Winter Car Maintenance Tips

Here are some good winter car care tips.

 

1.  As you tackle fall's bounty on your lawn, leave some energy for removing the leaves that find their way into your vehicle.
Leaves, twigs and other organic matter can cause havoc with gutters on your house — and the equivalent on your car. When debris builds up in areas of your car where water is supposed to flow out, you can get leaks or corrosion. The air plenum near the windshield is a classic spot where this can happen. If you have a sunroof, open it up and poke around in there, too. Sunroofs have drains that flow water that sneaks past the seals down to the ground. Leaf gunk in there can make for wet headliners or worse. Less common, but more problematic: Animals may make nests in the engine compartment or airbox. You may need a mechanic and an animal trapper to fully solve this problem.

2. So-called "all-season" tires have been on the market for decades. Coupled with front-wheel-drive and anti-skid systems, they have allowed many folks to avoid mounting a true snow tire for the winter months. But there are two trends in tires you should be aware of:
A) Styling priorities have led to manufacturers fitting wider, low-profile tires on a variety of cars. Wide and low profile, on balance, makes a tire worse in the snow. Pressures to improve tire fuel economy have also worked against the snow utility of all-seasons.
B) Winter tires have improved their behavior from the era of knobby snow tires. New tread patterns and rubber compounds make them quieter on dry roads, yet even more effective on frozen stuff.
If you choose to go with winter tires, note that vendors such as The Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct offer packages with the tires already mounted on a new set of wheels. Switching the entire wheel for the winter is more cost-effective than having two sets of tires mounted on your existing wheels twice a year.

3. Fog, snow and rain will cut down your visibility in winter. Check your wiper blades, which have a lifespan of about a year. If your car doesn’t have the newer "beam blade" style wipers, consider a pair, especially for the winter months. The beam style blades don't have an external spring to freeze up. When snow or other freezing precipitation threaten, pop your wipers up when you park so they're not touching the windshield. This little trick will make it easier to scrape your windshield and reduce the chance that you burn out the wiper motor by having them turn on while the blades are frozen in place.

4. Winter puts more stress on your battery, particularly if you park your car outdoors. Avoid the sinking feeling of hearing nothing when you hit the ignition with a proactive check of your battery and charging system now. Repair shops don't usually charge very much to load-test your battery, and some car-parts stores will do it for free. If you find out your battery's going south, you can replace it at your convenience, instead of being at the mercy of whomever your dead car’s been towed to. Note that some big-box stores such as Costco offer a good price on batteries for those of you willing to change one yourself (not usually all that hard, though batteries are heavy.)

5. To improve aerodynamics and save fuel, today’s cars are equipped with increasingly elaborate underbody panels and low-hanging air dams. These can be vulnerable to damage, and driving over a snowdrift in the winter could turn a small problem into a more expensive one. So before the ground’s too chilly to lie on, take a look under the car, starting from the front, to see if there's anything loose flapping about. Maybe you can just pop it back into place. Maybe a zip tie will take care of it.

 

Read more: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/winter-car-maintenance-tips.html

Ford’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ Technology Helps Teens Focus on Driving

Great news for parents! Would you use this technology for your children?

The safety of teen drivers remains a top priority for Ford, with the automaker’s manager of Safety Planning and Strategy, Andy Sarkisian, recently saying: “We are continually listening to our customers and responding to parents’ desire to make sure their kids are paying attention to the road, not their cell phone.”

The latest Ford effort? Building on its innovative MyKey system, which already has made a name for itself by helping parents eliminate potential driving distractions when teens are behind the wheel, the company will launch an innovative “Do Not Disturb” functionality on the 2012 Ford Explorer. This new feature operates in tandem with MyKey and Ford SYNC to block incoming cell phone calls and texts, allowing young drivers to keep their attention where it belongs—on the road. Phone calls are sent to voicemail, while texts are saved. And the system still allows voice-activated out-going calls, including, if necessary, those from SYNC’s 911 Assist emergency-calling feature.

