3 Signs You Need an Oil Change at Your Ford Dealer

As time passes, even a Ford can develop engine problems. Most problems with an engine can be traced to delayed maintenance. The complex nature of an engine means it requires regular service to keep it in good shape. Your Ford dealer in Johnstown can fix any problem in your engine. These are some problems that could occur. Damaged Ignition Coils When you think of combustion, you can visualize the fuel and air mixing in the intake manifold and then entering the cylinder. You'll also imagine the piston compressing the fuel-air mix and the spark plug igniting the contents of the cylinder. This is all correct, but the spark plug needs assistance as its 12-volt output isn't enough to fire the cylinder's contents. more A spark plug has support in the form of the ignition coil. A coil connects to each plug and boosts the power of the spark plug from 12 volts to 30,000 volts. Coils are durable, but they will eventually wear out like spark plugs. If one of your coils fails, this will cause the cylinder to misfire, as there is insufficient power to ignite the cylinder's contents. We can test the coils and replace any worn or damaged ones. Check Engine Light One of the most important warning lights on your dash is the check engine light. Many lights provide warnings of specific problems, for example, the battery warning light highlights an issue in the electrical system. The engine light has a broader mandate, as it responds to any problem that can affect the engine's performance. If this warning light illuminates, it's important to contact us right away. Since the warning doesn't highlight a specific issue, the problem could be minor, or it might be a sign of a potentially major issue. Our Ford-trained technicians are experts at diagnosis, and they'll investigate our engine until they pinpoint the cause of the problem. Once the issue is identified, we'll repair it. Dead Battery A weak or dead battery is a headache for any driver. If the battery isn't working correctly, starting your engine may be difficult or even impossible without a fix. The battery gradually wears out as its chemical processes cause it to lose the ability to charge or supply power. On average, you'll need a replacement battery within five years or 50,000 miles of driving. We can test your battery at our Johnstown service department very quickly and give you the result. If your battery is on a downward slope, we can install a new one to fix the problem. If you experience any of the above or any other problem with your engine, call us right away at Brown's Ford of Johnstown. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

The majority of gearbox trouble is caused by issues with the transmission fluid. If you keep your fluid properly topped up and have it regularly inspected, you're unlikely to experience the following problems. But sometimes transmissions begin to fail for other reasons too. If you notice any of the following six signs of trouble, visit your local Ford dealer right away for transmission repair in Johnstown, NY. Your Engine's Revving While Shifting Gears When a transmission begins to overheat or loses lubrication due to aging fluid, you'll start to hear loud revving at unusual moments, such as when you're shifting gears. The engine will also rev unusually loudly when you step on the gas, often while failing to accelerate properly. more You're Struggling to Shift Gears With gearbox problems, you might find it difficult to shift gears. Strange grinding sounds will come from below and your gears might sometimes refuse to change at all. If you drive a manual shift vehicle, your stick might become momentarily stuck. These are all surefire signs of transmission trouble. Your Gears Change By Themselves The most dangerous indication of gearbox issues is when your car suddenly decides to change gears while you're on the road. It might even slip into neutral, causing all kinds of potential driving problems. Your Clutch Isn't Working Clutch failure is another scary sign of transmission trouble. If the two clutch plates can no longer engage or disengage properly due to insufficient fluid or some other problem, then you'll lose control of your gears entirely, and perhaps even your vehicle. You Spot Leaking Transmission Fluid When you pull away from parking, you might notice a pool of reddish liquid on the ground. This points to a transmission fluid leak. Without enough fluid, your gearbox will rapidly break down unless you promptly have the leak fixed by a technician. Your Check Engine Light Comes On Fortunately, all modern Fords have extremely effective computerized monitoring systems. When a gearbox problem starts to arise, these monitors almost always detect it and warn you long before it develops into something more serious and costly to fix. How Often to Change Fluid at Your Ford Dealer Keep your transmission healthy and avoid all these problems by visiting your local dealership periodically for fluid inspections. You'll usually need to have your transmission fluid replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on how strenuous your regular driving conditions are. Modern Ford models require specialist transmission fluid so it's safest to have a qualified technician refresh your fluid for you. Visit Brown's Ford of Johnstown today to have your transmission checked or repaired by experienced professionals. We're the Mohawk Valley's premier dealer for Ford vehicles and our courteous, knowledgeable staff are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

The radiator in your Ford has the role of removing heat from your engine. As your engine works, it generates large amounts of heat. This heat must be removed to prevent damage to the engine. Over time the radiator can become worn or damaged, and you'll need a radiator repair. As your Ford dealer, we'd like you to know some of the signs that you need to visit us for a repair. Damaged Thermostat Coolant flows through your engine and absorbs the heat generated by the constantly moving parts. This heat is transferred to the radiator by the coolant, where it's cooled by air flowing through the grille. The coolant is released when the thermostat detects that your engine temperature has reached a set point. more If your thermostat is damaged, it could jam open or closed. An open thermostat will continue to release coolant regardless of the engine temperature. This will make your engine colder, which reduces its efficiency and increases fuel use. A closed thermostat won't release coolant, and your engine temperature will rise. We can easily replace the thermostat to fix this problem. Damaged Radiator Hoses The radiator is connected to the cooling system by two rubber hoses. One of the hoses brings hot coolant into the engine, and the other removes the now-cooled coolant. These hoses operate in a harsh environment where the temperature regularly reaches over 200 F. These hoses can wear out in time. As the rubber ages, it becomes less flexible and prone to cracking. Any cracks in the hose will steadily widen and deepen, and this can cause a leak. Leaking coolant will reduce cooling system efficiency and increase your engine's temperature. Our technicians will test the hoses and replace them if they're damaged. Broken Thermal Switch The hot coolant is cooled by airflow over the radiator tubes. As air blows in, it flows over the tubes and removes the heat inside them. The faster your car moves, the faster cooling will take place. If your car is idling, airflow is greatly reduced, and your engine could overheat as a result. To prevent this, your radiator has a fan attached at its rear. If the temperature rises, the thermal switch will switch on the radiator fan. The fan blows cool air across the back of the tubes and blows the heat out of your engine. A worn or damaged switch won't activate the fan, and your engine will start to overheat. We can replace the switch to fix this problem. Overheating can damage your engine. Call us today at Brown's Ford of Johnstown, and schedule a radiator repair in Johnstown so our Ford technicians can speedily fix the problem for you.