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Headlights are the number one safety feature on any vehicle if you're heading on a journey at night. Getting new headlights as soon as you notice they're getting close to burning out is essential if you regularly drive in the dark. Your Ford dealer will be happy to replace your headlights for you, so head there once you notice one of the problems described below. more When Your Headlights Just Stop Working There is obviously something wrong if your headlights aren't working at all, so head right over to the dealer if you are having this problem. Your headlights may have burned out, or there could be a problem with the alternator or battery that's stopping them from receiving enough power to turn on. When Your Headlights Get Dim Dimming headlights are going to stop working completely eventually, so it's a good idea to get them replaced before they no longer work. You might be able to take a few journeys with slightly dim headlights, but soon they'll be too dim for you to see properly in the dark. When Your Headlights Start Flickering Flickering headlights can point towards more than one problem with your car. Sometimes the headlights flickering just means the lights are close to burning out, so you need to have them replaced. The flickering can also let you know that your alternator or battery is failing to power the lights properly, and that can create even bigger issues in your vehicle. When Your Headlights Are Hazy Even if your headlights are bright and aren't flickering, they can get a little hazy, which can decrease visibility in the dark. The light may be yellowed, or it might be slightly foggy. This can be a sign that your headlights are starting to burn out, but it could also mean that the headlight cover needs to be cleaned with a special solution you'll find at the dealership. When Your High Beams Don't Work Properly You might have absolutely no issues with your low beams, but sometimes the high beams will burn out without impacting the low beams at all. If any of the problems above apply specifically to your high beams, then you better get to the dealer to see what the problem is. You might need the bulbs replaced, or the problem could be caused by a blown fuse or faulty wiring instead. Come by Zeigler Ford Plainwell any time you need to replace your headlights, and be sure to stop by if you have any other issues you'd like us to fix. Keeping your vehicle running as smoothly as possible is key to staying as safe as you can.

We've all been there: you're cruising along in your trusty Ford, and then suddenly, a weird noise or an unfamiliar smell appears to ruin your day. These signs are your car's way of saying something isn't right. When you're having engine problems, it's essential that you take your car to the nearest Ford dealer right away for repairs. more 1. That Pesky Check Engine Light While it may seem like a minor annoyance, the check engine light could be warning you of a range of issues, from something as simple as a loose gas cap to a problem with the engine's sensors. When the light pops on, swing by the dealership! We have the diagnostic tools to decipher the code and get to the root of the issue. 2. Knock, Knock If your engine starts making knocking or pinging noises that you've never heard before, it's time to pay attention. These sounds can signal problems with your engine's combustion process, and it's probably time for a tune-up. Don't let a few knocks turn into bigger, more expensive issues by putting off a visit to the dealer. 3. Leaking Fluids If you notice any mysterious puddles or spots under your parked car, it's time to investigate. Engine fluids like oil, coolant, or transmission fluid are critical to your car's performance. Leaks can lead to engine damage or overheating, which is never a good thing. 4. Rough Idling or Stalling When your engine is idling roughly or stalling when you come to a stop, you've got to take action. These issues can be caused by anything from a clogged air filter to a malfunctioning sensor, but until you come in for a check-up, you won't know which. 5. Decreased Fuel Efficiency If your Ford is suddenly guzzling gas, don't just brush it off. Reduced gas mileage can be a sign of engine trouble, such as a faulty oxygen sensor or fuel injector. Getting these problems fixed without delay can help you save money in the long run. 6. Unusual Exhaust Smoke Your car's exhaust should be relatively smoke-free. If you start to notice thick, black smoke, or excessive white smoke, it's time to take a trip to the dealer. They might be a sign of burning oil or a coolant leak, which can lead to more expensive damage if left unattended. If your Ford's engine is not working correctly, it can spell trouble on the horizon. Don't ignore the warning signs when a quick trip to the dealership can keep your engine running smoothly. Call us at Zeigler Ford of Plainwell to schedule a service appointment, or come by for the expertise, diagnostic tools, and genuine Ford parts you need to keep your car in great condition.

