Some Great Steps on How to Take Care of Your Car in Winter

A vehicle's transmission is the system that enables the vehicle to change gears at different speeds. The transmission is an essential component of the vehicle and must be taken care of to ensure the vehicle functions properly. Check out these five tips for keeping your automatic transmission up and running. Schedule Regular Maintenance With any vehicle, it's important to always schedule routine vehicle maintenance. Keeping your vehicle on a consistent maintenance schedule is the only way to make sure that all vehicle fluids are filled to the appropriate levels and that your vehicle is performing as it should. Let the professionals run a checkup on your vehicle every so often just in case there are any problems. With regularly scheduled maintenance, potential problems could be caught early on, saving you money on repairs in the long run. more Check the Transmission Fluid It's important to have the transmission fluid checked periodically. Similar to checking the vehicle's oil, all you have to do is pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, put it back in, wait a moment, and then pull it out to check the fluid level. You'll also need to check if the fluid is dark or smells bad, as this could be a sign of a more serious problem. Get the Engine Cooling System Serviced The cooling system is vital to the vehicle, as it helps prevent the engine from overheating and helps cool down the transmission fluid. In order to keep all parts of the vehicle in good working order, it's best to have the vehicle's engine cooling system serviced every so often. Transmission and engine repairs can be incredibly expensive, so it's a good idea to keep everything under the hood in optimal condition. Don't Change Gears While the Car is Moving It's harmful to the vehicle if you change gears while the car is still moving because it puts excess strain on the transmission. To take care of your automatic transmission, be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop before you change gears. For example, you want the car to be completely stopped before you switch from reverse to drive. Preventative Maintenance There are some preventative maintenance steps that you can follow to keep your vehicle's transmission healthy. First, have your transmission inspected by a professional annually. The service professional will check the transmission for leaking or other problems and will also check the transmission fluid's level, color, and smell. Second, it's better to let your vehicle warm up for a few minutes before you drive, especially in the wintertime. This is important because it lets the engine run and gets everything moving before you begin driving. Whether you're a novice or a professional regarding cars, it's important to learn how to take care of your vehicle so it continues to run in tip-top shape. With these tips, you'll be able to keep your vehicle's transmission in good working order for years to come. Image Via Flickr by Daniel Hartwig under use of CC BY 2.0

Researchers suggest that driving while tired is similar to driving drunk. You lose some control of your vehicle and may not be able to drive defensively to prevent accidents from taking place. To stay safe on the road, it's important that you try to avoid driver fatigue whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid driver fatigue and promote a safer driving environment on the road for everyone. Avoid Driving When You're Tired This may seem obvious, but you should avoid driving when you're tired. This means that you should avoid driving at night during times you're normally sleeping, as well as driving when you're in that 3 p.m. tired slump during the workday. If driving through the night to miss traffic on a long road trip seems like a good idea, consider that it's more dangerous to drive while you're sleepy. Try to avoid driving during these times, even if it means taking a break for 30 minutes to rest. more Pull Over If you're too tired to drive, pull over to somewhere safe and take a nap. A 20-minute nap is often referred to as a “power nap” for a reason. It's overall a smarter idea to pull over if you're drifting into a different lane or catch yourself closing your eyes while falling asleep. It is best to pull over to a parking lot at a popular place, as opposed to the side of the highway. However, if you cannot safely make it this distance, consider pulling over on the side of the road for a few minutes and stretching your legs. Consider What Medicine You're Taking Some medications can make you feel drowsy or fatigued. Any time you are prescribed a new medication, read the informational pamphlet that comes with it regarding possible side effects. Many medications that are known to cause drowsiness indicate it on the prescription bottle or have a warning about operating machinery while taking it. If you have any questions about whether or not you should drive while taking a medication, ask your local pharmacist for their advice. Be Selective About Using Cruise Control Cruise control can make a long drive easier by allowing you to rest your legs in a different position while on a highway going at a consistent speed. However, many drivers become less engaged in driving when they utilize their vehicle's cruise control features because they're doing less of the actual work. If you feel distracted, bored, or fatigued, it is not the time that you should use cruise control. Drive With a Friend Whenever possible, drive with a friend or a family member that you can talk to while you drive. While you don't want to look away from the road to share eye contact, an interesting conversation that's not distracting can keep you awake and engaged. In the event you start to drift off, the friend can make sure you stay awake. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent driver fatigue. You should drive only when well rested, and be mindful of the medications you're on. It's possible that you're already doing some of these things to stay safe. Photo by angrykarl via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original

Everyone loves showing up in a freshly-washed car, shining and gleaming like it just rolled off the factory floor. But the interior of a car is often a different story, because it's significantly more difficult to detail. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your Ford looking good from the inside-out. Regular Surface Cleaning Grab a Shop-Vac or other handheld vacuum cleaner and routinely sweep out your car's seats, floors, and floor mats. You should also dust the hard surfaces of your Ford's cabin, such as the dashboard, steering wheel, and gearshift. We recommend testing any cleaning products on an inconspicuous part of your upholstery just in case it causes stains or other permanent damage. These simple maintenance tasks can keep your cabin looking and smelling great. However, while cleaning your car's interior surfaces is an important part of the picture, you need to do more than that to keep your car truly clean. more Clean the Nooks and Crannies Certain parts of a car are often overlooked when it comes time for detailing. Door handles and jambs, windows cranks or power window controls, and storage pockets are some of the most commonly neglected areas. These parts of the car also happen to be touched by your hands with relative frequency, which means they are more likely to get dirty or greasy over time. You can use a cleaning formula in conjunction with a sponge or wash mitt to really clean out all these nooks and crannies that have accumulated dirt and debris. When performed regularly, this should be an easy part of the detailing process. Pay Special Attention to Leather If your Ford has genuine leather in its cabin, you'll want to be extra careful when cleaning. Damaged leather can become cracked and stained, which will really spoil your cabin's luxury. After vacuuming the seats carefully, you should use a specialized commercial leather cleaner on them. Avoid using bleach or other ammonia-based cleaning solutions, as these can damage leather upholstery. Even when applying a proper cleaning product, be careful not to oversaturate the leather, as excess liquid could seep into the seats or cause staining. When you're done cleaning, take a towel and make sure your leather surfaces are completely dry. Don't Forget Your Windshield There's nothing more important than being able to see where you're going when you're behind the wheel, but many drivers neglect to keep their interior windshields clean. Dust, dirt, oil, smoke, and even residue from other cleaning solutions can all accumulate on the inside of the windshield. This tends to happen gradually over time, so you may not even realize how dirty your Ford's windshield actually is. Use a microfiber towel to wipe down your windshield, and then use a glass cleaner to do the dirty work. It's also a good idea to clean the outside of your windshield at the same time, as this makes it easier to figure out which side is dirty. No one likes cleaning their car, but these simple tricks are quick and easy ways to keep your Ford's cabin looking great. If you perform this kind of regular maintenance, it will soon become a matter of habit.   Photo: " Leather seats " by digitalpubs licensed under CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original