Blog

The condition of your tires puts the safety of your Ford on the line. It's time for new tires from the Ford dealership if you notice any of these signs of trouble with your tires. Tread Depth Below 2/32" The minimum safe depth for tread on your tire is 2/32 of an inch. The most common way to check how much tread you have left is something called the "penny test." Take a penny and place it in the groove of your tire's tread, with Lincoln facing down. If you can see the top of his head, your tires are too worn to be safe and need to be replaced. Irregular Tread Wear Uneven wear can be a sign of misalignment, improper inflation, or suspension issues. Rotating your tires regularly can help avoid this issue, but once the wear has become bad enough, your tires will need to be replaced. Vibration or Noise If you notice a lot of road noise or vibration even when driving on smooth roads, there may be a problem with your tires. Anything from internal damage to misalignment can cause shaking while you're operating your car, so if you feel a lot of vibration you should have your tires inspected. Sidewall Integrity Issues Cracks, cuts, or grooves in the sidewall can signify serious problems with your tire's structural integrity. Damaged sidewalls can't be patched, so if the cuts are more than superficial you will have to replace your tire. Bulges on the Tire's Surface Bumps and bulges that protrude from the surface of your tires point to areas where damage has caused weak spots. These weak spots are likely to fail suddenly, so if you see one you should have the tire replaced immediately. Aging Tires The rubber compounds in your tires break down over time due to age and exposure to the environment. Even if your tread has not worn down, most manufacturers recommend replacing your tires once they reach six years of age. Frequently Low Tire Pressure If you need to add air to your tires once in a while, that's normal. Heading to the air pump every week or so is not. Tires with constantly low pressure probably have leaks. You should have your tires inspected to see if your leaks can be repaired. Poor Handling If you notice decreased responsiveness while steering, braking, or accelerating, it could be due to worn-out tires affecting your car's performance. Visit the Ford Dealership for New Tires Your local dealership offers a range of tires that are perfect for your Ford. Our technicians are trained to handle alignment, balancing, and rotation to ensure that your fresh tires are correctly cared for. Properly maintained tires are an investment in your vehicle. Call Geweke Ford to schedule an inspection for your tires today.

Brake failure is an unfortunately common occurrence on the roads, primarily due to the improper maintenance of careless drivers. About 5% of total car crashes are caused by failing brakes, which amounts to 300,000 accidents per year. To avoid joining the drivers who make up this shocking statistic, keep an eye out for the following signs of brake trouble and have brake repair carried out quickly at your local Ford dealership. Soft or Spongy Brake Pedal After months or years of driving your car, you'll know exactly how your brake pedal ordinarily feels underfoot. If it ever depresses to the floor too easily with a soft or spongy sensation, pull over at once; your brake fluid might be leaking. Brake fluid fills the brake hoses that connect the pedal to the brake calipers at each wheel. If the fluid leaks from any of these hoses, hydraulic pressure is lost, meaning your pedal won't be able to properly transmit the stopping signal to the brakes until the leak is fixed. Suddenly Noisy Brakes When you brake, an occasional squeak is usually harmless. But if you start hearing a loud and continual squeaking, one of your brake pads may need to be replaced. Brake pads are designed to emit this sound when they're almost worn out in order to draw the driver's attention. Neither should grinding or clattering sounds be ignored. Grinding may indicate a totally worn-out brake pad that's scraping metal directly against the rotor and causing damage. If anything gets trapped in a brake caliper, you might also hear a grinding or clattering sound when you brake. Strangely Vibrating Brake Pedal Rotors can sometimes warp out of shape or become otherwise damaged while overheating. If this happens, the misshapen rotor will generate gentle vibrations as the pad presses against it. You might feel these vibrations through the brake pedal. Tugging to One Side Sometimes, brake trouble causes the whole vehicle to tug to one side or the other. If you feel your car trying to wander toward the neighboring lane when you brake, have a technician take a look at your braking mechanisms on the opposite side of the car; that's usually the side with the malfunctioning brakes. How a Ford Dealer Can Inspect Your Brakes A thorough brake inspection carried out by an experienced technician will involve raising the vehicle to remove the wheels and each component of the brakes. Each part will be carefully examined in turn. The brake fluid, lines, hoses, and brake pedal will also be inspected. Once any faulty parts have been repaired or replaced, the car and brakes will be carefully tested to ensure that all is back in safe working order. Have your car's brakes checked and repaired today by qualified professionals at Geweke Ford. We're a family owned and community-oriented dealership that's been diligently serving the drivers of Yuba City for 25 years.

The transmission in your Ford is a vital part of its operating system. It should last you a long while, however, as with any part, wear and tear may mean you need to replace it at some point. It's important to know the signs that you need to head to your Ford dealer for a transmission repair. The sooner you get this important part replaced, the less likely you'll have further — more costly — issues. 1. Your Vehicle Has Issues Switching Gears If you notice your car is struggling to change gears, you're likely looking at an issue with your transmission. This can be more noticeable if you're driving a standard transmission, but can also be felt in an automatic. Sometimes this can be fixed by changing your transmission fluid, but check with your mechanic before any further issues occur. 2. Your Vehicle Makes Strange Noises If your vehicle is making any new noises, especially if you're sitting in neutral, or when the gears are changing, this could indicate your transmission needs attention. Again, it could simply mean a transmission fluid flush is needed, but you'll want to get it checked as soon as possible 3. Your Vehicle's Check Engine Is On Even though the light says to check the engine, it could signify an issue with other important parts of your vehicle. Issues with the transmission can cause the engine to struggle, which may trigger the light to come on. It's important to visit a mechanic quickly to get them to read the code with their special tool to find out the issue. 4. Your Vehicle Puts Out a Strange Smell If you notice a burning smell coming from your vehicle, you need to get this checked immediately. This can indicate the transmission fluid is too old and is burning off, or it could be the transmission itself struggling. Either way, this can quickly lead to further issues, which can be harder to fix. 5. Your Vehicle Is Leaking Fluid Every so often, take a look underneath where you park your vehicle. If you see red fluid, chances are this is your transmission fluid leaking out. Take your car in to get fixed as soon as possible before your transmission starts to struggle from lack of fluid. 6. Your Ford Dealer Lets You Know If you're taking your car in for regular maintenance, your mechanic will let you know if your transmission needs any repairs. Luckily, with regular maintenance, it can usually be caught before it creates more damage. Geweke Ford has been serving the community for over 25 years! Our friendly staff is ready to assist you in any way we can. Stop by Gwewke Ford today to view our inventory, take a test drive, or book a service appointment.