The tires on your Ford need to be replaced every few years, as the tread on them wears down over time. You should always get new tires at your local Ford dealership if you want the best tires for your specific Ford model. Let's learn a little more about how often you should replace your tires and how you'll know it's time to get new ones. more How Often Do You Need New Tires For Your Ford? Ford states that your tires should last between 25,000 and 50,000 miles. This lifespan estimation is based on how long high-quality, dealer-recommended tires will last. Low-quality tires generally need to be replaced much more frequently. It takes the average driver about four years to drive 50,000 miles, but if you drive less frequently, then your tires are going to last even longer. Why Should You Get Your Tires from the Ford Dealer? Dealers Know What's Best Not all Ford models are the most compatible with the same tires, and your dealer will be able to advise you on which tires will be best for your Ford. If you have specific tires in mind that you'd like to fit your Ford with, then your dealer can advise on whether or not your desired tires are compatible with your Ford model. If the tires you want aren't compatible, then your dealer can recommend similar tires that are more compatible with your vehicle. Dealers Are Fast Providing incredible customer service is a priority for many dealers, so dealerships will always make sure to deal with your tire replacement as swiftly as possible. Once you make an appointment to get the tires replaced at your dealer, your dealer will be punctual and get your vehicle back to you within a couple of hours. Dealers May Offer You a Warranty Many dealerships, including ours, offer a warranty on parts and labor when you get a service such as a tire replacement. If you get a warranty on tires purchased from the dealer, then you won't have to pay out of pocket if your tires need to be repaired while under warranty. How Do You Know When It's Time to Replace Your Tires? You need to replace your tires when the tread becomes less than 2/32nds of an inch deep. Test your tread by placing a penny into the tread. If you can see Lincoln's entire head above the tread, then you need to replace your tires. You can also check the tread using a tire gauge, and high-quality tires also have a tread wear indicator built into them. Stop by Ziegler Ford Plainwell any time you need to get your tires replaced. Make sure you also stop by for regular service, including tire rotations and wheel alignments.

During the stifling heights of summer in Michigan, it's no fun to drive with your car AC not working. Whatever time of the year it is, if you're having AC trouble, it's best to have it repaired at your local Ford dealer without delay. Which of the following common AC problems are you currently experiencing? more Your AC Only Blows Warm Air If your AC is only blowing warm air and refuses to become cooler, the most common cause is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is the substances that circulate through your air conditioning system, switching from gas to liquid form over and over again, generating coldness in the process. The refrigerant might be leaking from a connection, a hose, a cracked fin of the evaporator, or a hole in the condenser or compressor. As car AC refrigerant is a transparent substance that's prone to evaporate as soon as it leaks into the open air, it's often difficult to find the source of a refrigerant leak. The technician at your local dealership can use a special fluorescent leak tracer dye and a UV blacklight to locate and seal the leak for you. Your AC Is Cool But Not Cold If your AC isn't reaching the level of coldness you require, the condenser may be blocked or faulty. Alternatively, the compressor's clutch system might be malfunctioning. Another cause could be low refrigerant resulting from a leak. Your AC Won't Blow Any Air At All If no air at all is blowing from the AC vents, the problem probably doesn't lie with the refrigerant. The blower motor or blower resistor, which is responsible for blowing the air into the cabin, might have suffered a fault. This could stem from an electrical problem. Otherwise, the air intake might have become clogged by external debris or one of the system's belts and hoses might have come loose. You're likely to need a technician to diagnose the fault. Your AC Is Making Strange Noises Air conditioners in modern Ford cars should be all but silent when functioning well. If you hear any rattling when you turn the AC on, debris might have become caught in the system, the compressor's clutch may have failed, or a component might be coming loose. Your AC Smells Like Mildew After leaving your AC system unused for months over winter, you might find that it delivers an unpleasant mildewy smell into your cabin when you first turn it on. This smell is usually due to the growth of bacteria in mold or fungi growing inside the system. A technician can resolve this by applying an antibacterial solution to the evaporator. Have your car's AC repaired and restored to perfect working condition today at Zeigler Ford of Plainwell. We're a full-service dealership providing prompt solutions for all your vehicle purchasing, servicing, and repair needs in one convenient location.