MyKey also retains parent-friendly functions like the ability to:

• Limit a vehicle’s top speed
• Set audible alerts for the driver if the vehicle surpasses a certain speed
• Mute the audio system unless/until front occupants buckle their safety belts
• Block adult programming from satellite radio channels
• Limit the maximum volume of the sound system
• Prevent deactivation of the vehicle’s traction control system
• Turn on the low-fuel warning light with 75 miles of driving range remaining, providing an early notification that it’s time to fill up

“Adding Do Not Disturb to MyKey is yet another way Ford is helping parents to encourage their kids to drive safer,” added Sarkisian. “Our dealers tell us that when they have a buyer with kids in the house and they mention the MyKey feature, every single one of them says, ‘How do I turn that on?’ Customers are very happy with the feature.”

Follow the link for a video explaining Ford MyKey

Read more: http://www.fordinthenews.com/ford%E2%80%99s-do-not-disturb-technology-helps-teens-focus-on-driving/

Why not visit Huston's Haunted Hollow this Halloween!

Why not check out Huston's Haunted Hollow this Halloween? Located at 126 Woodland Rd in Rockwood, it runs every Friday and Saturday in October from dusk until 11pm.  Admission is $15 for adults and $13 for those ages 10 and under. Click here for a $1.00 off admission coupon.

Their website (http://www.hauntedhollow.net/index.html)describes the Haunted Hollow experience as:

Haunted Farmhouse - 3D -- Your heart pounds and your palms begin to sweat as you enter a “new dimension” in fright. Prepare yourself for a hair-raising interactive experience as you encounter the “Mad Doctor”, “Mr. Spots”, “Claustromania” and “Vertigo”. This is a high startle, graphic experience with strobes, fog and dark foreboding passageways - Not recommended for the timid or very young.
 

Horror Hayride & Nightmare Swamp Trail -- Embark on a journey across eerie, moonlit cornfields where the study wagons will protect you…..or not! You never know what waits for you in the demon infested forest or the cold, putrid waters of the swamp. 

Terror in the Cornfield – You might run, but you can’t hide from chainsaw welding maniacs and Scarecrows intent on harvesting your soul.

Bon Fires / Refreshments – Relax and calm your nerves after surviving your trip through the Hollow. Enjoy a bon fire and your favorite foods from our full menu concession stand.

All of this included in the admission price!

The Right, Eco-Friendly Way to Wash Your Car

Do you know the most eco friendly way to wash your car? Read on to find out!

"Preserving the environment is a major concern these days, especially when it comes to automobiles. This even applies to something as seemingly mundane as preserving your vehicle's appearance. How and where you wash your car does make a difference. The matter is never more critical than in spring, when most proud car owners are busy washing off the effects of winter's unrelenting assault before it takes a toll on their pride and joy's looks, integrity and mechanical well-being.


Making a habit of keeping your vehicle as clean as possible, inside and out, will reap great benefits. A sparkling-clean car will not only flatter the eye and the owner's ego, it will also help the vehicle last longer and stay in better shape, thus improving resale value.


The question here is: What is the best and most eco-friendly way to achieve and sustain vehicular cleanliness?


Routine Cleaning
Dirt, road salt, tar and various other forms of gunk, goo and residue are your car's worst enemies. Keeping them off your vehicle's bodywork, year-round, is the basic challenge. Hand-washing a car remains the best and most effective way to do this, but it must be done the right way, and even then it is not the most environmentally friendly way to go.


These days the "greenest" way to wash your car is to run it through an automatic car wash. Studies show that a session in the car wash uses roughly half the water the average owner would use while washing it at home with the traditional bucket and hose. Commercial car-wash systems are also required, by law, to contain and collect the water used during the wash. So are professional detailers. The waste water is then cleaned and, in most cases, used again.


Automatic car-wash systems even get the nod from car-care professionals, especially when it comes to routine cleanings. David Lee, owner and operator of L.A. Detail, based in Toronto, offers thorough detailing services, but he freely admits to using commercial car-wash systems for his personal vehicle and says he finds them both useful and practical.


However, Lee is also quick to point out that not all systems are equally safe and effective. He favors the high-pressure, no-contact systems and warns against using systems with rotating brushes or moplike, moving felt mats. It's hard to assess how well-maintained these systems are, and your car's paint finish might be at the mercy of the grit that was scrubbed off the crusty old jalopy that passed through the wash just before your car. And paint could be at risk even in the best-maintained systems because of the friction generated by the brushes and mats.


