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Servicing Fleet Vehicles at Northside Ford's Quicklane

We know that time is money when you own a fleet. That's why Quick Lane participates in Ford's Quality Fleet Care (QFC) program, allowing your drivers to get the services they need most without having to manage company money. They just sign a repair order and go on their way. We'll send you the bills.

But that's just one reason why life is better in the Quick Lane.

We're ready when you are

• Convenient hours – even on evenings and weekends
• No appointments necessary!
• Dealership-quality expertise
• Service on all makes and models – not just Ford vehicles

Competitive advantages

• Factory-trained technicians
• Quality Motorcraft® parts
• In-depth Vehicle Check-Up report
• Electronic submission of all service visit details to your QFC account
• Monthly billing statements through QFC program

Services your fleet needs most

• Oil and filter changes
• Name-brand tires sales and service
• Brake service and inspections
• Battery testing and replacement
• Alignments
• Shocks and struts
• A/C services

Ford Makes Car Washing Easy with Tips from Experts

Saving a few dollars, getting a little exercise in the sun or prepping your classic for a summer cruise are just a few reasons to clean your vehicle by hand. Besides, a freshly-washed and cleaned car just looks better, right?

Here are a few tips from Ford for the next time you’re in the mood to grab a hose and a bucket to make the star of your driveway look its best.  You can click here to see a video tutorial of the tips from a Ford Engineer.

Cleaning your car’s exterior:

• Be well-soaked: Make sure the car is fully rinsed off first and kept wet during the wash. You want to float the dirt off the surface

• Use the right soap: Ford recommends soap specifically formulated for cars. “Even a mild dishwashing liquid can strip wax protection and possibly cause waterspotting concerns,” said Gerry Bonanni, senior engineer, Paint and Body Repair

• Grab your mitt: Ford recommends a sponge or wool mitt. Keep the sponge or mitt wet and sudsy to help float the dirt away instead of rubbing or scratching the surface

• Start at the top: Wash the top, then the sides and save the bottom for last, which is where the most grit typically accumulates

• Dry it off: Use a water blade and a soft towel to fully dry the vehicle

• Wax on: Ford recommends waxing your car to help keep the surface protected

• Wiper blades: Use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol

Each Ford vehicle undergoes a five-layer paint process designed to enhance long-term durability. The procedure starts with a pretreatment that protects against corrosion and ends with a clearcoat that aids in reducing chips and scratches.

Cleaning your car’s interior:

• Instrument panel: Wipe the instrument panel, interior trim areas and cluster lens with a clean, damp white cotton cloth, then use a clean and dry white cotton cloth to dry those areas. Household or glass cleaners are not recommended

• Vacuum: For fabric, carpets, cloth seats and safety belts, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and loose dirt

• Use the right cleaners: Ford recommends using auto-specific carpet and upholstery cleaner for light stains. If grease or tar is present, Ford recommends spot-cleaning the area first with an auto-specific spot-and-stain remover

• For leather seats: For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, wipe the surface with a mild soap-and-water solution. Dry the area with a soft cloth. Leather cleaning products designed for automotive interiors also are available

Summer-specific issues
Ford recommends never washing a vehicle that is hot to the touch or during exposure to strong, direct sunlight. In addition to warm weather, summer also presents other challenges when it comes to keeping your car looking nice. When you’re hit with the following, try to clean off quickly and follow these tips:

• Bird droppings, bugs, suntan lotion, insect repellent: Wash off with car wash soap and water as soon as possible
• Tree sap and tar: Use a good quality bug and tar remover and wax afterward
• Bothered by bugs? Going on a long trip and don’t want to face a windshield and/or bumper full of dead insects by the time you arrive? Wipe down your windshield with a tumble dryer sheet; bugs won’t stick to the glass as easily. Also, give your bumpers the once-over with cooking spray
• Don’t scratch it; smear it: Can’t get that sticker from the amusement park or beach parking lot off your window? Saturate it with cooking oil before you start scrubbing

Here are a couple of tips aimed at those who display their vehicles at car shows.