Your Ford's engine needs to be adequately cooled down to prevent overheating, and the radiator is responsible for doing just that. When the radiator is not working correctly, it could cause your car to overheat, leading to severe engine damage. If you notice the signs below, your Edge, Bronco, or Ranger will need a radiator repair from your Ford dealer. more 1. Your Car Is Overheating The radiator could be the culprit if your car is overheating while driving. During the hot summer months, when your car's air conditioner is running all the time, it's normal for the temperature reading to be slightly higher. If the gauge consistently shows a high-temperature reading, it could be due to a problematic thermostat that isn't releasing the appropriate amount of fluid or a broken radiator fan that isn't drawing enough air into the radiator. Ask your Ford technician for an inspection as soon as possible to prevent damage under the hood. 2. You Notice Coolant Leaks It could be coolant if you notice bright-colored liquid dripping from your car. Repairing the problem immediately is vital because a coolant leak can cause your vehicle to overheat. To prevent further damage, check the coolant level immediately and top it off if necessary. If you spot a puddle on the ground under your car, ask one of our qualified Ford technicians to fix the leak immediately. 3. The Coolant Is Thick and Dirty Coolant is either bright green, yellow, pink, orange, red, or blue, but as time goes on, the coolant can become contaminated and dirty, causing it to change brown and thicken. Thick and dirty coolant won't flow through the system, clogging up the radiator and leading to overheating problems. 4. The Radiator Fins Are Clogged or Damaged The tubes running across the radiator that carries hot coolant rely on the air blowing onto them to cool down the coolant before it flows back to the engine. If the radiator fins are clogged with leaves, bugs, and road dirt, damaged or bent, it can block the airflow and prevent the cooling down of the coolant, causing your car to overheat. 5. You See Rust and Sludge Rust is never good. It creates holes and leaks. If the coolant has turned brown, it may be a sign of rust contamination. When the rust gets into the coolant, it will prevent proper flow and cause a sludge-like substance that will block the radiator. 6. You See Smoke If smoke is pouring out of your car's tailpipe, there could be a coolant leak. Check the coolant level; if it's low, there's a good chance you have a leak. Pull over right away if your car gets too hot and you see smoke billow out from under the hood. Allow your vehicle to cool down, and contact us for assistance. Avoid driving any further to prevent more damage. Taking action immediately is crucial if you notice any of the signs above. Don't wait and risk costly repairs or replacements - call Zeigler Ford Plainwell now for repairs.

The alternator is one of the most important parts of your Ford's electrical charging system. It generates electricity for all your car's systems. A worn or damaged alternator will cause electrical problems, and even prevent your car from moving. As your Ford dealer, we can provide an alternator repair if you need one. These are some of the ways to tell you could have a failing alternator. more Flickering Lights Flickering headlights could mean that the bulbs are wearing out. They can also signal a problem with your alternator. When your engine is running, the alternator supplies power to all your electrical systems. If the alternator is wearing out, it will gradually produce less electricity. The reduced electricity supply means that your car's computer has to shift the available power to components depending on their demand. Headlight bulbs require a steady power supply of electricity to work effectively. As electricity is shifted from component to component, the current reaching the bulbs can vary in strength. This will cause the lights to flicker. The lights may also become very bright if they receive more current than they're designed to. Our technicians will test your alternator, and we can install a new one if it's failing. Blown Fuses All the electrical systems in your car have fuses connected to them. A fuse protects its connected component from electrical spikes and shorts. If an electrical spike occurs, the rogue charge will be absorbed by the fuse. This causes the fuse to blow out and protects its attached component from damage. The component won't work until the fuse is replaced. If the alternator fuse blows, the alternator will immediately shut down. When the alternator isn't working, the battery will supply power to your car's systems. A battery has a limited electrical storage capacity, and it can easily drain completely in less than an hour. If the alternator fuse blows, the battery warning light on the dash will light up. Call our service department, and we'll replace the blown fuse. Grinding Noises Grinding sounds are never a good sign. If you hear a grinding noise coming from under the hood, you could have a damaged alternator. The alternator produces power by spinning, and it has two bearings that allow it to spin at high speed. The constant spinning movement can cause damage to a bearing and it can fail. A damaged bearing produces a grinding noise as the alternator spins. The damaged bearing places additional strain on the remaining bearing, and this could also fail. Broken bearings will prevent your alternator from spinning. We can easily examine the bearings and replace them or your alternator, depending on the situation. If you have an alternator problem, call the experts at Zeigler Ford Plainwell.

