Rusty Eck Ford Omaha

Keeping an eye on your brakes is the best way to catch any problems with them before major repairs are needed. But do you know what to look for when visually inspecting your brakes? Here are some things to keep in mind so you can catch any brake problems before they become major problems.

Rotors
The rotors are the large round metal circles that you can usually see through the vehicle’s wheels. These should be smooth and shiny. If there are any grooves or other defects, have them replaced right away because they could cause more problems if left unrepaired. You can feel the rotors to check their smoothness, but make sure you have not been driving for a couple hours so they are not hot to the touch.

Brake Pads
These are the parts that rub along the rotors to stop the vehicle. If you notice any uneven wear on the brake pads or any cracks, have them replaced. This is a rather inexpensive repair job if you catch the problem before it goes too long. Also, if you hear a high-pitched squeak when stopping, that’s also a sign that your brake pads need replacing.

Drum Brakes
These types of brakes are common on the rear of the vehicle and they use the same concept as disc brakes. Inspect drum brakes with the same tips in mind.

If you have any questions or if your brakes need repairs, visit the service garage at your Omaha area Ford dealer for a complete checkup and repair service.

The new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is certainly attracting quite the buzz for the Ford Motor Company since it has been traveling around the country to be shown at auto shows. The “SHO” part of the car’s moniker comes from the sport sedan’s first badge and Ford has brought it back in a new and exciting way.

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO has been redesigned from the Taurus that your parents knew. The new Taurus is going back to the days when this sedan demanded respect and attention because of its design and drivability. With a 365 horsepower twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, it’s promising to be one of the best selling vehicles of its model year. The new generation also includes AWD and a number of upgrades that are going to bring buyers to the showroom just to check out the newest features.

The acronym “SHO” used to stand for Super High Output when it was used with the younger generations of the Taurus. Those words definitely ring true for this model which has a horsepower output that is 145-hp higher than the first few generations of the Taurus.

Visit your Omaha area Ford dealer to find out much more about the 2010 Taurus. You may just find yourself wanting to buy one before you leave the showroom!

If you’re looking for something to do the Halloween in or around Omaha, your Ford dealers would like to bring your attention to some fun local events.

• The Boo Zoo – This fun children’s event takes place at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo and Friday night is the last night to take part in this fun event. It lasts from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and is a great way to keep kids safe while letting them have fun.
• The Boy Scout’s are sponsoring the “Twilight Woods” from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Take a walk through the “haunted” woods for a spooktacular time.
• The Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Children’s Halloween Festival takes place on Saturday between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. It’s free!
• The Storytime Spectacular is on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the SouthPointe Barnes and Noble on Pine Lake Road. This week’s story is sure to be something spooky.
• Take a Walk in the Stalks at 27th and Superior Streets. For only $2 per child, your kids can safely trick-or-treat through a maze between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
These are just a few of the Halloween events coming up that the entire family can enjoy.

With Halloween right around the corner, have you figured out what you’re going to dress up as? I’m sure you have a big party to go to OR a long night of trick-or-treating with your kids, so a great costume is a must, right? Well, do you own a big Ford F-350 OR are you in the market for the new 2010 Ford F-350? If so, perhaps you can suit up in a colonial outfit, and head to your Halloween party as Johnny Appleseed in your big Ford F-350.

How cool would it be to pull up to your Halloween party in a brand new Ford F-350 and jump out as Johnny Appleseed? You could walk around your friends house sprinkling seeds everywhere. If they have a problem with it, just tell them you are really getting into your character, plus, it’s good for the environment! If they still don’t like it, you can always do a nice burnout in the yard on your way home. Take a look at those tires, perfect for burnouts…

It’s Ford Truck Month and in recognition of that, we are having a Black Tag Sale as part of the Fall Classic promotion. Sign up for the Rusty Eck of Omaha Insider List to receive monthly email specials. Click here to watch a video explaining how much you can save during the Fall Classic promotion.

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Taking care of your Ford cars and driving them correctly will help you get the most life out of them as possible. Engine performance is one of the most vital aspects of keeping your Ford vehicles running efficiently and smoothly. Here are some tips to help you keep your engine running at its best over the years.

Keep a log of maintenance and routine procedures. Keeping track of the maintenance on your Ford car or truck is ideal because it reminds you of how long it has been since anything has been done. If you do not have a written log, you may think you just had an oil change when, in fact, it was actually performed a year ago.

Use the correct motor oil. Oil is literally the lifeblood of your engine. It lubricates, cools, dampens and much more. That’s why it is so important to use the type recommended by your owner’s manual.

Use a high-quality fuel. Most gas stations these days have fuel options that contain cleaning agents. This can help clean any gunk or debris that has built up in your engine or any other parts of the fuel system. Fill up your Ford with this type of fuel every once in awhile to keep things running smooth and efficiently.

Have you heard the buzz surrounding the 2010 Ford F-350 trucks? If not, where have you been? These are some of the most impressive trucks put out by the Ford Motor Company in recent years. Here are some things that Ford and many consumers are excited about in the 2010 Ford F-350s.