To clean aluminum wheels and wheel covers:

• Use wheel and tire cleaner. Heavy dirt and brake dust accumulation may require a little elbow grease with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly with a strong stream of water
• Never apply any cleaning chemical to hot or warm wheel rims or covers

To clean the engine:

• Take care when using a power washer. The high-pressure fluid could penetrate sealed parts and cause damage
• Do not spray a hot engine with cold water. You could crack the engine block or other engine components
• Use specially formulated engine shampoo and degreaser
• The battery and filters need to be covered when cleaning. Refer to your owner’s manual
• Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running; water in the running engine may cause internal damage
• Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark plug wire or spark plug well, or the area in and around these locations

Be sure to refer to your vehicle owner guide for more cleaning and care information.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

Quicklane Maintenance Tips: When to Replace Your Tires

Ever wonder what you should look for when it comes to the tires on your vehicle?  Here's an article from Ford Quicklane that will send you in the right direction.

When it comes to tire safety, remember to inspect your four primary tires and spare tire once a month.

It's pretty simple. Do you have a penny in your pocket? Take it out and put it upside down in your tires' tread grooves. Do this in several locations on the tires because sometimes your tires may display unusual wear patterns leading to premature wear. If Lincoln's hair is visible, the tread has worn to less than 2/32 of an inch. If you have a tire depth gauge in your toolbox, that will give you a better indicator of how much tread you have left. If you have a ruler, you can also use that to measure your remaining tread.

It is strongly recommended that you replace your tires when the tread has worn to between 2/32 of an inch and 4/32 (using a quarter instead of a penny with Washington's scalp visible). Of course, punctures, cuts or snags in your tire tread or sidewall could signal that it's time to replace your tires as well.

The more tread on your tires, the more control you have – especially in wet road conditions – and the shorter the distance required to stop your vehicle when braking.

If you are uncertain about whether it is time to replace your tires, the factory-trained auto service technicians at Northside Ford's Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center can tell you if you need new tires.

Quick Lane Maintenance Tips - Rotating Your Tires

Rotating Your Tires

In addition to making sure your tires are properly inflated at the recommended levels, rotating your tires can help you get the most miles out of them by distributing wear more evenly. Additionally, while rotating the tires, any unusual tire wear patterns can be exposed, indicating premature tire wear and external factors. On top of that, related components such as brakes, suspension and steering parts can be examined for needed maintenance or repair.

Consult your owner's guide for frequency and tire rotation patterns. To make sure you are rotating your tires at the right time in their life cycles, have a factory-trained technician at Northside Ford's Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center inspect your tires.

Maintenance Tips - How to Spot Worn Tires

Your tires are crucial to your car or truck's handling and safety.  Regular tire rotations can help distribute wear evenly over a longer period of time, but no tire lasts forever.  Stop by Northside Ford's Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center for a new set of tires if you notice any of the following symptoms.

Replace your tires if you notice:

• Tire tread depth of less than 3/32" or tire treads that don't reach the top of Lincoln's head on an upside-down penny
• Punctures, cuts or snags in your tire tread or sidewall
• Sudden loss of tire pressure
• Your tire wear indicator is visible
• Sudden vibration when driving
• Poor handling or traction on slippery surfaces

Quick Lane Maintenance Tips - How to Spot Worn Brakes

The more you use your brakes, the faster they wear out. By design, all brakes contain special friction materials, referred to as pads or shoes, which keep the metal of your calipers from grinding against - and damaging - the metal of your rotors. This is not a built-in flaw, but simply a result of brakes working normally and safely.

Stop by Northside Ford's Quick Lane for brake service if you notice any of the following:

• Squeaks or grinding
• A burning odor
• A hard-to-press or "squishy"-feeling pedal
• Shuddering or vibration in your steering wheel
• Rusting or flaking in your brakes or rotors
• Your brake system warning light goes on

Quick Lane Maintenance Tips - How to Jumpstart a Car

A dead battery is another common inconvenience that many drivers will encounter in their lifetime. And unlike changing a flat tire, this one requires a little help from your friends. So, if you don't want to call a tow truck and you have a willing helper, here's how to get some life back in your car battery. Pay special attention to the connection order - that's one of the most common and overlooked causes for unsuccessful jump-starts.

Before you start

You'll need jumper cables, so if you don't have any, you may want to make sure your helper brings them. When your helper arrives, have them park close enough to your vehicle so that you can connect the jumper cables to the batteries with plenty of extra slack. Most cables are about six feet long. You should also check your owner's guide for details about your vehicle battery location and terminal placement.