Each year, 300,000 road accidents are caused by brake failure in the US, 12,000 of which are in Michigan alone. A great many of these accidents could be avoided with more careful brake maintenance. It's important to identify and repair brake issues early on before they grow into more dangerous problems. With this in mind, the following five warning signs should prompt you to visit your local Ford dealer for brake repair as soon as possible. more Your Car Pulls to One Side When a problem first develops in a brake mechanism, it often only applies to the brake on one wheel. This means one side of your car has lost some of its stopping power, which might cause it to pull to one side whenever you brake. This lopsided pulling is usually more noticeable when the brake problem is at the front of the car. Your Brake Pedal Feels Spongy The brake pedal should always feel firm underfoot. If you ever press it and notice a soft or spongy sensation, you might have a brake problem. Sponginess often means one of your brake hoses is leaking fluid. This is potentially dangerous as brake fluid maintains the essential hydraulic pressure that transmits the stopping signal from the pedal to the caliper. If a leak occurs, both that pressure and the stopping signal are diminished. Your Brakes Lose Traction Another immediately dangerous brake issue is if you step on the pedal, but your car is slow to respond. If you ever experience any loss of brake traction like this, pull over at once before the problem worsens. A loss of traction might be caused by overheating brakes, which can sometimes occur when brakes are used continually for extended periods of time. Hilly roads, steep roads, heavy traffic, and towing heavy trailers can all potentially cause overheating brakes. You Feel Rhythmic Vibrations When a brake rotor becomes damaged by overheating, age, or a worn-down brake pad, it might warp slightly out of shape. If this happens, you're likely to feel a rhythmic vibration through the brake pedal whenever you use it. You Hear Squeaking Sounds Brake pads inevitably wear down over time and generally need to be replaced every 30,000 to 80,000 miles. When a brake pad is on its last legs, it's designed to emit a squeaking sound to draw your attention. Have Frequent Brake Servicing at Your Local Ford Dealer Given how important brakes are to road safety, it's important never to miss a servicing visit. Most drivers should have their brakes serviced at least twice a year, whenever they take their car in for tire rotation and fresh oil. Visit Zeigler Ford of Plainwell today to have your brakes examined and repaired by qualified technicians. We offer a large inventory of new and used vehicles for every driving taste.

Regular services will ensure that your Ford is always in excellent condition. Your car manual lists the schedule for all the services for your car. At your For d dealership, we can perform the full range of maintenance necessary to keep your car working efficiently and effectively for years to come. These are a few of the services that we offer. more Brake Servicing Your brakes are your Ford's most important safety feature. They enable you to control your speed and stop at any time. Good brakes can make the difference between a near miss and a collision. Regular serving is the key to keeping your brakes in good condition, as it allows our technicians to carefully examine every part of your braking system. We automatically check and replace the brake pads, examine the calipers and rotors for signs of damage, and check the entire system for possible leaks. We test and replace your brake fluid, and we'll also examine the brake master cylinder and the brake fluid reservoir. When your brakes have been serviced by one of our Ford-trained technicians, you know they're in perfect condition. Battery Testing and Replacement The battery is one of the most important components in your car. It provides the electrical charge that cranks your engine to start your car. A car battery has a limited lifespan, and it will usually need to be replaced within five years. The cause of most battery failures is the breakdown of the chemicals inside the battery that prevent it from storing and supplying electricity. Our computerized battery tester can quickly test your battery and advise on any potential problems. For safety, it's advisable to test your battery when it's three years old and then once a year after that. This level of testing will ensure our battery always has sufficient power and won't suddenly fail. Wheel Alignment Service Correct wheel alignment is important for many reasons including reducing wear on your tires, preventing damage to the axles and maintaining fuel efficiency. When your car is new, its wheel alignment is perfect. As time passes, your wheel alignment can shift slightly. This shift won't be immediately noticeable but can become more pronounced. Any damage to your tires or wheels, for example bumping into a curb, can also affect your alignment. Our technicians can fix this problem easily, as we'll connect your car's wheels to our computerized alignment machine. The computer will assess your wheels and subtlely shift each one until your alignment is precisely balanced again. We have many other services available for your Ford. Call our service department today at Zeigler Ford Plainwell, and our Ford-trained technicians will take care of everything.