Preparing a Car Safety Kit

If you have a car, prepare an emergency car kit and keep it in the vehicle. A car emergency kit is one of those things that you don't think much about until it's too late. Then you'll wish you didn't leave home without one. Every car should have some essential items in a location that can be easily reached by the driver in an emergency, but not so accessible that a child can get into it.

The basic emergency kit for cars should include the following items:

1. Charged cell phone. It may make the difference between getting help fast and maybe not getting help at all.

2. First-aid kit. It should include Band-Aids, adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, and anything particular to you or your family.

3. Three reflective warning triangles to be placed 50 feet apart in case of emergency to warn oncoming traffic.

4. Blankets or sleeping bags.

5. Tire gauge to periodically check the air pressure in their spare tire.

6. Properly inflated spare tire.

7. Waterproof flashlights and extra batteries.

8. Plastic bottled water for drinking.

9. Non-perishable food, such as nuts and energy bars.

10. Windshield ice scraper.

11. Battery jumper cables.

12. Warning light or roadside flares.

13. Sanitation and personal hygiene items.

14. Family and emergency contact information.

Be prepared for an emergency by keeping your gas tank full and if you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.

Fall Car Care Month This October

October is Fall Car Care Month, and the Car Care Council reminds motorists that checking their vehicles before the temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid being stranded out in the cold and the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.

“The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather. Winter magnifies existing problems like hard starts, sluggish performance and rough idling,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Whether you perform the check or maintenance yourself or go to the repair shop, it’s a small investment of time and money to ensure peace of mind, and help avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown during severe weather.”

The Car Care Council recommends the following Fall Car Care Month checklist to make sure your vehicle is ready for cold winter weather ahead.

Heating, Wipers & Lights

• Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly.
• Consider winter wiper blades and use cold-weather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
• Check to see that all exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.

Tires & Brakes

• Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure of all tires, including the spare. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads.
• During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.
• Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.

Gas, Oil & Filters

• Keep your gas tank at least half full throughout the cold weather to prevent moisture from forming in gas lines and possibly freezing.
• Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in a cold climate.
• Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.

System Checks – Charging, Cooling & Exhaust

• Have the battery and charging system checked, as cold weather is hard on batteries.
• Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
• Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.

Pack the Essentials

• Make sure that your ice scraper and snow brush are accessible and ready to use.
• Stock an emergency kit with jumper cables, a flashlight, blankets, extra clothes, bottled water, nonperishable food and a first aid kit with any needed medication.

Source - carcare.org

Let's Bust Some Myths About Your Car's Tires

People may know a lot about cars but when it comes to tires, it's a big zero. Today we will be busting some myths about tires. 

• Myth: Tires should be inflated according to the pressure indicated on the tire sidewall. 
• Fact: Indication on the sidewall is the tire's maximum inflation pressure, not the recommended pressure. Follow inflation pressure recommendations in the Car owner's manual or written on the door post.

• Myth: A tread pattern is required for great traction on dry roads. 
• Fact: A tire without any tread provides the best results dry traction due to the maximum amount of rubber touching the road. A tread pattern, with its groove voids, actually lessens this traction on dry roads. The role of tread is to act as a squeegee in wet conditions and removes water from under the tire and channels it through the grooves for improved wet traction. 

• Myth: Performance tires wear out faster because of the sticky compounds. 
• Fact: Partly true but tread rubber polymers aren't the reason. In fact, advancements like new polymers and ultra-tensile steel constructions make performance tires last longer now. Performance tires average about 45,000 miles in tread life, comparable to the figures for family-car passenger tires. Fast wear is usually due to high speeds and aggressive driving. 

• Myth: Wide tires provide better traction under all weather conditions. Installing oversize snow tires on a car delivers better snow traction. 
• Fact: Completely wrong. Wide tires have a tendency float on deep snow, and the tread lugs are unable to dig through to the road surface and gain traction. Narrow tires provide better traction in snow conditions. Narrow tire cut through the snow easier and provides traction. 

• Myth: All-season tires sufficient for even winter season. 
• Fact: Can be true for certain regions but in places where snow remains on the roads for days winter tires are the best. 

• Myth: Tires should not be rotated from side to side, only front to back. 
• Fact: Radial tires can be crossed from side to side in the rotation pattern unlike the bias ply tires. Regular tire rotation every 6000 to 8000 miles ensures uniform wear for all tires on a vehicle. 

• Myth: New tires should be put on the drive-wheel position to get the most traction. 
• Fact: True only on a rear-drive vehicle. Always, install new tires on the rear axle. Most tire buyers purchase new tires for the drive-wheel position to get the most traction. However, by doing so they transfer most of their traction capabilities from the rear. The vehicle is more prone to over steer. 

• Myth: The government tests tires for traction, temperature resistance, and treadwear      and assigns grades molded onto the sidewall. 
• Fact: Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a federal law that makes it mandatory for tire      manufacturers to grade their own tires for tread wear, traction, and temperature resistance. Tire manufacturers test tires and assign their own grades and not some government authority. 

• Myth: An undulation on a tire sidewall is supposed to be a weak spot and can lead to tire failure. 
• Fact: An undulation is created where materials overlap each other in the tire carcass, and it actually is the strongest part of the tire.

Keep These 12 Steps Handy for Changing Your Tire

This is a quick run-down on what to know and steps to take when changing a flat tire. We’re sure there are more tips than this, but these are good universal tips for all of us.

