All posts filed under: car tips

Back-To-School Vehicle Check

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Summer vacation is coming to a close, and it’s important to make sure your vehicle is in the best condition possible for all of those school drops-offs, pick-ups, and “mom/dad-I-forgot-my-fill-in-the-blank’s.” Leif Johnson Ford is here to give you a rundown of what to check to ensure that your car is ready for back to school! Check your oil level and condition of oil – Having little or no oil in your vehicle can cause serious damage. Oil keeps parts lubricated and protects against engine friction. This one is pretty basic, but also so important! Headlights and brake lights – Burned out brake lights are dangerous and can get you a ticket, so it’s important to make sure that these are always in working order. Brakes– If you are hearing any grinding, or if your vehicle doesn’t seem to be stopping efficiently enough, it’s time to get those brakes checked out. Brake pads need to be replaced and rotors need to machined periodically so that they wear evenly and brake smoothly. Windshield Wipers and Windshield Wiper …

Tips For Extending The Life Of Your Transmission

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Your transmission is a vital part of your vehicle, and it is so important to keep yours in the best of conditions. It’s especially important to ensure the health of your transmission is this Texas heat. Leif Johnson Ford is here with some tips on how to keep that transmission in tip-top shape! Change Transmission Fluid This is vital for lubrication and good performance. Check your transmission fluid levels. Low fluid levels or fluid levels that drop quickly might mean you have a leak. Also check your vehicle’s radiator and coolant levels. The radiator controls your engine heat, but it helps your transmission stay at a proper temperature as well. Low or dirty fluids will increase chances of wear and overheating. Change every 15,000 miles or once a year (See owner’s manual). If you have a vehicle that does heavy towing regularly, you will want to check fluids monthly. Use a high-quality synthetic transmission fluid. These will be less likely to degrade at higher temperatures. Use Brakes  Do not downshift to slow down car. Downshifting …

Weird Car Washing Tips That Work

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Leif Johnson Ford here with your weekly supply of fun, handy and simple auto hacks! This week we have some super simple car washing tips that will help you have the best looking ride around town. Read on, Ford lovers! Did you know hair conditioner containing lanolin will make not only your hair but also your vehicle extra shiny? Sounds crazy, but don’t diss it until your try it! If you have oily grime on your windshield, cream of tartar is the perfect fix to rid your ride of that nasty residue. Simply sprinkle it on your windshield, wipe glass with soapy water, rinse and dry. Wa-la! Clean windshield. Baking soda mixed with water and dishwashing liquid is GREAT for cleaning the outside of your car. Ad 1/4 cup of baking soda and dishwashing liquid to a gallon sized jug, and fill the rest of the jug with water. Shake well before using! This one’s going to seem extra weird, y’all. If your windshield wiper reservoir is empty, use feminine hygiene maxi pads to clean your …

How To: Check Tire Pressure

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Howdy, y’all! It’s your friends at Leif Johnson Ford, bringing you your weekly dose of quick but smart car tips. This week we wanted to talk to you about checking your tire pressure. There are many things that can help you boost your driving efficiency, but one of the most important of all of these is tire pressure. Let’s get to it!   1.  Firstly, make sure you have a tire gage. It’s cheap, simple and you can keep it in your glove box. Not surprisingly, you can also check the pressure in your tire with this handy tool! In the vehicle in the above video, 35 PSI is the tire pressure wanted, but make sure to check your owner’s manual to see what is right for yours. Unscrew the cap from the stem and insert your gage to see what your tire pressure is. If your car is any lower the recommended PSI, your tire needs more air. 2. After checking your vehicle’s air pressure, Tread wear is another important thing to check. All you need …

Collision Repair

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Today we wanted to give you some handy knowledge on the collision repair process. Chances are, you’re already stressed enough when you’re visiting a collision repair store, so remembering these tips will help the process go as smoothly as possible.   Especially if you have a Ford, it is important to visit a Ford or a Ford recognized collision repair center. This will ensure that you receive the right parts that are designed specifically for your vehicle. Make sure to get a written itemized estimate of all repairs, before allowing any work to be done. If you have any problems with the repair, you have the right to ask that it be redone. Question: Why should you use Ford OEM parts for your vehicle? Answer: When you purchased your new Ford, you bought an original. You can keep it original by ensuring that your insurance company covers using Ford original equipment manufacturer parts. It’s important to use the Ford OEM parts because they’re engineered to your vehicle. This will deliver the intended level of function, look, performance and safety that the Ford engineers …

Under the Hood with Barry Beard

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As the winter season approaches, it is a good idea to check your vehicle out before it gets too chilly. Our friend and expert service advisor Barry Beard recently gave us some quick but handy tips for what to check under the hood, and we couldn’t wait to share with our Ford family and friends! Everything should be easily marked underneath the hood. There are handles for your transmission fluid; It’s important to remember to always check your transmission fluid while your engine is running, while the car is in neutral and parking brake set. Your oil is also easily marked. You will be able to read the hash marks to check for minimum and max fill. Revert to your owner’s manual for the specific amount of oil your vehicle takes. You’ll also want to make sure your coolant reservoir is always full, or at least in between the lines. From there, top of your windshield wiper fluid. We all know what a pain those pesky Texas bugs can be on your windshield. Last but …