• The new F-350 is available in three different engines – 300, 362 or 350 horsepower. Each engine has its own unique size. The 300-horsepower engine, for instance, is a 5.4 liter V8 engine. The 362-horsepower one is a 6.8-liter V10 and the 350-horsepower is a 6.4-liter V8 which is diesel fueled.
• You can get the 2010 Ford F-350 as either a six-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual. The choice is yours!
• Payloads for these massive trucks range between 2,860 pounds and 3,180 pounds.
• The Lariat F-350 is a more luxurious version of the truck than the rest of the trims. This particular model includes premium leather seats, a leather-trimmed dashboard and even a TV and DVD entertainment system.
• The Ford SYNC system is available for the 2010 F-350s as well as the new Ford Work Solutions package. This unique feature allows you to check your tool inventory quickly, check for any problems with your fleet vehicles and more simply by using a system installed in your dashboard.

With all of these features and more, why haven’t you gone to your Ford dealer to check out the new F-350s? Do it today while they are still available!

Do you want to get the most out of the tires on your Ford pickup truck? If so, it takes some care and maintenance. There are typically four things to remember about tire maintenance to keep them in tip-top shape. Here are those four main rules.

1. Check the air pressure. The air pressure in your Ford tires is extremely important. Too much air pressure and you could have a dangerous blowout and cause uneven wear. Insufficient pressure and your tires will wear on the sidewalls and you decrease your gas mileage by as much as five percent. Check the pressure about every 4 to 6 weeks to make sure they are at their proper PSI for optimum performance and durability.
2. Check the tread. The tire’s tread tells you about how much life you have left in your tires. The tread can also tell you if the tires are unbalanced or aligned improperly. Look for uneven treads to check for these problems. Also, place a penny upside-down into the tire’s tread. If you ca see all of Honest Abe’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.
3. Rotate the tires. Tire rotation keeps your tires wearing evenly and gets more life out of them. Before rotating your tires, however, check your Ford owner’s manual to see what pattern you should use for the best possible results.
4. Balance your tires. An unbalanced tire wears unevenly and causes unnecessary stress on the suspension system. If you feel a vibration when driving, you may need an alignment.

Are you in need of new tires for your Ford truck? If so, feel free to schedule a service appointment now at your Omaha Ford dealer. Whether you need a rotation, tire repair or brand new tires, we are here to service your needs.

When one of the world’s biggest automakers wants to unveil a truck that is bigger and better than its previous models, why would they choose anywhere else besides Texas? That’s exactly what the Ford Motor Company thought when officials introduced the 2011 Super Duty pickup truck at the Texas State Fair in Dallas this month.

Although Ford has not released or discussed any horsepower or torque specifications for the new truck, officials claim it will have “significantly” more power than any of the current models with the Power Stroke engine. That means the 2011 model will have at least 350 horsepower and have at least 650 lb.-ft. of torque. Some are speculating that the new truck will have about 390 horsepower with 720 lb-ft of torque, but those numbers cannot be confirmed by Ford as of yet. Either way, we can expect something powerful for those tough jobs.

“Our customers do some of America’s toughest jobs,” said Mark Fields, the Ford President. “The new 2011 Super Duty offers them a truck with best-in-class towing and payload, all-new powertrains and even more capability than ever to help them do their jobs.”

Dealers should be getting the 2011 Super Duty pickup trucks early next spring. You may be able to call your Omaha area Ford dealer today and schedule a test drive for when the new trucks arrive.

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid comes with a number of great options and features that allow you to customize your car and make it your own. There are also some fun and practical accessories that you can add on if you want to customize it even further. Here are three of those accessories that make the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid an ideal vehicle for you.

1. Keyless Entry Keypad – As long as you can remember a combination, you can forget about always searching for your keys to get into your 2010 Ford Fusion. With the keyless entry pad, you simply push a few numbers on the keypad device and you’re in!

2. Portable Navigation System – Choose from the NUVI 205 or the NUVI 265WT for all your navigation needs. These models are from Garmin, a recognized leader in the portable navigation industry. Whether you need turn-by-turn directions, restaurants in the area or a simple map of your destination, these devices will get you where you need to go in a stress-free way.

3. SmartAlert System – This helpful accessory keeps you connected in case of an emergency. If you get into a collision and you are unable to call emergency services on your cell phone, a simple push of a button connects you to a dispatcher. This system can also diagnose engine problems and much more. The peace of mind that the SmartAlert system offers is simply priceless.

These are just a few accessories you can add on to your 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid to make it even more spectacular than it already is. If these or other accessories are important to you, schedule a service appointment at your Omaha Ford dealer today!

In a new feature on The Jay Leno Show, Jay Leno is asking guests to compete in hybrids and electric cars around a course on the studio lots to show the power and versatility of these vehicles that many people do not know much about. Leno is essentially bringing these cars into your living room at 10 p.m. every night (or whenever his show is aired in your area).

It’s no secret that Jay Leno is a fan about cars. He has a garage full of vehicles from Detroit’s heyday and before and even many that have been produced in recent years. He designed the Green Car Challenge in an effort to educate people about some of the newer alternatively-fueled vehicles that automakers are making these days.

The electric Ford Focus is one of the cars he uses on the course which is about 1,400 feet long. Ford plans to release a vehicle similar to the one Leno is using by 2011.

“We made a fun car for Jay’s event,” explained Andy Slankard, a Ford racing engineer. Stars like Tom Cruise, Rush Limbaugh and Drew Barrymore have either taken the challenge or they are scheduled to take the challenge when appearing on The Jay Leno Show. Be sure to watch the show and see how the electric Ford Focus fares. You will undoubtedly be impressed!