1. Pull your vehicle as far over or even off the main road if possible for safety.

2. Locate the jack and tire wrench in your vehicle. If you are unsure where it is, pull out the manual and look it up. Many times it is located in the trunk somewhere.

3. Follow the instructions in your manual or on the jack to place the jack in the correct spot underneath and get it snug on the frame while not quite raising it up yet.

4. Take your wrench and start to loosen each lug nut just a little so each is started.

5. Once they are loose, go ahead and jack the vehicle up until the vehicle tire is off the ground.

6. Once off the ground, loosen all the lug nuts until they come off. Pull the flat tire straight off. If you pull at an angle the rim may catch on the bolt threads and make it difficult to pull off.

7. Roll the old tire off to behind the vehicle, and grab your spare tire. Many times the spare will look smaller than the original. That is because it is just made to be a temporary tire to get you to the tire garage and get the flat tire repaired or replaced.

8. Take your spare tire and line up the bolt holes with the rim with the bolts or holes on the hub and try to put it straight on.

9. Holding the tire on with one hand, take one of your tire bolts and start to screw it into the top hole. Once that is tight enough to hold the rim on, hand tighten the rest of the bolts on.

10. Take your wrench and firmly snug them all up using a criss cross pattern instead of going clock-wise or counter-clockwise.

11. Slowly lower the jack so the tire is now on the ground. Give each bolt a good turn to make sure they are all tight.

12. Don't forget to put the jack and wrench back in their compartments, and throw the flat in your trunk. Since most spares are temporary it is wise to head straight to the tire center and have your tire fixed or replaced as soon as possible.

Follow these steps to keep your frustrations to a minimum with your unfortunate circumstance. If you ever feel you are in an unsafe area, call a tow truck to either change it for you or tow you to a garage that can help.

Ford Tire Installation and Repair in Renton

Choosing an appropriate place to take your Ford vehicle for Ford Tire Installation and Repair in Renton is not something that is to be taken lightly. Each Ford vehicle comes with factory set wheels that are unique to the different Ford nameplates, for example, Ford Explorer tires cannot be used on Ford F-150 wheels. Therefore, you need a service center that has specialized in handling, repairing and replacing Ford tires on Ford vehicles, because only such a place that can tell the difference. Your Ford vehicles deserve nothing but the best. That is exactly what Sound Ford is willing give your vehicle. We at Sound Ford are committed to the full satisfaction of our clients and to the giving of high quality services. We have experienced, dedicated and certified Ford tires experts who will be able to take care of your vehicles wheels and tires like no other technicians can.

When you come to Sound Ford for Ford Tire Installation and Repair in Renton, our certified and experienced tire experts will assess the condition of your tires first; if the damage is minor, they will proceed to perform repairs in accordance with strict industry standards. This will involve plugging and patching from the inside. If you require tire installation, our experts will first remove the old tires from the wheels using the correct equipment. They will then perform an inspection of the wheel and lug nuts, and will install new valve stems where needed. They will then mount and seal the new tires and inflate them. The process that will follow is balancing of the wheel, whereby the wheel will be mounted on a computer-controlled balancing machine that will adjust the wheel, making it to rotate true, without wobbling. After this they will finally mount the wheels onto your vehicle with the new tires on them.

The tires that we stock are original, top quality tires that will last for a long time, depending on the way you will use them and the work they will be doing. Therefore, be assured that when you come to us for Ford Tire Installation and Repair in Renton, you will get the very best service. Sound Ford is located in Renton, WA, and you can reach us at 888-205-4007.

Ford Parts Available in Renton

February 21, 2014 Sound Ford Sound Ford Comments Off

Sound Ford is the best place to get Ford parts available in Renton if you reside in Renton or in its surrounding areas. Sound Ford is a large, established and respected Ford dealership that boasts the title of #1 Volume Ford dealer in Washington for the last 38 years. This is a record that is incomparable with any other.  We also pride ourselves in offering quality of service that is unmatched; our many loyal customers can attest to the fact that we go out of our way to make sure that each customer leaves our dealership and service center fully satisfied and with their vehicles feeling and looking like new. Therefore, do not hesitate to come to Sound Ford for Ford parts available in Renton. 

We at Sound Ford have a team of experienced and certified Ford technicians who are ready to respond to any inquiries concerning the parts that you should purchase for your vehicle. Many Ford owners do not know all the spare parts that their vehicles need at any one time, and they often end up just buying one or two of all the ones required. When you come to Sound Ford for Ford parts available in Renton, our team of experienced and certified Ford technicians will thoroughly inspect your vehicle and identify all problem areas that require part replacement as well as that require repair; they will then install the parts for you on your vehicle. This way you will always be sure that when you leave our dealership, your vehicle will be in the best possible condition.

Our Ford technicians will perform these inspections and spare part replacements at our state-of-the-art service center; it is well equipped with all the machinery and equipment required to handle even the most complex part replacements. Regardless of whether your vehicle is a subcompact or a heavy duty truck, our service center will be able to accommodate it for part replacement.

The Ford parts that we sell at Sound Ford are genuine; therefore, you can rest assured that the parts we will give you will last for a long time and will serve you well. Sound Ford is also selling them at remarkably low offer prices, so do not let this chance to get cheap Ford parts available in Renton pass you by. Sound Ford is located in Renton, WA, and you can also reach us at 866-331-8855.