3 Signs You Could Use a Brake Repair

Your Ford contains numerous systems that make driving safer and easier than ever before. All of these systems require a constant and consistent supply of electricity. The alternator is the component in your engine that generates power for all these systems. Over time, the alternator will wear out or suffer damage. When this happens, our Ford dealer in Cincinnati, OH can perform an alternator repair for you. These are signs that your alternator could be failing. more Old Alternator Alternators are tough and designed to last. On average, an alternator will work efficiently for eight years before it needs replacement. As an alternator gets older, its components wear out. These worn components take their toll on the alternator's health, and it will start to fail. A failing alternator slows down and produces less electricity than it should. If your alternator is aging, you may hear screeching to clunking sounds under the hood or smell hot metal or burning insulation. These signs can be due to other problems. If you're also experiencing electrical failures, the usual cause of this situation is a worn alternator. Our technicians will examine your alternator, and we can quickly install a new one if required. Burning Insulation A vast network of cables and wires connects your alternator to all your car's systems. These wires constantly carry electricity, and they're protected against the heat of the engine with thick rubber and plastic insulation. Despite the best protection, electrical wiring is delicate and can become worn or damaged. Damaged wiring cuts off power to the component or components it connects to. Damaged wiring can cause additional problems as electricity continues to flow into them. A break in wiring prevents the electrical current from passing through it, but the wiring will heat up due to the electrical flow. Wiring that gets too hot can cause its protective insulation to burn. Burning wiring produces toxic, acrid fumes. If you smell burning insulation, call us right away. We'll identify and replace the damaged wiring. Starting Problems The battery provides the electricity that starts your engine. It doesn't, however, produce this power. When you're driving, the alternator recharges your battery to ensure it's always fully charged.  A worn or failing alternator produces less power, and the reduced power supply also affects battery recharging. The battery's electricity reserve will slowly drop as it uses more power than it receives from the alternator. Starting an engine requires a large percentage of a battery's stored power. A battery that's not adequately charging will have difficulty in providing the power to start the engine immediately. You'll hear a cranking noise as the battery struggles to supply the necessary power. We'll test your alternator and install a new one if necessary. If you suspect you have an alternator problem, schedule an appointment right away at Beechmont Ford's Ford Service Center.

The transmission is by far the most complex and hard-working part of your car. Gearboxes perform an incredible feat in transmitting the full force of your engine to the wheels while shifting seamlessly through various gears. But as with any complex piece of machinery, things can occasionally go awry. If you ever notice one of the following seven issues, consider visiting your nearest Ford dealer for transmission repair before the problem worsens into a very expensive repair job. more Slipping Gears One of the most disconcerting transmission problems is slipping gears. This means some of your gears are worn and are no longer gripping properly. As a result, you might find your car suddenly changing gears or popping into neutral all on its own. Aging or leaking transmission fluid will often lead to slipping gears. Sticking Gears Malfunctioning gears might also refuse to shift, which can be almost as dangerous as slipping gears while you're out on the road. Gears can eventually start to stick as a result of normal wear and tear to the gear teeth. But it might also be caused by a faulty master cylinder, broken hub sleeve, or something else. Revving While Shifting When gears start misbehaving, you'll often find the engine revving unexpectedly when you're trying to shift. This revving occurs as the engine tries ineffectually to transmit power through to the new gears, which aren't slotting into place properly. Delayed Gear Shifts When a gearbox first starts to have trouble, you may notice a delay of one or two seconds between your shift and the gears finally locking into place. Delayed gear shifting is likely to get worse if not repaired promptly by a mechanic. Grinding Gears When gears are low on lubricating fluid, you might hear them grinding noisily against each other. Sometimes this can be fixed by simply topping up or flushing your transmission fluid. Whining Sounds Automatic transmissions may emit high-pitched whining sounds when they have problems. The whining might be caused by worn-down gears, a faulty fluid pump, a slipping clutch, a clogged fluid line, or a bad torque converter. Burning Fluid Smells Transmission fluid is vital to the proper functioning of any gearbox. If your transmission fluid grows too old, it will start to burn under all the heat and pressure. You'll eventually be able to detect this burning smell in the cabin above. If you do, it's best to have the fluid refreshed immediately. Visit Our Ford Dealer for Transmission Servicing Given how hardworking your transmission is, it's important never to miss a transmission servicing visit. The servicing process involves using a cleaning agent to remove any buildup of sludge inside the transmission, refreshing the fluid, and carefully testing your transmission's performance. It's generally recommended to have a transmission service every 30,000 miles, or every two years. Have your transmission examined and repaired at Beechmont Ford in Cincinnati, OH! For over thirty years, we've been serving the region's drivers with a philosophy of respect and honesty in all that we do.