Blog

Your Ford is reliable, fuel-efficient, and provides real driving pleasure. To keep it working in great condition, it needs regular services and maintenance. As your Ford dealer in Amsterdam, NY, we'd like to tell you about some signs that your Ford is due for a tune-up. Illuminated Warning Lights The lights on your dash are connected, via your car's computer, to sensors. These sensors monitor the components they're attached to and illuminate if a problem is detected. Sensors are so sensitive that they can identify a problem before it starts. more The brake light, for example, will come on due to a brake fluid leak, a damaged handbrake cable, or a failing brake pedal booster. The sensors connected to these components send a warning to your computer. The problem is logged, and the relevant warning light illuminates. Any warning light on your dash is always a sign you need to visit us. Our technicians will identify the problem and repair it. Stalling Problems Stalling can be dangerous, especially if you're on the highway. Your engine will suddenly stop as more than one cylinder your engine is unable to complete combustion. If combustion can't occur, your car won't move. There are several possible reasons for combustion failure, and one of the most common causes is dirty or worn spark plugs. A spark plug is attached to each cylinder to ignite the fuel-air mixture in its cylinder at a precise moment. We replace the plugs regularly according to your car's service schedule. If the plugs have worn out due to age or been damaged, they won't fire at the precise time or with sufficient power to ignite the contents of the cylinders. We'll test your spark plugs and replace worn or damaged ones. Black Exhaust Smoke One of the causes of black exhaust smoke is a high fuel-to-air ratio in your engine. Effective combustion requires a 14:1 ratio of air to fuel. The air your engine needs enters through the radiator grille and then passes into the air filter. This filter traps dirt and debris, and the filtered air passes into the engine. Over time, the filter will become blocked and cut off the air supply to the engine. An engine that has insufficient air becomes fuel rich. When this happens, much of the fuel in the cylinders won't burn. The unburnt fuel is expelled through the exhaust and leaves in a black cloud of toxic smoke. We can check the filter and install a clean one to fix this problem. If your Ford isn't running as smoothly as it should, it's time for a check-up. Schedule a service appointment at our Amsterdam auto repair shop or c all us today at Brown's Ford of Amsterdam.

Catalytic converters, also known as cats, clean most of the pollutants out of your car's emissions. As it sits between your engine and exhaust pipe, any problems with the cat can obstruct the vehicle's airflow, causing engine problems. It's also required by law to have a fully functioning cat at all times. So if you notice the following six signs of trouble, visit your local Ford dealer in Amsterdam for a catalytic converter inspection. Check Engine Light Comes On As with most car trouble, your first warning will usually be the dreaded check engine light blinking to life on your dashboard. This light should never be ignored, as it's always better to nip a problem in the bud before it develops into something more costly to repair. more Ask Your Ford Dealer to Diagnose the Problem When you notice the check engine light, you won't know for sure if the problem lies with your cat or something else. A technician can interface with your onboard computer system to isolate the cause. They can also run heat and pressure checks on your exhaust system to see if the issue lies with your cat. Sulfury Stench of Rotten Eggs A faulty cat is no longer converting dirty fumes into harmless gases. One of these dirty fumes, hydrogen sulfide, has a recognizable sulfury smell similar to that of rotten eggs. Without a healthy cat cleaning up this gas, you'll soon smell it. Clanging or Rattling Noises If a cat gets knocked loose in its brackets by a jolt, curb, rock, or pothole, you'll hear it clanging loosely around under your car. If something dents your cat, breaking the delicate internal meshwork, you'll hear a quieter sound of metal pieces rattling about inside the cat. Stalling Engine With a bad cat inhibiting the flow of air, your engine becomes oxygen-starved. It will soon start to falter. You'll feel it juddering, stuttering, and idling roughly when you stop at traffic lights. And it might even stall. Poor Acceleration While Driving You'll also find your car accelerating poorly like it simply doesn't have the power anymore. This can be dangerous when you need a quick burst of speed, such as when crossing an intersection or overtaking another vehicle. Black Smoke From Your Tailpipe With less air entering the engine, the fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chambers becomes unbalanced. The engine tries to compensate by injecting more fuel, a lot of which doesn't combust properly as the spark plugs become coated in soot. If it can make it through your catalytic converter, this excess unburned fuel eventually starts to escape in the form of thick black smoke from your tailpipe. Sometimes, it will even ignite and you'll see flames in the smoke. Visit Brown's Ford Amsterdam today to have your catalytic converter examined and repaired by experienced professionals. We pride ourselves on being Mohawk Valley's premier dealership for all things Ford. Schedule your test drive at Brown's Ford to inspect your catalytic converter in Amsterdam.

