What should I do?

My "Check Engine" light is on.

It means your vehicle's onboard computer system has self-diagnosed some kind of problem. The "Check Engine" light, which is also called a "Malfunction Indicator Lamp" (MIL) or "Service Engine Soon" (SES) lamp, is there to signal you when a problem occurs that may require attention. This can include anything from a momentary hiccup that has has little or no noticeable affect on engine performance or driving safety to a failure of a major electronic component. There's no way to know what the light means without running a diagnostic scan on the system to determine the nature of the fault.

We recommend you visiting Planet Ford 59 and running a full diagnostic scan to see what the problem is. We want you to protect your investment and highly recommend you seeing what the problem is.

2012 Ford Focus ST

There has been a lot of buzz about the Paris Motor Show for many auto manufacturers, and Ford is no exception. The biggest announcement is the first official viewing of the new high-performance Ford Focus ST, and it will be the first time that production-ready Focus body styles will be featured together. This will be the first peek before models go on sale in Europe and North America in early 2011, and I pulled some more information for you from The Ford Story site:

The new range-topping Focus — which will feature a unique version of the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost engine — will be true to heritage of Ford ST models. It will offer driving enthusiasts a mix of exhilarating performance and handling, accompanied by an addictive sound.

The dramatic new ST will launch in early 2012 and will be revealed on September 30, 2010, at the Ford stand by Alan Mulally, Ford President and CEO, and Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO.

Visitors to the Paris Motor Show will immediately notice the car’s highly distinctive sports exterior, which is finished in Tangerine Scream, a dramatic new body color that reflects the exciting and energetic character of the Focus ST.

Ford is also moving forward with its electrification program and will be displaying for the first time the technology destined to drive its C-MAX plug-in hybrid vehicle, that will be produced at the Valencia plant in Spain.

The formal launch of the full production-ready Focus range in Paris signals the introduction of the first truly global product developed under the company’s ONE Ford strategy.


Developed at Ford’s Global Center of Excellence for Small Cars in Germany, for sale in over 120 markets worldwide, the next-generation model is the most important Focus yet. It is created from the new Ford global C segment platform with up to 80 percent parts-commonality globally. This platform will underpin at least ten vehicles around the world, and it will account for approximately two million units of annual production by 2012.

Ford Fiesta gets App.

Ford is the latest to jump on the Apple bandwagon, with a new iPad app for the 2011 Fiesta.

The Fiesta iPad app is essentially an interactive sales brochure, providing users with tech information, features, photos, videos and lots of extras.

One screen lists the available graphic treatments, including "tattoos." Another details Fiesta's safety features, while a third lists the various connectivity options.

The Fiesta app can be downloaded for free from Apple's iTunes store.

Need help downloading the app. Visit us at Planet Ford 59 and let us show you how to downloaded to your iPhone.

Original Article

Can I recharge my A/C system myself?

A person came to the shop yesterday at one of our sister stores and ask a very important question to one of our mechanics. the question was how he can recharge his A/C system himself?

Well to summarize the answer here is pretty much what we told him.

You have all the right to recharge your A/C system however you must first get your hands on the correct type of refrigerant required for your vehicle.

The major problem with that is that federal law prohibits the sale of R12 and R134 automotive refrigerants to "non certified" individuals (to become certified, you must pass a written test approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- something which all professional A/C technicians must do before they can legally work on your vehicle).


Our Service Advisor informed that to our customer and suggested that he let the certified professionals recharge his A/C system. The customer walked out a happy camper and a more knowledgeable person.

If you need your A/C recharge stop by Planet Ford 59 and let the professionals take care of it.

How Do You Know When Your Car Needs a Brake Job?

You need a "brake job" when your brake linings are worn down to the minimum acceptable thickness specified by the vehicle manufacturer or the applicable state agency in areas that set their own requirements. The only way to determine if new linings are required, therefore, is to inspect the brakes.

You may also need a brake job if you're having brake problems such as grabbing, pulling, low or soft pedal, pedal vibration, noise, etc., or if some component in your brake system has failed. But if the problem is isolated to only one component, there's no need to replace other parts that are still in perfectly good working order.

There is no specific mileage interval at which the brakes need to be relined because brake wear varies depending on how the vehicle is driven, the braking habits of the driver, the weight of the vehicle, the design of the brake system and a dozen other variables. A set of brake linings that last 70,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly on the highway may last only 30,000 or 40,000 miles on the same vehicle that is driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic.

As a rule, the front brakes wear out before the ones on the rear because the front brakes handle a higher percentage of the braking load -- especially in front-wheel drive cars and minivans.

So stop by Planet Ford 59 today and see how you can improve your braking system on your investment.

Original Article

Car Problems: Battery Help

How can I tell if my battery is low and needs to be recharged?

The first and most likely indication of a low battery would be a hard starting problem caused by slow cranking. If the battery seems weak or fails to crank your engine normally, it may be low. To find out, you need to check the battery's "state of charge."

A battery is nothing more than a chemical storage device for holding electrons until they're needed to crank the engine or run the lights or other electrical accessories on your vehicle. Checking the battery's state of charge will tell you how much juice the battery has available for such purposes.

If your battery is low, it needs to be recharged, not only to restore full power, but also to prevent possible damage to the battery. Ordinary automotive lead-acid storage batteries must be kept at or near full charge to keep the cell plates from becoming "sulfated" (a condition that occurs if the battery is run down and left in a discharged condition for more than a few days). As sulfate builds up, it reduces the battery's ability to hold a charge and supply voltage. Eventually the battery becomes useless and must be replaced.

