Rusty Eck Ford Omaha

Buying a certified Ford gives you peace of mind. But the Ford Motor Company wants to go above and beyond that sense of comfort by offering even more security in one of its quality Extended Service Plans (ESP). We’ve already discussed the security and the great benefits included with warranties for a certified Ford, but it never hurts to reiterate what these plans offer. Here are some things these ESPs include to ensure that you get many years of enjoyment from your pre-owned Ford.

• Limited or even eliminated repair costs
• Flexibility of taking your vehicle to any Ford service center in North America for repairs
• Tailored plans to fit your mileage and driving needs
• Roadside Assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Option of prepaying for your scheduled maintenance services
• Warranty that stays with the vehicle, meaning your certified Ford’s resale value is higher if it is still under the service plan
• In models older than 2007, warranties that cover your car for six years or 75,000 miles
• In 2007 models, service plans that cover the vehicle for six years or 100,000 miles
• . . . and much, much more!

Your Ford sales representative will have all the details you need to ensure your ESP meets all of your needs. See a dealer today and learn how good it feels to be covered regardless of what happens while you’re on the road.

There are probably not many people who don’t know what their “Check Engine” lights look like. This little mystery light has probably come on in almost every car ever made at one point or another. And the funny thing is that many mechanics are just as stumped as you are when you take your car in to see why the light came on in the first place.

Of course, there are the obvious reasons: you let the engine run too low on oil, there’s a short in the dashboard lights or any one of many other reasons. And many car owners experience the horror story of paying hundreds of dollars to fix the problem only to have the light come back on within hours of leaving the service station.

If you check your dash, though, you’ll notice that the warning lights are color-coded. The “Check Engine” light is yellow, which means that there’s nothing seriously wrong yet. But it’s in your best interest to get the car checked as soon as possible. The red lights are the ones that mean something serious is wrong and you need to pull over right away and turn off the car. By this time, though, the damage is probably done already.

But if you have a Ford, you don’t have to worry about any costs associated with the “Check Engine” light. As long as you keep up with the vehicle’s preventative maintenance such as oil changes, tune ups and other services, you won’t have out-of-pocket costs when the yellow light comes on. Think of how much peace of mind that brings to car ownership and visit a Ford dealer today.

You can hardly discuss the auto industry today without mentioning the new hybrids and eco-friendly technologies implemented into the vehicles. Everybody wants to help the environment, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Ford is one of the leaders in hybrid technology. The automaker continues to produce vehicles that are safe for the environment, building on a practice begun when the company created the first hybrid model with the Ford Escape several years ago.

The automaker further cemented its dedication to “green” this week when two of its vehicles earned certification by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The Focus won recognition as one of the Top 12 Greenest Vehicles of 2008. The Ford Escape took its rightful place on the council’s Greener Choices 2008 list.

The Ford Focus has a reported 34 miles per gallon as a result of its 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine. That’s one of the best mileages you’ll find in any vehicle on the market today. With the Ford Escape, you can get 500 more miles out of a single tank of gas than you can on any other vehicle, thanks to its electric motor and 2.3L engine. Even if you don’t care about the environment, who doesn’t want to save hundreds of dollars a year on fuel?

Making it to the ACEEE’s lists is nothing to sneeze at. The council places a great deal of importance and emphasis on the selection process when deciding which vehicles to add to its list. So when you see that these two Ford vehicles have made the list, you can be sure they are some of the best environmentally-friendly products on the road.

For your green Ford, visit our Ford dealerships – Omaha NE or your Wichita KS Ford dealers.

You might think that your battery will last forever and you don’t need to do anything to maintain it. I used to think that. But that’s definitely not the truth. In fact, your battery can fail completely if you don’t take some precautions in its care.  Hopefully, we can help you prevent that with the following tips for your battery maintenance.

1. Secure the battery to the proper mounting bracket. If your battery bounces as you’re going down the road, it could become damaged or even fall out if you hit a big bump. At the least, it might cause short circuits in your vehicle’s electrical systems.

2. Make sure the cables are connected properly. Corroded or loose connections could cause unexpected problems at any time while you drive. If you notice corrosion, you can clean the connections with water and baking soda. Or, if you’re unsure, have a professional clean them.

3. Check the fluid level. Some batteries are “maintenance-free,” which means you don’t need to check their fluid levels. But if you don’t have one of these, simply add distilled water to your battery when the fluid is low.

4. Make sure you have the right battery for your vehicle. A variety of problems could occur if you have the wrong size battery.