When it comes to the air conditioning in your car, there are many things that can go wrong. Whether you are dealing with a lack of cool air or unpleasant odors and excessive condensation, it is important to get these problems checked out as soon as possible. So, if you find your car AC not working in Amsterdam one day, you may need to visit your Ford dealer. Here are some common reasons why your AC may not be working properly. more Compressor Problem One of the most common issues with car air conditioners is a problem with the compressor. The compressor is responsible for moving refrigerant through the system, and if it is not working properly, the entire system will suffer. In most cases, a compressor problem will need to be fixed by a professional. Making an appointment at your local dealership may be the best option in this situation. Freon Leak Another reason why your car's AC might not be working is because of a Freon leak. Freon is the refrigerant that helps cool the air, so if there is a leak, the system will not be able to function properly. A Freon leak can be caused by any number of factors, from simple wear and tear over time to more severe issues such as corrosion or damage to some components. A leak can often be fixed by simply refilling the system, but if the leak is severe, you might need to replace some components. Leaks can often go unnoticed, so if you think there may be a leak because your car is not blowing cold air, you may need to have a professional check it out. Dirty Cabin Filter A dirty cabin filter can also prevent your car's AC from blowing cold air. The cabin filter helps to clean the air before it enters the AC system, so if it is dirty, the system will not work as efficiently. In some instances, dirty filters will cause the air blowing into your cabin to smell foul. This could be another sign that it's a filter issue. In most cases, you can clean or replace your cabin filter yourself. If you're not sure how to change a filter, bring your car to your local dealership for assistance. If your car's AC isn't blowing cold air, there are a few possible explanations. Problems with the compressor, a leak, or a dirty filter are some of the common problems but if you're simply not feeling the cold air it's important to get your car inspected. Contact us at Brown's Ford of Amsterdam to schedule an appointment with one of our AC experts today so you can feel cool again soon! Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Brakes are one of those components that most drivers don't think about. It's assumed that they will always work exactly when you need them to. Parts can wear out or get damaged, and these faults might not be noticeable. You will, however, see progressive problems with your brakes if they've been damaged. As your Ford dealer, we're the first choice when you need a brake repair in Amsterdam. We have the technicians, technology, and spares to fix any braking problem very quickly. Vibration When You Brake When you apply the brakes, they should work almost immediately and quietly. If you're experiencing vibration through the steering wheel when you use the brakes, you have a brake problem. When you jam on the brakes, the calipers are forced against the wheel rotors by hydraulic pressure from the brake fluid. This is the process that brings your car to a stop. more Vibrations could be caused by worn brake pads, damaged wheel rotors, or uneven wear on the brakes. If one of the pads is more worn than the other, more pressure will be applied by the less worn pad. This unbalanced braking will cause a vibration. Damaged wheel rotors will also cause vibrations as the pads attempt to grab an uneven surface. Visible Damage You can see part of the braking system by looking through the wheel spokes. The wheel rotors, calipers, and brake pads are all visible. The wheel rotors should be flat and unmarked. If they have a blue tinge, this means your rotors are subjected to excessive heat. Riding the brakes is one cause, as this entails keeping one foot on the brake when driving. The brake pads are kept in almost constant contact with the rotors which can cause damage. Other possible issues include gouging or deep scratches on the surface of the rotors. The marks that the brake pads have worn out and the metal pads are wearing down the rotors. You'll also be able to see the positions of the calipers, which should sit above the rotors but not be in contact with them. If a caliper is partially in contact with a rotor, this means the caliper is damaged. Increased Stopping Distance When you hit the brakes, you expect the brakes to stop very quickly. If your car is taking longer to stop than it should, this can be a sign of worn rotors. If the rotors are worn, for example by riding the brakes or due to driving with worn-out brake pads, the surface of the rotors may have grooves worn into them. These grooves will make it more difficult for the calipers to clamp onto the rotors. The extra time taken to grasp and hold the rotor will give you a longer stopping distance. If your brakes aren't working as well as they should, or you see any sign of damage, call us right away at Brown's Ford of Amsterdam. Our technicians will investigate, and we can fix the problem.