Recharging The Battery

CAUTION: Do not attempt to recharge a battery with low (or frozen) electrolyte! Doing so risks blowing up the battery if the hydrogen gas inside is ignited by a spark.

Your charging system should be capable of recharging the battery if it is not fully discharged. Thirty minutes or so of normal driving should be enough.

If your battery is completely dead or extremely low, it should be recharged with a fast or slow charger. This will reduce the risk of overtaxing and damaging your vehicle's charging system. One or both battery cables should be disconnected from the battery prior to charging it with a charger. This will eliminate any risk of damage to your vehicle's electrical system or its onboard electronics.

If you have any question feel free to contact or visit Planet Ford 59's service department and ask for further assistance.

Remember be safe when working on electrical components.

Original Article Here

Genuine Ford Parts

Whether you own an F150 truck, a Crown Victoria, or a sporty new Mustang, it’s inevitable that you’ll need Ford parts at some point in your vehicle’s life. Maybe you’re a weekend mechanic, or perhaps you simply want to give your new Ford a personal touch. Either way, thanks to the Internet, you can rely on your local dealer to supply you with Ford genuine parts. Click Here to see how.

Here are some tips to help you find a reputable and dependable online parts distributor in case you decide to opt out of our website and .

Stick with Genuine Ford Parts. Don’t mess around with car and truck parts that aren’t made specifically by Ford for Fords. It’s simply not worth the risk to your vehicle. Buying only Ford OEM parts will help ensure that your car or truck stays in top condition, and helps protect the integrity of any warranties on your vehicle.

Quick Turnaround. Watch out for back-order parts. Some online part stores have huge traffic that some of your more popular parts may be on back-order. The best online and offline sources for Ford parts have a huge inventory and ship within 24 hours of the time you place your order.

If your car or truck needs a part, you don’t want to wait forever to have it shipped. Remember that most of the time your local dealer has the part you need.

So if you are looking for Genuine Ford Parts stop by Planet Ford 59 and order that part or accessory you have always wanted.

Cool New Car for Back to School

Kelley Blue Book singled out 10 cars recently as the best for back to school. And wouldn't you know it that the Ford Fiesta is one of them.

2011 Ford Fiesta

Ford’s marketing tag for the all-new 2011 Fiesta (above) is “It’s a pretty big deal.” It’s easy to see why. At a starting MSRP of $13,320 (for the S sedan), the five-passenger small car is a virtual steal on price alone – but its snazzy good looks and kid-cool features really make Fiesta a winner. Reviewers are also high on Fiesta’s virtues, calling it a new benchmark in the small car class and KBB lists Fiesta as #1 on its list of best back-to-school cars. Fiesta is a fun-to-drive four-door sedan or five-door hatchback with an upscale quality interior for the price, available SYNC system, airbag for the driver’s knees, and many other features not commonly found in the small/subcompact car class. Best of all, Fiesta achieves near-hybrid fuel economy estimated at 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway for some models, and it’s a 2010 IIHS Top Safety Pick.

So stop by Planet Ford 59 today and see the new Ford Fiesta!

What do you recommend for protecting aluminum wheels?

We at Planet Ford 59 always get asked what is the best way to protecting aluminum wheels. So we put our heads together and and did some research and this is what we found out.

According to Yahoo! Autos the most original equipment aluminum wheels are clear coated for corrosion resistance. You can generally use any type of wax or sealer specially formulated for alloy wheels, or any product that is designed for a base coat, clear coat finish.

CAUTION: Do not use any wax or polish that contains abrasives on a clear coated wheel (chrome polish, rubbing compound, ordinary wax designed for ordinary painted finishes or that "restores faded paint." The abrasives in such products will scratch and dull the clear coat on the wheels.

If your wheels are not clear coated, or the original coating is worn away or damaged, you can clean the wheels with "mag wheel polish" or fine steel wool to remove surface oxide and dirt (and what's left of the old finish) -- then repaint the wheels with a durable clear coat epoxy or paint designed for this purpose.

Unprotected aluminum wheels quickly corrode and pit when exposed to road salt and excessive moisture. If the corrosion continues unchecked for too long, the cosmetic damage may be too great to reverse. So if you don't want to drive around with ugly, pitted alloy wheels, use some type of coating (wax, sealer and/or paint) to protect them from the elements.

You can also stop by Planet Ford 59 and get your car fully wash by one of our service representatives that specialize in car looks and maintance.

Original Article

Car Wipers.

Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or otherwise in obvious need of replacement. Others may look okay, but do a lousy job of wiping when put to the test.

Ninety percent of all driving decisions are based on a clear unobstructed view of the road, which means good visibility is absolutely essential -- especially during wet weather when vision may be obscured by water, road splash, sleet or snow on the windshield. But good visibility requires wipers that are in good condition. If the wipers are chattering, streaking or otherwise failing to wipe cleanly and consistently, you need new blades -- NOW!

Most experts say wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum performance and driving visibility. That's because wiper blades don't last forever. Natural rubber deteriorates over time. Halogen-hardened rubber as well as synthetic rubber provides longer life. But eventually all blade materials fall victim to environmental factors. Exposure to sunlight and ozone causes the rubber to age, even if the wipers aren't used much.

So stop by Planet Ford 59 and check into our service & parts departments and see our selection of car wipers.