1. Open both vehicle hoods and locate the batteries.
2. Remove any terminal covers and corrosion.
3. Attach the positive (red) jumper cable to the positive (red) terminal of the dead battery. Make sure that both metal clamps are firmly in contact with the terminal.
4. Attach the other end of the positive (red) jumper cable to the positive (red) terminal of the assisting battery.
5. Attach the negative (black) jumper cable to the negative (black) terminal of the assisting battery.
6. Attach the remaining end of the negative (black) jumper cable to an exposed metal part of the disabled vehicle's engine, away from the battery and the carburetor/fuel-injection system.
7. Start the assisting vehicle's engine.
8. Start the disabled vehicle's engine.
9. Allow both vehicles to run connected for about three minutes.
10. While leaving the jumpstarted vehicle running, disconnect the cables in the reverse order that they were attached and close the hoods.
11. Keep the jumpstarted vehicle's engine running for about a half hour to allow the battery to fully charge.
12. Visit Northside Ford's Quick Lane to get the jumpstarted battery tested or replaced as soon as you can.

Quick Lane Maintenance Tips - How to Change a Flat Tire

A flat tire is one of the biggest inconveniences you can experience on the road. If you don't have your cell phone handy to call a tow truck or aren't up for waiting, here's what to do.

Before you start

Make sure to consult your vehicle owner's guide for details specific to your car or truck, such as the location of the spare and jack kit. Also, be aware of your surroundings. If you do not feel safe, do not hesitate to call the local police for help.

1. Remove the spare tire and jack from your vehicle. Check the inflation level of your spare - if its pressure is too low, you'll either need to find a place where you can inflate it or call a tow truck.
2. Your jack kit should include a tire iron for removing the lug nuts. Use it to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire, but don't remove them yet. If you need to use a lot of force to get them loose, you don't ever want to do it while the vehicle is already jacked up.
3. Block the other tires to make sure the vehicle doesn't roll.
4. Raise the corner with the flat tire high enough off the ground to put the spare tire on. You should always avoid raising the vehicle any higher than you need to.
5. Finish removing the lug nuts from the flat tire and pull it off.
6. Put the spare tire on the vehicle.
7. Replace the lug nuts, but don't tighten them yet.
8. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack in reverse.
9. Tighten the lug nuts. After a few turns, rotate clockwise to tighten the next lug nut. Repeat this process until each lug nut is securely in place.
10. Stop by Northside Ford's Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center for a replacement tire as soon as you can. If you have to use highways to get there, keep your vehicle under 55 mph and use your hazard lights. Most spare tires are not designed to handle high speeds for long periods of time.

Northside Ford's Quick Lane Fuel Saving Tips

Part 1 - Save fuel in the Quick Lane

Proper vehicle maintenance doesn't just help extend the life of your vehicle - it can help relieve some of the financial pressure brought on by high gas prices. The following are a few key services our factory-trained auto service technicians can perform to help boost your mpg and fuel economy.

1. Check your oxygen sensor. An oxygen sensor is part of your vehicle's emission control system. Replacing a faulty one can improve gas mileage by as much as 40%
2. Replace a clogged air filter. All of the dirt, dust and grime have a negative impact on your engine's performance. This simple and often overlooked maintenance can increase fuel efficiency by about 10%
3. Get an engine tune-up. Making sure all your systems are operating at their best can save you 4% in fuel efficiency
4. Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Making sure your tire pressure isn't too low - or too high - can improve your gas mileage by around 3%
5. Get the recommended grade of motor oil. Our experts offer a full line of high-quality oil and filter products from Motorcraft^®. Using the one that's right for your vehicle can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 2%

Part 2 - Save fuel on the road

Saving fuel after a visit to your local Quick Lane is just the start. Here are a few things you can be conscious of when you're behind the wheel to help you squeeze a little more out of your gas dollars.

1. Avoid aggressive driving. Not only can it be dangerous, but constant speed changes and quick, uneven stops and starts waste a lot of fuel. Taking it easier behind the wheel can improve your gas mileage by as much as 33%
2. Remove excess weight. You can save about 2% in fuel efficiency for every 100 lbs. of extra clutter you can remove from your car or truck
3. Use your cruise control. It's almost always more fuel efficient to travel at a constant speed whenever possible
4. Avoid idling. It's more fuel efficient to turn off your engine when you're waiting in the car
5. Combine trips. Your engine works most efficiently when warmed up