High-pressure systems also are useful in performing the most difficult of tasks: cleaning off as much dirt and salt as possible from your vehicle's undercarriage, fender liners and rocker panels. The operation is entirely worth the extra couple of dollars, Lee says. "The best approach is to run your vehicle through a car wash regularly to keep the dirt from building up and digging into the surface," he says.


Lee adds that brush-free systems are at their best when only a light wash is needed. Frequency then becomes the key. Their weak point is glass, "so I always use the squeegee on glass surfaces before running my vehicle through," he says.


The Dirty Job
For really dirty jobs, the best and most effective way to wash a vehicle still involves elbow grease. That's how pro detailers do it to this day. It's the only way some dirt and residue can be removed. Clay, for instance, can leave a hazy, brownish film that will resist a high-pressure brushless car wash.


While hand-washing might get your vehicle the cleanest, it can be far from environmentally friendly. The main culprits are the excessive use of water and the release of harmful substances such as soap residue, oil, acid and metal particles into the sewer system while washing and rinsing. Some cities and states have banned home car washing for these reasons. Others do so indirectly by forbidding all use of tap water outdoors to preserve dwindling supplies during hot spells.


If you plan to wash at home, your first move is to get automotive soap and cleaners that are biodegradable and nontoxic. Even then, you should avoid washing over pavement, which would let the wash water drain into a sewer, storm drain or ditch that would then let it seep into the water system. Make sure to wash over grass or gravel that will absorb the water into the ground to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact.


Hand-Wash the Right Way
The golden rule for hand-washing, Lee says, is to be "as gentle as possible" to avoid scratching or etching the finish. Make sure your car is cool and parked in the shade. You should also wash in the shade to keep the surface from drying out instantly and leaving soap streaks and scratches.


Fill two buckets with tap water. The first gets the soap, with the right dilution ratio, and the second is for rinsing dirt and particles off thoroughly as you go over the car, section by section, moving from top to bottom. Leave the rocker panels and wheels, always the dirtiest bits, for last. Otherwise, the grit from these areas will get stuck in the cleaning rags and scratch the finish off your car as you rub it clean.


Your first step it to give your car the best possible rinse to remove as much of the dirt, dust and grime as possible. Pressure washers do a good job. Lee's team uses and recommends them. "They get dirt out of the nooks and crannies and save a lot of water, too, since pressure does most of the job," he says.


You should use two soft mittens or natural sponges for washing. The first only touches the painted surfaces and the second only the wheels, tires and other dirtiest bits. Rinse them in the second bucket as much as needed to get rid of the slightest grain of sand or dirt. Work in sections that you rinse with the hose as you go. Turn the water off between rinses to avoid waste.


Lee gives the nod to the traditional chamois, be it natural or synthetic, to dry the car afterward. Let the chamois soak thoroughly before use and rinse it frequently. Another pro tip is to use the moist chamois to wipe hazy deposits from the instrument panel and the inside of the windshield once the exterior is done.


A good spring cleaning should also include the floors, where a lot of grit, grime, salt and water has accumulated, often leaving a nasty crust where it dries. An excellent tool for this operation is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. First, vacuum up as much of the dry stuff as you can. If deposits remain, scrub them with a brush, hot water and some vinegar, but do so sparingly. Then vacuum again quickly. Do not use too much water; it will dissolve the salt, and the resulting mixture will seep under the carpet and never dry. The result might be a rusted floor pan. The door jambs and sills should also be cleaned, this time with lukewarm water and soap.


Additional Steps
Once your car shines after that spring cleaning, you will want to wax it for protection against the elements, including the scorching summer sun. Lee says that the two-stage approach of applying a pre-cleaner compound first and then a protective wax is worth the extra effort.


You can also use "dressing" products on your tires. "Use the clear, petroleum-based type that seems to 'nourish' the rubber," Lee says. It is best to apply it with a cloth instead of spraying it on to avoid getting the stuff on your alloy wheels, where it becomes "a dust magnet." And you should wipe off the excess after a few minutes. Indeed, if the oily liquid mixes with brake dust and spins off onto rocker panels and fenders, it can permanently damage the paint.


