Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t see the answer to your question on this page, please don’t hesitate to call Ford of Murfreesboro and one of our friendly representatives will be happy to assist you.
Ford Maintenance 101
- How many miles before my Ford needs an oil change?
- Choosing Ford of Murfreesboro means you don’t have to keep track of that information. Different cars respond better to different oils, and each oil has its own factory recommendations. Whenever it’s time for your maintenance, we contact you so you can make the appointment. You can also check your owner’s manual, which will give you the schedule intervals for your model too. Or just give us a call if you’re not sure where that owner’s manual is!
- When should I replace my car battery?
- You should change or at least check the strength of the car’s battery before the expiration date of the warranty. Typically, the expiration date is written with a letter (for the month) and two numbers (for the year.) If you see an A22, then the warranty expires in January of 2022. If you don’t have a voltmeter at home, come check your battery’s strength at Ford of Murfreesboro‘s Service Center, so you know you won’t be stranded.
- What if my vehicle doesn’t start?
- If you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key, it’s likely either the starter or the battery. If you don’t, it could be a broken sensor, timing belt, or a more serious problem with the engine. To find out if it’s the battery or the starter, you should start with your voltmeter. If the voltmeter reads 12 volts or more when the car is off and 10.5 or more when attempting to turn the car on, then it’s not the battery. A battery is a quick fix you can likely do yourself, but for anything else, you need to bring the car in for further work.
- What if my “Service Engine Soon” light turns on?
- The Service Engine Soon light may come on when there’s a problem — or it can come on when there’s nothing wrong. If the light flashes and turns off quickly, it’s likely just a sensor in the car that needs to be replaced. However, if it stays on, you’ll need to visit our service center quickly. Once you’re here, a technician will get your car hooked up to a diagnostic reader to figure out the exact problem.
- How often do I need to buy or replace tires?
- There is no standard answer to this question. If you tend to drive your car fairly rough, you’ll need tires faster than the person who just runs a few errands throughout the week. Regardless of how often you drive though, tires will wear down over time. Every tire has factory recommendations as to how long it will last, but again, these are dependent on how and where you drive. This means you’ll need to constantly monitor the pressure, and wear on the tires. Check the tread bars on your tires to give you an indication of the wear. Once the bars are even with the tread, you need new tires.
- Do I need to align my tires when I get new ones?
- Not necessarily, but you should at least get the alignment checked. One clear sign you need an alignment is if you see uneven patterns of wear on the tires.
- What kind of tires should I get?
- Ford of Murfreesboro can let you know the best possible model tire for your car. All you have to do is specify the types of roads you drive on, how often you’re on the road, and how you treat your car on the road.
Tires
Parts
- When should I replace my belts and hoses?
- The exact time depends on a variety of factors. Generally, you can tell just by looking under the hood. Soft-looking, cracked or slack (no tension) belts and hoses need to be replaced. You may also see dry rot or a shiny underside to them.
- What is the difference between OEM and generic parts?
- OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer parts, which means the part you get will be exactly like the one that originally came with the car. Generic parts are made by a different manufacturer, and may not work as well in your car. Ford of Murfreesboro only uses OEM parts, because we don’t take chances with your car.
Technology
- Over the past few years, technology has drastically increased in vehicles. For Ford vehicles, one of the new popular systems is called SYNC. The system is designed to help you connect to all of your favorite apps as well as your vehicle.
- The Benefits of Ford SYNC Technology
- If you love all of the technological bells and whistles that go in a vehicle then it’s a great time to be a Ford owner. With Ford SYNC, you can use voice commands to place a call, listen to music, select apps with SYNC® AppLink, and more. This allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road while still having complete control of your vehicle’s entertainment technology.
- With SYNC® AppLink, you can now select any app on your phone with a single voice command. Listening to music through your Pandora app or pulling up directions through Google Maps are now both just a voice command away. In fact, any app on your phone is only a voice command away thanks to SYNC® AppLink.
- In addition to providing you complete voice control of your phone, Ford SYNC technology offers a number of benefits such as the ability to use the FordPass® app to track your vehicle and remotely check the fuel mileage, lock and unlock the doors, and start the engine, the ability to adjust your vehicle’s climate control with voice commands, the ability to automatically have 911 called if you are involved in an accident, and much more. To learn more about the many benefits and features Ford SYNC technology, we invite you to contact us today.
Does Your Car Have a Safety Recall?
Recalls have been in the news a lot lately. We know you have questions about the effect of these recalls on the safety of you and your passengers. We can’t service every vehicle with an open recall, but we can alert you if your vehicle has one.
Find out if your car is affected.
