plugs can rapidly lead to other problems, such as unburned fuel in the exhaust damaging or destroying the catalytic converter. With the engine failing to combust fuel effectively, you might also find yourself suddenly stranded at an inopportune moment, unable to start your car. Always have failing spark plugs repaired or replaced as soon as you notice signs of misfiring. Plan for Ford Spark Plug Replacement in Your Maintenance Schedule Preventative maintenance will allow you to predict when your spark plugs are likely to need replacing. Our technicians can inspect each plug during your routine engine tune-ups, installing replacements as required. Visit Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH, today to have your spark plugs and engine checked by experienced technicians. Whatever your automotive needs, we provide prompt solutions with courteous customer service.

The alternator is one of your Ford's most essential components, as it produces the electricity that allows almost every other system to work. As time passes, the alternator can become worn or damaged. Alternator problems can cause various effects, ranging from dim headlights to starting difficulties. As your Ford dealership, we'd like you to know a few signs that you need to visit us for an alternator repair. Burning Smells Foul, burning smells from under the hood could mean the alternator is in trouble. The three most common causes of these smells are an overheating alternator, a jammed pulley, and worn wiring. Wiring becomes fragile as it ages, and it can break. The alternator will continue to supply power to the broken wire, which heats up. The hot wire can cause the protective wire insulation to burn, and you'll smell burning plastic. A burning rubber smell could be due to a jamming alternator belt. The alternator belt moves at speed across several pulleys, which causes the pulleys to spin. A jammed pulley will cause friction as the belt moves over it, and you'll smell burning rubber. Finally, a hot metal smell could be due to a worn alternator struggling to produce power and overheating. We'll examine your engine and fix the cause of the burning smell. more Bad Battery One of the alternator's functions is to recharge the battery. It charges the battery at full power for ten minutes, then switches to charging at 10% of capacity until the battery is replenished. The reduced charging rate prevents damage to the alternator and the battery: the charging rate drops when the battery signals that the initial charge was received. If your battery is failing, the signal won't be sent. The alternator will continue to charge the battery at full. The alternator will spin faster to try and supply more power, increasing the chance of damaging its components or causing it to overheat. We'll replace your battery and test your alternator to ensure it's in good condition.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Flickering Lights Flickering lights are usually a sign that the bulbs are going to blow. They can also be a sign that your alternator is wearing out. An older alternator slows down due to aged components, and this slowdown reduces its electricity production. The reduction is incremental, but also irreversible. When the alternator can't supply enough power for all your car's systems, your Ford's computer has to allocate the available power. Headlight bulbs are sensitive to power fluctuations, and the shifting level of electricity will cause the bulbs to flicker. Our technicians will check your bulbs and test the alternator to determine if it's causing the issue. Once we've identified the source of the problem, we'll repair it. If you suspect your alternator is failing, contact our service department ASAP at Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH.

Even excellently maintained vehicles need repairs sometimes. The local Ford dealership can take care of all the repairs your vehicle needs. This includes brake repairs. The dealership can also perform preventative maintenance on your brakes so they're less likely to fall into disrepair. How Often You Should Visit the Ford Dealership for Brake Service You need to have your brakes inspected at the Ford dealer at least once a year. That way, your dealer can make sure there's nothing wrong with the braking system. If there are problems, then you can have them repaired before they start causing major issues with how your braking system works. There are some forms of brake maintenance you need regularly, too. You'll need to top up your brake fluid level if it becomes too low, and you should have the brake fluid replaced every two years. The brake pads also need to be replaced regularly. Typically, they're replaced after every 20,000 to 70,000 miles you drive. more Signs You Need to Head to the Dealer for a Brake Repair You Notice Issues with Your Brake Pedal When there's a problem with your braking system, your brake pedal may feel different. If you notice that the pedal has started to sit lower than usual, then you should definitely head to the dealer for a checkup. Sometimes you'll notice a lack of resistance or a spongy feeling when you step on the brake pedal, too. This also indicates a problem. You Feel Vibrations When Using the Brake Pedal You shouldn't feel your brake pedal move when you step on it to activate the brakes. The only time it should vibrate is if you have anti-lock brakes and you have to brake aggressively in an emergency stop. If the pedal vibrates during normal braking, then it can be a sign your rotors are warped. You Notice Your Vehicle Pulling to One Side Sometimes your brake linings can wear down unevenly. This may result in your vehicle pulling to one side when you step on the brake pedal. However, this pulling isn't always caused by unevenly worn brake linings; it can indicate that you need to have your brake fluid replaced, too. You Notice Reduced Responsiveness Reduced responsiveness can be very dangerous and requires immediate attention. You may find that it takes a little longer than normal for your car to stop after you step on the brake pedal. The problem may not be very serious at first, but if it gets worse, then it could lead to you getting into some dangerous situations. If your brakes are faulty, then you need to visit the dealer ASAP. Stop by Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH so we can take care of the problem.