These additional steps will help preserve the long-term appearance and value of your prized possession. And a clean car always runs nicer, doesn't it?"


Read more http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184306&page=2

Lincoln MKS luxury sedan blurs segment lines

This is one seriously classy car.

Lincoln's MKS sedan is outfitted with all the trappings of a flagship sedan - sumptuous double-stitched leather, gleaming chrome, modern conveniences and an obscene amount of electronic gadgetry designed to keep one safe, entertained and connected. Yet the car is also fitted with an (optional) twinturbocharged 355-horsepower EcoBoost V-6 with six-speed SelectShift manumatic - replete with paddle shifters.


So, does this make the MKS a loaded sport sedan or a luxury sedan with sporting intentions? It's not just a casual musing. Unlike Cadillac, which has a defined line of sport sedans and coupes (CTS) as well as a more traditional luxury vehicle (DTS, soon to be replaced by the XTS), Lincoln has been blurring the distinction.


Ultimately, at least for those more attuned to luxury European brands such as Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Jaguar, the MKS comes off as a big, loaded car (just less than 5.2 metres in length) with a big engine. This isn't a dismissal. There are still plenty of customers who define luxury by ride softness, seat comfort, interior isolation and the number of toys. Indeed, driving the tester during a week of stifling heat, I began to appreciate the speed at which the car's air conditioning cooled the cabin rather than how fast it accelerated to 100 kilometres an hour.


That said, the MKS will acquit itself when called upon - at least in a straight line. It is quite capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in slightly less than six seconds, which is certainly quick enough for almost any vehicle short of a full-out sports car, never mind an all-wheel-drive luxury sedan tipping the scales at more than 2,000 kilograms. (Allwheel drive is standard with the EcoBoost 3.5-litre V-6, optional with the base normally aspirated 274-hp 3.7L V-6.) I admit to being bemused by the car's steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which seem an odd addition considering the Lincoln's obvious non-sporting intent. I'm not a huge fan of paddles, preferring console-located shifters myself. Still, I am used to the more familiar type where the right paddle upshifts and the left downshifts. Ford, however, has chosen to fit the MKS with paddles whereby a squeeze back on ddles whereby a squeeze back on either one delivers the upshift, while a push forward induces a matched-rev downshift. It didn't feel intuitive didn't feel intuitive (despite what Ford says), so, after a few experimentations, I experimentations, I just left the transmission in Drive.


As for fuel economy, the benefit of the EcoBoost V-6 is V8-like power when needed without the thirst. My test average of 14 litres per 100 kilometres for a week of mixed city and highway driving probably isn't terrible considering the MKS's size and weight, although it's still higher than I would have liked considering the car's city rating is 12.5 L/100 km. Notably, Ford doesn't mandate the use of premium unleaded for the engine, although its full 355 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque are only achieved with the tank filled with liquid gold.


While the MKS is tuned more for smooth, comfort-oriented motoring, it's not the wallowing, pillow-soft variety of the historic Detroit cruiser. There is decent feedback from the road through the well-weighted steering wheel. When tackling onramps and the like with anything approaching gusto, you can't help but feel the car's weight, but roll is moderate and the all-wheel-drive system (not to mention a host of electronic safety backups) helps it stay true to its intended line.


Styling is always a very personal thing, but to me, the MKS is cleanly penned with muscular haunches. It's also slightly anonymous like many of its Asian luxury rivals, lacking the hard-edged look of Cadillac products. As for Lincoln's corporate toothy grille - a polarizing feature - at least it's proportional to the car's front.


Inside, the MKS tester shows its true colours - acres of Bridge of Weir leather befitting a London gentlemen's club and more buttons and controls than in a space shuttle, plus not one but two sunroofs (a $2,200 option). Lincoln Sync is standard, providing voice-activated communications and infotainment. The standard audio system is the 600watt THX II with AM/FM/DVD/MP3 capability, six-disc CD, 16 speakers, satellite radio, an auxiliary input jack and a USB port.


The seats are particularly comfy, with pronounced side bolsters designed to keep one in place. The standard heated and cooled 12-way power driver and front-passenger seats offer four-way lumbar (up, down, inboard and outboard) for added comfort, while rear-seat passengers also enjoy heated rear outboard seats. Interior room is such that a quartet of six-footers will not be compromised in any way.