5. Keep the case clean. This might not seem like a big deal, but dirt can damage or discharge a battery. A simple water-and-baking soda solution poured over the case can keep it clean. Use a nylon brush to wipe any of the really dirty spots.

If you want to get the maximum number of years out of your Ford, follow these tips to ensure your battery lasts a long time. It’s one of the most vital parts of your vehicle.

The Ford Motor Company might be taking its luxury Lincoln brand to the global market in the near future.

In an interview at the end of last month, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the company is considering distributing the brand in Asia and Europe. Right now, Ford markets it  in the Middle East.

Last year, the automaker sold more than 130,000 units worldwide, but the North American market accounts for 99 percent of those sales. That’s why the focus at this time is on the domestic market. But that doesn’t mean the automaker can’t look to the future in hopes of increasing its brand throughout the world.

Ford’s competitors have tried to expand their brands to a worldwide market, too. Those attempts have been less than impressive, giving Ford pause about putting too much effort into the expansion at this time. GM tried to expand its Cadillac brand to a global market last year, but experienced about 10 percent of its sales outside of the United States.

These talks also come at a time when Ford is lessening  its focus on the Mercury brand vehicles. While the sales volume decreases for Mercury, Ford hopes to increase the volume for the Lincoln. It won’t take the place of the company’s upscale options, which used to be Jaguar and Land Rover.

The Dearborn automaker is also considering taking the Lincoln to the Russian market, where its other Ford vehicles have enjoyed a great deal of success. Hopefully, this will be another way to put the company back on top of the auto market where it belongs.

The holiday season means spreading comfort and joy, so why not include yourself – and your Ford – in sharing the spirit of the season.  There are many terrific products now on the market that can zip up your car or truck, and mean more fun and maybe even money savings for you.
For Safety’s Sake.  There are plenty of great products out on the market, which can make your car much safer. These products include alarm systems, remote locks and starters, and navigation systems. These can help greatly improve the safety of your vehicle. If you can lock it easier, find out where you are going faster, and avoid traffic, you can be much safer in the end.

Stay In Your Budget. It might sound counter-productive, but dressing up your car can help you stay in budget. Buying new things for your car to replace old ones can allow you to avoid having those old parts turn into money-guzzlers.  For example, new tires can help save on fuel costs.

It Just Looks Better! Let us face it, buying great new items for your car this holiday season can help your car look better. A new sound system, great new rims, or computer screens with DVDs can enhance the appeal of your car, and therefore, your attitude about it when you get behind the wheel.

Keep Up With New Technology. There is new technology that comes out every day when it comes to your car, and you do not want to be the one that is left in the dark. New technology allows you to have better communication, know more about your car, and stay safer. They Sync communication system is high in this category.

Get There First. There is also something to be said for being the first one on the block with new technology. This technology provides many great items to spruce up your car inside and out and you can be the first one around to try them out on your car. The holiday season can be a great time to try out something new.

Whether you drive a frugal Ford Focus, a sporty Ford Mustang, or the Expedition for your growing family, treat your vehicle to savvy new updates and technology.  All available at your local Ford Dealer.

Ford Motor Company’s surging domestic quality is now equal to the best in the industry for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles collectively reduced “things gone wrong” (TGW) by 7.7 percent compared to last year and are now statistically equivalent with Honda (including Acura) and Toyota (including Lexus and Scion) atop the list of seven major automakers in the survey.
“This is One Ford at its best. It’s taken thousands of people continuously working together with laser-like focus every day to boost vehicle quality for our customers to the top of the pack,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. “But this is a never-ending journey. The goal now is to distance ourselves from our top competitors. We want to be the sole quality leader.”
Other highlights:
* The 2008-launched Ford F-Series Super Duty and the Lincoln Mark LT ranked first in their respective segments in both TGW and customer satisfaction.
* Ford Mustang GT 500 topped the sports car category in fewest TGW.
* Overall, 18 of 24 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recorded TGW improvements.
* Ford’s newly launched Focus improved significantly in TGW and customer satisfaction, now equaling the Toyota Corolla in both categories.
* The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are significantly better in TGW than the Toyota Camry, which they tied in customer satisfaction.
* Ford ranked best in class for TGW performance in the functional areas of Vehicle Engineering and Electrical among major manufacturers.
The 2008 model-year GQRS survey, conducted for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., solicits feedback on vehicle trouble and customer satisfaction from owners of all major makes and models after three months in service.