Got a Ford in your garage? To keep it running smoothly there's no better move than sticking with parts made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer: that's OEM parts, for short. These parts come straight from Ford and are tailored specifically for your ride. Choosing these parts from the local Ford dealer in Circleville, OH is a smart play to keep your vehicle at its best. The Perfect Fit, Every Time Genuine parts and your Ford are best buddies. These parts are the spitting image of the ones your car originally came with, ensuring they fit and function seamlessly with your vehicle. No crossing your fingers hoping a part fits right. This snug fit is key for keeping everything running smoothly and your Ford performing like a dream. more Top-Shelf Quality By going with brand-name parts, you're treating your Ford to top-notch quality. These parts have been tested and retested specifically for your model, so you know they're up to the challenge. It's not just about keeping your car running, it's about ensuring the way it runs brings a smile to your face every time you hit the gas. No More Warranty Worries Ever worry about messing up your warranty? With genuine parts, that worry takes a backseat. Using aftermarket parts can sometimes void your warranty, especially if they cause any issues. Stick with brand-name parts to keep your warranty safe and sound. Plus, genuine Ford parts usually come with a warranty of their own, giving you an extra layer of security. Genuine Parts for Name-Brand Performance It can be difficult to find an aftermarket part that fits your ride in the sea of options. It's even harder to find one that fits and performs as perfectly as the original. Genuine parts from Ford eliminate performance problems. Since it is the same part your ride was designed to use, it performs exactly as well as the piece your car was built with. Aftermarket parts can't say the same. Peace of Mind is Priceless Knowing your Ford is kitted out with pieces made just for it, backed by Ford's seals of approval, lets you drive with confidence. It's one of the biggest perks! This extra reassurance can sometimes even translate into a higher price tag for your Ford when you finally decide to part ways. Car buyers know that genuine parts are worth a little extra, too. Find Ford Parts at the Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH Are you ready to go OEM? Your local dealership is your go-to spot. We have the direct line to genuine Ford parts that'll fit your model like a glove. When you weigh up the benefits, genuine parts are worth the investment, which is why your dealer won't use any other kind. Call Coughlin Ford of Circleville in Circleville, OH, and let us help you find parts for your Ford.

When it comes to maintaining your vehicle's performance and safety, ensuring your tires are in top condition is paramount. How do you know when it's time to come into your Ford dealer for new tires? Here are signs to look for. Tread Depth: A Primary Indicator The tread depth of your tires is a clear indicator of their condition. Over time, the depth decreases, impacting the tire's ability to grip the road, especially in wet conditions. A simple way to check this is the "penny test." Insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires. more Visible Damage and Irregularities Check for visible signs of damage like cuts, bulges, or sidewall cracks. These can compromise the tire's structure, leading to potential safety issues. Irregular wear patterns, such as excessive wear on one side of the tire, can also indicate alignment or suspension problems that need to be addressed. Vibration and Ride Comfort If you notice increased vibration or a change in ride comfort, this could be a sign of tire issues. While this can also indicate alignment or suspension problems, it's often related to uneven tire wear. Age Matters Tires have a lifespan, and even with minimal use, they age. Generally, it's recommended that you replace tires every six years, regardless of tread depth. Rubber compounds deteriorate over time, which can lead to reduced performance and safety. Seasonal Considerations If you live in an area with severe winter conditions, consider the season when evaluating your tires. Winter tires provide improved traction in snow and ice, but they wear faster in warmer conditions. Conversely, summer tires offer better performance in dry and wet conditions but are less effective in cold, snowy environments. Coughlin Ford of Circleville: Your Partner in Tire Care Professional Inspection and Advice We offer professional tire inspections to assess tread depth, wear patterns, and overall tire condition. Our team can also advise on the best tire types for your specific Ford model and driving needs. A Range of Quality Tire Options We stock a wide range of quality tires from leading manufacturers. Whether you need all-season, performance, or winter tires, we have options to suit every requirement and budget. Installation and Aftercare Our technicians are trained to install tires efficiently and accurately. We also offer services like wheel alignment and balancing to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your tires. Recognizing the need for tire replacement is crucial for your vehicle's safety and performance. If you notice any signs that your tires might need to be replaced, come into Coughlin Ford of Circleville.