The MKS is worthy of attention.It's quick for its size and the level of amenities it offers for its price ($53,000 base) makes it a bargain among luxury vehicles.


THE SPECS


2011 Lincoln MKS
Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive, fullsized luxury sedan
Engine: Twin-turbo 3.5L DOHC V-6
Power: 355 hp at 5,700 rpm; 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manumatic
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: P245/45R20 (optional)
Price, base/as tested: $53,000/$65,330
Destination charge: $1,550
Transport Canada fuel economy (L/100 km): 12.5 city, 8.1 hwy.


Standard features: Dual-zone automatic climate control, illuminated entry system, power windows, door locks and exterior heated mirrors, push-button start, 12-way power heated and cooled front seats with power lumbar support, leather seats, steering wheel and shift knob, power tilt and telescopic steering column, cruise control, power rear sunshade, in-vehicle connectivity system, 600-watt AM/ FM/DVD audio system with MP3 capability, six-disc CD, 16 speakers, satellite radio, rain-sensing wipers, forward and reverse sensing systems, auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto xenon headlamps.


Read more http://www.edmontonjournal.com/cars/Lincoln+luxury+sedan+blurs+segment+lines/5565404/story.html
Photo from http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/coverage/detroit/112_2006_detroit_auto_show_coverage/photo_110.html

Strategic Vision’s 2011 Total Quality Index Calls Ford “A Quality Leader.”

All the more reason to buy a Ford!

For Darrell Edwards, chairman and founder of Strategic Vision—one of the auto industry’s top resources for quality research—determining the quality of a vehicle involves a comprehensive analysis of everything that goes into satisfying customers: “Decades ago, we decided to measure ‘Quality’ from the ‘Total’ perspective of the driver/owner, because this is how people actually judge ‘Quality’ in terms of the decision to purchase or not. The number of complaints is considered, but there is absolutely justification—even requirement—for also considering the total positive experience created for the owner/driver.”

Which helps explain why Edwards recently called the Ford Motor Company “a quality leader” in Strategic Vision’s 2011 Total Quality Index, which rated the company the No. 2 full-line automaker in the industry.

Helping Ford achieve this strong performance were five vehicles that were top-rated in quality in their segments:

• Ford Mustang Coupe—Specialty Coupe
• Ford Mustang Convertible—Convertible
• Ford Flex—Mid-Size Crossover Utility
• Ford F-150—Full-Size Pickup
• Ford F-250/F-350—Heavy-Duty Pickup

Also scoring highly in their individual categories were the Ford Fiesta Sedan andFocus (Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, among Small Cars), Ford Fiesta Hatchback (No. 4 in the Small Multi-Function segment), Ford Taurus (No. 2 in the Large Car group), Ford Fusion (the No. 5 Mid-Size Car) and Ford Expedition (the third-highest scorer in the Large Utility category).

The bottom line according to this new research: While Ford owners did report 4 percent more “problems” than the industry average, “the strength of [the company’s] design, other important quality cues and innovation, along with brand strength, kept sales and Total Quality scores high.”

Read more: http://www.fordinthenews.com/ford-lauded-in-2011-total-quality-index/#more-2810

Lincoln To Introduce Push-Button Transmission, Glass Roofs

Great news for Lincoln customers!

As Ford pushes Lincoln dealers to make improvements to their showrooms, the Blue Oval is prepping new vehicles for the luxury brand. Improvements coming to Lincoln’s product lineup include fresh designs and less badge engineering.

In addition to styling that set Lincolns apart from Ford vehicles, technology is another way the brand will become more distinctive. Unique features and technologies that Lincoln will soon offer include:

• Push-button shifting controls, thereby opening up the look of the interior
• Fully retractable, all-glass roofs
• Continuously controlled damping, which allows a driver to choose among ride qualities
• Available all-wheel drive across the entire model lineup (which is available today)

As with all luxury buyers, Lincoln’s customers expect performance, a premium feel, and a quiet interior. But Lincoln also notes that their target customer is one that also wants their vehicle to be an expression of their personality.

Read more: http://www.lincolninthenews.com/lincoln-to-introduce-push-button-transmission-glass-roofs/#more-248