Leif Johnson Auto Group

Your bags are packed, your kiddos bag are packed, and you’ve got your sunscreen, maps (and/or Iphone’s Siri) and a sense of adventure in tow. You may be all ready for summer vacation, but what about your car? Read on to see what you can do yourself and what you’ll want to check on with your local Leif Johnson service center before you’re beach (or mountain, or desert, or…) bound.

Check with a tech:

Air conditioning. This goes on the top of our list because, well, we’re in Texas. It is hot, y’all. The last thing you need breaking down (besides the car itself) is your AC. Have this checked on by one of your friendly Leif Johnson techs and we’ll make sure you’re nice and cool your entire trip.

Cooling System. According to cars.com, “The greatest cause of summer breakdowns is overheating.” The system should be totally flushed and refilled every two years or so, while the level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked every few months. It is possible to do this one yourself, but make sure you never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.

Overall Performance of Engine- If you’re engine seems to be running funny or you just want to be extra safe, come on out to one of our Leif Johnson locations and we’ll check it out for you!

Tires- Have our service department rotate these for you every 5,000 miles! You can also check your own tire pressure once a month, and make sure you have a spare and jack handy before you hit the road.

Brakes – Check your manual to see how often these should be checked with your Leif Johnson techs, or go ahead and stop by if you are aware of car pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer stopping distance.

Emergencies- Ask your Leif Johnson Ford tech what basic tools you should bring along, and don’t forget the first aid kit, flares and flashlight.

Battery – Have a tech at Leif Johnson check your battery to assure it’s not weak once your trip had begun.

Do-it-yourselvers

Battery: This part you can do on your own. Clean all surfaces, scrape the grimy stuff off of posts and also wipe and retighten all connections. Check fluid levels every month if your battery cap is removable. Safety first! Don’t forget the eye gear and rubber gloves.

Oil-  Oil should be changed every few months, and it’s a good idea to have some fresh stuff right before a roadtrip. This is an okay one for the Mr. Or Miss Fix-It of the house to perform, but Leif Johnson would love to help you change your oil too! (Our prices are unbeatable, Stop in and see!)

Windshield Wipers- Nobody wants a dirty windshield on a long road-trip. A pair of new blades and windshield wiper solvent will quickly solve the dirty windshield dilemma.

Lights- Replace your burnt out bulbs, clean dirt and bugs from lenses and if you don’t want scratches, don’t use a dry rag!

All the little things- Wash, vacuum and clean out your car, check the coolant, fill the gas tank and don’t forget to have a BLAST!

One more thing. From all your friends at Leif Johnson Ford, HAPPY VACATIONING! 

Check out these amazing photos of the 2015 Ford Expedition, Mustang and F-150 taken at the Austin Auto Show. May your dreams be filled with sugarplums and all of these beautiful Ford beauties tonight! (And let Leif Johnson make your dreams a reality when all three of these vehicles appear on our floors this fall!)

The 2015 Ford Expedition:

Ford’s 2015 Expedition SUV will part ways with its V-8 in favor of an EcoBoost turbo. It will also boast a brand spankin’ new interior and front styling, so you can rest assured that you will look fashionable with this Expedition in tow. Like many of the other new Ford 2015s, this Expedition comes complete with fancy new features such as a push button start and blind spot alert. “Ford invested wisely,” IHS Automotive senior analyst Stephanie Brinley said. “They updated the things customers touch and see.” Still, its not all about appearance. The biggest change is the switch to a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6 engine that is sure to provide more power and better fuel economy than the 5.4-liter V-8 present in previous Expeditions.

The 2015 Ford F-150:

Features: The 2015 F-150 has increased frame strength due to the high strength steel in the frame. It’s also made with aluminum, drastically improving this truck’s fuel efficiency. (We’re talking 700 pounds less heavy. Ford manages to stay Tough even when simultaneously becoming much, much lighter.) This Ford also underwent thousands of hours of torture testing, just so you can feel secure taking it for a drive through mountains, deserts and temps ranging from 20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. With many new technologies including a 360-degree camera system, LED lighting for the interior and exterior of the truck and smart driver assistance technologies, you are sure to feel safe, comfy and, well, awesome driving your new F-150.

The 2015 Ford Mustang

Feautures: The 2015 Mustang is complete with snazzy additions such as a rear view camera system, a push to start button, Eight-inch, high-resolution touch-screen display and navigation and adaptive cruise control and collision warning. With the option of an upgraded 3.7-liter V6, which produces more than 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque, the fuel efficiency of this Mustang will also be rather impressive. Connecting the past to the present, the new Mustang has the look of a Mustang from the good ‘ole days , but the technological additions of 2015. You’ll still get the excitement of driving a Mustang, but that’s now due to independent rear suspension which will improve body roll, and isolate road imperfections for a smoother drive.  And when you add to this a sleek new design, a dramatically improved, luxurious cabin and exciting new colors such as Deep Impact Blue and Race Red? This is by far the savviest Mustang yet, y’all.