If your Ford is showing signs of engine trouble, you should visit your Ford dealer immediately for repairs. If ignored, minor engine problems can quickly worsen and lead to costly repairs. You should look out for the warning signs of trouble and bring your Ford to the dealership for a diagnosis. 1. Check Engine Light Comes On Your Ford's check engine light is designed to alert you when the vehicle's onboard computer has detected an issue with one of the engine systems. The light could signify various engine issues, such as: Loose or faulty gas cap Oxygen sensor failure Mass airflow sensor malfunction Ignition coil failure Spark plug issues Computer sensor issues Without professional help, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason your check engine light is on. Ford-trained dealer technicians have advanced diagnostic tools that can read the error codes and pinpoint the exact problem with your engine. more 2. Engine Turns Over Slowly When you start your vehicle, the engine should turn over instantly and smoothly. If the engine is taking too long to turn over, there may be a problem with the starter components. Normal wear on parts like the battery, starter motor, spark plugs, and alternator can lead to delayed ignition. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience, delayed ignition can strain the entire starter system and cause failure. It's best to have your dealer test the battery and check the starter components for wear and tear. 3. Overheating Engine If your Ford's temperature gauge is creeping toward the red zone, you should get the engine checked immediately. Overheating occurs due to low coolant, coolant leaks, a defective water pump, or a faulty thermostat. If left unchecked, overheating can cause premature wear of metal components inside the engine. 4. Vehicle Keeps Stalling Stalling usually stems from insufficient fuel to keep the engine running. It can also occur if the spark plugs are faulty and unable to maintain the spark required to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. A clogged fuel injector, defective MAF sensor, or failing fuel pump can also cause random stalling in your Ford. Dealer technicians can inspect the ignition parts and fuel system to locate and repair the faulty components. 5. Loss of Power Is your Ford losing power or struggling to accelerate even when you floor the gas pedal? A loss of power usually indicates problems like cylinder misfires due to worn spark plugs, computer issues, damaged oxygen sensors, or faulty ignition coils. If you don't fix these defects, your Ford's fuel economy will be poor. Address these engine issues before they become major repairs. Contact Coughlin Ford of Circleville to schedule engine repairs with our Ford-certified technicians.

The alternator is a small generator in your Ford that produces electrical power for your car's systems and devices. It's a relatively simple component, but time and wear can cause it to fail. A damaged alternator will cause serious problems for your car, including starting problems and a dead battery. These are some signs that it's time to visit your Ford dealer for an alternator repair. Slow Accessories When your alternator is working correctly, it produces more than enough power for all your car's systems. When an alternator gets older, it begins to slow down. Its worn components have greater difficulty in producing electricity to the same level that they once did. This process is gradual, but it will become noticeable when the alternator can't supply all of your car's electrical demands. Usually, the first signs you'll see of this problem are accessories that operate slower than they should or suddenly stop. A sunroof that freezes while it's closing or a radio that switches off is a potential sign that your alternator is failing. If these problems aren't investigated, they will get worse. Our technicians can test your alternator and install a new one if the old one is failing. more Damaged Wiring Your alternator could be in good working condition, but the wiring that connects the various components could be damaged. Over a mile of wiring connects all your car's accessories and devices to the alternator. The wires are surrounded by thick rubber and plastic insulation to protect them from the heat and dirt inside the engine. Despite the best protection, wiring can become worn due to age. The subtle movement of the wire as your car moves can also cause gradual wearing. In addition, metal connectors can rust or loosen. Any damage to the wiring can lead to electrical shorts or cut-off power to vital components. We can test your wiring and replace any worn or damaged sections. Battery Warning Light The battery warning light on your dash is connected to a variety of sensors throughout your electrical system. These sensors monitor the battery, alternator, starter motor, and other parts of the electrical system for potential problems. The sensors are sensitive enough to detect even a tiny problem with a component and send an immediate warning to your car's computer. If your battery warning light is illuminated, call our service department right away. Our Ford-trained technicians can easily trace the cause of the problem and repair it before it causes any damage. A damaged alternator can sometimes be repaired, depending on the cause of the problem. If you suspect you have an alternator problem, call us right away at Coughlin Ford of Circleville. Image via pixabay.com.